Ever-changing Haddnonfield tops Haddon Township
Another night, another starting lineup for the Haddonfield boys' basketball team. Another win, too. Weep not for Haddonfield, which is 11-2 and No. 6 in South Jersey while coach Paul Wiedeman continues to mix and match personnel to account for an unprecedented run of injuries.
Another night, another starting lineup for the Haddonfield boys' basketball team.
Another win, too.
Weep not for Haddonfield, which is 11-2 and No. 6 in South Jersey while coach Paul Wiedeman continues to mix and match personnel to account for an unprecedented run of injuries.
"This was our umpteenth starting lineup," Wiedeman said after Haddonfield's 66-33 victory over Haddon Township on Wednesday night in an Colonial Conference interdivision clash of neighborhood rivals.
Senior guard Nick DePersia made five three-pointers and scored 23 points to lead Haddonfield (11-2 overall, 9-0 in Colonial play).
Rob DePersia, Nick's twin brother, added 11 points and four assists. Junior Tommy Kadar made a trio of three-pointers and scored 13 for Haddonfield.
Senior guard R.J. McCullough scored eight for Haddon Township (7-5, 5-4).
"They're good," Haddon Township coach Ron Wister said of Haddonfield. "Even with all their injuries, they're still, what, fifth or sixth in South Jersey.
"Our guys didn't quit. They kept playing hard right to the end.
"A lot of times, that disappears, but I didn't see that. They kept battling."
Wiedeman said this year's team has been hit with more injuries than any in his career. The Bulldogs took the floor without forwards Jake Robinson (ankle, shoulder) and Rich Bond (finger). It was the third game back for Rob DePersia, who missed five games and parts of another with an ankle injury.
The absence of regulars has created opportunies for other players.
"Hey, it's a chance to step up," Wiedeman said. "We're banging against these guys all the time in practice and now they get a chance to play meaningful minutes. It's not like it's garbage time."
Kadar said the Bulldogs took a big step in the right direction with an imposing performance against a familiar opponent.
"This was big for us," Kadar said. "I think this game is going to get us back on track."
Contibutions from Kadar and seniors Ty Klaus (eight points, four rebounds) and Luke Leverick (11 points, five rebounds) eased the burden on the DePersia twins and made Haddonfield a much more balanced, dangerous team.
The 6-foot-9 Leverick scored six in the first quarter, making a pair of jumpers from the elbow to chase Haddon Township out of its triangle-and-two defense.
"That helped my confidence a lot," Leverick said of making those early shots. "Our high-low game was on point."
Leverick believes Haddonfield can be a "dominating team" when the Bulldogs reach full strength in February.
Last season, Haddonfield won its first 28 games and was ranked No. 1 in South Jersey before losing to Camden in the South Jersey Group 2 semifinals.
This season has been different, although the Bulldogs still are perfect in Colonial play and still loom as a serious threat in South Jersey Group 2.
But the injuries could turn out to be a blessing in disguise as the team has been forced to deal with issues that weren't a factor last season, to involve more players and develop more depth.
Kadar said Haddonfield could be even better than last season if the injuried players return to full health in time for the team to find its stride before the start of the state tournament.
"Going 28-0, that was awesome," Kadar said. "But this team, we've been dealing with a lot of adversity and figthing through it. I think it's going to make us stronger."
Haddonfield 21 16 19 10 - 66
Haddon Twp. 11 5 8 9 - 33
H: Nick DePersia 23, Rob DePersia 11, Ty Klaus 8, Luke Leverick 11, Tommy Kadar 13.
HT: R.J. McCullough 8, Jake Mulroy 6, Andy Rust 3, Eric DeCrescenzo 6, Rob Preziosi 6, Chistian Roche 1, Pat Donaldson 3.