Deptford boys heading into uncharted territory with 11th win

BLACKWOOD — No one on the Deptford Spartan's roster has ever been here before. With the fastest start the program has seen since 2022, a winter when the six current Spartans' senior were middle schoolers — Deptford can end one of the most improbable streaks in South Jersey boys basketball.

Saturday's 57-47 win against Overbrook at the Highland Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Showcase give the Rams exactly 11 wins for the fourth consecutive season. The Spartans have the rest of the season to surpass the total it hit three years in a row. Deptford is 11-2, the school's best start since the 2022 team went 12-2 on the way to an 19-8 record.

"We've been playing together, some of us since freshman year, some of us as sophomores," senior Kenny Corkerill said. "We've been waiting forever. As sophomores, we talked about it a lot. We were sophomores excited about playing together. Now we are seniors, it's exciting and fun."

Winning all six games the team has played in 2026 after starting the season winning five of six their games. What's not fun about that?

The six seniors, Corkerill, Brian Orio, Antoine Sims, Hunter Thomas, Luke Vilary and Jordan Williams have hit on a formula that just works.

"We have two great young guys that come in and help," Corkerill said. "One of them shoots really well and one gets a bunch of boards and is a big centerpiece down low. They see what we needed and that's what we got."

Having a large, talented senior class can turn out two ways. The seniors can dominate every conversation. This Deptford team does the other thing.

The Spartans have two impactful freshmen in their rotation.

"I think they've done a great job of welcoming our young kids," coach Mike Vilary said. "The young kids are a real important piece for us this year. We have Mike underneath, protecting the rim, rebounding. Bryce (Tull) comes off the bench as a shooter and defender. They really kind of filled the voids we thought we might have coming into the season."

As each win stacks onto the last, Deptford is building its confidence. They're a snowball rolling down hill, picking up steam.

"We've been together since our freshman years," Orio said. "It's been something we've built up. There really is no secret to our success. It's just teamwork, just staying together. We're blood brothers. It's not hard to play with guys you call your brother."

The season resumes with a rematch of the first blemish on the Deptford schedule, a loss to Timber Creek in the first week of the season.

Once their 12th win breaks the Spartans' three-year 11-win streak, Deptford can turn its sights on a tough three-way battle for the Tri-County Conference Liberty Division with Delsea and Timber Creek. Focusing on a long playoff run can continue from there.

"Ever since the end of last year when we went out against Cherry Hill West, we've been thinking it about every day," Orio said. "It's something we have in our minds. We want to get back to that playoff run, hopefully at home this time. So, we're excited."

Deptford is heading into new territory, for every player on the current roster, at least. The Spartans' seniors have spent their entire high school careers preparing for that very thing.

"That's exactly what makes us special," Orio said. "We trust our guys. We see everyone put the work in all summer. It's just a blessing. We have guys who love each other play and for each other every night."

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 [email protected] and, most importantly, support local journalism with a subscription to the Courier-Post.

This article originally appeared on Cherry Hill Courier-Post: Deptford boys top Overbrook to extend fastest start since 2022