Iron Mikes too much for Camden Catholic
Despite 16 points by Gerry Wixted, the Irish were unable to solve Trenton Catholic.
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. All season long, one team after another frustrated itself in attempting to defend the Camden Catholic boys' basketball team.
Gadget defenses, slowing it down, speeding it up. Nothing seemed to work particularly well.
In last night's Tournament of Champions final at the Izod Center, Trenton Catholic used an old but reliable element: grinding in-your-face man-to-man defense.
Second-seeded Trenton Catholic contested every shot with great quickness and defensive anticipation to defeat Camden Catholic, 53-39, in earning its first TOC title.
"They played fabulous defense," Camden Catholic coach Jim Crawford said.
"We have good offensive players and they seemed to have a hand in our face very time we shot. They were physical and quick, and I think their defense won it for them."
Top-seeded Camden Catholic finished its season 29-2, adding the state Non-Public A championship to its trophy mantle along with The Inquirer's No. 1 ranking.
Trenton Catholic capped a remarkable postseason, which included a triple overtime win over St. Anthony in the state Non-Public B final.
The Iron Mikes ended with a 28-3 mark.
The game MVP for the winners was senior Frantz Massanet, a 6-foot-4 Drexel recruit who had 10 points and eight rebounds.
Yet the player who had the biggest impact on both ends of the court was 6-3 junior Khalid Lewis, who scored 14 points for Trenton Catholic, but was much more impressive in his main role - defensive stopper.
Lewis' job was to guard Inquirer South Jersey player of the year Anthony D'Orazio, and he held the Lehigh-bound guard to 10 points on 3-for-14 shooting.
"They played a lot of help defense. When I penetrated there was somebody always there," D'Orazio said.
Camden Catholic was down by 20-18 at halftime, but trailed by as many as 10 points midway through the third quarter.
The Irish made a run and was down by just 35-33 when Gerry Wixted made 1 of 2 foul shots with 5 minutes, 22 seconds left.
The Iron Mikes then outscored Camden Catholic, 18-6, the rest of the way.
Wixted was named Camden Catholic's game MVP with 16 points and eight rebounds.
Trenton Catholic shot 23 for 45 from the field, including 14 for 21 in the second half.
Camden Catholic was 15 for 45 for the game.
Both teams took care of the ball with Trenton Catholic committing just seven turnovers and Camden Catholic eight.
It simply came down to defense.
"I thought we defended well the whole game," Trenton Catholic coach Fred Falchi said.
That was the biggest understatement of the evening.
Trenton Catholic 11 9 13 20 - 53
Camden Catholic 12 6 9 12 - 39
TC: Markese Tucker 19, Brandon Taylor 8, Dondre Whitmore 2, Frantz Massanet 10, Khalid Lewis 14.
CC: Tim Crawford 4, Sherard Cadogan 6, Gerry Wixted 16, Anthony D'Orazio 10, Matt McElhatton 3.