BHPRSD Sports: Week in Review, Look Ahead

It was a week of surges for the Highland boys’ basketball team and Triton girls’ hoops team, who combined to go 5-1. Also last week, the Timber Creek wrestling team wrapped up a division crown and the Tartans’ Brian Ceaser placed second at the Tri-County Conference Showcase.

In other news, linebacker Quanzell Lambert will take some time to re-think his decision to attend Rutgers University after the team's football coach left the program to coach the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Things keep on rolling this week as the basketball teams look to build their playoff resumes before Friday’s NJSIAA cutoff date. Wednesday should provide some great moments for several local athletes who will announce their college intent during National College Signing Day. Wednesday night, Timber Creek wrestling takes on Jackson in a battle of the Garden State's top-5 teams.

Below is a look back at the week that was in local athletics, as well as a glimpse at next week’s schedule.

BOYS' BASKETEBALL

There has been a rebirth at Highland, where the boys’ basketball team has suddenly won three in a row. The winning ways started with a 49-46 victory over Kingsway that stopped a five-game slide. The Tartans followed that up with a 48-41 win over Williamstown, thanks to . Highland capped its week with a 51-45 victory over Sterling that was fueled by a 33-16 halftime advantage.

Triton went 2-1 with wins over Camden Catholic (48-46) and and a loss to Overbrook (78-71). Dante Vaughn was the hero against Camden Catholic, helping the Mustangs erase a seven-point deficit in the fourth quarter. Vaughn recorded a steal with five seconds left and raced the length of the court to make the game-winning layup just before time expired. Vaughn finished with 19 points, while Brian Keller had 14 points and 13 rebounds.

Timber Creek went 1-2 this week with its lone win coming against Seneca (63-53). Transfer Dominique Reid has for the Chargers, averaging 22 points a game since joining the team.

GIRLS' BASKETBALL

The Mustangs finally put a win on the board last week and enjoyed it so much they followed it up with a second victory three days later. Deja Bullock had 15 points to lead Triton to a 40-37 win over Pennsauken on Tuesday, and followed with 25 points in the Mustangs’ 49-38 win against Overbrook on Friday.

The Chargers have hit their first rough patch of the season as they fell to Shawnee and Seneca to run their losing streak to a season-high three games. Brittany Martin had 16 points and Amanda Riiff connected on a trio of threes on her way to 10 points in a 66-51 loss to Seneca.

The Highland girls were unable to get going last week, losing a pair of games to Kingsway and Williamstown in lopsided fashion.

WRESTLING

Timber Creek wrapped up a division title with a convincing 35-24 win over rival Camden Catholic Monday. The Chargers clinched the National Division title thanks to crucial wins from Brandon Keller at 138 pounds and Dominick Ruggiero at 160, as well as pins by Joey DiMartino (113) and Brandon Virgilio (126).

Triton picked up its second win of the season, defeating Bishop Eustace, 51-21, as part of a tri-meet Saturday. Klye Ulerick, Chris Bucceroni, Anthony Masciocchi, Steven Gilboy and Mariusz Ogrodnik each won by pin.

Highland’s Brian Ceaser had a strong showing at the fifth annual Tri-County Conference Showcase, placing second in the 113-pound weight class. Delsea dominated the event, claiming seven individual titles on its way to a team title.

SWIMMING

Highland dropped a 105-81 decision to Kingsway Tuesday to bring its record to 5-4. Jeffrey Rohlfs picked up a win in the 100 breaststroke, and teamed with Cody Heino, Michael Lombardo and John Rogers to win the 200 medley relay.

THIS WEEK

- The Triton girls’ hoops team will look to keep their newfound winning ways going Thursday when it hosts Camden.

-The Timber Creek wrestling team will face a big test on Wednesday when it hosts Jackson at 6 p.m. The Star-Ledger currently has Jackson ranked No. 1 in the state, with the Chargers ranked fifth.

- The Chargers’ boys’ and girls’ basketball teams will look to improve their resumes before Friday’s playoff cutoff date as they take on Paul VI and Bishop Eustace this week.

- The Highland boys’ basketball team will look to make it four wins in a row when it hosts Clearview Tuesday at 4 p.m.

- The Highland wrestlers will have their hands full Wednesday when they travel to take on Tri-County powerhouse Delsea at 7 p.m.