Deveney brothers power Shawnee past Atlantic City

They could have been in the backyard.

First, one Deveney brother would make a three-pointer.

Then the other would answer.

It was a competition of sorts, a game within a game, a sibling rivalry between teammates in the middle of the South Jersey Group 4 final.

Dylan Deveney, a senior forward, scored 23 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in the last home game of his illustrious career to power Shawnee to a 61-48 victory over Atlantic City before a sellout crowd in the Renegades' gymnasium.

Connor Deveney, a junior guard, added 14 points as the top-seeded Renegades won their 12^th sectional title and advanced to face the Colts Neck-Trenton winner in Wednesday's state semifinals.

Both brothers made four three-pointers, a tie that didn't sit well with the older of the siblings.

"I wish I would have made five," Dylan said.

That didn't surprise his younger brother, who says he's usually the winner in the shooting contests on the court in their backyard in Medford.

"I usually beat him," Connor said with a smile. "Ask him."

Senior guard Dean Noll added 15 points, including seven in the fourth quarter, and senior swingman Daevon Robinson collected 11 rebounds for Shawnee (26-4), which won its second straight South Jersey Group 4 title.

Senior guard Nazim Derry scored 14 and senior swingman Ray Bethea added 11 points and seven rebounds for third-seeded Atlantic City (25-6).

"We played well but they were better," Atlantic City coach Gene Allen said. "So kudos to them."

Allen shook his head in wonder at the outside shooting of the Deveneys, especially at key times of the game.

"I don't think I've ever witnessed something like that," Allen said. "Especially from that deep. They weren't even hitting the rim."

Shawnee coach Joe Kessler said he has adjusted some drills during practice to account for the Deveneys' range.

"They can shoot from so deep and the second-team defense can't get out there and guard them that far from the basket," Kessler said.

Shawnee seized command with a 10-0 run to close the second quarter and took a 33-25 lead into the halftime locker room.

Dylan Deveney scored six in that surge on a pair of three-pointers.

"That was the game right there," he said.

Said Allen: "We never really recovered from that."

Earlier in the third quarter, the Deveneys ran a pick-and-pop, with Connor driving to the baseline and kicking out a pass to Dylan, who drained another three-pointer for a 36-25 lead.

The play brought a huge cheer from the Shawnee fans, and moved the brothers to emphatically slap palms at midcourt.

"I remember that play," Connor said. "He set the screen, he popped out and I got it to him and he made a great shot."

The game was special for Shawnee's seniors, who were playing on their home court for the last time. There was an added element for Dylan Deveney, since it was his last game on the court with his brother.

"We talked about that at home," Dylan said. "I knew how much it would mean to me, playing my last game with my brother in this gym.

"It's bittersweet. I'm just glad we went out with a win."

He just wishes he had made one more three-pointer.

Atlantic City 15 10 17 6 – 48

Shawnee 15 18 16 12 – 61

AC: Nah'Sir Morgan 7, Nazim Derry 14, Ray Bethea Jr. 11, Ramon Rodriguez 10, Zion Teague 6.

S: Dean Noll 15, Connor Deveney 14, Dylan Deveney 23, Daevon Robinson 7, Kane Feudtner 2.