Salem turns back Burlington City in Group 1 semifinal

Salem boys' basketball coach Brad Spicer let out a sigh when his Rams finally halted 12th-seeded Burlington City's magical run in yesterday's South Jersey Group 1 semifinal.

"We were up 15 early in the fourth quarter, but it was a game of runs and [Burlington City] just kept coming at us," Spicer said after the 68-64 victory sent top-seeded Salem into Tuesday's sectional final against Paulsboro.

"Every time we thought we had the game put away," the coach added, "it seemed like [Kris] Corry would come down and bury a shot."

Corry finished with 21 points to lead four Blue Devils in double figures, while Salem needed its own balanced attack to prevail. A.J. Saunders scored 20, Tony Northrup contributed 18 points and five steals, Derrick Parsley posted 15 points and 10 rebounds, and Quayshun Morris cleared a dozen boards.

The championship is scheduled for Tuesday, 7 p.m., at Kingsway against third-seeded Paulsboro.

Kevin Johnson got the Red Raiders off to a strong start, scoring six of his 14 points in a 16-7 game-opening run, and Daryus Quarles came on to pick up all of his 12 points after intermission to help finish off a 56-52 semifinal victory at second-seeded Penns Grove. Dominique Roy's 18 points keyed the comeback for the Red Devils.

Girls' Basketball

Sophomore Janzell Rodriguez scored a career-high 16 points, capped by a 7-for-8 effort at the line in the fourth quarter, as No. 2 seed Lower Cape May rallied past 11th-seeded Shawnee, 43-38, in a South Jersey Group 3 semifinal.

Victoria Wermuth added a dozen points for the Tigers, who wiped out a six-point deficit by converting 15 of 16 free throws down the stretch.

The Tigers will take on top-seeded Ocean City in the final tomorrow night at Southern Regional. The Red Raiders advanced with a 47-30 romp past No. 5 seed Seneca.

South Jersey Non-Public A. In a semifinal showdown between the last two sectional winners, second-seeded and defending champion Red Bank Catholic used an overwhelming advantage at the foul line and a strong stretch run to put away No. 3 seed Camden Catholic, 64-53.

Serifat Junaid had 15 points and Kathleen Notos scored 12 for the Irish, who shot 10 for 11 from the line while Red Bank Catholic converted 23 of 35 free throws.

Danielle Wessler scored all but two of her 16 points in the first half to keep fifth-seeded Holy Spirit within striking distance, but top-seeded St. John Vianney closed the third quarter with a 12-0 blitz and went on to romp in the semifinal, 84-49.