Spotlight on: Deptford senior Nick Lawson

Spotlight on: Deptford senior Nick Lawson

Close games have made the difference for Lawson and the surprising Spartans this season.

Deptford clinched the Tri-County Diamond Division title with a 64-36 victory over Woodstown on Thursday as Lawson, a 6-foot-2 shooting guard, scored 10 points.

But that margin of victory wasn't typical for the Spartans.

They won the title with a 9-1 record because they went 3-1 against their top division rivals, prevailing in close games against Gloucester Catholic (43-42 and 36-34) and Penns Grove (62-61).

"That was the key for us," Lawson said. "We were able to pull through in the fourth quarter in those close games."

Lawson has scored in double figures in 19 games for Deptford (12-9 overall). He has scored 20 or more in six games.

Along with guards Brandon West and DaRon Curry, Lawson has the Spartans in position to challenge in the South Jersey Group 2 tournament as a dangerous No. 9 seed.

"We were the underdogs before the season," Lawson said. "Everybody was thinking Penns Grove or Gloucester Catholic would win the division, and we surprised them. We think we can do the same thing in the states."

   - Phil Anastasia