From Press staff reports
The Vineland High School boys basketball team outscored Bristol (Pa.) 7-2 in triple overtime for a 52-47 come-from-behind victory in the Jay Craven Memorial championship game on the final day of the Boardwalk Basketball Classic at the Wildwoods Convention Center on Sunday.
It was the Fighting Clan's second straight victory after they dropped their first five games of the season.
With the score tied, Bristol's Maurice Towner missed a 3-point attempt with 10 seconds left in the third 4-minute overtime period, and teammate Ryan Weinkoff got the rebound. Vineland's Kevin Ellis stole the ball, was fouled and made both of his foul shots to seal the win.
Bristol extended its biggest lead of the game to 12 with 5 minutes, 47 seconds left in regulation. Charlie Ware scored nine of his team-high 15 points in the closing minutes of regulation to keep Vineland in the game. Ware brought Vineland within one with 36 seconds left with a field goal in the paint. He was fouled on the play and made the ensuing free throw shot to tie it at 39-all heading into the first overtime period.
Eddie Thomas added 14 points and eight rebounds for the Fighting Clan. Jairo Rivas contributed with eight rebounds and three steals.
For Bristol, Towner scored 12 points and Sean Coughlin 11.
Vineland 6 6 10 17 4 2 7-52
Bristol 13 3 13 10 4 2 2-47
V-Thomas 4 6-11 14, Ellis 0 2-2 2, Babloa 0 0-2 0, Rivas 2 0-2 4, Ware 5 5-7 15, Colvin 3 2-2 8, Porter 1 0-0 2, Kirlak 2 2-2 7. Totals-17 17-28 52.
B-Towner 4 3-8 12, A. Coughlin 4 2-2 11, Leone 2 0-0 5, Rigby 2 3-4 7, S. Coughlin 1 4-7 6, Weinkoff 1 4-7 6. Totals-14 16-28 47.
3-pointers-Kirlak V; Towner, A. Coughlin, Leone B.
Records-Vineland 2-5, Bristol 5-3.
