St. Augustine beats Oakcrest, 52-40

MAYS LANDING, N.J. - It was a small step but a sure and steady one.

"We're moving in the right direction," St. Augustine coach Paul Rodio said after his team's 52-40 victory over Oakcrest Monday night in a Cape-Atlantic American II game.

Seniors Isaiah Morton and Charlie Monaghan led the way for St. Augustine (7-0, 2-0), the No. 1 team in South Jersey in The Inquirer's top 10.

Morton, a 5-foot-8 guard, scored 14, and Monaghan, a 6-6 forward, collected 11 points and 12 rebounds.

Justin Knight, a 6-0 senior guard, scored 27 for Oakcrest (4-2, 1-1). Knight scored 14 in the fourth quarter.

"That was a typical game for Justin," Oakcrest coach Steve Brown said. "But he didn't shoot the ball well. We couldn't make a shot. If we shoot the ball, we could do OK with the Prep."

St. Augustine's defense held Oakcrest to just 14 points in the first half and just 22 through three quarters.

"We came out with intensity right away," Monaghan said. "This was a hostile environment and Oakcrest is one of the better teams we're going to play. It's never easy but I thought we hung together as a team."

Rodio saw progress, especially in the Hermits' defensive effort.

Before the game, the veteran coach said his team had been "so-so" through the early portion of the season. But a convincing road victory over an Oakcrest team that had beaten Atlantic City and was coming off a 50-35 win over Timber Creek was a good sign for the Hermits.

"Where do you want to be at this point of the season?" Rodio said. "[Oakcrest] is a pretty good team and we came in and really played a good defensive game.

"Offensively, we were a litle blah, but we're getting there."

Monaghan sees the Hermits moving in the right direction, too.

"We're still on the rise," Monaghan said.

St. Augustine   15 8 9 20 - 52

Oakcrest   6 8 8 18 - 40

SA: Isaiah Morton 14, Charlie Monaghan 11, Mike Greenman 2, Barry Buchowski 3, Dominick Palmieri 3, Brenton Slotoroff 5, David Sullivan 1, Austin Johnson 8, Julian Diaz 4, Jake Smejkal 1.

O: Justin Knight 27, Deshawn Ward 4, Avery Walker 5, Jeff Skinner 2, Irish Price 2.