Coach, Team of the Year for 2024-25 South Jersey Boys Basketball

Camden Catholic's head boys basketball coach Matt Crawford instructs his players during the Non-Public A South opening round boys basketball playoff game between Camden Catholic and St. Joseph Metuchen played at Camden Catholic High School on Friday, February 28, 2025.

South Jersey Boys Basketball Coach of the Year

The depth of talent in the South Jersey boys basketball ranks is astounding.

There is never a shortage of excellent Coach of the Year contenders. This winter was no exception. Still, one candidate stood apart from the others.

Playing in the toughest division in the New Jersey's most competitive league, one team rose above all others to earn a bid to a state championship game at Rutgers University.

Despite finishing in a tie for third in the Olympic Conference National Division, Camden Catholic came within one quarter and three points of taking home the NJSISAA Non-Public A championship.

The exceptional road to that state final and the resilience to have the Irish playing their very best basketball the further the team got into March, made Matt Crawford the obvious choice as 2024-25 South Jersey Boys Basketball Coach of the Year.

Camden Catholic finished tied for third with Bishop Eustace in the five-team Olympic Patriot. Paul VI and Camden shared the division title.

After a loss to Paul VI — its third in three tries — in the Camden County Tournament semifinals, Camden Catholic reeled off five straight wins on its way to Rutgers for the state final.

That playoff run separated the Irish from the rest of South Jersey. A 13-point rally in the final 2:44 of their fourth meeting with Paul VI forced overtime and, eventually, a double-overtime win. Yet another double-overtime win outlasting a St. Peter's Prep team that had been considered the top team in the state earned the Irish a state final spot.

The job Crawford did, focusing Camden Catholic for the stretch run, is a perfect example of what separates South Jersey coaches from their peers.

Camden Catholic sophomore Bryce Clark (3) drives around St. Peter's Prep junior Richie Rosa during a 70-65 Camden Catholic South Jersey Non-Public A championship game against St. Peter's Prep at Lenape. Mar. 10, 2025

South Jersey Boys Basketball Final Mean 15

The Camden Catholic Irish saved their very best for last.

After finishing third in the relentless Olympic Conference National Division race — tied for third, actually — the Irish put together a playoff run for the ages. Camden Catholic became the final South Jersey playoff team standing, closing out the season with a heart-breaking loss in the NJSIAA Non-Public A championship game.

South Jersey's only state finalist finished 24-7 for the season with three losses to Paul VI, one to Bishop Eustace, plus a split with Camden.

During their state final run, the Irish avenged their trio of losses to Paul VI with an epic double-overtime win at Paul Vi in the South Jersey Non-Public A semifinal. With 2:44 to play, Camden Catholic reeled off 13 straight points to force overtime, then a second OT before advancing to the sectional title.

Facing arguably the state's best team in the SJ final, the Irish survived two epic St. Peter's Prep comeback bids to win in double-overtime for the second straight game.

Camden Catholic led by nine heading into the final quarter of the season but the magic ran out in a three-point loss to Bergen Catholic in the Non-Public A state final.

That final playoff run lifted the Irish up from No. 3 to the top spot in the final Mean 15.

2. Paul VI (25-4 record, previous rank: 2)

Titles won: Camden County Tournament, Olympic National

3. Camden (22-9, 1)

SJ Group 2, Olympic National

4. Lenape (20-10, 14)

SJ Group 4

5. Thrive Charter (26-4. 8)

NJSIAA Group 1, Central Jersey Group 1, BCSL Liberty

6. Cherry Hill East (26-4, 6)

Olympic American

7. Ocean City (22-7, NR)

SJ Group 3

8. Burlington Township (26-4, 4)

BCSL Patriot

9. St. Augustine (17-13, 9)

Cape-Atlantic Tournament

10. Wildwood Catholic (20-9, 10)

11. Woodbury (17-15, NR)

SJ Group 1

12. St. Joseph Academy (23-6, NR)

13. Bishop Eustace (20-9, 5)

14. Overbrook (25-4, 12)

Tri-County Tournament, Tri-County Diamond

15. Rancocas Valley (17-12, NR)

Burlington County Tournament

Tom Rimback grew up reading the Burlington County Times and Courier Post sports sections and began writing for the BCT in 1996. He has covered everything from Super Bowls and Final Fours to Tri-County Swimming but he’s happiest on a sideline interviewing South Jersey scholastic athletes. Follow him on twitter @Rimbacksports. Email him with story ideas at tomrimback@gmail.com and, most importantly, support local journalism with a subscription to the Courier-Post.

This article originally appeared on Cherry Hill Courier-Post: HS boys basketball: Coach, Team of the Year for 2024-25