Cedar Creek

GIRLS' BASKETBALL Team Rec. Records are through Tuesday. Last week's rankings in parentheses. 1. Ranc. Valley (1) 15-1 2. Willingboro (2) 15-2 3. Ocean City (4) 15-2 4. Glou. Catholic (5) 19-0 5. Cedar Creek (6) 14-2 6. Wash. Twp. (3) 16-3 7. Lenape (8) 17-2 8. Sacred Heart (9) 17-3 9. Holy Spirit (10) 13-3 10. Shawnee (7) 16-3 Under consideration (listed alphabetically): Sterling (16-3), Williamstown (12-5), Woodrow Wilson (15-4)

Damon Mitchell was a sophomore with zero experience at quarterback when Tim Watson, his new coach at Cedar Creek High School, pulled out an old magazine. Darren McFadden was on the cover. He was wearing No. 5. He was playing for Arkansas. "Coach asked me, 'Do you want to play quarterback?' " Mitchell recalled. "I was like, 'Quarterback? I'm a running back.' "Then he pulled out this magazine with Darren McFadden wearing No. 5 and running the Wildcat [offense]. He said, 'I want you to be like him.' " Mitchell wore No. 5 during his career at Cedar Creek.

Shortly after his junior season at Cedar Creek, Damon Mitchell received his first scholarship offer. It was from Rutgers. The Scarlet Knights wanted him to play safety for them. Fourteen months later, after a sensational senior season and more than 20 other offers, Mitchell has circled back to Rutgers - although much has changed about the football program at the state university and the nature of the Scarlet Knights' pursuit of the 6-3, 205-pound athlete. Mitchell, a first-team all-South Jersey Inquirer selection, appears to have narrowed his college choices to Rutgers and Arkansas.

The Inquirer TOP 10   GIRLS' BASKETBALL Team   Rec. Records are through Tuesday. Last week's rankings in parentheses. 1. Rancocas Valley (1)   12-1 2. Willingboro (4)   12-2 3. Washington Township (2)   15-2 4. Ocean City (3)   13-2 5. Gloucester Catholic (6)   17-0 6. Cedar Creek (7)   12-2 7. Shawnee (5)   15-2 8. Lenape (8)   15-2 9. Sacred Heart (9)   14-1 10. Holy Spirit (NR)

Cedar Creek quarterback Damon Mitchell has decided to make an official recruiting visit this weekend to Arkansas. The surprising development - Mitchell has committed to Georgia Tech - could have an interesting side effect: Rutgers could emerge as a destination for the first-team all-South Jersey athlete. Mitchell, who ran for 22 touchdowns and passed for 21 in leading Cedar Creek to a 10-2 record and the South Jersey Group 2 title game, said he made the decision after a home visit by Arkansas coach Bret Bielema on Sunday.

Cherokee jumped out to an early lead, then held off a furious, late comeback attempt by Haddon Heights, to win, 54-46, on the road in a nonleague boys' basketball game Saturday. Early on, the Chiefs drained five three-pointers and held a 17-4 advantage after the first quarter. The Garnets weren't able to score in double digits in any of the first three quarters and trailed by 35-19 heading into the fourth. Haddon Heights found its offense in the final period, putting up 27 points in the quarter, but Cherokee quelled the late rally by converting 11 of 17 free throws down the stretch.

Cherokee jumped out to an early lead, then held off a furious, late comeback attempt by Haddon Heights, to win, 54-46, on the road in a nonleague boys' basketball game Saturday. Early on, the Chiefs drained five three-pointers and held a 17-4 advantage after the first quarter. The Garnets weren't able to break double digits in any of the first three quarters and trailed by 35-19 heading into the fourth. Haddon Heights found its offense in the final period, putting up 27 points in the quarter, but Cherokee quelled the late rally by converting 11 of 17 free throws down the stretch.