SJ Sports: Summer Sports

Sometimes it’s dangerous to expect that teams that are successful in the off-season will enjoy the same dominance when the real games begin. Still, the various summer leagues around South Jersey are a good way to monitor a team’s progress. Traditionally, teams that fare well in the summer, usually are more than respectable when the high school seasons begin.

Of course there are some reverse exceptions. For instance, Camden Catholic has never fared well while competing the last few years in various boys’ basketball summer leagues. One of the reasons is that many of the team members didn’t attend the games because of playing in AAU tournaments around the country.

As most know, when they play for keeps, few have been better lately than the Irish, who have won two state Parochial A titles in the last three years.

Still, many of the teams that did fare well this summer are expected to follow suit when their high school seasons begin.

Among the surprises this summer was Cherry Hill East, which won the 40-team Cherry Hill Recreation League, defeating Winslow Township in the finals. The Cougars served notice that they could compete in the Olympic Conference American Division, one of the best in the state, that also includes contenders such as Lenape and Shawnee.

Collingswood’s boys’ basketball team capped a brilliant summer by winning the Washington Township title. Last high school season the Panthers were among the most improved teams in South Jersey, finishing 20-7 and advancing to the south Jersey Group 2 final before losing to Middle Township.

This summer the Panthers went 27-0 while competing in three different leagues. With four starters back led by junior-to-be forward Justin Dempsey, Collingswood will be a contender in the Colonial Conference and in Group 2.

Woodrow Wilson’s girls’ basketball team won the title this summer in the Cherry Hill Recreation League, again demonstrating that it should be a force after winning 22 games in each of the previous two high school seasons.

West Deptford won the 7-on-7 football championship this summer which it hosted. The Eagles also won last summer and then went on to capture the school’s first ever South Jersey Group 2 title in the fall. West Deptford coach Clyde Folsom said that teams can’t put a lot of stock in scores of summer league games, but the winning does help a team’s overall confidence heading into training camp.

Shawnee edged Moorestown to win the 7-on-7 girls’ soccer summer league championship at Collingswood. Even though this shortened game is much different than the 11-on-11 soccer seen in the fall, the results may be a barometer of what is to come. Both Shawnee and Moorestown are expected to be among the top three teams in South Jersey.

While teams shouldn’t become too consumed with their accomplishments in the summer, it is a gauge to compare its relative strengths against the opposition.

Plus, as any coach will say, it’s better to win than to lose. The summer is often a time where coaches want to get as many people playing time as possible, to see how they fare in a competitive environment. Developing a winning attitude is important and the best way to do that is to win. Even though summer champions may not repeat in the fall or winter, at least it is a solid momentum builder entering the season that really counts.

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Author: Marc Narducci