A day with Camden in its quest for state title

As usual, volunteer assistant coach Arthur Barclay was the last one on the bus.

He walked through the cold rain from the back door of the Rutgers Athletic Center to the yellow vehicle that would carry the Camden High School basketball team home after perhaps the most disappointing loss in the history of the fabled program.

"Tomorrow's a voting session," announced Barclay, a 6-foot-8 former Camden star who played at the University of Memphis and now is a New Jersey state assemblyman. "I'm voting against anything that has anything to do with North Jersey."

A few sad smiles creased the faces of Camden head coach John Valore and some of his assistants and support staff.

Farther back in the bus, Camden's players didn't hear Barclay's inside joke. Most of them were wearing earphones and following the lead of senior guard Brad Hawkins, who was staring out a rain-streaked window into the Piscataway, N.J., night.

"We're ready," Valore told Kathy Russell, the bus driver. "Let's go home."

It was 7:41 p.m. on Sunday when the bus pulled away from the arena where Camden had somehow squandered an 18-point lead and lost in the state final for the fourth year in a row, dropping an 85-83 decision to West Side of Newark in the Group 2 title game.

At 9:35 p.m. - after a slog down red-light-loaded Route 1, a stop at a McDonald's restaurant in South Brunswick, and a long, quiet ride along Route 295 to Route 42 to Kaighn Avenue to the 98-year-old school known as "The Castle on the Hill" - the bus was back in the parking lot where the day began brimming with promise.

"I don't even know what to say," Hawkins said, standing a few feet away from the doors to Clarence Turner Gymnasium, the most hallowed home court in South Jersey basketball. "It's just . . ."

Hawkins, a two-sport star who has signed to attend Michigan on a football scholarship, looked away and took a deep breath.

Nine hours earlier, the players, coaches, cheerleaders and support staff had boarded the bus to begin a journey they were convinced would result in the basketball program's 12th state title.

"The bus is on time," joked Valore, the Panthers' 71-year-old coach, "call Ripley's Believe Or Not."

Camden assistant coach Vic Carstarphen, a superb player for the Panthers in the late 1980s who led Temple to the Elite Eight of the NCAA tournament in the early 1990s, knew what a state title in boys' basketball would mean for his hometown.

He also knew how deep the disappointment of another loss could cut. Carstarphen was the star point guard on Camden teams that won Group 4 state titles in 1986 and 1987. In 1988, his senior year, Camden lost in the state final by a point to an Elizabeth team led by 7-foot-1 Luther Wright.

"I'm still chasing that game today," said the 46-year-old Carstarphen, still playing-shape trim with flecks of gray in his hair.

Carstarphen had summed up the intertwined legacies that rode along with the team, like hood ornaments perched on each side of the school bus.

On one hand, Camden's players were representing South Jersey's most accomplished basketball program. Camden has won 48 sectional titles as well as 11 state titles, including a remarkable run of seven state crowns from 1974 through 1987 in an era marked by legendary figures such as coach Clarence Turner and players such as Milt Wagner, Billy Thompson and Kevin Walls, among many others.

On the other hand, Camden's days as a true state power were part of the increasingly distant past. Except for a burst of dominance led by Barclay and Milt Wagner's phenomenal son DaJuan Wagner in the early 2000s, Camden had receded from the top of the state scene.

The Panthers had one state title since 1987. They had lost in their last six appearances in the state finals, including three years in a row.

The 2016 team was all about changing that perception of the program, a mission illustrated by the motto - "Chasing 12" - that was embroidered on sweatshirts and equipment bags.

"Coach Valore says teams that win in Camden become legends," senior forward Jamal Holloway said before the state tournament. "He said they live forever."

The bus made a stop at a Wawa store on Rt. 168 in Mt. Ephraim on the way to Rutgers. That's when Russell, the driver, told the passengers that she wasn't authorized to use the New Jersey Turnpike.

"What?" said Camden volunteer assistant coach Chuck Richardson, a New Jersey state police officer. "I'll pay the toll for you."

After some negotiating and a cell phone call from Richardson to Russell's supervisor, the decision was made to take the New Jersey Turnpike to Exit 9.

As he had been at Camden, Barclay was the last one back on the bus at the Wawa.

"My bad, my bad," Barclay said on his way down the aisle.

As the bus passed Exit 8 in Hightstown, Camden freshman coach Orlando Daniel told the players and cheerleaders to quiet down.

"From this time on, we're on a mission," Daniel said. "We're all about [state title number] 12."

At 2:23 p.m., the bus pulled behind the Rutgers Athletic Center. The players and coaches walked into the building and sat in the East section of the stands, just at the end of first quarter of the Group 3 state championship between Winslow Township and Teaneck.

Valore said he hadn't eaten since an early-morning breakfast.

"Just two Advil," Valore said. "I told my wife [Joyce], 'Bring more Advil.' "

At 3:57 p.m., Camden entered locker room 106.

"We're been building toward this all season," Carstarphen told the players. "This is it. This is the time."

After a warm-up on the court, the players gathered back in the locker room for their final instructions.

"It's simple and to the point," Valore said. "One, if we hit the boards, we win the game. Two, victory belongs to the team that believes the most. If you believe the most, you'll come out of here as state champs."

Carstarphen tried to send the Panthers out with some emotional fire.

"These jokers are in our way," Carstarphen said, his voice rising. "They've been talking just like all these other teams. Listen, they've been asking for it. Let's give them what they want."

It was 4:42 p.m. The Panthers ran out of the locker room, made two lefts and a right and hit the court as Camden's pep band struck up a song and hundreds of fans in purple and gold rose to their feet.

Camden entered the game with a 26-5 record. The team had beaten Group 4 state finalist Atlantic City in the regular season. It had averaged 87 points in five straight playoff victories.

But the Panthers never looked as sharp as they looked in the first 22 minutes of the 32-minute state final. Junior guard John Evans and sophomore guard Corey Greer kept draining three-point jumpers. Holloway kept scoring inside.

Hawkins and senior Dustin Singleton and junior Deaquan Williams seemed to be a step quicker than West Side players to every loose ball.

Camden led, 43-34, at halftime.

"This is it, fellows," Barclay told Hawkins and Holloway, who had started in their fourth straight state final. "This is how close you are. Finish it now. Bring it home now."

The first six minutes of the third quarter were even better for Camden. When Evans hit a three-pointer from the left side, the Panthers' lead was 62-44.

Then everything changed.

Camden went cold from the outside. The Panthers missed some free throws, tossed some errant passes.

Valore paced the sideline, calling a couple of timeouts. Carstarphen and Barclay pleaded with the players for patience, for execution of the offensive and defensive game plans.

West Side senior guard Isiah Reyes, flashy and talented - like so many Camden players of the past - took command of the game. He sliced into the lane again and again. He hit three-pointers. He scored 20 of his 36 points in the fourth quarter.

Camden's lead was nine. Then six. Then three.

Then West Side was in front.

Holloway made a three-point play to tie the score. Moments later, Hawkins made a layup to tie the score again.

But West Side had all the momentum. Reyes was feeling it. He controlled the basketball for most of the game's final 45 seconds, drawing a foul with 1.8 seconds to play and making two free throws for an 85-83 lead.

When Greer's desperation heave from beyond halfcourt fell well short of the rim, Camden's season was over.

Thompson collapsed on the ground. Barclay hugged Williams, who was sobbing. Hawkins fell to his knees.

In the hallway, Greer was overcome with emotion and needed help from his father, former Middle Township and Florida State star Lamar Greer, to return to the locker room.

Inside, players sat silently. Nobody made a move to change out of their uniforms. No coach said a word.

Three minutes passed. Five. Ten.

Finally, Barclay stood in front of the room.

"This is life," Barclay told the players. "Hold your heads up. I'm so proud of you guys. I'm so proud of every one of you.

"Of course, we wanted things to go different. But that's life."

Carstarphen tried to speak but broke down.

"You're good kids and you deserved this one," Carstarphen said, his voice choked with emotion.

Valore sat in a corner, his hands folded in front of him. When he spoke, his voice was low. The tall, gray-haired coach, a veteran of 39 seasons with the first 35 at Cherry Hill East, addressed his seniors.

"It has been an honor and a privilege to coach such outstanding people for three years," Valore said. "I've never experienced the success that I've experienced coaching you kids.

"I'd just like to say, 'Thank you.' "

Hawkins sat on a bench in the middle of the room, his head in his hands. Barclay sat next him and put an arm around his shoulder.

It was 7:15 p.m. Outside on the floor of the arena, Paulsboro was playing in the Group 1 title game.

DaJuan Wagner, who had led the 2000 Camden team to the Tournament of Champions title and was the No. 6 pick in the 2002 NBA draft, stood in the hallway outside the locker room. He kept shaking his head in disbelief.

Cherry Hill attorney Leon Rose, who played for Valore at Cherry Hill East and now is a prominent player agent who has represented athletes such as Wagner and Allen Iverson, walked up wearing a "Camden Basketball" T-shirt.

"There's nothing to say," Valore said, shaking Rose's hand. "When you come this far, when you get this close and you fall short, you're empty inside."

It was 7:30 p.m. Suddenly, hauntingly, the players and coaches from Newark West Side walked down the hallway, past the Camden contingent, carrying the championship trophy.

"Great game," one of the West Side assistants said.

Valore shook his head in sad agreement. He asked Barclay and Richardson to round up the players.

It was time to get back on the bus.

panastasia@phillynews.com

@PhilAnastasia

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