By Ross Wilson

Last year, Paulsboro struggled through a grim 7-17 campaign. Although the Red Raiders put a talented team on the court, their youth and inexperience brought them back to earth after winning the Colonial Conference championship in '98-'99. With steady Nate Lewis and the gifted Russell Carter a year more experienced, Paulsboro is right back in the thick of the division title race.

Carter, a solid 6-3 small forward tallied 23 and 14 points in the 2 victories. One of the more promising sophomores in South Jersey, Carter averaged 16.1 ppg as a freshman last season and will certainly eclipse that mark this year.

Lewis is one of the main weapons in the Red Raider attack. The 6-0 junior guard scored 18 and 22 points in victories over West Deptford and Collingswood to help Paulsboro jump out of the gate at 2-0.

With 6-5 sophomore George Davis adding 12 points per game and a host of other able underclassmen set to contribute, expect the Red Raiders to make some noise in the Group 1 playoffs this season, as well as in the next. Lewis and Carter will see to that. BACK