Dock Mennonite wins 8th straight and a tournament title while Johnson earns MVP

TOWAMENCIN >> Star in your role.

It’s a phrase Dock Mennonite boys basketball coach Mike Fergus is fond of and something he feels is a necessary component of any good team win. Tomir Johnson’s role has changed this year being one of just two seniors on the Pioneers’ roster but he’ll be the first to say he’s only at his very best when his teammates are at theirs.

Johnson’s MVP performance of 24 points and another all-around big game from Nathan Lapp helped the Pioneers down Dobbins Tech 84-72 for their eighth straight win Wednesday night to capture the Dock Holiday Tournament title.

“It’s definitely nice, it’s my last year hooping with these guys, so definitely appreciate being able to get a good win and a championship,” Johnson, a 5-foot-10 combo guard, said. “It’s nice to win our own tournament, I think this is the first time we’ve won it in about three years. Definitely a hard-fought game against a good team, so that always feels good.”

Dobbins Tech, which boasts an impressive alumni list including Hank Gathers, Bo Kimble and Dawn Staley, was the most athletic team Dock had faced this season. It led to a high-scoring affair from the opening tap, with four players scoring at least 24 points and a frenetic pace that saw a lot of outlet passes and especially in the first half, not much time off the clock between baskets.

The Mustangs’ athleticism, length and scoring ability were all reasons why Fergus included them in the tournament, which also had New Hope-Solebury and Roxborough in the field. New Hope-Solebury defeated Roxborough 55-50 in the consolation game on Wednesday.

“I like to play a schedule with a big mix of teams but also a tough schedule,” Fergus, who won his 600th career game earlier this season, said. “We play some Suburban One League teams and especially in this tournament, I like to bring some Philly teams in. It’s good for us because we want to play several different styles and we hadn’t seen a team like this with that kind of uptempo, press, press, press and run, run, run.

“I was real proud of how we handled it.”

Lapp, a junior forward who joined Johnson on the All-Tournament team, was a stat-stuffer for Dock with 26 points, 13 rebounds, seven assists and five steals and helped set the pace early with a couple of those assists on long outlet passes to Tony Martin. Martin scored 14 points and earned plaudits from Fergus for his defense, taking home the metal lunchbox the coaches award for hard work outside of scoring.

Dock scored 50 points in the first half but the wide-open pace was also leading to a lot of turnovers and the team’s halfcourt offense never seemed to really get organized. That changed in the second half when the Pioneers were able to slow the game down a bit and really got things going with their passing.

It wasn’t a perfect night moving the ball, but when Dock was settled in the second half, it was able to string together three or four tight, quick passes that got an open look. No surprise, that’s when Johnson started to elevate his play.

“It’s us picking our spots,” Johnson said. “You see the holes in the defense and we’re a good team when it comes to scouting before the game and seeing what’s going to be open on the floor. Knowing what guy is going to be open is how we can pick it apart.”

Johnson hit four 3-pointers and also dished three assists, including a terrific last-second feed to center Hoyt Bultje in the third quarter as the Pioneers extended their lead from 12 at the half to 17 going to the final frame despite a slower pace to the game. The senior guard, who said he’s been in contact with a couple colleges and hopes to play at the next level, thrived off the ball movement in the second half.

“Moving the ball more opens up those shots but also layups,” Johnson said. “We try to get the ball up the court without even dribbling and I know, once we get the ball past halfcourt, if we swing it around, it’s going to open me up or open one of my teammates up so we try our best to share the rock.”

Zach Campbell, only a sophomore, scored a game-high 27 points for Dobbins Tech while junior Kareem Diaz poured in 25 as both were named All-Tournament. The Mustangs played hard all game even as Dock’s lead extended in the third quarter and punished the Pioneers for any lazy passes in the second half.

Dock will return to the court in January right as the schedule is slated to get busy but the now 8-1 Pioneers are looking forward to it. Fergus likes the growth his group has shown through its tests so far, both in non-league games and a few early BAL dates and with Lapp and Johnson forming a potent partnership, the Pioneers don’t plan on going away.

Johnson simply wants to take the run as far as possible and right now, that means starring in his role both as a shooter and scorer but also a spark for his team out on the court.

“We have to trust our coaches, they know what’s right for us,” Johnson said. “I’m looking to be the one spreading energy to my teammates. I’m always thinking of what the coaches are saying, I’m constantly going to the sideline and they’re feeding me things to tell the team. I’m doing my best to be a leader, leading by example but also being vocal because once one guy is vocal, it’s easy for everyone else to pick up their energy.”

Dock Mennonite 84, Dobbins Tech 72
Dock Mennonite 25 25 17 18 – 84
Dobbins Tech 21 17 12 22 – 72
Dock Mennonite: Lane Berget 5 0-0 10, Hoyt Bultje 3 1-1 7, Tomir Johnson 7 6-6 24, Tony Martin 7 0-0 14, Nathan Lapp 7 12-14 26, Zach Neff 1 0-0 3. Totals: 30 19-21 84.
Dobbins Tech: Zach Campbell 11 4-10 27, Samuel Thomas 5 1-1 13, Omar Davis 0 3-4 3, Karim Abdul-Rahim 2 0-0 4, Bond 0 0-2 0. Totals: 29 9-18 72.
3-pointers: D – Johnson 4, Neff; DT – Diaz 2, Thomas 2, Campbell.