Seniors steer Haddonfield past Shawnee

Another game, another dazzling offensive display for Haddonfield.

Haddonfield hit 10 jumpers from three-point range and got a combined 57 points from senior guards Wyatt Polk, Anthony Parenti and Mark Griffin in a 78-66 victory over Shawnee Sunday in the Cherry Hill Invitational.

"We're on a roll right now," said the 6-foot-3 Polk, who scored 25.

Haddonfield has won 11 of 12. The Bulldogs have beaten New Egypt, Kingsway and Collingswood as well as Shawnee, and their only loss was by a 66-64 score to Rancocas Valley.

The Bulldogs have a pair of talented interior players in junior forward Mike Lacatena and sophomore forward Chris Biddle, who scored 13 on Sunday.

But the key to the team's surge has been its senior class, especially Polk, Parenti and Griffin.

"They've taken us on a great ride," Haddonfield coach Paul Wiedeman said.

Wiedeman said these seniors entered the season in danger of becoming the first class under the veteran coach to go through four years in the program without a conference, sectional or state title.

Haddonfield (19-5) is in position to earn at least a share of the Colonial Liberty title with a pair of conference victories this week. The Bulldogs also will be a tough out in the South Jersey Group 2 tournament as a No. 6 seed, with a projected showdown with third-seeded Cinnaminson in the second round.

"These seniors are on a mission," Wiedeman said.

Rebound. Top-ranked Paul VI bounced back from Thursday's loss to No. 5 Bishop Eustace with a 55-52 victory over defending Tournament of Champions winner Trenton Catholic Sunday at Cherry Hill East.

Senior swingman Rob Poole led the Eagles with 21 points.

"Trenton Catholic is a great team and we wanted to show we could go against the big teams from up north," Poole said.

Hopkins' health. Williamstown coach Bill Hunt, whose sixth-ranked team has won 15 in a row, hopes to have senior guard Curtis Hopkins back for a big week that includes a Tuesday game with No. 9 Rancocas Valley and a Thursday rematch with No. 10 Kingsway.

Hopkins injured his hip and back in a fall in a game against Deptford on Tuesday. He sat out Williamstown's 63-58 victory over Woodbury on Friday.

"I think he should be back," Hunt said. "But it was a bad fall. If it was me, I'd be in traction."

High praise for DiLeo. Middle Township coach Tom Feraco was impressed with Cinnaminson senior Max DiLeo during a Cherry Hill Invitational game between the South Jersey Group 2 powers on Saturday.

DiLeo went for 22 points with five steals, but Middle Township won the battle of Top 10 teams by a 66-59 score.

"He's got the DNA," said Feraco, referring to DiLeo's father Tony, a 76ers executive, and older brother T.J., a sophomore at Temple. "The apple doesn't fall far from the tree. He does every little thing you want your kids to do."

Ricci milestone. Haddon Heights coach Mike Ricci recorded his 200th career victory Saturday as the Garnets beat Gloucester Catholic, 41-34, in overtime.

Ricci has a 200-165 record as coach at three Colonial Conference programs: Haddon Heights, Paulsboro and Gateway.

Langerman file. South Jersey sports maven Chuck Langerman notes the following:

Pitman's senior duo of Luke Dickson and Dylan Colgate have combined for 1,043 of the team's 1,608 points (64.9 percent).

Collingswood senior Karon Waller is averaging 30.9 points in February.

Middle Township senior swingman Marcus Harmon is the nephew of former Middle Township great Ricky Harmon, who scored 1,949 points before graduating in 1978 and playing at Syracuse.

Hot Panthers. Camden looks a little like Camden again, although it's too late for the Panthers to make the Group 3 tournament.

Camden has won five in a row after a 3-17 start. The Panthers have gotten a big lift from seniors Hubert Simmons and Takwail Bailey, who became eligible in early February after transferring from Pennsauken.

Simmons scored 16 and Bailey 15 in Camden's best win of the season, a 61-47 victory over Camden Catholic on Tuesday.