Cedar Creek

Think about some of the obvious issues that might arise for a program in its second varsity season: Team chemistry, building a fan base, winning games. The Cedar Creek girls' basketball team, just as it has done in the group playoffs, bulldozed through every one of those. It would be nice to say the team has created a blueprint for young programs to follow - in many ways, that might be true. But there are certain aspects of the Pirates, who will play for a Group 1 title at 6 p.m. Sunday against Whippany Park at Toms River's Pine Belt Arena, that aren't easily replicated.

Two days after securing the first sectional sports title of any kind in school history, the Cedar Creek girls' basketball team earned the right to play for a state championship, with a 54-42 win over Metuchen on Thursday in an NJSIAA State Group 1 semifinal at Williamstown. The Pirates (25-4), in just their second varsity season, made themselves at home by sailing out to a commanding 16-4 lead. Junior Kristine Miller and sophomore sisters Mercina and Mikila Stefanski each scored 13 points, but as usual it was the Cedar Creek defense that ruled the night.

Everything is new for Cedar Creek football. And the winning isn't getting old. "I've never been part of a winning program before," Cedar Creek quarterback Damon "Doo-wop" Mitchell said. "It's kind of surreal. But it shows how hard we've worked. " Mitchell, a Georgia Tech recruit, played a part in all five touchdowns Saturday as Cedar Creek beat Cinnaminson, 34-7, in the first round of the South Jersey Group 2 tournament. The 6-foot-3, 205-pound Mitchell ran for three touchdowns and passed for two as second-seeded Cedar Creek improved to 9-0. Mitchell and senior running back Gary Melton Jr. led the way as Cedar Creek, a three-year-old school and second-year varsity program, won in imposing fashion in the school's first football playoff game.

For most of the Willingboro girls' basketball team, the idea seemed a bit odd: Practice on a Sunday - and on the morning of a game day, no less. "That was the first time we've ever had practice before a game," junior center Gabby Bennett said. "But we didn't mind; we knew she couldn't run us too much. " Chimeras coach Marchelle Coleman used the time to detail a plan for Sunday night's matchup with a sharpshooting Cedar Creek squad in the quarterfinals of the South Jersey Invitational Basketball Tournament at Eastern.

The chants from the Cedar Creek bench, all directed toward forward Kristine Miller, were constant throughout the game: "Pump fake. Pump fake. " When Miller finally obliged her team, midway through the fourth quarter, the results were predictable. She faked once, and as she went up for a shot her 6-foot-3 counterpart was almost leapfrogging her. Miller somehow converted a layup while drawing the foul. It was symbolic of the matchup between Miller and Sacred Heart's Kennedy Johnson: a physical, aggressive showdown between two big, highly talented players.

Two days after securing the first sectional sports title of any kind in school history, the Cedar Creek girls' basketball team earned the right to play for a state championship, with a 54-42 win over Metuchen on Thursday in an NJSIAA State Group 1 semifinal at Williamstown. The Pirates (25-4), in just their second varsity season, made themselves at home by sailing out to a commanding 16-4 lead. Junior Kristine Miller and sophomore sisters Mercina and Mikila Stefanski each scored 13 points, but as usual it was the Cedar Creek defense that ruled the night.

Cedar Creek quarterback Damon Mitchell said Monday night that he was strongly considering Arkansas and Rutgers as his college destination. Mitchell, a first-team all-South Jersey selection who led Cedar Creek to the South Jersey Group 2 title game, said he might not make his decision until signing day on Wednesday. "My mom and me are trying to decide what's best for me," Mitchell said after scoring 16 points for the Cedar Creek basketball team in a 70-69 loss to St. Joseph. Mitchell committed to Georgia Tech in July but said he was unsure if the Yellow Jackets had withdrawn their offer.

The Cedar Creek girls' basketball program celebrated its first sectional title on Tuesday, when the top-seeded Pirates routed No. 3 seed Gloucester, 66-29, in the South Jersey Group 1 championship game. Kristine Miller led the way with 18 points and Mercina Stefanski knocked down three three-point shots in scoring 17, as Cedar Creek capped a dominant three-game run through the tournament. Utilizing a man-to-man defense, Cedar Creek ran out to a 15-4 lead and expanded the advantage to 27-10 by intermission.

Three years ago, Damon Mitchell was a freshman at Oakcrest. Gary Melton Jr. was a freshman at St. Augustine Prep. Cedar Creek was a construction site. Now, Mitchell and Melton are senior leaders for a Cedar Creek football team that is on the verge of a South Jersey title in just its second season of varsity competition. Those guys don't just run fast. They work fast. "Over the last three years, Coach [Tim] Watson has told us many times to look in our heart and imagine and envision a parade down Philadelphia Avenue after we bring home the state championship," Mitchell said.

Baseball AL HEDELT TOURNAMENT First Round Oakcrest 13, Atlantic County Tech 1 Buena 4, Absegami 2 Pennsville 6, Sacred Heart 1 Holy Spirit 9, Cedar Creek 3 Consolation Absegami 6, Cedar Creek 2 Sacred Heart 11, Atlantic County Tech 6 BLUE DEVIL INVITATIONAL Championship Hammonton 6, Burlington Township 1 Consolation Overbrook (N.J.) 5, Triton 2 Semifinals Burlington Township 2, Overbrook 1 Hammonton 5, Triton 3 PAPA BEAR TOURNAMENT Championship Williamstown 6, Delran 0 NONLEAGUE St. Augustine 5, Holy Cross 0 Solebury School 8, Doane Academy 7 Gloucester Catholic 3, St. Joe's Metutch   Softball HAMMONTON TOURNAMENT Eastern 4, Hammonton 1 Washington Township 12, West Deptford 1 Washington Township 4, Buena 2 Eastern 5, Cumberland 1   Boys' Tennis MOORESTOWN CLASSIC Haddonfield 3, Moorestown 2 GLOUCESTER COUNTY OPEN Team scores: 1 Delsea, 14; 2. Washington Township, 8; 3. Kingsway, 8; 4. Clearview, 6; 5. Deptford, 5; 6. West Deptford, 3; 7. Glassboro, 2; 7. Williamstown, 2; 7. GCIT, 2; 10. Woodbury, 1; 10. Woodbury, 1; 10. Gateway, 1; 13. Paulsboro, 0. Singles final: Zac Castagna (Pitman)

GIRLS' BASKETBALL Team Rec. Final, 2012-13. 1. Rancocas Valley *30-1 2. Willingboro 24-5 3. Gloucester Catholic 26-3 4. Ocean City 26-5 5. Washington Twp. 23-7 6. Sterling 24-5 7. Holy Spirit 21-6 8. Cedar Creek 20-5 9. Williamstown 21-8 10. Sacred Heart 21-8 * – one game remaining - Chris Melchiorre

The Inquirer TOP 10 GIRLS' BASKETBALL Team   Rec. Final, 2012-13. 1. Rancocas Valley   *30-1 2. Willingboro   24-5 3. Gloucester Catholic   26-3 4. Ocean City   26-5 5. Washington Twp.   23-7 6. Sterling   24-5 7. Holy Spirit   21-6 8. Cedar Creek   20-5 9. Williamstown   21-8 10. Sacred Heart   21-8 * - one game remaining - Chris Melchiorre...

Fortunately for the fourth-seeded Sterling girls' basketball team, Tyra Satchell saved her best for the second half. The Silver Knights trailed by three points at the break to fifth-seeded Cedar Creek, but Satchell poured in 18 of her 26 points after halftime in a 61-50 win in a South Jersey Group 2 quarterfinal Wednesday night. The senior point guard also dished out five assists and went a perfect 9 for 9 from the free-throw line. Fellow senior Tori Shinkowitz netted a career-high 12 points.

Kennedy Johnson scored half of her game-high 22 points in Friday night's fourth quarter to seal Sacred Heart's 51-48 win at Middle Township in the Cape-Atlantic League girls' basketball quarterfinals. Sacred Heart entered the tournament as the fifth-seeded team, and Middle Township was seeded at the four spot. The Lions built up a 10-point halftime lead and were able to weather Middle Township's second-half rally. Olivia Schwartz scored 11 of her 20 points in the third quarter to help Middle Township cut its deficit to three points.

For most of the Willingboro girls' basketball team, the idea seemed a bit odd: Practice on a Sunday - and on the morning of a game day, no less. "That was the first time we've ever had practice before a game," junior center Gabby Bennett said. "But we didn't mind; we knew she couldn't run us too much. " Chimeras coach Marchelle Coleman used the time to detail a plan for Sunday night's matchup with a sharpshooting Cedar Creek squad in the quarterfinals of the South Jersey Invitational Basketball Tournament at Eastern.

Cedar Creek quarterback Damon Mitchell said Monday night that he was strongly considering Arkansas and Rutgers as his college destination. Mitchell, a first-team all-South Jersey selection who led Cedar Creek to the South Jersey Group 2 title game, said he might not make his decision until signing day on Wednesday. "My mom and me are trying to decide what's best for me," Mitchell said after scoring 16 points for the Cedar Creek basketball team in a 70-69 loss to St. Joseph. Mitchell committed to Georgia Tech in July but said he was unsure if the Yellow Jackets had withdrawn their offer.