Doctor delivers late as Camden edges Lenape in thriller

Jayden Doctor scored 12 points and hit a go-ahead 3-pointer with 2:18 left in Camden's 73-70 win over Lenape at Lenape High School in Medford, New Jersey on Thursday, January 22, 2026. Kevin Emmons/South Jersey Sports Zone

MEDFORD - Jayden Doctor took it upon himself to guard the opponent's lead scorer.

First-year Camden coach Jason Harrigan wasn't opposed to the idea and Doctor delivered.

The junior's impact was felt as he knocked down a go-ahead 3-pointer with 2:18 remaining and recorded a key block with less than 15 seconds left to lift Camden (8-5 record), ranked No. 5 in the latest South Jersey Sports Zone Top 15 boys' basketball rankings, to a 73–70 triumph over No. 4 Lenape on Thursday night.

The Indians fell to 11-3.

Although Lenape tied the contest on a pair of free throws by Nolan Barnes with 1:13 left, the Panthers never surrendered their lead following Doctor's clutch shot.

"I'm just a team player," Doctor said. "I have to do what I have to do for my guys. Team needed me to show up. I had to show up. I had to knock down that '3'."

Keyshawn Franklin, an Archbishop Ryan (Pa.) transfer, gave Camden a 68-65 lead with a quick release '3' from the top of the key with 52.2 seconds remaining. Franklin finished with 13 points. The junior and Zaire Johnson each scored in transition in less than 20 seconds to give Camden a 52-51 lead after three quarters. Johnson finished with seven points.

"We had some guys step up in a major way and showed a lot of character," Harrigan said. "Some guys who haven't necessarily been doing that lately, but we think they're made of the right stuff. In the moment when we needed them the most, they stepped up and made plays on both ends of the court. I think wins like this build character."

Sophomore Tyree Thorp, a Lenape transfer, hit a pair of 3-pointers to give Camden an early 9-4 lead. The Indians responded with a 14-3 run. Alex Pace scored five unanswered points to cut Lenape's advantage to a point after one quarter.

The Panthers used a 17-2 run that bridged the first and second quarters to build a 29-20 lead with 5:02 left in the first half. A layup by freshman Dreyden Gardner capped the run and forced a timeout by the Indians. Camden led 37-26 at halftime.

Pace, a transfer from Georgia, scored 16 of his team-high 21 points in the first half. The senior has been a welcomed addition on Park Boulevard. Pace is averaging 25.6 points per game.

"He's probably the best scorer around," Harrigan said. "Obviously it's going to change the dynamic of the team. It's huge to have a player like that who can fill it up. It got us off to a good start and the rest of the guys brought it home."

The Indians dominated on their home court in the third quarter with a 25-11 run to take a 51-48 lead. Despite Camden regaining the lead before the buzzer sounded, junior Jaidyn Boyd tied the game at 57-57 with a four-point play with 5:22 left. He also drained a '3' with 6.4 seconds left that cut the deficit to two points. Boyd finished with a game-high 25 points off the bench for Lenape in the back-and-forth battle.

Barnes added 21 including a score on a baseline drive to cut the Indians' deficit to 68-67 with 37.9 seconds left in the contest.

Doctor finished with 12 points and excelled in the second half with his relentless on-ball pressure.

"He was amazing," Harrigan said. "Big stops. He took the challenge himself. He said, 'I want to guard the kid,' and then actually got it done. I think it's a huge moment for him. I think it helps him take the next step in his development. I really happy for him and happy for our guys."