Basketball: Davis scores 1,000th as Penns Grove beats Williamstown

By Phil Anastasia

Penns Grove senior Ge'shawn Davis is all about real points, not style points.

There's nothing fancy about his game. His coach calls him a "throwback player" whose success is a result of his effort as much as his skill.

"He's not going to stand out there and dribble between his legs and show off," Penns Grove coach Kemp Carr said of Davis. "He's just going to work."

Davis, a 6-0 swingman, scored 33 points, including the 1,000th point of his career, in leading host Penns Grove to a 61-52 victory over Williamstown on Monday afternoon.

Senior guard Dominique Ware added 14 points with five steals and six assists for Penns Grove (3-0).

Junior guard T.J. Booth scored 24 for Williamstown (1-1).

"They out-hustled us," Williamstown coach Jim Ambrosius said. "They got almost all of the 50-50 balls. We're a work in a progress."

It was a big win for Penns Grove, a Group 1 program. With the NJSIAA switching to a power-points system for playoff seeding this season, the Red Devils likely will reap the benefits of a victory over a quality Group 4 program such as Williamstown.

"Pretty nice win," said Carr, who is 15-0 as a head coach this school year as his football team went 12-0 and won the South Jersey Group 1 title. "We handled their pressure, that was the big thing. That's their identity."

Davis scored 22 in the first half, repeatedly beating Williamstown players down the court on run-outs after rebounds and turnovers.

His 1,000th point came off a jumper off the move and just inside the three-point line early in the fourth quarter. That was special, since most of his scoring comes off drives, put-backs and free throws.

"I don't care what people say about me," Davis said. "I just play hard and do what coach tells me to do to help the team."

When Davis scored his 1,000th point, the game was stopped for a ceremony at halfcourt.

Surrounded by cheerleaders and balloons, Davis was presented with the game ball.

"I loved the moment," Davis said.

Moments later, Davis hit a three-pointer from the corner to give Penns Grove a 49-41 lead. He finished 13-for-22 from the field and 6-for-7 from the foul line with 10 rebounds.

"It's all about the way he works," Carr said of Davis. "He outworks people so he outplays people. And he wants the ball late in the game. His name is 'Fourth Quarter Shawnie.'"

Williamstown 21 6 12 13 -- 52
Penns Grove 16 16 12 17 -- 61

W: Kali Boyce 8, Aaron Rose 5, T.J. Booth 24, On'Nir Kendall 8, Isiah Perkins 1, Chris Leary 2, Tyler Okusi 4.

PG: Ge'shwn Davis 33, Dominique Ware 14, Garret Wilson 5, Jermaine Carter 4, Thad Frisby 5.

Contact staff writer Phil Anastasia at panastasia@phillynews.com or @PhilAnastasia onTwitter.