By TYLER DONOHUE
Sports Writer
As the end of South Jersey’s high school basketball season draws near, opportunities to see area teams in action are dwindling. This weekend offers interesting hoops matchups between boys and girls programs from across the region.
Mainland Regional High School hosts the 16th Annual Shootout at the Shore, presented by Future Stars Basketball Camps Feb. 11 and 12. The two-day event features 11 Cape-Atlantic League girls teams.
The Lady Mustangs start things off on their home court against Lower Cape May Regional in a CAL conference crossover matchup at 11:45 Saturday morning. Mainland lasted a long time in the league’s wild card race, while the Lady Tigers have been a pleasant surprise this season and are led by an emerging star in standout freshman guard Lauren Holden.
Absegami has endured through a frustrating season, but the Braves can end a lengthy losing streak when the team faces Williamstown 6:30 Saturday. The game presents an opportunity for Absegami to earn its first road win.
The marquee matchup of Mainland’s Shootout at the Shore features a showdown between two conference frontrunners. Holy Spirit and Middle Township meet at 4:45 Saturday in a possible CAL playoff preview.
The Lady Spartans are undefeated since a New Year’s Eve defeat against Pennsbury (Fairless Hills, Pa.). Meanwhile, Middle Township’s only conference defeat came at Cedar Creek on Jan. 3.
Both Holy Spirit and Middle Township have punched their tickets for the CAL playoffs.
Holy Spirit has already claimed the American Conference title, while the Lady Panthers earned the National Conference wild card.
Cedar Creek’s upstart girls program gets a chance to flex its muscles on Sunday against Clearview. The game begins at 3:30 and features Pirates junior forward Kristine Miller, who surpassed 1,000 career points last week.
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Boys basketball action heats up at St. Augustine Prep this weekend. The school hosts 26 different squads during the 12th Annual Olympic-Cape Challenge Feb. 11 and 12.
Promising sophomore forward Darius Jerkins leads Mainland against Seneca at 11:30 Saturday morning. The Mustangs may be out of the CAL playoff hunt, but the team continues to make strides toward next season.
St. Augustine seeks to defend its home court against an impressive Eastern squad on Saturday evening at 6 p.m. The Vikings come to town with only one loss on the year, while St. Augustine recently wrapped up the National Conference with a Feb. 3 win over Middle Township.
The Hermits will be hard-pressed to stop Eastern junior Devon Bell, a dynamic 6-foot-2 shooting guard. He scored 30 points in a Feb. 4 win over heralded Paul VI (Haddonfield) and is regarded as one of South Jersey’s most dangerous backcourt players.
Sunday presents a series of matchups worth seeing at St. Augustine.
Holy Spirit, which has already clinched a CAL playoff berth, battles Woodrow Wilson (Camden) at 4:15. The Spartans are still competing against Atlantic City for the American Conference title and a potential first-round playoff bye.
Speaking of Atlantic City, Coach Gene Allen’s team takes on Paul VI 6 p.m. Sunday. Although the Vikings have already faced the likes of Shawnee, St. Augustine and Holy Spirit (twice), this should be the biggest challenge the team has faced thus far.
Paul VI is once again in line for a top seed in the NJSIAA South Jersey Non-Public A playoffs and presents a tough test for Atlantic City.
The Vikings are hot, owning an eight-game win streak that has pulled the team into a first-place tie with Holy Spirit in the American Conference. Sunday’s matchup with the Eagles could be viewed as a litmus test of sorts.
Point guard Rahim Bunch leads Egg Harbor Township against Timber Creek at noon Sunday. Bunch, a 5-foot-11 senior, ranks among league leaders in points, assists and steals.
Oakcrest follows with a 3:15 game versus Triton. The Falcons have been eliminated from the CAL playoff picture, but can still salvage a winning season with a strong finish.
Although conference clashes typically take center stage in February, the Shootout at the Shore and Olympic-Cape Challenge annually allow area teams to test themselves against quality (and often unfamiliar) opponents before the postseason arrives.
For seniors on non-playoff teams, this weekend will be part of a last hurrah as the final quarters of their high school careers slip away. At the same time, a big win this weekend could serve as a launching pad for postseason-bound programs looking for a little momentum.
Comment at www.shorenewstoday.com.
Shootout at the Shore
(Hosted by Mainland Regional)
Sunday
11:45am – Mainland vs Lower Cape May
1:25pm – Atlantic City vs Willingboro
3:05pm – Ocean City vs Camden Catholic
4:45pm – Holy Spirit vs Middle Township
6:30pm – Absegami vs Williamstown
8:15pm – Cherry Hill East vs Central
Sunday
10:15am – Vineland vs Point Pleasant Boro
Noon – Seneca vs Piscataway
1:45pm – Sacred Heart vs Washington Township
3:30pm – Cedar Creek vs Clearview
5:15pm – St. Joseph vs Cherokee
Olympic-Cape Challenge
(Hosted by St. Augustine)
Saturday
11:30am – Mainland vs Seneca
1:00pm – Vineland vs Winslow Township
2:45pm – Ocean City vs Cherry Hill East
4:15pm – Wildwood Catholic vs Camden Catholic
6:00pm – St. Augustine vs Eastern
Sunday (Rodio Gym)
11:30am – Sacred Heart vs Pennsauken
1:00pm – St. Joseph vs Cherokee
2:45pm – Middle Township vs Camden
4:15pm – Holy Spirit vs Woodrow Wilson
6:00pm – Atlantic City vs Paul VI
Sunday (Spina Gym)
Noon – Egg Harbor Township vs Timber Creek
1:30pm – Bridgeton vs Cherry Hill West
3:15pm – Oakcrest vs Triton
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