Timber Creek Falls To Winslow In Surprising Boys Basketball Playoff Final

GLOUCESTER TOWNSHIP, NJ — After three upsets on the road, the Timber Creek Regional High School boys basketball team’s run came to an end in the NJSIAA South Jersey Group 3 final Monday night, according to nj.com.

No. 10 Timber Creek fell to No. 8 Winslow, 70-61, despite a game-high 20 points from the Chargers’ Maurice Murray. Murray also had five rebounds, two assists and two steals.

Isaiah Sanders had 14 points and three rebounds for Timber Creek, and Ricky Martin had 10 points, two rebounds, two assists and two steals.

Jordan Herrin led Winslow with 18 points, six rebounds, four assists, two steals and one block.

The loss caps a 12-15 season for Timber Creek, which nearly won a sectional title despite a losing record.

Timber Creek opened the tournament with a 68-58 win at No. 7 Pemberton. Murray had 27 points in that win, and Sanders contributed 15.

Timber Creek would then go on to defeat both of its Black Horse Pike Regional School District rivals.

In the quarterfinals, Timber Creek upset No. 2 Highland, 80-66. Sanders and Murray both broke the 20-point plateau in that one, with 27 and 25 points, respectively.

Zafir Brower led four Highland players with double digit point totals. Brower had 17 points, followed by Damola Dairo and Dave Gormley with 13 points each, and Dante Masino with 12.

As the No. 2 seed, Highland had its eye on the final, and had opened the playoffs with a 71-54 win over No. 15 Bridgeton.

The semifinals brought a matchup of upset-minded teams when Timber Creek faced No. 6 Triton, which had upset No. 3 Ocean City, 52-50, in the quarterfinals.

Timber Creek upset Triton, 64-51, to advance to the championship game. Murray had 28 points in the win, and Jehonni Moore had 11.

Jalen Collins led Triton with 15 points, followed by Mike Wright with 13.

Winslow was nearly as much of a long shot to win the championship as Timber Creek.

After dispatching No. 9 Seneca, 70-47, in the first round, Winslow upset No. 1 Central Regional, 54-45 in the quarterfinals, and No. 4 Mainland, 70-52, in the semifinals.

Winslow (17-12) advanced to the state semifinals with the win.