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Vineland’s D.J. Campbell, Cherry Hill East’s Carl Gibson stage three-point duel at Carino Club game

The senior sharp-shooters combined for 12 thee-pointers as Campbell's East squad emerged with a 123-114 victory in 42nd annual game.

Tyshon Judge of Paul VI High School drives to the basket past D.J. Campbell (left) of Vineland High School during the 42nd annual Carino Club South Jersey High School All-Star boys basketball game at the Rutgers Camden.
Tyshon Judge of Paul VI High School drives to the basket past D.J. Campbell (left) of Vineland High School during the 42nd annual Carino Club South Jersey High School All-Star boys basketball game at the Rutgers Camden.Read moreYONG KIM / Staff Photographer

First, Carl Gibson hit a deep three-pointer.

Then D.J. Campbell hit a deeper three-pointer.

Then Campbell buried one from the base of the Ben Franklin Bridge.

Not to be outdone, Gibson drained his seventh three-point of the game, a nothing-but-net splash from the left corner.

“That was fun,” Gibson said after the 42nd annual Al Carino Basketball Club of South Jersey Senior All-Star Game. “We wanted to put on a show and that’s what we did.”

Gibson, a guard from Cherry Hill East, scored 23 points and was named Most Valuable Player of the black-shirted West Squad.

Campbell, a guard from Vineland, made five three-pointers and scored 19 for the grey-clad East squad.

St. Augustine forward Charles Solomon was named MVP of the East team, which emerged with a 123-114 victory at Rutgers Camden.

“It was great to be able to play with some of the best players in South Jersey,” Campbell said. “It was so much fun.”

School teammates Tyshon Judge (17) and Hartnel Haye (15) of Paul VI combined for 32 points for the West squad.

Campbell and Gibson had a friendly duel going midway through the second half.

It was a continuation of a battle that began when Cherry Hill East bounced Vineland out of the first round of the South Jersey Group 4 tournament, ending Campbell’s career.

“I wanted to get him back for what happened in the playoffs,” Campbell said.

Both players were raining three-pointers. Gibson, who has drawn recruiting interest from West Chester (Pa.) University among other college programs, made three treys in the first half and four more in the second half.

“It was just an honor to be out here,” Gibson said. “There were so many great players in this game.”

The 6-foot-7 Solomon dominated in the paint along with teammates Jacob Valeus from Pleasantville and Zion Teague from Atlantic City. Valeus scored 15 and Teague 10.

But Campbell broke the game open for the West squad with a flurry of four three-pointers that began with around eight minutes remaining in the game.

“I just want to come out and have fun,” said Campbell, who is leaning toward attending Stockton University. “It was a great time.”

Mattia Morini of Bishop Eustace and Mike DePersia of Haddonfield, both members of the West squad, won contests held in conjunction with the game. Morini won the dunk contest and DePersia won the three-point shooting contest.

The Black team won the Tim Lenahan Memorial Eighth-Grade Game by a 70-59 score as Collingswood Middle School’s Tim Search was named MVP.

Semaj Bethea of Kipp-Norcross Camden school was named MVP of the Gray squad. Gray teamer Ayden Hagan, of Gateway Middle School, won the three-point contest.

East 54 69 – 123

West 55 59 – 114

E: Kyree Myers 2, Javon Gordon 10, William Piollick 4, Josh Wright 7, Darnell Demby 4, Sean Miller 8, D.J. Campbell 19, Marcellus Ross 8, Steve Matlack 8, Jacob Valeus 15, Charles Solomon 28, Zion Teague 10.

Eest: Mike DePersia 4, Dorien DePina 5, Tyshon Judge 17, Nick Cartwright-Atkins 7, Brian Burns 3, Carl Gibson 23, Baba Ajike 7, Conor Regan 8, Mattia Morini 7, Ryan Ems 1, Uche Okafor 11, Hartnel Haye 15, Dan Fleming 6.