Slam Dunk to the Beach kicks off 2021 event

Roselle Catholic’s Simeon Wilcher lays one in during the win over Woodrow Wilson. DAN COOK PHOTOS

Kenny Riedel

December 28, 2021

Following the opening game featuring the girls’ team of host Cape Henlopen versus a talented Westtown (Pa.), three teams ranked in ESPN’s Top 15 earned impressive wins in the first of three days of Slam Dunk to the Beach at Cape Henlopen High School in Lewes.

No. 15 (ESPN) Roselle Catholic (N.J.) 85, Woodrow Wilson (D.C.) 65

North Carolina commit Simeon Wilcher lived up to his billing with 25 points, Akil Watson poured in 21, and Jamarques Lawrence added 20 to help the Lions pull away from a pesky Wilson squad that was added to the schedule as a last-minute COVID replacement. Roselle shot 60 percent from the floor but couldn’t shake the Tigers until early in the fourth quarter. Darren Buchanan did a little bit of everything for Wilson, scoring 29 points to go with 12 rebounds and five assists.

No. 6 (ESPN) AZ Compass Prep (Ariz.) 78, Our Saviour Lutheran (N.Y.) 40

Slam Dunk’s top-ranked team put on a show, dispatching one of New York’s most respected programs in entertaining fashion. The Dragons scored the first eight points and never looked back, as they raced to a 50-21 halftime advantage. Minnesota-bound Josh Ola-Joseph and UCLA commit Kylan Boswell tallied 15 points apiece to pace a balanced Compass squad, which features five players ranked among the top 50 nationwide in their respective classes. Ola-Joseph hammered home the day’s most eye-popping dunk in the third quarter, taking flight from 10 feet out for a windmill over two defenders.

No. 4 (ESPN) Camden (N.J.) 73, Archbishop Wood (Pa.) 41

D.J. Wagner scored 21 points on 9-for-14 shooting to pace the Panthers to a runaway victory. Wagner, rated the top junior in the nation, and the son of former NBA player Dajuan Wagner, added six steals for Camden, which also got 20 points on 5-for-5 three-point shooting from Cian Medley. The long, uber-athletic Panthers allowed Archbishop Wood to hit just 36 percent of its field goals and forced 26 turnovers. Camden led by 13 at the break but tore open the game with a 32-13 third frame, shooting 80 percent from the floor in the period.