Nottingham’s Cliff Joseph goes in for the layup against Moorestown in the CJ III Championship game to tie the game. Photo by Michael A. Sabo
By Ken Weingartner
For Fish4Scores.com
MOORESTOWN — Even when they were down by two points with only three seconds to go in a hostile environment, the players on the Nottingham High boys basketball team never doubted this was their moment.
“The kids knew they were going to win the game,” Northstars coach Chris “The Baron” Raba said, describing the mood during the timeout preceding Darell Johnson’s layup that forced overtime and helped propel Nottingham to a 59-56 triumph over Moorestown in the Central Jersey Group III championship game.
Darrell Johnson gives the team some advice with just seconds left in regulation in the Central Jersey Group III Championship game. Photo by Michael A. Sabo
“They knew it.”
The Northstars’ resolve was a product of their determination to put last year’s loss to Ewing in the state sectional final behind them.
“We were real sad last year after we lost the sectional championship, but we just put endless hours in the gym and stayed together as a team,” Johnson said. “We just kept working hard. We knew if we listened to Coach Raba, did everything he tells us to do, we could get an opportunity to get back here. We got back here and won.”
Nottingham fell behind early to the Quakers, trailing by as many as nine points and holding the lead only once, at 2-0 in the opening seconds, prior to the fourth quarter. But the Northstars’ confidence never wavered.
“I don’t ever doubt my team,” said Cliff Joseph, who scored the game’s final five points. “I have so much faith in my team. (Last year’s experience) helped us a lot. Down the stretch, we came up big. We did what we wanted to do.
“I just wanted to do whatever it takes to help my team win.”
The Northstars had hoped to find Richie Jones for a 3-pointer at the end of regulation, but when Moorestown’s defense took away that option, Joseph lobbed his inbounds pass to Johnson under the basket. The ball was tipped into the air, but Johnson grabbed it and put home the layup as time expired, tying the score at 51.
Cliff Joseph drives the lane against Moorestown int he CJ III Championship Game. Photo by Michael A. Sabo
“We wanted to just end it all (with a 3) but they switched off,” Johnson said. “Cliff had trust in me and I finished it. I wasn’t really worried. I was only worried about the clock hitting zero.”
Nottingham’s big-game experience and senior-laden lineup, compared with Moorestown’s junior-dominated lineup, might have been the deciding factor.
Darrell Johnson gets set to make the winning basket for the Nottingham Boy Basketball team. Photo by Michael A. Sabo.
“Experience means a lot. You can’t practice experience,” Raba said. “Each game is bigger and bigger. We were knocking on the door last year. I told the Moorestown coach they are unbelievable. Next year is their turn. They’re all juniors. We’re all seniors. I think our guys just wanted it a little bit more.
“We’ve been down this road before. We’ve been down at halftime. The kids kept fighting back. They’re resilient.”
As Raba watched his players celebrate with the school’s first state sectional boys basketball trophy, he almost was at a loss for words.
Darrell Johnson and Cliff Joseph celbrate after the Nottingham Boys Basketball team won the CJ III Championship game. Photo by Michael A. Sabo
“Woo,” he said, exhaling. “Unbelievable.”
But never in doubt.
