VIDEO: Mighty Camden too much for Middle in title game

Posted: March 2nd 2024

By DAVID WEINBERG

For CapeAtlanticLive.com 

CAPE MAY COURT HOUSE- If the Middle Township High School boys basketball team was in any other public-school group for the South Jersey tournament, it likely would have won a sectional championship

Unfortunately for the Panthers, they were in the same division (South Jersey Group II) as Camden.

Middle played hard throughout and played well in spurts in Friday’s sectional title game, but couldn’t match Camden’s size and talent. As a result, Middle’s bid for a second straight title ended with an 80-55 loss before a roaring, sellout crowd on Middle’s Tom Feraco Court.

“Sometimes you just have to tip your hat to the other team,” Middle coach Lamar Greer said. “You can prepare as best you can, but we couldn’t match their strength, size and athleticism. Oh my gosh, those guys are good.”

Kentucky commit Billy Richmond led Camden to its 50th sectional championship with 20 points, including a pair of rim-rattling dunks. Guard Emmanuel Joe-Samuel also had 20 with three three-pointers. Forward Alijah Curry added 17 points and a game-high 10 rebounds.

Richmond was the difference. The 6-foot-7 guard/forward played at a different level, soaring in for dunks, sinking jumpers, playing strong defense. He finished with seven rebounds, three blocks and two assists.

“I just wanted to play hard,” Richmond told NJ.com. “My coach (Maalik Wayns) always says to play a full 32 minutes and that’s what I did. I got my teammates involved and played aggressive.”

Middle’s Jamir McNeil shook off a knee injury late in the first half to score a game-high 23 points to go with six assists and five steals. Brother Bubba McNeil had 13 points.

Fans squeezed into every inch of the gym to see a game that was anticipated for months. Camden (28-2)  is the state’s No. 3 team. Its only two losses this season were to out-of-state opponents McEachern (Georgia) and St. Frances (Maryland).

Middle (28-3) is ranked No. 6 in the state and was riding a 17-game winning streak.

Cheering sections from both schools provided an electric, fun atmosphere. Middle’s student section, tucked into a corner of the stands, had the gym shaking with thunderous cheers during a fourth-quarter rally. Camden’s side erupted when Richmond soared above the rim and threw down an alley-oop pass from Samir Bethea early in the second quarter.

“These kids changed the community,” Greer said. “When I took over here, the gym would be half-empty. Now we just had two straight sellouts. I’m just so proud of them.”

Middle grabbed a 3-2 lead in the opening minutes when Michael Zarfati buried a three-pointer, but it turned out to be its only lead.

Richmond broke a 5-5 tie with a drive through the lane to start an 8-0 run. Middle managed to stay close and trailed 13-9, but Camden later answered with a 10-0 run and stretched the lead to 26-11.

Middle didn’t fold, however. Trailing 56-35 after three quarters, the Panthers kept clawing. Amir Elston nailed a trio of three-pointers and Anthony Trombetta connected from long distance to put Middle within 13 points at 58-45 with 6:23 remaining.

“We thought if we could get to within 10 that we would have a chance,” Trombetta said. “We came into this with the mindset that we were going to keep playing tough right up to the last minute.”

Camden also showed its mettle down the stretch. After an Elston three-pointer cut Middle’s deficit to 62-48, Camden embarked on a 14-3 run to regain command.

At the final buzzer, Camden’s players and coaches celebrated while fans broke out their iconic chant: “You want the High? You got the High.” It will continue its quest for a second state title in three years – Camden did not participate in last year’s state tournament after a fight broke out in a game against Camden Eastside – when it takes on Manasquan in a state semifinal Tuesday.

Middle shared tearful hugs before retreating to the locker room. It marked the end of a fantastic season that featured a Cape-Atlantic League tournament championship and a second straight trip to a South Jersey final.

The Panthers fell short, but not without putting up a tremendous fight.

“I told the kids that adversity reveals character and we faced adversity out there in a packed gym,” Greer said. “We were down 20 and you hide or you can show your character and fight.

“We showed our character tonight. We’ll always fight. No matter what the score is, we represent a lot of people in the community and we’ll always fight.”