Absegami High School Boys' Basketball Team Eliminated From Playoffs in First Round

Throughout the course of the 2012-13 high school boys’ basketball season, Absegami’s No. 1 nemesis has been itself, and on Monday, Feb. 25, things were no different.

The Braves fell in an early hole and battled back to pull within eight points in the fourth quarter, but eventually fell in the first round of the playoffs for the fourth straight season.

No. 4 seed Toms River North defeated No. 13 Absegami, 78-66, Monday night in the first round of the NJSIAA South Jersey Group IV playoffs.

“We didn’t put together four quarters like we said we had to,” said senior Darryl Loveland, who knocked down 15 points. “ … We beat ourselves, just like we did in most of our losses this season.”

“(Toms River North) shot well and played well and we didn’t until the fourth quarter,” Absegami coach Mike Bult said. “We wanted to finish hard and show heart and we did.”

At the end of the third quarter, the Braves found themselves in a 61-29 hole. The Braves went on a 13-0 run to start the fourth. Absegami pulled to within 74-66 with 30.3 seconds left in the game, but the Mariners never let them get any closer.

Absegami senior Jaleel Christmon dropped a game-high 16 points, half of which came in the final stanza.

“He’s played a big role for us,” Bult said of Christmon. “He’s strong, he’s intense and he’s tough. He finished out quite a few games at the end of the season with double doubles. That was crucial for us, and they are not easy to get.”

Absegami’s strong finish was little consolation to Loveland, who made the playoffs all four years he was with the team.

“We were eliminated in the first round all four years, so it’s not a great feeling,” Loveland said. “I’m not that satisfied.”

Loveland was one of three seniors on the team, along with Christmon and Vlad Shustov, who had seven points in Monday’s game.

“We had a good group of guys,” Bult said. “Absegami has had its share of challenges in the past, and I’m proud of the guys for sticking together. They played hard and they were respectable on and off the court. We’re continuing to build and this is a huge step forward.”

“I love playing the game,” Loveland said. “We had a lot of good moments (over the last four years). … I’m happy I was able to come out and play with my teammates.”

Vinney Nelson had 14 points for Absegami, while Abdullah Anderson had 11 points for the Braves on Monday night. Justin Rice rounded out the scoring with three points.

Solly Stansbury led the scoring for Toms River North with 15 points. Damian Singleton had 12 points, Kyle Carrington had 11 and Ron Marinaccio had 10.

Absegami dropped to 11-12 for the season. Toms River North improved to 24-3.