The Philadelphia Inquirer from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania • Page 5

23 south jersey sports 4-CJ Saturday, March 16, 1985 if Burlington Twp captures state championship 'V it Finishes 31-0 with victory over Bogota By Sam Carchidi inquirer Staff. Writer EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. Before last night's NJSIAA Group 1 basketball final, Burlington Township High's coach, Ken Faulkner, said his team's season was "the kind you think about dream about, really when you're laying on the beach in the summer." The Falcons took the final step toward transforming Faulkner's -nil- w'j 8l (I fe-tb i dreams into reality last night, nnisn-ing off a storybook, 31-0 season with a 66-52 victory over Bogota (23-6) at I the Brendan Byrne Arena. With, the win, Burlington Town- ship: Won the first state champion-; ship in any sport in the school's 21- year history. The Falcons, No.

1 in Burlington Township coach Ken Faulkner and his players gather around their NJSIAA Assoctated Preu Group 1 state championship trophy after defeating Bogota The Inquirer South Jersey ratings, had been 0-f6r-3 in their previous appearances in state basketball finals. Became the second team in South Jersey history to go 31-0. Camden set the record in winning Group 4 with a 31-0 record last year. Became only the ninth South Jersey team since 1960 to construct an unbeaten record. It was the first undefeated season in the Falcons' history.

Virtually clinched the No. 1 spot in The Inquirer ratings. The final top 10 will appear Monday. "We've worked a lot of years for this," said Burlington Township's 6-5 senior swingman Kevin Baggett, who was named the game's MVP after collecting 16 points, 6 rebounds, 3 blocked shots and 3 steals. "When we were little way back in fourth grade we said if we work hard, we'll be state champs.

We sweated and went through a lot of pain," "We've been playing together for a long time for this," said the St. Joseph's-bound Baggett, who finished his brilliant four-year career with 1,911 points. Burlington Township didn't gain control last night until it scored the first 10 points of the third quarter to take a 32-20 lead. Bogota never got closer than nine points the rest of the way. The Falcons used a swarming 1-2-1-1 full-court press similar to the one they used in a 10-0 streak against Glassboro in the South Jersey sectional final in the opening minutes of the second half.

"Our press," said Faulkner, "has been our secret weapon." So was John Howell, who guarded Bogota's Bryan Heron and held the 6- 5 senior to only four points in the second half. Heron, a Jamaican who didn't play organized basketball until two years ago, scored 14 points in the first half, including 11 in the first quarter. He reached the career mark by converting a three-point play with 4 seconds left in the opening quarter. ftp VfvV Howell, a muscular 6-3 senior who Besides Baggett, Jackson and How-will attend Duke on a football schol- ell, 6-3 Tony Fields (13 points) hit arship next fall, sank an 8-footer to double figures for the give Township a 24-20 lead in the Three-year starting guard Byron Tay- opening seconds of the second half, lor who missed most of the state That started the decisive 10-0 spurt, semifinal against New Brunswick A jumper by Baggett increased the Tuesday with a shoulder injury margin to 26-20 and, after a Bogota added ei8nt Points, including five in turnover, an inside hoop by Howell tne first quarter. put Township ahead, 28-20.

Howell "Maybe he shouldn't even have finished with 11 points and was one been playing but it was a gutty of four Falcons in double figures. game," Faulkner said. "He got the A steal by guard Oscar Jackson (12 offense moving in the first quarter." points, 6 assists) off an inbound pass Maybe Burlington Township sub set up his two free throws. A few Shawn Herrington summed up the seconds later, Jackson made another team's feeling best. As the Falcons steal, leading to a tap-in by the hus- left the court their fans saluted them tling Baggett, who followed his own with a thundering standing ovation.

miss- Herrington looked up at the crowd Suddenly, Township had a 32-20 and held up one finger. lead with 5:41 left in the third quar- "Team Supreme," he said, smiling ter- dreamily. "Team Supreme." Township's press helped cause 23 indeed turnovers 10 in the third quarter. The Falcons were guilty of 14 turn- Notes. Burlington Township shot overs- 24-for-49 from the floor and 18-for-31 Bogota got to within 47-38 on a from the foul line.

Bogota shot 20-for- jumper by Rob Sinclair (16 points) 40 and 12-for-18 from the line. early in the fourth quarter. But Bur- Baggett was 8-for-14 from the lington Township's Kirby Johnson- Bogota outrebounded the Fal- sank an 8-footer to start a 7-2 run that cons, 29-28. Heron shot 7-for-16 gave the Falcons a 5440 lead with and grabbed 10 rebounds. TOR loft in the Damp Burlington Twp.

Bogota IS 7 25 19 66 13 7 14 18 52 BT: Km Baggett 16. John Howell 1 1. Tony Fields 13. 2, Kirby Johnson 2. Albert Oliver 2.

Rob Smclei 16, 0n FiugeraW 3, Joe Barom 2. Glen Krautzer 6. Anoosted Preu deflect a pass by Juan Dominquez of Bogota in the first half Tuten's 31 points lead Wilson to Group 3 title, 79-70 12-second stretch, during which Wilson dominated the offensive boards. Wilson made only three of seven free throws during the stretch but built a 68-65 lead. After Rahway's Pat Ladley missed a jumper, Wilson started a fastbreak that ended with a Tuten layup, putting the Tigers ahead, 70-65.

with 3:17 left. After Rahway crept to within 70-68, Tuten was involved in the game's next seven points hitting threeof four free throws, feeding 64 sophomore Erie Taylor for an uncontested layup and scoring on a breakaway to -give Wilson a 77-68 lead with 59 sec-onds remaining. 12 advantage. Wilson, which held a 21-18 lead after the first quarter, used an eight-point string to build a 32-22 margin with 4 minutes, 55 seconds left in the half. Tuten, perhaps Wilson's most valuable player over the last 10 games, was the focal point of the streak, sinking four free throws and scoring on a steal and subsequent layup.

When the half ended, Wilson owned a 43-34 lead. Along with Tuten who shot 8 for 10 from the floor in the first half 5-' 11 sophomore guard Ron Damon aided the Tigers attack. Damon scored 10 points in the first 16 minutes en route to a 25-point night. In the first half, Wilson shot 17 for ,36 from the floor and 9 for 14 from the foul while Rahway was 15 By Sam Carchidi inquirer Stall Writer EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. Led by 31 points from 5-foot, 10-inch junior guard Henry Tuten, Woodrow Wilson won the fourth state basketball championship in its history last night, defeating North Jersey champion Rahway, 79-70, in the NJSIAA Group 3 finals before 6,307 fans at the Byrne Arena.

Wilson (26-3) also won Group 3 state crowns in 1949 and 1978 and the Group 4 title in 1970. Rahway finished at 22-8. The Tigers played without captain Tyrone Barringer, a 64 senior who spent last night at Philadelphia's Wills Eye Hospital with an eye infection. Barringer, who averaged 13.5 points per game and provided much-needed experience, is scheduled to Howell helped the surge with a tnree-poini piay Wlin MS lO go. Burlington TCWnShlp Spread OUt its offense and ste up huge portions c.ci of the clock during the last 5:52.

have an operation Tuesday, according to Wilson coach Bill Smothers. Without Barringer, Wilson's starting lineup included only one senior last night 6-5 James Inge. Wilson also had three sophomores and a junior in its starting five. Trailing by 12-10, Wilson scored six straight points to take a 16-12 lead and never trailed again. Tuten, who was voted the game's most vaaluable player, scored 22 points in the first half.

He started the go-ahead spurt by scoring on a drive down the baseline. A follow-up by 6-5 sophomore Duane Reed who replaced Barringer in the starting lineup and contributed .10 points and eight blocked shots made it 14-12. A short time later, Inge grabbed an offensive rebound and buried a 10-footer in the lane, giving Wilson a 16- Track and field "Last season, Sonja Jumped in the shadow of Denise Mitchell and people didn't really notice her. This season, I think she'll do just fine. We went out there today to have some fun and that's exactly what we did." Bennett's Eagles teammate, Loressa Judah, a sprinter who opted for the long jump yesterday, finished fifth with a jump of 15-1.

Edgewood was ninth among the 20 teams. Timi Crawford finished third in the 55-meter dash and the 400-meter run as Eastern tied for 10th place Baggett reaches out to try to for 31 from the floor and 4 for 4 from the foul line. Despite playing with an almost entirely underclassman lineup, Wilson committed only three turnovers in the first half! Rahway committed seven. "I know these guys are sophomores, but you really can't call them sophomores," Tuten had said before the game. "They don't play like sophomores.

Besides, they've played all year. They're not sophomores any longer." Led by 64 senior guard Mike Mc-Kenna, Rahway trimmed a nine-point halftime deficit to 58-57 after three quarters. McKenna scored nine in the third quarter six on long-range jumpers. He netted eight of his points in the final 2 minutes of the erts. Gratz.

62.9. 800-meter run 1, Teresa Williams, West 2:17.3. 2, Cindy Ford, King, 2:18.1. 3, Michelle Torelli. Cardinal O'Hara, 2:20.1.

4, Dawn Jones. Penn. 2:24.9. 5, Kelly O'Donnell. Archbishop Carroll, 2:25.5.

1 run 1. Kelly McDonald, Toms River East, 6:15.4. 2, Anna Vargas. Wm. Penn, 5:22.3.

3, Bredenda Miller. West 5:29.1. 4, Matone. Toms River East, 5 29.6. 5.

Dierdra Kelly, Archbishop Carroll, 5:35.5. 3.200-meter run 1, Leslee Martin, Geo. Washington, 11:15.2. 2, Anna Vargas, Wm. Penn, 11:25.8.

3. Cindy Sladek. Cardinal Dougherty, 11:37.3. 4, Kelly Cornell. Archbishop Wood.

11:45.2. 6. Giacinti, Toms River East, 11:56.9. 400-meter relay 1. Wm.

Penn (Lisa Lucas. Debbie Roberts, Shawn Moore, Missy Milligan). 49.5. 2, Trenton Central. 50.0.

3, West 50.6. 4. Bok, 51.0. 5, Cardinal O'Hars, 62.3. relay 1, Wm.

Penn (Missy Milligan, Debbie Bonner, Shawn Moore, Debbie Roberts). 4:03.9. 2, Trenton CentraL 4:12.2. 3. Dobbins.

4:15.2. 4, Bishop Conwell) 4:16.2. 5, Overbrook. 4:16.7. relay 1, Cardinal O'Hara quarter, enabling the Indians to slice a 5649 deficit to one.

Damon his jump shot back in order after a 4-for-14 first half scored 10 points in the third quarter to. help hold off the North Jersey champs. Wilson scored the first five points of the fourth quarter, to take a 63-57 lead, but an 8-2 Rahway spurt knotted the score at 65-65. McKenna tied it with a 16-footer with 5:19 to play 9 seconds after a tough inside bucket by Tuten was disallowed because of an offensive foul. Tuten and Inge each sank a free throw to give Wilson a 67-65 lead with about 4 minutes left.

With 3:35 remaining, Rahway suffered a severe setback when 6-3 junior Stan Smith fouled out. It was Rahway's fourth personal foul in a (Neagan Cepatelli, Heather Shields, Michelle Torelli, Party Gallagher), 9:44.0. 2, Archbishop Carroll, 10:17.1. 3, Geo. Washington, 10:35.0.

4. West 10:39.9. 5. Bishop McDevitt. 10:41.0.

Long jump 1, Sonja Bennett, Edgewood, 17-1. 2. Cathy Allen, West 15-8. 3. Barbara Worthington, Wm.

Penn. 15-7V4. 4, Joanna James. Bok, 15-6. 5.

Loressa Judah, Edgewood, 15-1V. High jump 1, Tonya Hendrix, Wm. Penn, 4-10. 2, Maura Powell. Archbishop Carroll, 4-8.

3 (tie). Joan McLaughlin, Dobbins, and Dorothy O'Malley. Bishop Kennck. 4-6. Shot put 1, Marcia Grayson, Toms River South.

38-8. 2. Cathy Allen, West 25-3, Sonia Hill, Cardinal Dougherty. 25-2V. 4.

Joan Imms. Bishop McDevitt, 24-11. 5, Bernice Mitchell, Trenton Central, 24-11. Team scoring Wm. Penn 53, West Phila.

24. Trenton Central 17. Cardinal O'Hara -10, Archbishop Carroll 10, Cardinal Dougherty 10, Geo. Washington 9, Toms River East 9, Edgewood 7, Toms River South 6, Bok 6, Eastern 6, Dobbins 5V4, Archbishop Wood 5. Martin Luther King 4, Bishop McDevitt 3.

Bishop Kennck 2Vi. Bishop Conwell 2. Over-brook 1, Gratz 1. Edgewood junior takes long jump title at Spiked Shoe meet Woodrow Wilson Rahway 21 18 21 79 13 70 James Inge 4, Duane Reed 10, Eric Taylor 7, Ron Damon 25. Henry Tuten 31.

Owight Thompson 2. Rahim Muhammad 1 1, Stan Smith 18. Fred Morton 15. Jeff Baker 6, Mike McKenna 16, Pat Ladley 4. South Jersey scoreboard ,1985 NJSIAA playcrffs TODAY Boys' basketball (Games at Byrne Arena, East Rutherford) State Group 2 final Burlington vs.

Rutherford, 3 p.m. State Group 4 final Camden vs. Elizabeth, 8:30 p.m. Girls' basketball (Games at Byrne Arena. Eaat Rutherford) State Group 1 final Hoffman vs.

New Providence, 1 1 a.m. State Group 2 final Middle Township vs. Sparta, 1 p.m. State Group 4 finait Washington vs. Irvington.

6 SO p.m. with Toms River South and Bok. Shawn Moore won two individual events and ran on a pair of victorious relay teams to spark William Penn, which finished first in six events, to its second consecutive team crown. The results 65-merter hurdles 1. Shawn Moors.

Wm. Penn, 8.3. 2. Mary Blue. Cardinal Doughafty, 8.4.

3. Judy Ring. Archbp. Wood. 8.9.

Walker, Trenton Central. 9. 1. 5, Dawn Goodson, West 9.3. 65-meter dash 1, Debbie Roberts.

Wm. Penn. 7.O. 2, Cheryl Baker, Trenton Central, 7.1. 3, Timi Crawford, Eastern.

7.2. 4, Tina Peterson, Bok, 7.3. 5. Jernell Austin, West 7.5. 400-metar run 1, Shewn Moore.

Wm. Penn, 57.2. 2. Camilla Hej.iSrix, Wm. Penn, 58.6.

3. Timi Crawford, Eastern, 69.9. 4, Donna Powell, Trenton Central, 61.4. 5, Michelle Rob Edgewood High's Sonja Bennett won the long-jump competition and William Penn High won its second straight team title at the Spiked Shoe girls' track meet, the opening of the outdoor track season, at the University of Pennsylvania's Franklin Field yesterday. Bennett, a junior, leaped 17 feet, inches to easily outdistance second-place finisher Cathy Allen of West Philadelphia, who jumped "I was very pleased with the performance by all our kids," said Edgewood track coach Ben Moore.

"Sonja usually leaps about that distance (17 feet) and think that the field today was a little weak. But I can see her going 18 feet this year..