Team allows 34 points before hosting Delsea for a shot at semifinal
LINWOOD — A dominant defense led the Mainland boys basketball team to their first playoff victory this season.
In the first round of the NJSIAA South Jersey Group III tournament, Mainland Regional High School defeated Westampton Tech 54-34 on Feb. 22.
The top-seeded Mustangs took control immediately after tipoff and gave up only three points in the first quarter.
Their defense set the tone early as it forced turnovers and did not allow many shot attempts.
Mainland extended its lead to 28-9 before halftime and looked unstoppable.
Westampton Tech’s second-half comeback attempt was thwarted when the Mustang defense gave up only five points in the fourth quarter.
Cohen Cook led the Mustangs with 20 points, which put his season total to nearly 600. Tim Travagline eclipsed 400 points on the year with his 19 points against Westampton Tech.
Mainland’s next game of the tournament was against Delsea High School on Feb. 27.
With a victory, Mainland Regional would host either Barnegat Township High School or Moorestown High School in the semifinals Feb. 29.
Moorestown eliminated Mainland 32-29 last season in the semifinals with a heartbreaking buzzer-beater.
The Mustangs will look to exact revenge on the reigning South Jersey Group III champion.
Exactly like last year, Mainland is the number one seed and would host the number four seed Moorestown for the right to reach the championship round.
The South Jersey Group III championship game is scheduled for March 2.
With victories against Delsea and Barnegat/Moorestown, Mainland would host the game. Ocean City High School as the number two seed is a likely opponent alongside number three seed Camden Eastside.
After their first-round game against Westampton Tech last week, the Mustangs would have to win three games in a five-day span to end the tournament in a quick gantlet of the most important games of the season.
Before the gantlet of games, the Mustangs took care of business versus Westampton Tech. Travagline got the ball rolling with a three-pointer that forced an immediate timeout.
Jamie Tyson kept the momentum after the break and scored four points in 10 seconds. He also picked up his second foul of the first quarter and was forced to leave the court.
A full team effort gave Mainland a 16-3 lead after the first eight minutes.
Westampton Tech fell into a 28-9 deficit midway through the second quarter.
Tyson came back into the game and drew a foul for a three-point play.
He missed the free throw but Cook snatched the rebound and scored for a great basket.
Mainland tends to score off a missed free throw, a great way to turn a negative play into a positive one.
Cook had nearly an identical play happen in the third quarter. He missed a free throw but got his own rebound and fired the ball out to Travagline for a score.
The third quarter ended with a solid 42-29 lead but Cook picked up his fourth foul.
The Mustangs slowed the tempo in the final stanza, with the only points being two buckets by Travagline in 4 minutes of play. Westampton Tech shot desperation three-pointers but made only one of them.
Cook re-entered the game and scored the next six points for the Mustangs to ensure the victory.
Mainland gave up only five points in the fourth quarter to secure the 20-point playoff victory.
With nearly a week between games, the Mustangs will look to carry the momentum throughout the rest of the tournament.
By WILLIAM TRUITT/For the Sentinel
