High School Boys Basketball:
West Deptford Holds Off Clearview

Tuesday, February 29, 2000

By Art Redd
SJSports Staff Writer

When the basketball game ended on Tuesday at West Deptford High School, the Eagles advanced to the next round of the playoffs. They weren't too happy about the way they won, but it was a win. The Clearview Pioneers had traveled to West Deptford for the first round of the South Jersey Group 3 boy's basketball playoffs. But it was the Eagles who came away with a hard fought 60-53 win to advance to the quarterfinals against Moorestown.

The Pioneers started out this game very sluggish and not getting many chances to score many points. They only put up eight shots in the first quarter, which left the door wide open for West Deptford to steal the victory early. Rick Nuss was 3 for 4 from the field and outscored Clearview himself as the Eagles went ahead 16-5 in the initial quarter.

Dan Fellona begin to get on track in the second and third quarters, making things interesting for Clearview. Down by 17 points at the half, the Pioneers came storming back in the third quarter. Fellona hit his first two shots from the field to get things started for Clearview. His teammate Pat Boutilier drained a three-pointer with 1:37 remaining in the quarter to cut the deficit to 9 points. The last shot of the quarter was also made by Boutilier to outscore the Eagles 19-9 and Clearview was back in this game.

Needing to hold the Eagles to a low scoring fourth quarter, Clearview wanted to get points on the scoreboard for any chance of advancing further in the Group 3 tournament. West Depford's Dante Bowman scored six of the fourteen points in the quarter to dash the hope of Clearview's stealing a victory on the road. Fellona finished with a game high 22 points, while Boutilier and Matt Mesmer both added 10 points in the loss for Clearview. Zander Robinson had a team high 19-points and Bowman added 18 points to lead the Eagles.

Photos by Jason Brown