Booker reaches 1,000 points

Ever since she started playing varsity girls basketball two years ago, Cape-Atlantic League fans knew the day would come.

Tara Booker, Absegami High School’s do-everything guard, scored her 1,000^th career point as the Lady Braves topped Mainland Regional, 74-55, on Tuesday, Jan. 30 in a battle of rival playoff-bound teams.

Booker finished the night with 21 points and notched her 1,000^th point in the fourth quarter.

Booker, one of the CAL’s leading scorers during the past two seasons, could approach 1,500 points before her Absegami playing career ends as a senior next year.

Sara Mostafa, also a junior, scored a game-high 29 points for the 13-1 Lady Braves and pulled down a game-high 20 rebounds.

Absegami jumped out to a 13-4 lead during the first quarter and held a 35-21 advantage heading into halftime. With one quarter remaining, the Lady Braves led 50-40 and held on for the win.

Christine Wooding, Mainland’s leading scorer this season, led the Lady Mustangs again on the scoreboard with 15 points.

Mainland, which recently qualified for its 23^rd consecutive trip to the playoffs, dropped to 10-5.

Booker isn’t alone in this year’s additions to the Absegami 1,000-point club. She joins senior Manny Valentin, a member of the Braves’ varsity boys basketball team, who scored his 1,000^th point earlier this year in a victory over rival Oakcrest.

Absgami boys complete double-double

The Braves’ varsity basketball team also defeated Mainland 65-51 on Tuesday, Jan. 30 night, to give Absegami it’s second double victory over Mainland this season.

Both the boys and girls team defeated the Mustangs when the two school played basketball contests on Dec. 21.

During this win, Manny Valentin and Kevin Davis popped in 19 points each as the Braves turned a one-point halftime advantage into a 14-point win.

Absegami led by three after the first quarter (17-14), but led 25-24 at halftime. With eight minutes remaining, the Braves were in front 46-40 and dominated the fourth quarter 19-11 to pull away for the win.

Sean Bannon scored 13 points to lead Mainland.

The Braves improved to 11-5 with the win and Mainland dropped to 9-7.

Both teams have qualified for the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association playoffs.

Don’t count Oakcrest out just yet

Alex Nelson scored a game-high 18 points and teammate Ross Toth added 17 as the Oakcrest High School boys varsity basketball team rallied to defeat host Lower Cape May 45-44 on Tuesday, Jan. 30.

The Falcons improved to 8-9 with one scheduled game remaining before the NJSIAA playoff cutoff date. Basketball teams need to be at .500 or better by Saturday, Feb. 3 in order to qualify for the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association playoffs.

Oakcrest led Lower Cape May 14-7 after the first quarter and held a three-point advantage 20-17 at hafltime. However, the Caper Tigers dominated the third quarter to take a 34-28 lead with eight minutes remaining.

That’s when Toth got hot.

The 3-point ace finished with four long-distance baskets and scored the bulk of his points after halftime.

The Falcons dominated the fourth quarter, 17-10, to sneak out the win.

Oakcrest began the season with a 5-1 run, but has won only three games since Jan.2 However, the Falcons defeated defending Tri-State Christian Academy 56-43 on Jan. 27.

So the Falcons carry a two-game winning streak in to Hammonton where they play the playoff-bound Blue Devils at 5:30 p.m., Friday, Feb. 2 hoping to win to get to .500 and clinch a playoff berth.