Hammonton High School edges Cedar Creek
HAMMONTON—Jaron Hill scored 26 points, connecting on six 3-pointers, to help lead Hammonton High School’s boys basketball team to its second victory of the season, a 57-51 win against Cedar Creek last week.
Hill was unstoppable from beyond the arc in the second half, as he hit five 3-point shots to help Hammonton pull out the win in a hard-fought matchup of two of the Cape Atlantic League’s rising teams.
The Blue Devils trailed early in the game, but baskets from Hill and freshman guard Kenny Smith helped keep the game tied 13-13 after one quarter. In the second period, Cedar Creek began to pull away behind a 13-8 run, but Hammonton battled back with a solid surge of its own to begin the second half.
A pair of 3-pointers from Hill sparked the Blue Devils, and John Andaloro was able to convert three free throws to close the deficit to 35-34 heading into the fourth quarter.
In the final eight minutes, the teams traded baskets, with Hill adding three more deep buckets to power Hammonton to the win.
“Jaron [Hill] had a great night. It was good to see him play well because he struggled shooting [earlier in the week] against Holy Spirit. That’s what he’s capable of and he really came through tonight,” Hammonton coach Joe Martino said.
“I felt comfortable,” Hill said.
“This was a big win for us,” he said.
Smith finished with 13 points in perhaps his best performance of the young season.
“He [Smith] can do some things out there. There’s still room for improvement, but overall, Kenny is a very exciting player who is really helping us,” Martino said.
The win allowed Hammonton to bounce back from a tough 54-44 loss to Holy Spirit earlier in the week. The Blue Devils spotted the visiting Spartans a 10-0 lead to start the game, but outplayed Spirit over the final three quarters.
“That one was tough because after the first four minutes, I thought we were the better team,” Martino said.
Andaloro had a big game for the Blue Devils, recording a triple-double with 18 points, 18 rebounds and 10 blocked shots.
Smith added 10 and Tyler Lowe scored seven in the loss.
Earlier this week, Hammonton played Camden Charter in the semifinals of the Woodstown Christmas Tournament, but that game ended too late for this edition, as did the consolation and championship games. The Devils visit Egg Harbor Twp. on January 4 at 5:30 p.m.