(3-9-24) What happened to the Manasquan (New Jersey) boys basketball team should never happen to any athletic team at any level. The State of New Jersey at all levels has failed to provide leadership at every opportunity to rectify the situation. Instead they have avoided every possibility and decided to reward a team a chance in the state tournament who did not actually win the game. Instead of depending on outdated bylaws they need to start to be reviewed and updated. This is 2024….not 1954…the NJSIAA should be embarrassed at how this was all handled failing the student-athletes from Manasquan.

RELATED:

Hats off to Manasquan coaches, administrators and players on how they have handled this situation…showing the class of being a true champion.

This game will be long be remembered, never forgotten and talked about of what might have been.

The controversial ending of the game was followed in New Jersey and around the US. Don’t expect the NJSIAA to investigate the final overturned call…to this point they admitted the call was a bad one.

Many are disappointed in the reaction since the game from the entire Camden administrators and coaches.

Camden AD Will Hickson reposted this on his Txitter account…

Today at noon at Rutgers’ University Jersey Mike’s Arena in the Group 2 Championship game Camden will play Newark Arts for the state title. The game should feature an asterisk in the NJ record books.

From TXitter…

Did you know….

Camden was disqualified from last year’s NJSIAA Tournament for exceeding the number of permitted player disqualifications for a season.

(2-16-23) Brawl Puts Playoffs in Jeopardy for Camden Basketball Champs

The NJSIAA rules state that-

“any varsity team accumulating three or more player or coach disqualifications prior to the start of the tournament will not be permitted to participate in the state tournament. Seeded teams will forfeit their right to compete if a disqualification limit is reached prior to the start of the tournament for the team.”

After the brawl…

Camden school spokesperson Sheena Yera issued this statement:

“We are disappointed to learn that this evening’s Camden County Championship basketball game between Camden High School and Eastside High School has been suspended following an on-the-court altercation during the game. Our top priority is the safety and well-being of our students and fans. Thankfully, no one was seriously injured. This incident is not an indication of who we are…And, we expect our student-athletes to compete with sportsmanship. The District will take all the necessary steps for appropriate disciplinary action.”

Camden Education Association president Keith Benson told TapIntoCamden –

“Family tends to fight some times,” said Benson, “and I can easily see a situation where the kids that are fighting today will be cheering for each other as soon as playoffs start…you tend to battle hardest against the people you’re closest to.

My hope is that everyone gets a chance to compete and finish the season,” he said. “It would be a shame if this one moment disqualifies them.”

At the time of the incident Camden was under investigation by the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association for potential illegal recruiting violations.