WOODBURY HEIGHTS (N.J.) - Second-seeded Woodbury found itself face to face with sixth-seeded Pitman in the semifinals portion of the South Jersey Group 1 bracket.
Woodbury's JaBron Solomon scored a game-high 19 points to power Woodbury past Pitman, 48-44, in the South Jersey Group 1 semifinals at Gateway Regional High School in Woodbury Heights, New Jersey on Friday, February 24, 2023. Chris Baker/D2 Sports Network
Pitman, the visiting team, upset third-seeded Paulsboro as Woodbury squeaked past 10th-seeded Penns Grove in overtime.
Woodbury overcame a thrilling back-and-forth contest again with a 48-44 victory over Pitman to advance to the South Jersey Group 1 final. JaBron Solomon led the Thundering Herd with a game-high 19 points. His younger brother, JaSuan Solomon, added 11 points and seven rebounds.
Elijah Crispin led Pitman with 17 points including four 3-pointers.
In a game where it seemed like Pitman couldn't miss from three-point land, the Thundering Herd remained determined as they had no intentions of going home early.
Woodbury coach Lynell Payne told his players, "we're not losing this game. We will have practice tomorrow. Trust each other and we will win."
Trust. That one word goes a long way for the Woodbury boys basketball team.
A squad that is compiled of multiple starters and players from Woodbury football's state championship team from this past December, they're all familiar with one another.
"We have a bond and chemistry that is unbreakable," JaBron Solomon said. "All being on the same football team, we have that trust. That word means so much to us because it's something we can credit our success to.
"We usually all play the same sports year round so we're constantly around each other and it's showing on the court," the New Haven football commit added.
Woodbury will host Burlington City at Deptford High School on Monday at 4 pm. The Thundering Herd are seeking their first sectional title since 2018.
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