High School Basketball:
Lenape Falls To Pemberton At Home

Saturday, January 24, 1998

By Art Redd
SJSports Staff Writer

If the way the first 6 points were scored was an indication of how the rest of the game would be, then this had all the implications of a very high offensive scoring game. Pemberton went to work right off of the opening tip with a 3 pointer. But Lenape would respond with a 3 pointer of their own. All of this would happen within the first 10 seconds of the game. To slow things down, the Hornets would apply a full court press right after their basket and surprise the Lenape Indians. This defense would result in 8 of their 19 first quarter points off of the press. Guards Willie William and Jurron Kelly were very aggressive to force over turnovers.

The Indians would be without 6-3 forward Craig Vogt due to a deep thigh bruise. Coach Kevin Kelly had brought up Vince Ossrio and Tim Schaff from the JV squad. They both player extremely well. Ossrio would team up with Mitch McGovern to handle the press and set up their half court offense. Indians would out score the Hornets 17-8 in the second quarter. Evan Johnson's turnaround jumper down low would give the Indians their first lead of the game 22-21 with 4:23 left in the half. The Indians would hold off the Hornets and go into halftime with a lead of 30-27.

The fourth quarter would find the crowd from both schools yelling defense. The Hornets would respond to that and regain the lead with 3:12 left in the game on a 3 pointer by Jurron Kelly. Evan Johnson would put the Indians back up 54-53, but the Hornets would take the lead again on a jumper by Rob Thompson and never looked back. With the clock under a minute left, Lenape was forced to foul and the Hornets would convert on every free throw down the stretch. Final score was 62-57 Pemberton. Rob Thompson had 20 points, Kenny Gibbs finished with 12 points and Terrence Johnson had 13. Mitch McGovern would lead the Indians with 12 points.