Basketball: Willingboro beats Moorestown in OT

By Phil Anastasia

The season still was young but Thomas Farrior figured Willingboro's habit of losing close games was getting old.

"We had to figure out a way to win games like this," said Farrior, Willingboro's versatile senior guard.

Farrior (pictured) scored 18 with six rebounds and four steals as Willingboro beat Moorestown 74-72 Thursday in overtime in a Burlington County League inter-division game.

Senior forward Terique Robinson also scored 18 and made the only bucket in overtime for Willingboro (5-3), which won for the fourth time in its last five games.

Senior guard Seth West scored 23 and senior center Treston Ellis collected 21 points and 19 rebounds for Moorestown (4-2).

"I was proud of the fact that our guys kept fighting back," Moorestown coach Shawn Anstey said. "It was a great game."

Moorestown called timeout with 10 seconds left in overtime but Willingboro made one last defensive stop, forcing the Quakers into a rushed three-pointer as the buzzer sounded.

"Our guys showed a lot of character," Willingboro coach Jeff Haddock said. "They were resilient."

Willingboro's first first seven games fit into two categories: Comfortable wins and close losses.

The Chimeras' three setbacks were by a total of 11 points.

"Coach told us before the game we had to pick it up," Farrior said. "We needed the (power) points for the playoffs. We couldn't keep losing the close games."

It was a game of momentum swings right from the jump as Willingboro burst to a 16-6 lead, then Moorestown answered with a 16-0 run.

"Just back-and-forth competition," Anstey said.

Moorestown was in front 64-59 early in the fourth quarter, but Willingboro senior Awwal Reid (15 points, eight rebounds) fueled a 9-0 run as the Chimeras took a 68-64 lead.

Ellis rallied Moorestown from a 70-64 deficit with a pair of hoops and senior forward Yuseth Green scored on a put-back at the 0:30 mark of regulation to force overtime.

"He played like a man," Anstey said of Ellis.

Willingboro's defensive intensity was the difference in overtime, as the Chimeras held Quakers without a point, or even a good look.

Robinson's put-back basket, Willingboro's eighth bucket off the offensive glass, supplied the only points.

"We needed this one," Farrior said. "This builds our confidence."

Moorestown 16 21 20 15 0 -- 72

Willingboro 16 23 16 17 2 - 72

M: Seth West 23, Yuseth Green 16, Colin Francisco 5, Treston Ellis 21, Joe Caprarola 7.

W: Awwal Reid 15, Jeff Haddock 12, Terique Robinson 18, Thomas Farrior 18, Carry Saturne 11.

-- Contact Phil Anastasia at panastasia@phillynews.com

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