by Alex Schwartz

The fourth game of the day has already started, and it's a Garden State/Keystone State showdown. The Irish of Camden Catholic (NJ) are led by a pair of 6'6 juniors: Tim Crawford '10 and Gerry Wixted '10. For the Malvern Prep (PA) Friars, Dequann Walker '11 and Lamon Church '11, a couple of sophomores, are the big-time players. Camden Catholic has been one of the best teams in New Jersey this year, while Malvern Prep has flown under the radar a bit. We are already through nearly five minutes of action.

5:29pm- With 3:06 to go in the first quarter, Malvern Prep leads Camden Catholic 7-6.

5:31pm- The clock is showing 1:45, and Camden Catholic has an 11-7 advantage.

5:33pm- Dequann Walker '11 used a nice move to get to the rack, and he finished to make it 11-9 with less than one minute to go in the first quarter.

5:35pm- We are through eight minutes of the game, and the Irish hold a 12-11 lead.

5:38pm- Walker responded to a deuce from Sherard Cadogan '10 with a bucket of his own, and then Brendan Kilpatrick '12 nailed a triple for Malvern, which now leads 16-14.

5:40pm- A jumper from Anthony D'Orazio '10 to tie it was answered by back-to-back Brendan McNulty '09. The Friars are up 20-16 with under 3:45 remaining in the first half.

5:41pm- D'Orazio scored with less that 3:30 to play in the half, making it 20-18, and leading to a Malvern timeout.

5:44pm- Ryan Creighton '10 hit a trey to put Malvern ahead by five, 23-18.

5:45pm- Tim Crawford '10 received a nice pass from Jahseer Bronson '09 and laid it in, making it a three-point game.

5:46pm- Brian Rice '09 tied the game at 23 with a trifecta, but Tracy Peal '11 took an inbounds pass from under the Camden Catholic hoop with 1.6 seconds left and hit a J to give Malvern a 25-23 lead at the half.

6:01pm- Cadogan hit one of two from the stripe for Camden Catholic to open up the scoring in the second half. The Irish trail 25-24.

6:02pm- Cadogan is playing very well. He just grabbed an offensive board, took a dribble, faded back, and scored to put Camden Catholic on top by a score of 26-25.

6:04pm- Lamon Church '11 hit one of two at the line to tie the game, and then D'Orazio made one of two to give the lead back to Camden Catholic, 27-26.

6:05pm- A deuce from Church has given Malvern a 28-27 lead with about five minutes to go in the third quarter.

6:06pm- Crawford received a pass in the low post and scored to put Camden Catholic back on top.

6:07pm- A free throw from Malvern Prep has evened the score at 29.

6:09pm- Lamon Church hit a three from the corner to put Malvern Prep ahead 32-29 with under 2:30 to go in the third period of play.

6:11pm- D'Orazio just took a seat after picking up his fourth personal foul with just under 10 minutes left in the contest.

6:13pm- Cadogan scored down low on a tough shot at the buzzer and was fouled by McNulty with no time on the clock. The junior made his free throw to tie the game at 32 after three quarters of play.

6:17pm- Camden Catholic turned the ball over on two consecutive possessions, but Malvern Prep was unable to turn them into points. Both teams then missed shots, and Tim Crawford finally opened up the scoring in the final quarter by nailing a mid-range jumper about two minutes in, putting the Irish ahead by two.

6:19pm- Crawford made a pair of free throws with 4:53 to go in regulation to put the Irish up by four. Walker responded with a bucket to make it 36-34.

6:20pm- Crawford received a pass in the post, spun, and scored to put the Irish up by four. The junior is having a great quarter, and has played a solid game.

6:22pm- D'Orazio hit a couple of free throws to put Camden Catholic up 40-34. Gerry Wixted '10 has not played for the Irish and is sitting on the bench in street clothes.

6:23pm- With 3:14 to go in the game, the Irish lead the Friars 40-36.

6:25pm- Cadogan was blocked down low by Walker, but the Friars quickly turned the ball back over, and Creighton fouled Bronson. The senior missed the front end of a one-and-one, so it remains a four-point ballgame.

6:26pm- Ryan Creighton hit a trey in front of the Malvern Prep bench to cut the Friars' deficit to one-point, 40—39, with under two minutes to play.

6:27pm- D'Orazio drove right past Kilpatrick and laid the ball in to put Camden Catholic up by three. At the other end, Tracy Peal scored for Malvern Prep and the Friars called timeout with 1:08 to go in regulation, trailing 42-41. I want to recognize both coaches, as they both seem to do a good job of leading their squads and managing the game.

6:30pm- D'Orazio turned the ball over around the Malvern Prep three-point line, giving the Friars the ball back with 60 seconds left.

6:31pm- Cadogan stole a pass with less than 45 seconds to go, and Church fouled D'Orazio with 34.3 seconds left, sending him to the line for two shots. The junior was short on both, but got his own rebound and scored to make it a three-point game.

6:34pm- Church hit the second of two at the stripe to make it 44-42. Creighton then picked up his fourth foul, sending Jahseer Bronson to the line with 21.6 to go. He made both shots, so the Irish lead 46-42, and have just called a timeout.

6:36pm- Church and Walker both missed tough shots in the paint for the Friars.

6:37pm- Creighton fouled out, putting Brian Rice at the charity stripe with 9 seconds to go, where he made both shots. It's 48-42. Dequann Walker scored at the other end just before time expired.

6:38pm- Camden Catholic is going to leave with a hard-fought 48-44 win.

6:39pm- Dequann Walker was named MVP for Malvern Prep, scoring 14 points. Anthony D'Orazio dropped 16 points en route to being named MVP for Camden Catholic.

7:04pm- I caught up with Anthony D'Orazio, Dequann Walker, and Lamon Church after the game.