Cherokee boys' basketball team in middle of maturation process

Cherokee was a young team that took its lumps last season, and the Chiefs will be a veteran team that will make some hay next season.

Which leaves this season.

"We've been getting better," Cherokee coach Matt Shultz said. "We'll find out a lot this week."

Cherokee (4-2) has won three in a row and four of five. The Chiefs won their bracket at the Boardwalk Basketball Classic in Wildwood, beating Absegami and Woodbury. They are seven points away from being 6-0, with losses to No. 5 Shawnee (57-53 on opening night) and Cherry Hill East (44-42).

"We had three sophs who started last year," Shultz said of current juniors Karl Kahringer, Kevin Wixted, and Jake Powell. "That's helped us. They've been through it."

The Chiefs also have a talented sophomore in Paul Bellamy, who is beginning to make an impact at the varsity level. So 2014 looks bright.

This season remains a work in progress. But this week will tell a lot about the Chiefs, as they face No. 6 Eastern on Tuesday and No. 4 Lenape on Thursday with a rematch with Cherry Hill East on Saturday - all Olympic American games.

Rising Red Devils. Rancocas Valley (7-2) has won seven of eight and stunned then-No. 4 Holy Spirit by 49-45 on the Spartans' home floor on Saturday night.

The Red Devils got strong games from junior forward Nick Davidson (16 points) and sophomore guard Ned Ogoemesim (18) and played stingy man-to-man defense.

Rancocas Valley held Holy Spirit to 16 points in the first half, building a 14-point lead.

"Half-court defense was flawless," Flanagan said.

Lions Roar. Sacred Heart is 5-3 overall but 4-0 in the Cape-Atlantic United Division.

The Lions have been getting great work from 6-foot-6 sophomore Mike Holloway, who is averaging 17.2 points.

"He had 18 rebounds and 30 points the other day against St. Joe's," Sacred Heart coach Kevin Nash said. "He's 6-6, but he's got the wingspan of a kid who's 6-9. He has to keep working, but he has a chance to be something special."

Bright future. Burlington Township (6-2) could be a major factor in the South Jersey Group 3 playoffs.

The Falcons have a young team led by the backcourt of sophomore lead guard Curtis Thompson and junior shooting guard Kenny Davis, a pair of clever, athletic lefthanders.

"We just need to keep getting better and better," Burlington Township coach Scott Kupersmit said after a 63-49 loss to Rancocas Valley on Friday night. "I'm not discouraged. We don't have much experience. But if we keep working hard and keep improving, we're going to be a tough team to beat at the end of the season."

Carino Club. Former Shawnee and Penn State star Dan Earl, the associate head coach at the Naval Academy, will be the guest speaker Wednesday at 11:30 a.m. at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Cherry Hill at the first luncheon of the season for the Albert J. Carino Basketball Club of South Jersey.

Several top seniors will be honored at the "Captain's Day" luncheon, including Xavier Lundy (Paulsboro), Devon Bell (Eastern), Josh Borrelli (Shawnee), Billy Griffin (Haddonfield), Amir Maddred (Camden), Mike Greenman (St. Augustine Prep), and Kyle Green (Camden Catholic).

Reservations are required and can be made by calling Jack Mongulla at 856-461-8800.

This and that. Bishop Eustace (5-2) has won four in a row with a balanced offense led by senior guard Tom Falconiero. . . . Clearview (3-3) has won three in a row behind senior guard McCabe Reim, who scored 27 in a 77-57 victory over Delsea and 14 in a 74-65 victory over Kingsway. . . . Gloucester Catholic (3-4) has won two in a row, allowing just 48 points in victories over Cumberland and Collingswood. . . . Sterling (4-3) has won three of four as senior guard Marcus Taylor has averaged 14.