Reese Downey of Absegami dribbles against Hammonton at Ocean City PBA Tipoff Weekend
Mike McGarry
OCEAN CITY -- Absegami High School senior Reese Downey continued to build on what is already a historic high school career Sunday.
Meanwhile, Braves freshman Emma Grimely began to build her resume.
Downey scored 29 points, and contributed eight assists, seven rebounds and four steals to propel the Braves to a 66-38 win over Hammonton in an Ocean City PBA Tipoff Weekend game
"Now, that I'm a senior I think it's important for me to be in the senior role and take over," she said. "Just help me team and make sure we have it under control."
Grimely made six 3-pointers -- many of them off passes from Downey -- and finished with 26 points in just her fourth varsity game.
"This is just the beginning for her," Downey said of Grimely. "I think she did awesome."
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The high school basketball season began this week, but action picked up this weekend with the start of showcase events and in-season tournaments.
The Boardwalk Basketball Classic, one of the nation's largest coed holiday tournaments, began Sunday and will continue this week at Wildwoods Convention Center. The Score at the Shore boys and girls tournaments will be held at Southern Regional this week.
The Braves controlled Sunday's game for the start.
Grimely made two 3-pointers from the left corner in the first five minutes as Absegami built a 12-2 lead.
"Especially with me, I need that momentum," Grimely said. "I need that confidence. I think it was really important for me to hit those (3-pointers) at the beginning of the game. I feel like it boosted me for the rest of the game."
Absegami, which reached the South Jersey Group III final last season, has won three straight after a season-opening loss to Wildwood Catholic.
Absegami coach Bob Lasko said Downey is playing with more of an edge this season. A Fairleigh Dickinson University recruit, she is averaging 26.5 points this season.
"I've been begging for that," he said. "She's really taken control of the team. She's calling out more (offensive) sets than I am. We're a really young team, so she has to step up in those ways."
Downey now has 1,527 career pointers and has made 244 career 3-pointers.
Grimely has 48 career points and 15 career 3-pointers. She needs 230 more 3-pointers to catch Downey.
"She's got it," Downey said.
Grimely just shook her head when Downey said that.
"She's my role model," Grimely said. "I've always looked up to Reese. She's awesome.
Hammonton 5 9 15 9 -- 38
Absegami 23 12 18 13 -- 66
H -- Viradelli 7, Koslowski 11, Stevenson 10, Vivadelli 3, Ellis 3, Cuneo-Snouffer 4
A -- Grimely 26, Ortiz 2, Johansen 5, Downey 29, Pawlowski 4
Contact: 609-272-7209
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