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ABOUT THE COVER
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omething rarely seen in the world of high school sports happened on Jan. 24 when the Atlantic City and Ocean City girls basketball teams squared off in Atlantic City. Two sisters, Marlee Brestle of Ocean City and Madison Brestle of Atlantic City, went toe-to-toe against each other, often times guarding each other throughout the game as they both play the point guard position. In the end, Marlee’s Red Raiders came out on top, winning the game 40-38, but this game provided a unique opportunity for these sisters to test themselves against each other on the varsity stage. Madison, a senior, and Marlee, a junior, both played well and contributed to putting their respective teams in position to win in the final minute. And while they had fun playing against each other, it also meant divided loyalties for parents Marla and Mike Brestle, who were rooting for both teams and both players. Check out our Vic’s Subs Cover Story on Page 10 to read more about this experience, and the impact both players have had on their respective teams. Dave O’Sullivan, Publisher
GLORY DAYS MAGAZINE General contact: 609-788-4294/advertising@acglorydays.com Dave O’Sullivan, Publisher: sully@acglorydays.com On Twitter: @GDsullysays Giuseppe Ungaro, Managing Editor: gungaro@acglorydays.com On Twitter: @GDgisepu Amy D’Adamo, Graphic Design: advertising@acglorydays.com Bill Lynskey, Director of Advertising: bill@acglorydays.com STORY IDEAS/ADVERTISING: Have a story you’d like to see told in Glory Days Magazine? Want to get your business noticed with a marketing campaign at glorydaysonline.com? Call us anytime at 609-788-4294. Volume: 7 Issue: 8 Overall Issue Number: 142. Cover Photography: Dave O’Sullivan 2020 Glory Days Magazine. All rights reserved.
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MAKING HEADLINES Sully takes a closer look at the athletes, coaches and teams who are generating news and highlights in the Cape-Atlantic League and throughout South Jersey.
u Jockeying for position: It looked as though Kira Sides (pic-
tured) and Middle Township were on their way to the No. 1 seed in the upcoming Cape-Atlantic League Tournament, but in the famous words of ESPN college football broadcaster Lee Corso, “not so fast!” Wildwood Catholic scored a 51-49 over the Panthers this week and the race for No. 1 has gotten even tighter with the recent hot streak of Ocean City, and the steady play of Atlantic City. On the boys side, Wildwood Catholic appears to be a clear No. 1 seed, but there will be some jockeying for that No. 2 spot between St. Joseph, Mainland Regional, Atlantic City and St. Augustine Prep. u Mississippi-bound: Congratulations to Pleasantville’s Gabriel Moronta, one of the top track runners in South Jersey, who this week committed to Mississippi State.
glory days digital Want the best high school sports coverage every day of the week? Visit glorydaysonline.com for game coverage, features and more! You can also like us at facebook.com/acglorydays/, and follow Sully on Twitter @GDsullysays. Get the best. Every day.
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SENIOR SPOTLIGHT: Isiah Walsh, Egg Harbor Township Boys Basketball
Learning leadership Walsh setting the tone for a young Eagles team that is beginning to make strides By TIMOTHY MEDINA EHT Student Correspondent nyone can become a good basketball player, but it takes a great player to be a leader. For Egg Harbor Township’s Isiah Walsh, leadership is something that he strives to improve upon, even now, in his final season of high school basketball. Returning for his second year as captain of the varsity basketball team, Walsh has continued to make strides, both on and off the court, to become a better player and “He’s learning every leader, and it hasn’t single day how to gone unnoticed. Eagles coach Cameron Bell be a leader, how to rally your teammates has nothing but praise when it comes to his behind you, how to get senior captain. everybody involved, “There’s been a great and how to make sure amount of growth Isiah. This is my everyone feels good. from fourth year as the varHe’s getting better at sity coach, he’s been with me every step of it every single day.” the way,” Bell said. Cameron Bell “He came in very imEHT coach mature as a freshman, I think I put a lot on his plate, but I watched him every successive year grow more and more into the type of person we thought he could become. He’s been able to handle adversity a lot more than he could when he first came in. I’m proud of the kid.” Looking back on freshman year to now, Walsh — a 6-foot-4 forward — said he feels confident in his improvement. “I feel like I’ve definitely improved in maturity, along with the level of basketball I’ve been playing throughout the years,” he said. “You always have to play above your level so you can get better. When you talk about being a leader, it takes good communication skills on and off the court with your team-
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Glory Days photo/Dave O’Sullivan
Senior forward Isiah Walsh has been a two-year captain for the Egg Harbor Township boys basketball team, and is hoping he can rally his squad to a state playoff berth this season. mates. You need the passion of the game — you need to want that win.” Although the EHT Eagles are sitting with a tough record of 5-10, both Walsh and Bell have seen a considerable amount of improvement over the past few weeks. With Walsh feeling better and more rested after playing less minutes in the previous few matchups, he is doing everything in his power to rally the team toward a potential postseason berth.
“He’s really taken that leadership role by the horns, as leader sometimes you have your ups and downs but you always need to be on, you always need to have positive traits and be upbeat,” Bell said. “He’s learning every single day how to be a leader, how to rally your teammates behind you, how to get everybody involved, and how to make sure everyone
See Walsh, page 7
Jan. 30, 2020 w Glory Days Magazine w Page 7 Walsh, from page 6 feels good. He’s getting better at it every single day, he really dove headfirst into it.” Walsh, the only senior in EHT’s starting lineup, has not been shy about his aspirations for the team. His confidence is what motivates players to come together until the final buzzer. He sets high goals, not only for himself, but for his team as well — even looking beyond high school. “I want to make it to the CAL (CapeAtlantic League) Championship game this year. I’m hoping to make state playoffs, and reach 1000 points,” Walsh said. “After high school, I plan to get a college degree, play the game I love, and hopefully become an engineer.” When it comes to looking into the future, coach Bell has high hopes for the senior forward. “As of now, if he continues improving the way he has in terms of being a leader, being a student first, I really think the sky’s the limit for him,” Bell said. “I know he has an interest in playing basketball at the next level. That
comes from a combination of his talent on the court and in the classroom as well. As long he continues to take those two things seriously he can do anything he puts his mind to.” Walsh feels extremely grateful for not only his coach, but teammates who have stuck with him throughout the years. “I thank coach Bell through all my four years for staying with me. He’s been grinding with me. He’s been looking everywhere at colleges for me to go to,” Walsh said. “I thank my teammates for looking out for me when I’m not there, or in a bad mood. My teammates are always there for me. That is what being a leader does to you. They will make sure you’re fine.” With half the season in the books, Walsh and his teammates can still make the state playoffs, but there certainly will be challenges ahead in February. The Eagles will face tough teams such as ACIT, St. Joseph and Millville, a team EHT lost to on Jan. 21, 62-57. But, Walsh and his teammates have faced adversity before, and won’t be backing down from any of the teams remaining on their schedule.
Glory Days photo/Dave O’Sullivan
Walsh and the Eagles have some tough matchups coming up in February, including games against ACIT, St. Joseph and Millville.
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GREATE PERFORMANCES PRESENTED BY GREATE BAY RACQUET & FITNESS
Watson, Allen set new standards H ow much more can Kylee Watson do in her already impressive high school basketball career? We have less than six weeks left to find out, but the Mainland Regional senior has already made school history the past two years. Last season, the 6-foot-4 University of Oregon commit led the Mustangs to the first girls basketball state championship in program history, and this month she set herself apart individually, becoming the school’s all-time leading scorer, passing the legendary Skip Castaldi with more than 1,750 points. She’s ranked 15th nationally by ESPN among 2020 recruits and third at her position, and after the Nike Nationals last July her evaluation said she “continues development as an elite prospect in the class of 2020.” Watson has been a firstteam all-state selection by USA Today the past two seasons, and also recently was named to the 2020 McDonald’s All-American team. Another newsmaker this month was Atlantic City boys basketball coach Gene Allen, who became the all-time winningest coach in Vikings boys basketball history with his 353rd win. The Vikings have been rolling since a 1-3 start, ripping off 12 straight victories to improve to 13-3 overall and 7-0 in the Cape-Atlantic League American Conference. u Jake Cook, Mainland boys basketball: The senior has been tearing it up lately, helping Mainland go 10-2 in January to improve to 13-4 overall and 7-0 in the CAL National, first place in the conference by two games ahead of Holy Spirit. In a recent win over Ocean City, Cook scored 18 points, then he followed that up with a 24-point outburst in a win over Oakcrest. u Nurridin Abdul-Rahmann, ACIT boys basketball: ACIT scored a key win over Millville on Wednesday night, beating the Thunderbolts 60-53, and Abdul-Rahmann did what he’s been doing all season long by scoring a game-high 28 points. He also added 24 points in a recent
Glory Days photo/Dave O’Sullivan
Mainland Regional senior forward Kylee Watson had herself a pretty good January. First, she became the school’s all-time leading scorer, then she was named to the McDonald’s AllAmerican team. 91-78 victory over Vineland, and even in a 4534 loss to Atlantic City he scored 22 points. u Katie McClintock, Mainland girls swimming: The Mustangs’ star swimming just continues to break records. At the CAL Championships, McClintock set a new meet record by winning the 200 IM in a time of 2:13.76. She beat, you guessed it, her own meet record of 2:15.94 set at last year’s meet. She also was part of Mainland’s 200 medley relay team, along with Summer Cassidy, Madeline Falk and Grace
Gallagher, that set a new meet standard. Just for good measure, McClintock also set a meet record in winning the 100 backstroke. u Joey Tepper, EHT boys swimming: Tepper has been unstoppable all season and he showed off his skills at the CAL Championships, winning the 200 IM and 400 freestyle while helping the Eagles capture the overall team title in the first year team scores have been calculated.
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VIC’S SUBS COVER STORY
Sisters, friends, rivals The Brestle name has become synonymous with Cape-Atlantic League girls basketball, and for one magical season Marlee and Madison have their respective teams in contention for a league title By DAVE O’SULLIVAN Staff Writer ike Brestle, a former all-state football player at Holy Spirit High School, gave a quick pregame assessment on Jan. 24 at Atlantic City High School before the Vikings’ girls basketball team took on Ocean City. “If Abbey Fenton hits her threes, we’re in trouble.” He just as quickly caught himself and added, “but that would good, too.” There are divided loyalties in the Brestle family these days, as Madison, a senior, is the starting point guard at Atlantic City while Marlee — 16 months her junior — is a junior at Ocean City and the start-
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ing point guard for the Red Raiders. Madison lives with mom, Marla, and Marlee actually began her high school career at Atlantic City before deciding to live with Mike in Linwood and transferring to Ocean City, a choice school, halfway through her freshman year. Prior to this season, Marlee was mostly a junior varsity player who got spot minutes on varsity under coach Paul Baruffi, but she has worked hard to become a starter this year. So, when the teams met last week it was the first time the sisters and on-court rivals had the chance to really go at it against each other on the varsity stage. And neither disappointed,
as they played their signature scrappy brand of basketball and made plays to try to help their respective team come away with a victory. In the end, it was a Fenton 3-pointer — with less than 30 seconds to go — that proved the difference, as Ocean City won the game, 40-38 in come-from-behind fashion. “I don’t know if there are two girls who have a motor that goes as strong as those two. They play hard. Marlee has improved so much from her freshman year and has really taken over that point guard position to lead this team. And Madison has done a great
See Brestle, page 11
Jan. 30, 2020 w Glory Days Magazine w Page 11 Brestle, from page 10 job for (Atlantic City) for four years, she’s great defensively. I’m just happy Marlee is with us,” Baruffi said. “She has big shoes to fill, going from Grace (Sacco) to Danielle (Donoghue). Marlee is a different player but she’s accepted what she is, and one thing I love about her is she’s going to play hard and give you everything she has. If she makes a mistake, it’s because she’s trying so hard. It was a great game. I guess their parents were torn trying to watch it, but it was a great game.” “That was a big game for me because I was playing my sister, so it was a sister rivalry all week,” Marlee said. The pair grew up going against each other in one-on-one games, and periodically played on the same travel and recreation teams. But now Marlee has found a home at Ocean City while Madison has become one of the stars of the CAL and is widely regarded as one of the best defensive guards in the league. Through Jan. 27, Atlantic City was 11-4 overall and 6-0 in the CAL American Conference, while Ocean
City, after a 1-5 start, had ripped off eight straight wins to improve to 9-5 and vaulted into the top spot in the CAL National. Both teams could be in line for a top-four seed in the upcoming CAL Tournament, which features the league’s best eight teams. “I went to Atlantic City for two months my freshman year, but I realized all my friends were at Ocean City and I liked it when I went over there for a tour. I realized that when I was moving to Linwood I could do school choice, and it just felt like a better fit for me,” Marlee said. “I love it (at Ocean City). All my friends and teachers are great, I love basketball over there. It’s a great atmosphere. We get to see each other like normal sisters, maybe we don’t fight as much. But I like having these types of rivalry moments, it makes for good memories.” Both sisters said their meeting on Jan. 24 was highly anticipated. “We played with each other in AAU our whole lives, so this was the first time we’ve played against each other in an actual game. It was awesome, I
Glory Days photos/Dave O’Sullivan
Madison (top) and Marlee Brestle have their respective teams, Atlantic See Brestle, page 13 City and Ocean City, in first place in their CAL conference races.
Jan. 30, 2020 w Glory Days Magazine w Page 13 Brestle, from page 11 loved it,” Marlee said. “(My coaches) didn’t want me to guard her because they were scared we might get too aggressive in some situations, but I loved it. It was so fun. A lot of our mutual friends were there cheering for both of us. It was kind of a surreal feeling playing against her and trying to not let my older sister beat me in the end.” “It was fun. I’m very happy for her, she played a great game. We were smack talking each other and stuff like that, but I was super excited for this game because it doesn’t happen very often. Before we were joking around and stuff, but once the game started it was game time and a switch goes off,” Madison added. “She really impressed me tonight. To see her come out and run the point guard position was really nice. I think she did a great job. (During the game) Marlee was out of my head, I was just focusing on the game and I was just worried about the fact that we were down at halftime.” “It was kind of cool. I’ve known both
of them since before they were in high school and Marlee was here for a little bit, so I was looking forward to them playing together. But the dynamic of them playing against each other and the energy led to some interesting basketball,” said Atlantic City coach Jason Lantz. “I told Madison to not be too excited, but that’s hard to do when you have the chance to play against your sibling and have some fun. That’s a lifetime conversation the two of them will have through the years, talking about their high school experience.” Much like the Meltons are considered the first family of football at Cedar Creek, the Brestles are writing their own legacy at Atlantic City, and now Ocean City. Lantz said stories like this one are great for South Jersey girls basketball. “The whole family is great. I’ve had the opportunity to get to know them, and the grandparents, the parents, they’re all very supportive of both programs. They always ask if there is anything they can do to help out,” he said. “It’s a good thing for basketball in general in this area. We have so many
good stories, with Kylee Watson (of Mainland), the Brestle girls, Wildwood Catholic is rolling, Middle Township is really rolling — I think South Jersey is on the come-up with a lot of players coming up. Girls basketball is about to really explode in this area, not that it hasn’t already.” “It’s weird going to different high schools, but it’s fun getting to see her over there and we do our different things,” Madison said. “She does a great job with what she’s doing. Nowadays we get along much better than we used to. When we were younger we didn’t get along very well, we’d always be fighting and stuff.” While Marlee is just beginning to make her impact with the Red Raiders, Madison’s story at Atlantic City is nearly written, as she has less than six weeks left in her high school basketball career. And what a career it has been, as she — along with teammates like Alex Fader and Ciani Redd-Howard — has been instrumental in turning the Vikings into a CAL contender on an annual basis. “I couldn’t be where I am without my teammates and coaches. You can’t
be a basketball team with just one player, that’s not how it works, so it’s been a lot of help and dedication from everyone,” she said. “I’ve been happy with my career. I’ve had a great opportunity here to play four years of varsity and not many players get to do that, and to be able to grow with the team — the dynamics change every year. This year, I’m hoping we can go further. I think we have potential, I think we just have to be able to harness it.” That Jan. 24 meeting was the only regular-season game scheduled between the schools, but there is a chance they’ll meet one more time, in the CAL Tournament. Madison would love nothing more than a chance to exact some revenge, but for now Marlee has the family bragging rights — with a bit of a caveat, Madison is quick to add. “The good thing is, she fouled out, so I can always say, ‘you didn’t beat me, your team did,’” Madison said. “But I had a lot of fun, a big crowd came out and saw us. It was a good time all around.” Contact Dave O’Sullivan: sully@acglorydays.com; on Twitter @GDsullysays
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GIRLS BASKETBALL
Fun as important as wins for Spirit coach Whitworth taking first steps to rebuild Spartans’ program By DAVE O’SULLIVAN Staff Writer irst-year Holy Spirit girls basketball coach Tim Whitworth has an impressive resume. He grew up in Philadelphia, the son of a basketball coaching mother, Michele, then went on to star at Drexel University and played for more than a decade in Europe before returning home to work for his father’s commercial real estate company and become an assistant men’s basketball coach under Scott Bittner at Stockton University. One thing that can’t be found on a resume, however, is Whitworth’s philosophy toward coaching high school kids. And his overall philosophy in life, for that matter. He wants to have fun, and he wants teenage athletes to have fun while they are playing basketball. If they are out there enjoying themselves every day, he theorizes, the rest will take care of itself. The Spartans began the season with a four-game losing streak, and that’s enough to test any rookie coach, but Whitworth just kept telling his players to trust that as they kept improving, the wins would come. Through Jan. 29 the Spartans had improved to 6-7 and although they lost back-to-back games to Absegami and Cedar Creek, those losses came on the heels of a fivegame winning streak. “I missed the game after being around it for so long and got involved in Stockton through Scott
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Glory Days photo/Dave O’Sullivan
Tim Whitworth has Holy Spirit at 6-7 and in contention for a spot in the CAL Tournament in his first season as the Spartans’ coach. Bittner. I got to know Scott through playing at the 34th Street playground (in Ocean City) and he offered me a chance to go there, so I did that for a couple of years. Steve Lex is a Spirit grad and I got to know him through some mutual friends, so when the job came open he called and asked if I would have any interest. I guess that’s how it came to be,” Whitworth said. “I truly appreciate the value of an assistant coach because I’ve done it myself, but at the end of the day I think all assistants want to be a head coach at some point. So when this opportunity came about I figured I would give it a shot and see what happened. My mother was a longtime high school girls basketball coach in Philadelphia at Nazareth Academy, so I grew up around the high school gym. My brothers and sister and I were in there all the time and I have some awesome memo-
ries from being in there. So to give my kids the same kind of environment that I grew up in I thought would be pretty cool. “The appeal was that Spirit did have a lot of success,” he added. “I like a challenge, and I knew this would be a challenge coming in. The goal is to build this thing and I hope people have a little bit of patience because it doesn’t happen overnight. But I really like the challenge of it and I’m hoping we can build it back up to where the program was.” “Tim is great. He got a win recently against Lower and he was smiling ear to ear. The girls absolutely love him and I haven’t heard a bad thing about Tim yet, which is amazing because when you’re around high school parents and players there is always somebody who isn’t happy. But we haven’t heard a bad thing about him. He’s taken control.
He knew in his interview he had a long road ahead. This wasn’t a team that was going to come out of the gate and win the CAL right away, but he’s plugging along, he’s teaching them, he’s been positive — he’s everything we could have asked for in a coach,” said Spirit Athletic Director Steve Normane. “Tim had played overseas for years and kind of fell back into the South Jersey area with his family. He had been helping out at Stockton and when we advertised the position he put in for it. When I read his resume, I got excited, and when he sat across the table from us the energy was great, his basketball I.Q. is amazing — we just knew he was the perfect guy for us. “We had some good candidates for that job, and if Tim hadn’t been such a superstar we still would have been in great shape with the couple of other candidates we had. While Tim is awesome, I can’t take anything away from the other people who applied, they were great, too,” Normane added. “This guy has played in Sweden and all across Europe. Don’t think the players haven’t gone on YouTube and watched his highlight videos, because I sure have and they are pretty cool. That guy can shoot, holy cow.” Holy Spirit was a Cape-Atlantic League power under former coach Dennis Smith, but the program has struggled the past couple of seasons and is trying to regain its footing in what has become a very competitive CAL National conference. The Spartans, who have just two seniors on the roster, are holding their own at 3-3 in conference games and in See Coach, page 17
Jan. 30, 2020 w Glory Days Magazine w Page 17 Coach, from page 14 fourth place behind Ocean City, defending Group 3 state champion Mainland Regional, and Absegami. They are in contention for an atlarge big to the CAL Tournament along with teams such as Absegami, EHT, OLMA and Buena Regional. “When we’re in practice I try to stay as positive as I can with my teammates, and coach Tim is a guy who you can turn the ball over four or five times in a row, but if you’re turning it over while you’re pushing it up the floor, he’s absolutely fine with that. I think that’s something I love about him as a coach — we’ll screw up and turn the ball over, or not box out and get a rebound, and he doesn’t throw a fit, he doesn’t scream at us. He remains calm, and that helps us stay calm. That played a big factor in our turnaround of losing the first couple of games to then going on a streak and winning the next couple,” said Jules Lynch, one of two seniors along with Melody Pugliese. “I first met coach in the spring of last year when we got him around May or June. The first time I met him I could tell things were going to be different. He was going to run practices differently, his style of playing was very different and fast paced. He’s a very different kind of coach than anyone I’ve ever had, which I think was one of the biggest factors in me being ready for my senior year and being ready to step up and try to lead this team.” Whatever happens the next four or five weeks with this team, whether it makes the CAL Tournament or the state playoffs, coach Whitworth just wants his team to continue to have fun and improve. He knows his first year is just setting the stage for what’s to come. “One thing I’ll say is we have a great group of kids and they love being in the gym. They seem to be having a lot of fun with it and I like the excitement every time
they come into the gym for practice. These kids give everything they have and I couldn’t be more appreciative of that, and I think we’re starting to get better. I came in with a philosophy they weren’t really used to, so anytime you come in with something new it’s going to take some time. But I’m starting to see some strides and that was our goal. From Day One to February and March, we want to get better every day, and I think they are doing that. I’m proud of the improvement they’ve been able to make so far,” he said. “When I started playing, the reason was because I thought it was so much fun and I loved every second of it. While it’s tough when you lose a couple games, at the end of the day it helps to remember why you play. It helps me to remind myself why I started playing — my high school coach was really good at that, when we were in a tough stretch he would keep it loose and fun. You can be successful as long as you’re having fun, and that’s what we try to do. We try to keep it upbeat and try to make it as fun as we can. There is so much on these kids’ plates, all the pressure to do well in school, the kids who are seniors trying to get into colleges. This is supposed to be a release for them and they are supposed to be having a good time.” Not much in the world of basketball surprises coach Whitworth anymore, but he said he has been a little shocked at just how much community support there is for the Spartans’ girls program. “What I like is there seems to be a lot of people who are interested in this program,” he said. “You wouldn’t believe the amount of text messages I get after we win a game, from people who are just Holy Spirit supporters. I wasn’t expecting that but that’s been a really pleasant surprise.” Contact Dave O’Sullivan: sully@acglorydays.com; on Twitter @GDsullysays
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SENIOR SPOTLIGHT: Julianna Lynch, Holy Spirit Girls Basketball
Lynchpin Senior Jules Lynch is a key player in Holy Spirit’s rebuilding effort By DAVE O’SULLIVAN Staff Writer igh school careers, in any sport, are fleeting, and most prep athletes dream about having a senior year to remember. Nobody fantasizes about getting rolled right from the jump and losing four straight games to start their final campaign wearing their school colors. But Julianna Lynch — known affectionately as “Jules” by her teammates and coaches — knew her final season in the Navy blue and gold wasn’t going to be easy. The Spartans are in the midst of a rebuilding effort under first-year coach Tim Whitworth and are starting three underclassmen, including freshman Kira Murray. There are only two seniors on the entire roster, Lynch and Melody Pugliese, and they have been asked to carry the load, not only offensively, but also in providing leadership to a team that is learning how to win games in the rough-and-tumble CapeAtlantic League. “Me and Melody, being the only seniors, we know (teammates) are looking up to us because we used to look up to the seniors. We knew we had to step up and be those leaders and fill the shoes of all the other seniors who came before us,” Lynch said. “For a lot of us — and especially having a freshman as a starter, and a lot of kids coming off the bench are also underclassmen — we just have to remind them that the thing about our schedule was (early on) we were playing Middle, Wildwood Catholic, Atlantic City. Those are great teams, and Wildwood also is a very good team. In those games, you play as hard as you possibly can, and
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even if you don’t come out with a win it doesn’t mean your season is over. We just had to get that into the heads of the younger players to help them realize that we have 20-something games to play, and our season shouldn’t be based on going 0-4 to start because that can quickly turn right around. We won five in a row at one point, so in the blink of an eye your season can turn around in basketball, which is something I love about it. You have so many games to play, and with more games comes more opportunities for the younger kids to learn, and that’s something that has been my mindset.” Holy Spirit picked up Whitworth’s first coaching win on Jan. 7, a 46-45 victory over Cedar Creek, but then lost the next two games. After that, however, the Spartans won five in a row to get over the .500 mark at 6-5. They’ve since fallen back to 6-7 with consecutive losses Absegami and Cedar Creek, but Whitworth believes more consistency will come, especially with a players such as Lynch and Pugliese leading the way. “I’m so lucky that when I came in I had those two seniors to lean on. They’ve taken the leadership role and just ran with it together. I always think your best teams are player-led teams and they have really taken on that role. We have a lot of young kids in the program and they’ve been really good with helping them. I remind the younger kids every day that if you’re going through something, they were in your shoes once and they know what it’s like. They know what the adjustment is like from eighth grade to high school basketball. I’m so appreciative
Glory Days photo/Dave O’Sullivan
Jules Lynch is one of just two seniors on Holy Spirit’s roster, and has helped a young Spartans team improve to 6-7 following an 0-4 start. to have the two of them, they are such great mentors to the younger kids,” Whitworth said. “I said to (Lynch) in the summer that I hope she’s ready for it because I was going to put a lot of responsibility on her shoulders, and she has really responded. Right now she’s playing her best basketball. I’m asking her to score, to rebound, to be our vocal leader, and she’s done a great job.” Lynch is notoriously intense, and it’s not uncommon to find her in the gym several hours after a game, just working on her shot. Particularly if she didn’t shoot well that night. It’s reminiscent of her childhood hoops idol, Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers. “I heard from one of the assistant coaches from the boys team, she had a rough shooting game and afterward she was out there putting shots up for a couple hours,” Whitworth said. “Now, when she’s making shots, she deserves it because she’s putting the time in. To have that kind of mentality — I always tell her, ‘shooters shoot.’ And she’s getting in the gym and getting the reps in.” “I grew up with two older brothers and they were the ones who kind of introduced me to the NBA and showed me NBA2K video games and stuff. I loved Kobe Bryant when I was
younger. His career ended when I was in eighth grade so I never got to really see him play much. When (the Lakers) won the NBA championship in 2010, I was 8 years old, so I was kind of young when I saw that. But I would go on YouTube and watch Kobe highlights for hours. I knew I could never match that fade away — nobody is ever going to get that — but he was a role model and somebody I tried to model my game after. He was the ultimate scorer and just an incredible player,” Lynch said. “When my dad was growing up one of my dad’s favorite players was Larry Bird. I would say Kobe is the greatest and he would say, ‘no, Larry Bird was.’ So, both of those players I admire.” Lynch said she credits her coach with keeping the team focused on the longterm goal and not dwelling on that four-game skid to start the season. “When we’re in practice I try to stay as positive as I can with my teammates, and coach Tim is a guy who you can turn the ball over four or five times in a row, but if you’re turning it over while you’re pushing it up the floor, he’s absolutely fine with that,” she said.
See Lynch, page 19
Jan. 30, 2020 w Glory Days Magazine w Page 19 Lynch, from page 18 “I think that’s something I love about him as a coach — we’ll screw up and turn the ball over, or not box out and get a rebound, and he doesn’t throw a fit, he doesn’t scream at us. He remains calm, and that helps us stay calm. That played a big factor in our turnaround of losing the first couple of games to then going on a streak and winning the next couple.” Lynch understands that whether she scores 20 points or two, her main job out on the floor every night is to keep this team moving forward toward improvement, and providing the leadership necessary to help her teammates inch closer to their goals with every game and practice. That’s quite a maturation from a player who, two years ago, was a role player who was relied on primarily to shoot 3-pointers. “My sophomore season we had a different coach and a smaller team.
“I said to (Lynch) in the summer that I hope she’s ready for it because I was going to put a lot of responsibility on her shoulders, and she has really responded. Right now she’s playing her best basketball. I’m asking her to score, to rebound, to be our vocal leader, and she’s done a great job.” Tim Whitworth Holy Spirit girls basketball coach There were only about eight girls on the team, so if you were in the starting lineup you weren’t coming off the floor very much. You had to find a way to make an impact on the game, and for me that was scoring, trying to get open looks and knocking down some shots,” Lynch said. “My junior year it was more of the same story where I was relied on for shooting, but this year, we’ve had a couple seniors graduate who were our main post players, so I think I had to step up and become more of a threat in the post with rebounding,
boxing out and helping push the ball up the floor. I’ve had to communicate with my teammates more and be that leader because I know that if I was in Kira Murray’s shoes, a freshman starting varsity, I would be terrified and I would need that senior to step up and be a leader and be everything I needed. I’m trying to be to her and to everyone else on the team what I needed when I was a freshman and sophomore.” Even if the Spartans don’t make it into the CAL Tournament this year, or the state playoffs, Lynch has made her
mark on this program and her legacy will live on for years to come. She doesn’t care if anybody remembers how many points she scored after she graduates, or how many games the Spartans won. She wants them to remember her tenacity. “Something I hope people remember about me is that I’ve had three different coaches in my four years and was a starter for three years — we’ve had a lot, we’ve dealt with losing seasons, we’ve had games that came down to the last second and had some incredible overtime wins — and through it all, I just want people to remember me as somebody who never gave up and somebody who was loyal to the game I fell in love with when I was 5 years old,” she said. “That’s how I want people to remember my career.” Contact Dave O’Sullivan: sully@acglorydays.com; on Twitter @GDsullysays
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BUNTING
BASKETBALL REPORT January turnaround for Red Raiders and Braves
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Staff report few weeks ago, it didn’t look as though the Ocean City and Absegami girls basketball teams would be any kind of factor in the Cape-Atlantic League Tournament, much less the state playoffs. But the Red Raiders and Braves have turned their seasons completely around with a couple of winning streaks that nobody saw coming. Early on, it was Mainland Regional, led by star senior forward Kylee Watson, a University of Oregon commit, that jumped out to the lead in the CAL National Conference, but in the past two weeks the Mustangs have dropped down into second place and Absegami is hot on their heels, just one game behind. Ocean City, which began the year with a 1-5 record, got itself right once the CAL schedule rolled around and ripped off nine straight wins to vault into the top spot in the conference (10-5, 6-0). Absegami’s season has had a similar trajectory, as the Braves started out 4-4 but since a 41-37 loss to Ocean City on Jan. 13, Gami has ripped off seven straight wins to climb to 5-2 in conference play, 11-4 overall. Ocean City has scored some pretty good wins during its streak, too, beating Atlantic City last Friday then following that up with a win over Mainland in the finale of the 97.3 ESPN FM Girls Shootout on Sunday night. Then, the Red Raiders took down a good
Wildwood team, 48-36, on Wednesday night. A big key has been the scoring ability of sophomore Marin Panico, who poured in 18 points in the win over Mainland, and the three-point shooting of senior guard Abbey Fenton, who’s long-range shot with less than 30 seconds to go ended up beating Atlantic City. “I was going crazy. When the first shot went in, I was like, ‘all the other ones are going to go in.’ Nobody thought we were going to win. We just had to shut them down and be quick. (Baruffi) told us to get out quickly to the shooters. It was awesome, I’m so excited right now. This puts us in first place. I don’t think anybody thought (we could be in this position) since we struggled so much (early on), but we came out this weekend and were on fire,” Panico said after the win over Mainland, a game in which she knocked down three 3-pointers. “I think we’re going to have a good ending to this season. We’re excited.” “All the younger girls who didn’t really play much last year have really stepped up to the competition we’ve had,” added senior forward Emma Finnegan. “It took them a little bit of time to just get adjusted to the speed of the game, and in the beginning of the year we had that losing streak, but it was either we were going to sink or swim at that point. We’ve been turning things around ever since, gaining confidence, gaining momentum with
Glory Days photo/Dave O’Sullivan
Gianna Hafner and Absegami have ripped off seven straight wins to get right back into the CAL National Conference race. each other and just trusting each other fully.” The Red Raiders will have some difficult tests in February, including games against Absegami, Raritan, Mainland and Williamstown, but with the way coach Paul Baruffi’s team is
playing, don’t count Ocean City out in any of those games. “Our opening schedule was as tough as anybody and I took those games for
See January, page 21
Jan. 30, 2020 w Glory Days Magazine w Page 21 January, from page 20 this purpose — getting down to this time of the year,” Baruffi said following last week’s win over Atlantic City. “We might not have won a game like this earlier in the year. And having Delaney (Lappin) back has been huge, she’s all over the court and brings senior leadership. She’s so athletic and smart, she can play multiple positions so I can move her to different spots. It’s really nice to have her back.”
See it to believe it
If you’re any kind of fan of high school basketball in South Jersey, you’ve probably heard about Wildwood Catholic senior forward Taj Thweatt, a West Virginia University recruit. But if you haven’t seen him play yet, make it a point to attend a Crusaders game in February. You won’t be disappointed! Thweatt put on an amazing display in a recent lopsided win over St. Augustine Prep, perhaps Catholic’s biggest challenger in the CAL. Aside from the
three monster dunks he threw down during the 82-43 victory, Thweatt was basically unguardable. The win was the eighth during the Crusaders’ current ninegame winning streak, and Thweatt finished with 28 points and a whopping 19 rebounds. He also nailed a 3-pointer, finished with three assists and added three steals. That’s pretty much a typical night for No. 32.
Keep an eye on these players
As we get into February and some very competitive matchups, and as teams try to either position themselves for or just make the CAL Tournament, there are several players who have been stepping up to give their respective teams a much-needed boost. Marin Panico, who is not as well known yet as older sister Paige, who helped lead the Ocean City girls soccer team to a state championship this past fall, is just a sophomore but is really getting comfortable on the varsity level and turning into a reliable scoring option for the suddenly hot Red Raiders. She dropped 18 in a big win over Mainland this past Sunday night, and adds another 3-point shooter to go
along with Abbey Fenton. Also on the girls side, Cornysha Davis and Quanirah Montague have really provided some good post play for Atlantic City. They typically don’t score a ton, but have a knack for getting rebounds, particularly offensive boards, that give the Vikings extra possessions. On the boys side, Kareem Spence could become a key player for Mainland as the season wears on. Coach Dan Williams has been inserting him into the lineup more and more as a top option off the bench, and this kid really has some potential. He’s quick off the dribble, can create shots and adds another ball handler to the mix to go along with Luke Mazur and Ja’Quan Mace. Also, the fate of Atlantic City when it comes time for the postseason likely will rest on the shoulders of Stephen Byard. He’s really assumed a big-time role for a team that is looking to challenge the likes of Wildwood Catholic, St. Augustine Prep, St. Joe’s and Mainland in the upcoming CAL Tournament.
Stephen Byard and Atlantic City have won 12 straight games heading into the Battle by the Bay showcase, and have raced to the top of the Cape-Atlantic League American Conference standings along with St. Augustine Prep. Glory Days photo/ Dave O’Sullivan
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GIRLS BASKETBALL
Eagles making a Swift adjustment Under new coach Adam Swift, EHT is in contention for CAL Tournament, state playoffs By DAVE O’SULLIVAN Staff Writer dam Swift has plenty of basketball coaching experience as a former assistant under George McNally, but the 2019-2020 season marks his first foray into coaching girls basketball. Swift has taken over for Danielle “Diz” Brady, who spent a couple of seasons building the Eagles up into a contender in the Cape-Atlantic League American Conference. Swift said he is hoping to continue to build on that foundation and lead the Eagles to even greater heights. EHT had some tough losses early on, losing by three points to Southern Regional at the Score at the Shore Tournament, by just two points to ACIT, and by 10 in overtime to Ocean City, which has vaulted to the top spot in the CAL National Conference. The Eagles then ripped off a four-game winning streak before some injuries led to a three-game losing streak against Holy Spirit, Washington Township and Atlantic City. Still, EHT (6-8, 3-3 and third place in the CAL American) remains in contention for a spot in the CAL Tournament as well as a state playoff berth, and these days teams like Millville, Vineland and Bridgeton are looking to score a win over a team like the Eagles any chance they get. Recently, the Eagles had to fight hard for a 36-29 win over Millville during a game in which EHT lost starting point guard Lauren Baxter early on to a thumb injury. “It’s a little bit of an adjustment for some of them. It’s a little different when we’re the hunted instead of the hunter, so we are kind of learning how to handle those expectations, and sometimes it’s a battle. But now the girls are starting to get that we should be winning, which is where we want the program to be. They are learning that when you have those expectations and teams are coming in here to beat you because you’re now a big win for somebody, you have to show up every night,” Swift said. “We have an overtime loss, a two-point loss and a three-point loss, to Ocean City, ACIT and Southern — so we were a couple possessions away from being 9-2. So we’re just trying to keep going on the positive.” The players seem to have taken a liking to coach
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Glory Days photo/Dave O’Sullivan
As of Jan. 28, the Egg Harbor Township girls basketball team was 6-8 under new coach Adam Swift and in third place in the Cape-Atlantic League American Conference, battling for spots in both the CAL Tournament and state playoffs. Swift’s style and attention to detail. “We’re playing really good against some really tough teams. We went into overtime against Ocean City and last year we didn’t do well at all against them. And we lost to ACIT in the last 30 seconds. We’re just trying to win as many games as we can, and hopefully get further in the playoffs than we have in past years,” senior forward Sierra Hegh said after the win over Millville on Jan. 21. “We’ve been playing a lot better this year, we’ve all been clicking and becoming a lot closer as a team. We’ve all adapted really well to his style. He has really good plays and great on-the-spot thinking.” Swift said he has been impressed with the work ethic of what is still a very young team that features
just two seniors, Hegh and Jayla Perdomo. “This is my first time coaching girls basketball, but they’ve been great. They work hard every single day, they work hard, run our stuff and execute our stuff very well, so it’s definitely been an enjoyable experience,” he said. “I thought based on the experience they have developed — we have a lot of juniors and two seniors in Sierra and Jayla, who have been great leaders who do everything, whether it’s rebounding, keeping the team together or running our stuff — they’ve been great with the leadership, and the thought was a lot of these juniors and seniors have been playing varsity for so long that this would be the
See Swift, page 23
Jan. 30, 2020 w Glory Days Magazine w Page 23 Swift, from page 22 next step up. They are starting to see that, and with that is coming their confidence.” EHT has a tough slate of games in February, as the month starts out with a home game against Absegami then a road tilt at ACIT, and the Eagles have to finish out their CAL American schedule with Vineland, Bridgeton and Millville, all of whom will be looking to play the spoiler role. “The playoffs were an absolute goal. A home game would be ideal, and there’s still a possibility for that. The CAL Tournament is another big thing and I think we belong in that, but that’s going to mean finishing either No. 1 or No. 2 in the division,” Swift said. “Coming in we thought that was a realistic goal. And just having a winning season. So, those were the three goals: a home playoff game, get into the CAL Tournament and have a winning season, and we’re kind of right there with all of them.” Swift said there aren’t a whole lot of differences between coaching girls vs. boys. The biggest difference, he said, is that in the boys game sometimes pure athleticism can make up for deficiencies, but on the girls side it’s much more important to be technically sound and execute within the offensive and defensive philosophies of the coaching staff. “A lot of it (in girls basketball) is if you can execute, you can be competitive and win. From the boys end, if you just have the athletes, sometimes you can just roll the athletes out there and they just kind of take over. Where as in the girls game, if you can control the turnovers and execute things you can really be in every game. If you play hard on defense and execute on offense, you’re right there in every game, and I think that’s something our girls are learning,” he said. “It’s not that much different between boys and girls. With girls, it’s much easier to tell when they are having a bad day. I think they are more honest and upfront about it. But they’ve been great, they come to practice and are able to shelve all that, which is something I’ve been surprised about. They are positive and work hard, and we’re just taking it day by day.” Contact Dave O’Sullivan: sully@acglorydays.com; on Twitter @GDsullysays
Glory Days photo/Dave O’Sullivan
Sierra Hegh is one of just two seniors, along with Jayla Perdomo, on EHT’s roster and has been providing solid leadership for firstyear coach Adam Swift.
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Normane returning as Spartans’ skipper Coach led Holy Spirit to 2015 state championship before becoming school’s athletic director By DAVE O’SULLIVAN Staff Writer tate championship-winning baseball coach Steve Normane, who currently is the athletic director at Holy Spirit High School, will be back in the dugout this spring, he announced to Glory Days. Normane, who began his Spartans career as an assistant in 2013 before taking over in 2014 for a four-year stint that included the 2015 Non-Public B state championship, makes his return as Jason Downey recently announced he was stepping down from the position. Downey was Normane’s assistant for three seasons before taking over as head coach for the 2018 and 2019 seasons. Normane also coached the Holy Spirit softball program in 2018 and 2019 before stepping away from that post this fall and handing the reins over to former Spirit girls basketball coach Dennis Smith, who also was a softball assistant the past couple of seasons. “That was the plan before Jason left. I was going to step away from softball this year before (the baseball) opportunity ever came up, and I had, stepping away from softball in the fall. Dennis was eager to take over, he had been my assistant the last two years, and he’s ready to go. That program is solid now. Those girls were great and I’m going to miss them for sure, but they are in good hands with Dennis and I can’t wait to see what they can accomplish this year, and beyond,” said Normane, who will remain the school’s athletic director. “I’m really just looking to continue what Jason and I started back in 2014 when I took over. It’s not about me, though, it’s a great group of kids. It really is a special group. Honestly, there are a lot of similarities with our 2015 state championship team that I’ve seen so far. We have strong seniors and hungry young guys ready to break out. We have guys who have committed to some big-time schools and some more on the way, so it’s a really great group, and to have the opportunity to get back to baseball with this group of kids is really exciting.” Holy Spirit typically is one of the top teams in the Cape-Atlantic League every year, and 2020 should be no different. The Spartans went 15-8 in 2019 and won the CAL United Conference with a 9-1 record, and return some outstanding talent, including infielders such as C.J. Egrie and Brandon Castellini,
BASEBALL 365
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Glory Days file photo/Dave O’Sullivan
Steve Normane began his career with Holy Spirit as an assistant coach in 2013 then was the head coach for four seasons, winning the Non-Public B state championship in 2015. catcher Justin Jimenez and some solid sophomores like outfielder Trevor Cohen and pitcher Van Patten. Castellini has committed to St. John’s University and Jimenez to Frostburg State in Maryland. The roster also features players like Steven Petrosh, Pat Oakes, Shane Solari and Jake Taylor, all of whom played significant roles last season. Normane said he never expected to become the school’s softball coach, but he’s glad it worked out that way the past two years. “The plan originally was to step away from baseball when I became A.D. That first year I was the athletic director I wanted to keep coaching because those seniors were my guys, they were freshmen my first year. So, the plan was to coach that year and
then step away, but then the opportunity with softball came up,” he explained. “It came up last minute, but I’m sure glad I did it. Now this opportunity came up, it’s going to be my fourth year as A.D. and my fourth year of coaching in the spring, so I’m getting used to it.” Going back to coaching baseball while remaining Spirit’s athletic director certainly will provide some challenges to Normane throughout the course of the spring season, but he said he has plenty of help from the Spartans’ staff. “I have a couple of teachers in the building who
See Normane, page 25
Jan. 30, 2020 w Glory Days Magazine w Page 25 Normane, from page 24 are willing to help, and that’s awesome. Coach Andrew DiPasquale, who is one of our football coaches and a former baseball player at Holy Spirit, he’s going to help out as well,” Normane said. “I have a lot of help. Coach (A.J.) Russo is our football coach but he’s also an assistant A.D., so he’s used to doing a lot of work in the spring. Thank God for him because that gives me an opportunity to coach, knowing that if I’m on the road coaching a game everything is safe and sound at Holy Spirit because of him. Everybody wears at least three or four hats here at Holy Spirit. It’s really a team effort, and while it can be stressful, we like it that way. Everybody is working as a unit and a team, and we try to do the best job we can for the kids because at the end of the day that’s what it’s all about.” Contact Dave O’Sullivan: sully@acglorydays.com; on Twitter @GDsullysays
Glory Days file photo/Dave O’Sullivan
Under Normane’s guidance, the 2015 Holy Spirit team won the Non-Public B championship with a victory over Newark Academy.
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BASKETBALL/BATTLE BY THE BAY Taj Thweatt and Wildwood Catholic take on Seton Hall Prep on Saturday night in one of the premier games of a loaded Battle By The Bay showcase event at Atlantic City High School. Glory Days photo/ Dave O’Sullivan
The Schedule: Friday: Quality Education (N.C.) vs. Olympus Prep, 5 p.m. Constitution (Pa.) vs. Pleasantville, 6:30 p.m. St. Augustine Prep vs. Atlantic City, 8 p.m. Saturday: Camden Catholic vs. Ocean City (girls), 11 a.m. Chester (Pa.) vs. St. Joseph, 12:30 p.m. Elizabeth vs. Sanford (Del.), 2 p.m. Quality Education (N.C.) vs. Scotland Campus (Pa.), 5 p.m. Wildwood Catholic vs. Atlantic City (girls), 6:30 p.m. Wildwood Catholic vs. Seton Hall Prep, 8 p.m. Sunday: Chester (Pa.) vs. Patterson-Kennedy, Noon. Pleasantville vs. Atlantic City, 1:30 p.m.
What to watch for: The signature game on Friday night with St. Augustine Prep against Atlantic City features a pair of teams that are hoping to prove they can provide a challenge to Wildwood Catholic in the upcoming Cape-Atlantic League Tournament, although the Crusaders handled Prep with ease on Jan. 22, winning 82-43. ... Wildwood Catholic vs. Seton Hall Prep is the premier game of the weekend and the final game of a full Saturday slate. The Crusaders have been on a roll recently behind Taj Thweatt and Jahlil White, and while Seton Hall Prep had five losses in its first 14 games, two of those losses were to outstanding teams from Maryland and another, to Montclair Immaculate, Seton Hall avenged on Jan. 23 with a 69-64 victory. ... Through Monday, the Ocean City girls had won eight straight games, including wins over Mainland and Atlantic City, after a 1-5 start. ... This will be a big weekend test for Pleasantville. The Greyhounds have faltered of late, dropping three straight heading into Tuesday night’s matchup against St. Joseph, and The Ville was just 3-8 after getting off to a 4-0 start this season. Pleasantville vs. Atlantic City prior to the Super Bowl typically brings out a sellout crowd and could provide the jump-start the Greyhounds are looking for.
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snapshots
Glory Days photos/Dave O’Sullivan
Above: Egg Harbor Township’s Joey Tepper swims at the Cape-Atlantic League Championships, where he won a pair of individual events and helped lead the Eagles to the team title. Below: Ocean City’s Lauren Mirsky lines up a free throw during the Red Raiders’ win over Mainland.