Six defending NJSIAA champions among teams in Ocean City PBA Tipoff Weekend

OCEAN CITY- The Ocean City PBA Tipoff Weekend is 20 years old this weekend and a special group of games have been scheduled to celebrate.

This year’s field features six defending sectional champions, including three of last year’s four boys sectional champions from Group 3.

Tipoff Weekend starts today at noon with Lower Cape May meeting Cape May Tech in a game that features the two top Cape-Atlantic League scorers from last season – Tech’s Josh Wright (24.3) and Lower’s Patrick Holden (24.0). Holy Spirit, paced by Reece Miller and Drew Gallagher, will meet Toms River East, two NJSIAA tournament teams from last season, at 1:45.

At 3:30, Wildwood Catholic – led by 6-2 guard Caleb Fields and 6-7 sophomore Taj Thweatt – will take on Teaneck, the two-time defending Group 3 state champion. Teaneck is led by 5-8 senior guard Ja’Quaye James, who led the state in three-pointers last year and is the Highwaymen’s all-time career scoring leader.

At 5:15 today, St. Joseph and junior guard Marcellus Ross (20.4 last year) will have to deal with Wildwood High School, which might be without 5-11 senior guard Kyion Flanders (28.9), who led South Jersey scoring a year ago.

The final game on Saturday (7pm) matches two defending South Jersey champions – Non-Public A champ St. Augustine Prep, led by Marlon Hargis and Travis Stoll, against Group 3 champion Winslow Township, led by 6-7 senior Tyshiem McClennan-Perkins.

Sunday starts with the two Atlantic City teams (girls at noon, boys to follow) both taking on Ewing. The Ewing girls and boys were both Central Jersey Group 3 champs last year. The Vikings boys are led by Howard University recruit Ray Bethea. At 3:30 on Sunday, Middle Township’s girls and Haddon Township, both South Jersey finalists last year, will meet.

Ocean City’s teams wrap up the weekend Sunday at 5:15 with the Jack Boyd Memorial Doubleheader. The OCHS girls, two-time defending South Jersey champs who defeated Middle in overtime last night, will face Atlantic Tech followed by the Ocean City boys against Pleasantville.

In addition to coming together for some good basketball to get the season started, each of the participating teams brings non-perishable food items and toys that are distributed throughout the area to those in need.

Fans can see all five games each day for a single daily admission price of just $6.00. Portions of the proceeds go to the Edythe T. Selvagn Scholarship Fund.  More information about the event is available at PrimeEvents.net.

Tipoff Weekend started in 1998 in Egg Harbor Township where it was held for four seasons. After one year at Holy Spirit and two in the Ventnor Complex, the event settled in Ocean City in 2005. It has continued in the Dixie Howell Memorial Gymnasium with the support of the Ocean City PBA and a group of other businesses and individuals.

In addition to the Ocean City PBA, the event is also sponsored by Thomas Heist Insurance, Gillian’s Wonderland Pier, the City of Ocean City, the Ocean City Firefighters, the Ocean City Free Public Library, Coco-Cola Bottling, the Ocean City Aquatic & Fitness Center, Sack-O-Subs and Schoppy.com.

20^th Annual Ocean City PBA Tipoff Weekend

Saturday
Noon —— Lower Cape May boys vs Cape May Tech
1:45pm — Holy Spirit boys vs Toms River East
3:30pm — Wildwood Catholic boys vs Teaneck
5:15pm — St. Joseph boys vs Wildwood
7:00pm — St. Augustine boys vs Winslow Township

Sunday
Noon —— Atlantic City Girls vs Ewing
1:45pm — Atlantic City boys vs Ewing
3:30pm — Middle Township girls vs Haddon Township
5:15pm — Ocean City girls vs Atlantic Tech
7:00pm — Ocean City boys vs Pleasantville