Overbrook posts first playoff win since '08

The playoffs are so often about seniors, and few have more of a stake in the postseason than the ones on the Overbrook boys' basketball team.

The Rams are a little short on height, but make up for it with a slew of upperclassmen. In fact, all eight players in the eight-man rotation are seniors.

In a season in which the Rams accumulated more wins than many would have forecast, the one they might remember the most occurred Tuesday night, a 59-50 victory over visiting Deptford in a South Jersey Group 2 opening-round game.

Seeded No. 8, Overbrook (18-8) will visit top seed Haddon Heights in Thursday's South Jersey Group 2 quarterfinals.

Never mind that Heights beat Colonial foe Overbrook twice in the regular season. The chance for this veteran group to continue playing together meant a great deal.

Seniors especially have a tough time giving in their uniforms, and now the Rams get to hold onto theirs at least few more days.

These seniors have been through a lot together, and now they have earned the school's first postseason basketball win since 2008.

"It just feels so great," said Overbrook guard Deandre Dredden, who scored a team-high 20 points, including nine in the fourth quarter when the Rams outscored Deptford, 21-16. "I wanted so much to get a playoff win my senior year."

The tallest player among the top eight is 6-foot-2 senior Dom Mapp. Yet playing the Rams isn't the easiest of tasks because, sans the requisite height, Overbrook has a surplus of speed.

Between 5-9 Dredden and 5-11 James Bullock, who had 18 points, Overbrook has two players who can pick the collective pockets of opponents. And there are others, as well.

"We have speed, and we can play with intensity," Overbrook coach Chuck Marciano said. "I love this group."

What's there not to like?

Overbrook was actually playing a mirror-image, No. 9-seeded Deptford team that finished 15-12 and itself enjoyed an outstanding season. The Spartans won the Tri-County Conference Diamond Division and can play the same up-tempo style as Overbrook.

Deptford guard DaRon Curry was outstanding, driving and slithering through the defense to score 24 points, shooting 10 for 17 from the field.

Curry's driving layup got the Spartans to within 48-46 with 3 minutes, 25 seconds left, but then Overbrook put the game away, going on an 11-4 run.

And afterward, the seniors had the sheer look of joy. There wasn't any overt celebrating, maybe because Overbrook already was gearing its thoughts to Haddon Heights.

Regardless of what happens Thursday, this group has been rewarded.

"We've really worked so hard for this," Dredden said. "And our coach deserves so much credit because he's a wonderful coach."

Marciano, now in his 13th season at Overbrook, took some time to soak in the atmosphere.

"I haven't seen a crowd like this for an Overbrook game for some time," he said. "The fans were really excited."

So were the players, and yes, the veteran coach, as well.

This senior-laden team has gone through so much together. It seemed only fitting that winning a playoff game together would be part of the drill.

Deptford   13 8 13 16 – 50

Overbrook   10 18 10 21 – 59

D: DaRon Curry 24, Brandon West 7, Nick Lawson 13, C.J. Bernardo 4, Devon Thompson 2.

O: James Bullock 18, Deandre Dredden 20, Mike Diaz 2, Justin Hagains 6, Tynir Gale 9, Ray Cross 4.