The Hammonton Blue Devils (6-3) sneak past the Atlantic City Vikings (10-2) 66-64 with the help of Senior Forward Azzir Smith-Bey with the deciding bucket as time expired. After splitting the season series in the ‘22-’23 season, Hammonton entered the game looking to shock the rest of the Cape Atlantic League with a win over one of the conference’s most premier teams.
Junior guard Kenny Smith (20 pts, 7 ast), Senior forward Azzir Smith-Bey (15 pts, 7 reb), and Junior guard Jake Edwards (10pts) were the only Devils to reach double digits and ultimately be Hammonton’s three leading scorers. It’s important to shine a light on sophomore guard Greg Smith who contributed to 9 defensive rebounds, and impacted the game in ways that people won’t see in the box score.
Jake Edwards was asked what this game meant to the team while preparing to play and in the locker room, he responded “It was a huge game against a 9-1 team (at the moment) that would aid our playoff chances and would be helpful to earn the respect we rightfully deserve”.
For the opposing Atlantic City Vikings, Junior guard Khajuan Roseborough (23 pts, 5 rebs), Senior guard Mikel Jones (15 pts), and Senior big Frank Gilliam (10 pts, 7 rebs) in similar fashion to the Devils they were the only players to reach double digit points.
The first quarter looked to be a close scoring affair with the score of 17-19 in favor of the Vikings advancing to the 2nd quarter. From then on the Vikings seemed to be in control majority of the game which was initiated by a 14-0 run halfway through the 2nd quarter. The Blue Devils were able to crawl back and cut the lead to 4 going into the break 29-33.
The second half was nothing but eventful. Both teams trading scores until late in the 3rd quarter Atlantic City was able to extend their lead to 10. The 4th quarter commenced with the score of 45-51 for the away team.
With 7 minutes remaining in the 4th quarter, guard Greg Smith launches a deep 3 to bring the score 51-51. This was the first time since the end of the 1st quarter that the Vikings did not have a lead.
A chaotic and nail biting 4th quarter led to a score of 60-64 Vikings with 15 seconds remaining and the Devils on the offensive attack. Senior Guard Ta’vonne Barber finds Guard Jake Edwards in the left corner for an open look, and he nails it. Forcing AC Head Coach Wayne Nelson to call a timeout with 4.1 seconds left in the contest. Hammonton now trails by one with AC on the inbound.
Senior Guard Hector Feliciano-Lebron who committed a costly turnover a minute prior is substituted in for his defense presence. With the perfect display of hussle, Feliciano was able to disrupt the inbound pass in the right corner causing Sophomore Guard Tahmir Rex to lose balance and end up out of bounds.
Hammonton has gained possession with 2.3 seconds remaining and finds Azzir Smith-Bey on the right wing with an open look with the game on the line. He sets, fires, and calls game to complete the upset over Atlantic City.
Hammonton shot 52.4% from the floor, and a season high in both from beyond the arc (44.4%) and the charity stripe (83.3%). The Devils seemed to control the defensive boards out rebounding AC 23 to 12, and 32 to 29 in the entire contest. Turnovers have been a costly issue for the Devils this season to this point, against AC was the second time this season the Devils lost more than 20 turnovers with 21, previously 25 turnovers in 64-50 loss to Mainland.
Atlantic City seemed to struggle around the basket especially on the left side shooting a measly 8% (1/12). The Vikings ended the game with a slash line of 34.5 / 37.5 / 69.2.
Hammonton looks to continue their winning season with tough games against St. Joe at home, away at Mainland, home at Absegami, and Atlantic City again in their house.