Boardwalk Classic: Day 1 Difference Makers

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Two talented teams from Philadelphia faced two of the top programs in Jersey at the Wildwood Convention Center, for the 2023 Boardwalk Classic. PA went 2-0, but both games were intense from start to finish. Here are a few players who stood out:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Archbishop Carroll over Middle Township, 67-64</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1454254' first='Luca' last='Foster'] | 6'5 W 2026 Archbishop Carroll</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Slight of frame, Foster excelled below the arc on both ends. He made himself a target in and around the paint; converting five lay-ups, finishing an alley oop, and getting to the free throw line (5-of-5). Foster's all-around activity (when he wasn't scoring) was vital as well. The sophomore wing flew around to get 8 rebounds (3 offensive), a steal, and a block. He hit a three for good measure too, leading the Patriots with 18 points.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1608257' first='Ian' last='Williams'] | 5'10 G 2026 Archbishop Carroll</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Through the first three quarters, Williams kept the Patriot's ship steady, facilitating in the halfcourt and pushing the tempo in transition when necessary. But Middle Township got hot in the fourth, threatening to steal the game away. That's when Williams took the game into his hands. He exploded for 10 of his 16 points in that stretch, creating advantages that he turned into a pull-up three and multiple shots at the rim. Carroll got out of Wildwood with a win thanks to Williams's 16 points, 7 boards, 7 assists, and 2 steals.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1411627' first='Jamir' last='McNeil'] | 6'0 G 2025 Middle Township</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>McNeil was the literal driving force behind the Panthers's attack. With hesitations into quick bursts, he bent the defense. The junior guard didn't throw any dimes, but him initiating their offense forced the defense to rotate and got the ball moving, eventually finding the hands of an open shooter. And when he made up his mind to score, McNeil was swift enough to make defenders flip their hips and either continue on to the hoop or pull-up for two. He tallied 17 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Roman Catholic over Roselle Catholic, 58-57</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1188620' first='Shareef' last='Jackson'] | 6'7 F/C 2025 Roman Catholic</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As a constant physical presence in the middle, Jackson played an instrumental in the Cahilites weathering the storm that was Roselle Catholic. He imposed his will around the basket, initiating contact and moving defenders out of the way with ease for high-percentage buckets and several rebounds. After grabbing boards on defense, he immediately sent the ball up the court on outlet passes that led to fastbreak points. None of his production came in lumps sums. But, when Roselle went on a 14-0 run to start the fourth quarter, Jackson continued doing his thing to keep his team on pace for the victory.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2148602' first='Eric' last='Hillsman'] | 6'7 F 2026 Roselle Catholic</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Despite his slow start, Hillsman went on to lead all scores thanks to his rim-running ability. He created and capitalized on numerous second-chance opportunities by attacking the glass, highlighted by his putback dunk. His leaping and finishing carried the second half, when he scored on rolls to the rim and duck-ins around the basket. Overall, he notched a 23-points, 12-rebound double-double.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1595666' first='Ethan' last='Mgbako'] | 6'6 F 2026 Roselle Catholic</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>An undersized forward, Mgbako showed surprising bursts of quickness and active hands on defense. He deflected multiple passes by shooting gaps which stalled Roman's offense at times. Offensively, Mgbako complimented Hillsman's ability by stretching the floor from the mid-range and from three, knocking down multiple triples. His first half performance kept Roselle afloat before Hillsman got going. He totalled 19 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Other Standouts</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1773153' first='Reale' last='Basquine'] | 2025 Middle Township</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1493183' first='Drew' last='Corrao'] | 2026 Archbishop Carroll</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1990918' first='Robert' last='Cottrell'] | 2024 Roman Catholic</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Darell Davis | 2027 Archbishop Carroll</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1595673' first='Jalen' last='Grant'] | 2026 Roselle Catholic</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1963393' first='Tyrease' last='Hunter'] | 2026 Roselle Catholic</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1406768' first='Sammy' last='Jackson'] | 2026 Roman Catholic</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2235976' first='Hunter' last='Johnson'] | 2024 Roman Catholic</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1595676' first='Jalen' last='Maldonado'] | 2026 Roselle Catholic</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1273928' first='Bubba' last='McNeil'] | 2024 Middle Township</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1788758' first='Chase' last='Moore'] | 2026 Middle Township</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1406770' first='Nasir' last='Ralls'] | 2026 Archbishop Carroll</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2226400' first='Travis' last='Reed Jr'] | 2024 Roman Catholic</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1050412' first='Anthony' last='Trombetta'] | 2024 Middle Township</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->