SALEM-CAMPBELL Phillips makes impact

The Red Devils also started 9-1 in 2000-01 when they finished 19-4.
By JOE SCALZO
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
SALEM -- The best player on the floor in Tuesday night's game refused to admit he was the best player on the floor.
And that's a big reason why the Campbell High boys basketball team is off to its best start in five years.
"We're a family around here," Campbell senior Terrance Phillips said. "We've got to bring back Campbell pride and let everyone know Campbell is back."
They're off to a good start. Phillips, a 6-foot guard, had career-highs in points (27) and rebounds (20) as the visiting Red Devils pulled away for a 63-48 win over previously unbeaten Salem.
Testimony
"That kid deserves player of the week," Quakers coach Jeff Brink said of Phillips. "The thing that impressed me the most was how well he handles himself. He's very level-headed and he's very respectful.
"It's easy to root for a kid who shows good sportsmanship."
Phillips had eight of his rebounds in the fourth quarter when the Red Devils (9-1) outscored Salem 23-16 to put the game away. Campbell made 10 of 10 at the free throw line in that quarter and finished the game 14 of 14.
Salem, meanwhile, made just 3 of 14 at the line.
"When we made a couple runs, they did a good job of making their free throws," Brink said. "They're a very athletic team and they're very active on the glass.
"They're going to be one of the top teams in the Div. III tournament."
Campbell last started 9-1 in 2000-01, when it finished 19-4 and lost to Girard in the district final.
Tough schedule
The Red Devils have played a tougher schedule this year -- they played nine December games and only three of them were at home -- which should help later in the season.
"I hope," said Campbell coach Brian Danilov, "because it's driving me crazy."
Ryan Burton added 16 points and six rebounds for the Red Devils, who outrebounded Salem 42-19. Jermaine Richardson had 10 points and six rebounds.
"It was a great team win for us," said Danilov, praising his starters and the contributions of bench players Craig Womack, Seth Fuller and Lefty Hazimihalis. "These kids are starting to understand the game better.
"The thing is, all the kids in this area play hard. There aren't a whole lot of great teams like Canton McKinley but there are a lot of good teams that are well-coached, like Salem."
The Quakers (5-1) returned all their top players from last year's team and are expected to contend for a league title. To do so, they'll need to play much better than they did on Tuesday.
Outworked
"What kills me is that we got outworked," Brink said. "There were a lot of long rebounds and [Campbell] did a good job of running them down.
"Our guards need to do a better job with that. Not just boxing out, but running down loose balls."
Senior Tom Jesko scored 14 points and Ryan Benchwick added 13 for the Quakers, who never fully established their inside game. The Red Devils played man-to-man for much of the game and Brink felt Benchwick should have been a bigger factor inside.
"We didn't do a good job of getting him the ball," Brink said. "It's something we need to work on."
The Red Devils still need some work, too, but many feel this team has a good chance of winning a district title in March. Danilov, however, has been so focused on performance that he wasn't even aware his team was 9-1.
"Are we?" he said. "I'll take that."
scalzo@vindy.com