High School Boys Basketball:
Wagner's 2nd Half Burst Leads Camden Over Cherokee

Monday, February 7, 2000

By Vincent Lewis
SJSports Staff Writer

For those of you who haven't seen the Camden boy's basketball team play this year, make time to do so. With the electrifying cross over dribble, ball handling, three point shooting, assist man DaJuan Wagner healthy, the Panthers are moving up the charts faster than Q-Tips Vibrant Thang. The Cherokee Chiefs were the victims of another team finding out how good the Panthers are this season. With the 58-45 win, Camden has improved their record to 12-4 and look to be unbeatable.

Coming into this game, the Cherokee Chiefs were undefeated and sporting a fourteen game winning streak. Knowing they were up for a huge challenge when they traveled to Camden High for an Olympic Conference boy's basketball game, their task was to stop Wagner. They did slow him down in the first half, as Wagner sat the bench for most of the first half and scored no points. Coach Glenn Jackson sat the junior guard. Also on the bench was Chiefs' guard Doug Cusisk because of foul trouble.

The first half saw Coach Ron Powell slow down the tempo for his Chiefs as they were able to post a one-point lead at the half. Keeping the Panthers from doing what they do best was hard to do for one half. Camden came roaring out the gates in the third quarter and outscored Cherokee 18-7.

Camden began to pick up the transitional game and the Chiefs tried to keep up with them. The Panthers opened up the game with the high flying, arial attack of Arthur Barclay. The home crowd was treated to a series of dunks, fast breaks and another victory as Camden won by 13 points. Wagner finished with a game high 16 points, Barclay had 14 points and James Pulliam added 10 points for Camden. For the Chiefs, Kyle Cuneo had a team high 14 points and Ryan Hewitt added 13 points.

Photos by Forrest Robleto