It was a drama-filled week for local basketball teams who fought for their rights to earn postseason berths, and the results varied.
It was also a big week for 11 local athletes () who signed their NCAA letters of intent on National Signing Day. Timber Creek's Quanzell Lambert to Rutgers, while Triton and also saw athletes sign.
This week's schedule features the highly touted Timber Creek wrestling team competing in the Group 3 playoffs.
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Below is a look back at the week that was, as well as a glimpse at this week’s schedule.
WRESTLING
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The team aspect of wrestling becomes the focus this week as Timber Creek enters the NJSIAA South Jersey Group 3 playoffs as a No. 2 seed. The Chargers have received a first-round bye for today's action and will take on No. 3 Hammonton or No. 6 Shawnee on Wednesday. If Timber Creek advances to the finals it will have a likely showdown against No. 1 Toms River South on Friday. Timber Creek enters the playoffs on a nine-match winning streak that includes victories over Cherry Hill East (84-0), Bound Brook (32-24) and Montgomery (60-11) last week.
Highland (7-10) suffered a 62-6 loss to Group 3 powerhouse Delsea. Ryan Wade (138) had the only win for the Tartans, registering a pin in 1:40.
GIRLS' BASKETBALL
Its stay in the postseason may not be a long one, but the fact that the Triton girls’ basketball team will even compete in the playoffs is a remarkable story. The Mustangs were 0-12 two weeks ago, but won their final five games to sneak in as the No. 16 seed in the Group 4 playoffs.
Triton earned a playoff spot with wins over Camden Charter, Camden and Pennsauken Tech last week—each by double figures. Waiting for the Mustangs in the playoffs will be either Washington Township or Shawnee, both 15-2.
Timber Creek and Highland will each be making a trip to the postseason this year, too. The Chargers reached the cutoff date at 7-9 and are in line to be a No. 11 seed, while Highland (6-12) will be a No. 15 seed. The unofficial standings would pit Timber Creek against No. 6 Central (10-4) and Highland against No. 2 Ocean City (15-3).
Highland earned its playoff seed thanks in part to a dramatic 30-28 overtime win over Cumberland. Ayanna Williams sent the game into overtime with a free thrown in the final seconds of regulation, then gave the Tartans a 29-28 lead with 14 seconds left in overtime. She finished with 17 points and five steals.
BOYS' BASKETBALL
Triton went 2-1 last week to reach the cutoff date 9-7, making the Mustangs the only local team to automatically qualify for the postseason thanks to a record of .500 or above. The Mustangs are in line to be a No. 11 seed in the Group 4 playoffs and will take on No. 6 Clearview (12-4) in the first round.
Things are a little less clear in Group 3 where the playoff fate of Highland and Timber Creek is not presently known. The Tartans and Chargers each reached the cutoff date with 5-11 records and tied for the No. 16 seed in the SJ Group 3 playoffs. Depending on how the tiebreakers unfolded, one of the teams will be in position to face No. 1 Lacey, while the other will miss out on the opportunity. Athletic director Chris Dziczek was not available at time of publication, but we hope to have the answer to you on the Group 3 playoffs shortly.
If Highland misses out on the playoffs, it will be because of a pair of one-possession losses last week. Highland fell to Clearview, 31-30, and to Cumberland, 43-41. Tyree Brown scored 24 points against the Colts, who entered the game with just three wins, but it wasn’t enough to keep the
Tartans from dropping their final game before the cutoff.
THIS WEEK
- Timber Creek westling looks to grab a South Jersey Group 3 team title as it competes in he semifinals Wednesday and possibly the finals Friday.
- The Highland swim team competes in the Tri-County Conference Showcase Meet Tuesday at 5:30 p.m.
- A pair of local wrestling teams meets Friday when Triton travels to take on Highland at 6 p.m.
- The Triton boys’ basketball team will warm up for its playoff run with games against Cherry Hill West (Tuesday) and Shawnee (Thursday).
- Winter track athletes will be in action Friday at the NJSIAA Individual Championships.
