BY MIKE WHITE
Staff Writer

JACKSON — Scott Cullen possesses all the skills needed to be a quality lead guard. The Goetz Middle School eighth-grader is equipped with deft dribbling ability, outstanding vision and an unselfishness that makes everybody around him a better player.

Cullen, a slick point guard, led Goetz to its second consecutive CBA Colt Stampede basketball tournament title last week.

Cullen scored nine points and handed out a number of assists as Goetz defeated Central Regional, 41-35, in the championship game.

Cullen was selected as the tournament’s MVP.

“He is a key ingredient to the success of this team,” Goetz coach Steve Bado said. “He is extremely poised in his play and decision-making. He makes our offense go. When he is doing all the things he is capable of, then our offense plays at a high level.”

One of Cullen’s favorite targets is 6-foot-6 center Sean McPaul. Despite being double- and triple-teamed the entire game, McPaul managed to score 11 points and did a good job of kicking the ball back out to the perimeter.

“He was getting banged around in there,” Bado said. “But when teams double and triple him, he has the ability to find the open man. There were many times in this game when he kicked the ball back out and we got an open jumper.”

On the receiving end of many of McPaul’s passes was Chris Castronova, who scored a team-high 13 points. Castronova, one of the team’s best perimeter shooters, knocked down three three-pointers.

“That is the benefit to having a big man like McPaul in the post,” Bado said. “Our other guys move to open areas and spot up for the jump shots. We’re going to get a lot of open jumpers this year when McPaul is in the game. We need to make sure we knock those down. Chris had a hot hand for us in this game.”

Brandon Stillwell chipped in with six points and Josiah Williams had two and a bunch of rebounds, Bado said.

Goetz entered the 16-team tournament as the top seed in their half of the draw. Central was the top seed in the lower half of the bracket, pitting the event’s two best teams against one another in the title game.

“We kind of figured it was going to work out this way,” Bado said. “We held a seven-point lead and were never really in danger. We handled their pressure well and made the shots when we had them.”

The semifinal game was another story. Goetz needed to overcome an 11-point deficit with five minutes remaining in the fourth quarter to post a 40-32 victory over a scrappy Toms River West team.

“We were in serious trouble late in the game,” Bado said. “But our defense picked it up and created a number of turnovers that resulted in easy baskets.”

McPaul scored a team-high 11 points, with eight coming in the fourth quarter. Cullen contributed four points in the final quarter as well to help seal the win.

The game was knotted at 29-29 with 1:03 left. Goetz produced an 11-3 run in the final minute to secure its second straight appearance in the finals.

Castronova had 10 points, while Tim Baker had two and Devon Cheatam had a bucket.

Goetz had a much easier time of it in the second round. McPaul and Cullen combined for 22 points in a 49-23 win over St. Peter’s of Point Pleasant.

Matt Riley added nine, Chris Margotti six and Tom Maier two.

“That game was a chance to use a lot of players,” Bado said. “It was an opportunity for me to see what some of the kids could do.”

Cullen netted 16 points as Goetz steamrolled Mount Carmel, 57-14, in the opener.

Brian Solloman had two points, Chris Wells collected five rebounds and Chris Sarno and Tyler DeStefano were cited by Bado for fine defense.