Cherokee beats Wildwood Catholic with big finish
It was the climactic ending of a dramatic week for Wiley Roberson and the Cherokee boys' basketball team. Roberson, a junior who played for the first time this season on Tuesday, sparked a rousing comeback as Cherokee beat Wildwood Catholic, 61-55, in a clash of Top 10 teams Friday night at the Tri-State Showcase at Bishop Eustace.
It was the climactic ending of a dramatic week for Wiley Roberson and the Cherokee boys' basketball team.
Roberson, a junior who played for the first time this season on Tuesday, sparked a rousing comeback as Cherokee beat Wildwood Catholic, 61-55, in a clash of Top 10 teams Friday night at the Tri-State Showcase at Bishop Eustace.
Senior forward Marcus Marshall scored 15 points and senior guard Zach Rowe generated 12 points, 10 rebounds and 6 assists for Cherokee (15-4), the No. 10 team in The Inquirer Top 25.
Junior guard Trey Smith led all scorers with 23 points for No. 7 Wildwood Catholic (12-3).
"That's a very, very good team," Wildwood Catholic coach Dave DeWeese said of Cherokee. "We put ourselves in position to beat a very good team and we just couldn't finish."
Cherokee trailed, 50-40, early in the fourth quarter and closed the game on a 21-5 run, with Roberson scoring nine of his 11 points.
In effect, it was a 21-3 run, as the Chiefs allowed the Crusaders to score an uncontested basket at the buzzer.
"I called a timeout [down 10] and just said, 'Stick with it, keep grinding,' " Cherokee coach Eric Cassidy said. "I really think our schedule, playing in the Olympic Conference, helped us out tonight because our guys didn't panic.
"They've been in these situations. They just kept playing."
Rowe made several plays down the stretch, beating defenders into the paint and dishing to teammates for open looks.
"We couldn't control [No.] 3," DeWeese said of Rowe. "He kept getting in the lane on us."
The 6-foot-2 Roberson has scored 11 points in each of his first three games this season, wins over No. 9 Bishop Eustace, No. 15 Lenape and No. 7 Wildwood Catholic.
"Wiley has been outstanding," Cassidy said. "He's so athletic and he's offensive-minded. He gives us a big lift."
Roberson was able to practice with the team while sitting out games until Feb. 1 for academic reasons. He said he nearly gave up on this season out of frustration.
"There were times when I thought, 'Is this what I want to do?' " Roberson said. "But Coach Cassidy, coach [Adam] Carpenter, they kept on me."
Roberson joined a veteran team that was emerging from a tough stretch that included a three-game losing streak after a 9-1 start highlighted by back-to-back wins over then-Top 10 teams Eastern and Timber Creek.
The Chiefs have regained their bearings, winning six in a row and reestablishing themselves as serious contenders for the Olympic American and South Jersey Group 4 titles.
"It's our senior leadership," Cassidy said. "These guys have been through the wars. They're like veteran NBA players. They know not to panic."
Roberson is an explosive athlete who gives the Chiefs a large dose of energy. He made his biggest impact in the fourth quarter, scoring seven straight after Wildwood Catholic took a 50-40 lead on freshman Jalen Freeman's three-pointer.
Roberson also grabbed five rebounds and buried a pair of free throws for the Chiefs' final points.
"The coaches believed in me and my teammates believed in me," Roberson said. "This was a great team win."
Cherokee 10 14 15 22 - 61
Wildwood Catholic 6 20 17 12 - 55
C: Kevin Brown 14, Tyler Tobin 5, Zach Rowe 12, Wiley Roberson 11, Marcus Marshall 15, Steve Gervasi 4.
WC: D.J. Smith 5, Trey Smith 23, Ryan Legler 2, Caleb Fields 12, Will Bell 4, Jalen Freeman 5, Charles Fields 4.
@PhilAnastasia