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Michael Green’s block lifts Burlington City over Haddon Heights

The Blue Devils' senior pinned the Garnets' last shot to the backboard to seal the victory.

Michael Green of Burlington City draws a double team from Haddon Heights defenders Te'Sean Pressley (10) and Isaiah Turner (5) during the fourth quarter.
Michael Green of Burlington City draws a double team from Haddon Heights defenders Te'Sean Pressley (10) and Isaiah Turner (5) during the fourth quarter.Read moreLOU RABITO / Staff
    by Phil Anastasia
    Updated 
    Published 

Fittingly, the game’s biggest play was a blocked shot.

“I think we set offense back a few years,” Burlington City coach Paul Collins joked after his team’s 38-37 victory over Haddon Heights on Saturday in the Coaches vs. Cancer showcase at Holy Cross Prep. “But we play defense.”

Senior Michael Green’s backboard pin of a Haddon Heights layup attempt with three seconds to play sealed the victory for Burlington City (11-5).

“I knew I had to go and get it,” said the 6-foot-4 Green, who led the Blue Devils at the defensive end with nine rebounds and three blocks.

Junior guard D.J. Woodbury fueled Burlington City’s furious comeback from a four-point deficit by scoring the game’s final five points in the final 31 seconds.

Woodbury made a deep three-pointer at 0:31 to cut Haddon Heights’ lead to 37-36.

“That thing was in the air forever,” Haddon Heights coach Mike Ricci said of Woodbury’s shot.

After a timeout, Jahsanti Santiago forced a turnover and Woodbury converted a layup for a 38-37 lead at the 0:10 mark.

“I couldn’t make a shot all day,” Woodbury said. “We just keep fighting. We never give up.”

Junior swingman TeSean Pressley scored 16 and sophomore forward Isaiah Turner added six points with 11 rebounds for Haddon Heights (14-7).

“We played great defense,” said Ricci, whose team projects as the likely No. 4 seed in South Jersey Group 2. “We rebounded. We limited their points in transition. I was really proud of our effort.”

Burlington City, which projects as the No. 2 seed behind rival Willingboro in Central Jersey Group 1, got a boost from senior guard Amir Landrum, who scored 13.

But in the end, it came down to defense, with Green rising near the rim to deny the Garnets’ final shot.

“He works so hard,” Woodbury said. “Once and a while, he should be rewarded.”

Haddon Heights 10 6 6 15 – 37

Burlington City 7 9 9 13 – 38

HH: D’Layne Peterson 9, Isaiah Turner 6, Jared Bolling 4, TeSean Pressley 16, Abasi Hamilton 2.

BC: Michael Green 7, Jahsanti Santiago 3, Jamaal Morris 3, Deonte Woodbury 12, Amir Landrum 13.