Biys Basketball Tournament Preview
Camden Basketball Looks to Continue Dominance Despite Key Injury If Camden is going to earn a fifth straight state championship appearance the Panthers will have to do so apparently without their offensive catalyst.
Published reports indicated that junior point guard Corey Greer is likely out for the season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament. It's always tough losing a point guard, especially a player who arguably is the best in his position in South Jersey.
Camden has a strong nucleus back from a team that lost an 85-83 heartbreaker to Newark West Side in last year's Group 2 state championship.
It was game in which Camden held an 18-point lead with under four minutes left in the third quarter but couldn't hold off the fast-charging state champion Rough Riders.
The 6-foot-1 Greer is a true floor general. Last season he averaged just under 12 points and five assists per game. He is an unselfish floor general, who can score when needed but is more interested in getting his teammates involved in the offense.
This year Greer was averaging 12 points per game before getting hurt in the Panthers third contest, an 84-44 win over Paul VI.
Greer comes from excellent basketball roots. His father LaMarr Greer was a standout in high school, first at Overbrook and then his final two seasons at Middle Township, where he led the Panthers to consecutive state titles in 1993 and 1994.
The 1993 team advanced to the NJSIAA Tournament of Champions before losing to national power St. Anthony.
The elder Greer then earned a scholarship to Florida State before embarking on a long professional career, mainly in Europe.
If any team is able to withstand the loss of one of South Jersey's top players, it is Camden. Coached by veteran John Valore, the Panthers have a sizable contingent returning from last year's team.
Camden started this season winning its first three games, defeating Winslow Township, 85-50, Timber Creek, 77-66 and then Paul VI.
In the Timber Creek game, Camden was challenged, leading by just five points heading into the fourth quarter.
Senior guard John Evans, who scored 24 points in the state championship game, will likely have an expanded offensive role with Greer sidelined.
Other veterans such as junior forward Myles Thompson, senior forward Deaquan Williams will have to pick up the slack.
Even without Greer, Camden will remain the team to beat in South Jersey Group 2 and nobody should count the Panthers out as one of the teams to make a run at the No. 1 spot in South Jersey.
Few schools could afford to lose a quality player like Greer, but is there is a team that is equipped to remain competitive, it's Camden.
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Author: Marc Narducci
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