STOCKTON DROPS SEASON OPENER TO NEUMANN, 59-51

Bill McDonough

Richard Stockton (0-1) could not overcome its offensive woes in the 2011-12 season opener, and the Ospreys fell to Neumann (1-0) 59-51. Stockton shot just 31.4 percent from the field and committed 31 turnovers.

Junior transfer Bill McDonough (Spring Lake/St. Rose) scored a team-high 13 points in his first game in a Stockton uniform. Pat Kelly (Cape May CH/Wildwood Catholic) tossed in 11 points.

Neither team could get much going in a close but low-scoring first half. After taking an early 6-5 lead on a three-pointer by Kelly, Stockton went scoreless for the next nine minutes but only trailed 13-8.

Neumann opened up a 17-8 lead before the Ospreys closed the half with a 15-6 run for a 23-23 tie at the break. DiAndre Brown (Sicklerville/Camden Co. Tech) hit four straight free throws and then McDonough scored nine of Stockton’s next 11 points.

Neumann crept out to a five-point lead in the second half but the Ospreys rallied to take a 39-37 edge after a Dave Williams (Pennsauken/Pennsauken) free throw with 10:50 remaining. The Knights answered with six straight points and Stockton never led again although the Ospreys stayed close and even pulled within 43-42 on two free throws by Darnell McCargo (Woodland/Collingswood). Stockton scored just four points in the last five minutes of the game and fell 59-51.