Towering Sophomore Dominates Paint as No. 7 Paul VI Advances in Camden County Tourney

Eagles move one game closer to defending their county championship

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

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Toussaint Malukila, a 7-foot-2 sophomore, scored a game-high 24 points and grabbed 15 rebounds to lead top-seeded Paul VI to a 65-48 victory over ninth-seeded Winslow in the Camden County Tournament quarterfinals. Malukila's dominant performance in the paint proved too much for Winslow to handle, as Paul VI pulled away in the second half to secure the win and a spot in the semifinals.

Why it matters

Paul VI, the defending county champion and ranked No. 7 in the state, is looking to successfully defend its title. Malukila's standout play has been a key factor in the team's success this season, and his continued dominance in the paint will be crucial as they make a push for the championship.

The details

Malukila, a native of Congo, was unstoppable in the paint, connecting on 10 easy buckets, including three dunks. He cleaned the glass and forced Winslow to settle for perimeter shots. Paul VI's senior guard Will Spross and Seth Dozier added 12 points each, while Daulton Phalines chipped in 8 points and 4 rebounds.

  • Paul VI closed out the first half on a 9-3 run to take a 31-24 halftime lead.
  • The Eagles then scored the first seven points of the third quarter and led comfortably the rest of the way.

The players

Toussaint Malukila

A 7-foot-2 sophomore center for Paul VI who dominated the paint, scoring a game-high 24 points and grabbing 15 rebounds.

Will Spross

A senior guard for Paul VI who scored 12 points and had 7 assists.

Seth Dozier

A player for Paul VI who scored 12 points.

Daulton Phalines

A player for Paul VI who scored 8 points and had 4 rebounds.

Jhamear Keys

A player for Winslow who scored 11 points.

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What they’re saying

“It's always a priority. Even when he's matched up with teams, he's shown that he's just not a 7-footer. He's skilled.”

— Will Spross, senior guard (nj.com)

“Our main priority is to get the ball inside to our big man. Inside then out, inside and out. It opens up other parts of the game for us.”

— Will Spross, senior guard (nj.com)

“We've been pushing the whole team to get the ball inside. It's not only wanting the ball. I judge it by how he's going after putbacks, and he scored quite a few points tonight with putbacks.”

— Tony Devlin, PVI coach (nj.com)

“I just do my work. They have to foul me because I'm so much bigger. It's about finishing the work. I work hard every day. So when I come to the court, I just finish my work. I'm having so much fun, really enjoying the game.”

— Toussaint Malukila (nj.com)

“He's done a much better job catching when he's not close to the basket and kicking it out. He's getting better and better each game.”

— Tony Devlin, PVI coach (nj.com)

What’s next

Paul VI will face fifth-seeded Haddonfield in Saturday's semifinals.

The takeaway

Toussaint Malukila's dominant performance in the paint has been a key factor in Paul VI's success this season, and his continued dominance will be crucial as the team looks to defend its Camden County championship.