Basketball: Haddonfield beats RV

By Phil Anastasia

Midway in the fourth quarter, Haddonfield junior guard Nick DePersia was falling out of bounds and attempted to throw the basketball off a Rancocas Valley player.

But it went through the Rancocas Valley player's legs, took one bounce and landed right in the hands of Haddonfield junior Jake Robinson for an uncontested layup.

"Lucky assist," DePersia said. "But I'll take it."

Nick DePersia and his twin brother Rob were more good than lucky in leading Haddonfield to a 56-43 victory over Rancocas Valley in a clash of Top 10 teams on Saturday.

Nick DePersia scored 13 with four rebounds, three assists and two steals and Rob DePersia collected 17 points with three assists and two steals in a marquee event of the seven-game Jimmy V Classic Showcase at Schalick High School.

Robinson added nine points and six rebounds and senior forward Teddy Stavetski chipped in with 12 points for Haddonfield (2-0), the No. 5 team in The Inquirer rankings.

"We knew this was a big game for us," Rob DePersia said after leading Haddonfield in scoring for the second night in a row. "We knew RV was a good team."

Senior center Nick Davidson scored 13 with eight rebounds for No. 8 Rancocas Valley (1-1).

"We missed too many layups and too many foul shots," said Rancocas Valley coach Jay Flanagan, whose team was 7-for-20 from the free-throw line. "Haddonfield is better than us right now."

The DePersia's energetic play kept Haddonfield a step ahead of Rancocas Valley. The twins both played the full 32 minutes despite the Bulldogs' full-court pressure defense and fast-paced offensive approach.

"Their energy level is amazing," Haddonfield coach Paul Wiedeman said of the DePersia twins. "With the way we play, for them never to come out of the game and to play as hard as they do with such enthusiasm, it's amazing.

"Their enthusiasm rubs off on the rest of the players."

In addition to their all-around play, the DePersias shot well in a game that featured tight defense at both ends. Nick DePersia made a trio of three-pointers and was 2-for-2 from the foul line, while Rob DePersia was 9-for-10 from the foul line.

"I feel like I need to step up and score more this season," said Rob DePersia, who scored 19 in a season-opening win over Overbrook on Friday night. "Me and Nick have to be more of leaders this season. We look forward to that role."

Haddonfield 11 16 13 16 -- 56

Rancocas Valley 7 13 10 13 -- 43

H: Rob DePersia 17, Nick DePersia 13, Jake Robinsin 9, Teddy Stavetski 12, Tyler Klaus 3, Luke Leverick 2.

RV: Vince Anfield 8, Niall Carpenter 8, Nick Davidson 13, Darius Dooley 6, Adam Perry 5, Brenden Ruby 3.

-- Contact Phil Anastasia at panastasia@phillynews.com

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