LATE SEASON DRAMA IN CAMDEN-WARRIORS ESCAPE WITH 50-48 WIN OVER DEVILS
Whitesboro’s Joel Jakubowicz (1) denies Camden’s Ryan McCarthy (3) on a first quarter layup.
Jeff Pexton-MHTS/PGI Photo
2/11
Camden needed a win in its final game of the season to qualify for the Section III boy’s basketball tournament.
No easy task, considering tonight’s last regular season game featured a visit from the always tough Whitesboro Warriors, who have put together a (12-5) overall record this season and are likely a top 5 seed in Class “A” for the upcoming post season dance.
Camden’s Ryan McCarthy definitely received the memo about the importance of tonight’s game, in fact he may have written it.
Ryan McCarrthy (3) drives for 2 of his 28 points.
The Blue Devils junior guard led all scorers with 28 points, 20 of which came in the second half, but the home team’s big upset bid fell just short as Whitesboro held on for a 50-48 nail-biting, gut wrenching win.
Joel Jakubowicz and Tim Borza’s combined efforts (3 for 6) at the free throw line, in the waning moments of the ball game, put Whitesboro ahead by two, which proved to be enough for the win.
A huge contingent of Camden fans, affectionately known as the “Crazies,” packed the gym in Camden for the pivotal game tonight.
The Blue Devils jumped out to a quick 4-0 lead on a pair of baskets by Ryan McCarthy, but Whitesboro’s balanced scoring attack proved too much to handle in the first eight minutes.
All five Warriors starters scored in the opening period to give Whitesboro a 16-11 lead after one.
Anyone who has ever played or even watched a game of any kind in Camden can attest to the fact that no matter what, Blue Devils never retreat and they never surrender.
Doesn’t matter what the score is, doesn’t matter what the sport is. Call it a pioneering spirit, call it whatever you want, Camden kids just don’t quit.
Tonight was no exception and in fact, with the size and volume of the student section factored in, the five point deficit the Devils faced after one period was meaningless.
The second quarter of this one saw Camden outscore Whitesboro 13-7 and take a 24-23 lead to the intermission.
Camden’s Ryan McCarthy and Ryan Jones combined for eight points and Jimmy Henry hit a big three pointer late in the quarter to give the Blue Devils the halftime edge.
Camden’s “Crazies” react to a late Blue Devils basket.
Quarter number three saw Whitesboro come out and apply a very effective full court press defense on Camden, which worked to perfection in the first four minutes of the second half.
Camden did not manage a point in the third quarter until McCarthy got a layup to fall with 3:48 to go in the third frame.
Vinny Cotrupe led the way with four points in the paint for Whitesboro in the third quarter to put the Warriors up 36-31 after three periods.
The no retreat, no surrender attitude ingrained in Blue Devils student athletes was on display in the final period.
Ryan McCarthy very likely locked the white flag in his locker so that nobody could wave it tonight.
The fleet-footed junior poured in 15 of his 20 second half points in the final period and almost single-handedly pulled off the upset.
It was not to be, however, as too many offensive miscues by the Blue Devils down the stretch handed the ball back to Whitesboro too many times to recover from.
Whitesboro’s Vin Cotrupe (24) and Camden’s Marc Snow (5) rise high for the opening tip.
Joel Jakubowicz got a floater in the lane to fall and was fouled on the play with 40.9 seconds remaining in the game.
The senior hit the bonus free throw to give Whitesboro a 45-44 lead and the Warriors never relinquished it.
After a flurry of offensive exchanges, fouls and free throws between the teams over the next 38 seconds, McCarthy had a shot from half court which sailed high and Whitesboro escaped with a 50-48 win.
With the win, Whitesboro improved to (13-5) on the season and will likely grab the number 5 seed in the Section III, Class “A” tournament which begins next week.
Camden meanwhile finished the season at (7-11).
Whitesboro was led by Luke Moore with 14 points tonight, while teammate Tim Borza poured in 12.
Ryan McCarthy’s 28 points led all scorers this evening.
Whitesboro 50 Camden 48
Box Score
1 2 3 4 Final
Whitesboro 16 7 13 14 50
Camden 11 13 7 17 48
MHTS Scoring Summary:
Whitesboro:
Luke Moore 14
TJ Borza 12
Joel Jakubowicz 7
Tom Sblendorio 7
Vinny Cotrupe 6
Bodhi Forbes 2
Nick Carzo 2
Camden:
Ryan McCarthy 28
Jimmy Henry 8
Evan Kessler 4
Marc Snow 2
