High school basketball: D.J. Wagner scores 25 points to lead No. 2 Camden over No. 12 Roselle Catholic 67-64 in home opener

No. 2 Camden (N.J.) opened its 2021-22 campaign with an impressive 67-64 victory over No. 12 Roselle Catholic (Roselle, N.J.) as the Panthers extended their win streak to 39 games dating back to Jan. 6, 2020.

A bloodied D.J. Wagner led the way with 25 points in the victory, including eight fourth-quarter points, despite playing with a bloodied nose in addition to a calf injury that kept him out for short stretches in the third and fourth quarters.

Although the top-ranked junior prospect struggled to find a consistent touch, shooting 11-of-25 from the field, he hit a number of big shots down the stretch as he continued to play with confidence throughout the hard-fought victory.

After trailing for the majority of the game, Camden took its first lead with 3:57 remaining as 7-foot-1 junior Aaron Bradshaw knocked down a fade-away basket in the lane to give the Panthers a 54-52 advantage.

Roselle Catholic responded with a basket on the other end to tie things at 54 headed into the final media timeout.

Junior guard Cian Medley sparked a 5-0 run for the Panthers that gave them a 59-54 run they never relinquished.

Medley knocked down a 3-pointer from the top of the key after the media timeout to give Camden a 57-54 lead before coming up with a clutch steal on the other end that resulted in an assist to Bradshaw for an emphatic slam on the other end.

After a pair of free-throws from Akil Watson narrow the deficit to 59-56 with 2:50 remaining, a clutch 3-pointer from Wagner came from the left wing extended Camden's advantage to 62-56 with 2:20 remaining.

Another pair Simeon Wilcher free throws cut the deficit back to four, but a driving left-handed Wagner layup with 1:45 remaining was the final basket for the Panthers to extend the lead back to six.

After trading free throws down the stretch, Camden pulled out the win in their first game at their newly built sold-out home arena — Clarence Turner Gymnasium.

Medley finished with 12 points, 11 assists, six rebounds and five steals in the signature win, while Bradshaw chipped in nine points, 11 rebounds and seven blocked-shots.

Junior North Carolina pledge Wilcher finished with a team-high 21 points in the loss for Roselle Catholic.