Shore Teams Dominate Girls’ Basketball

by Marc Narducci | Mar 4, 2024

The Cape Atlantic League is a highly competitive league for virtually all sports in South Jersey, but during the recent girls’ basketball state tournament, the Cape, the league for teams around the Jersey shore, really shined.

Of the four South Jersey public school champions, two came from the Cape, with Mainland winning in Group 3 and Middle Township in Group 2. Wildwood, which used to be in the Cape Atlantic League but is now in the Tri-County Conference, won Group 1. The only non-shore public school sectional champion from South Jersey was Lenape of the Olympic Conference in Group 4.

The winners advanced to the state semifinal to face the Central Jersey champion. A win there vaults the teams to the state finals.

Here are the South Jersey Public School championship scores and recaps.

SJ Group 1

Championship: No. 2 seeded Wildwood 54, (4) Woodstown 53.

This was one of the top games not only of the tournament, but of the season involving two teams from the Tri-County Conference. Trailing 53-51, Wildwood went ahead on a corner three-pointer from Rebecca Benichou with just 2.1 seconds left.

Wildwood was the No. 2 seed and defeated (15) Paulsboro, 77-27 in the first round; (7) Glassboro, 51-40 in the quarterfinal and (6) Audubon 62-36 in the semifinal.

In the championship game, high-scoring junior Macie McCracken and sophomore guard Angela Wilbur each scored 13 points to lead Wildwood. It’s been a big year for McCracken, who entered the week averaging 22.8 points per game.

Wildwood played a tough regular season schedule, which prepared the Warriors for the state tournament. Among the big wins was a 41-38 triumph over eventual SJ Group 2 champ Middle Township.

While we’re at it, special mention goes out to Woodstown. During the regular season the Wolverines lost 84-57 at Wildwood. To take the Warriors to the wire in the rematch was quite an effort.

SJ Group 2

Championship: (2) Middle Township 47, (1) Cinnaminson 39.

Along the way, Middle Township beat (15) Pennsauken Tech, 69-20; (7) Haddon Heights, 38-33 and (3) Manchester Township, 61-51 in the semifinal. In the title win at Cinnaminson, sophomore Reagan Powell led the way for Middle Township with a double-double—14 points and 11 rebounds. Junior McKenzie Palek chipped in with 13 points, while senior Iyanna Bennett added 10 points and eight rebounds.

It was the second straight sectional title for coach John Leahy’s Panthers, who advanced to the semifinals of the Cape Atlantic League tournament before falling, 59-39 to Mainland.

SJ Group 3

Championship: (1) Mainland 64, (6) Absegami (40).

Mainland opened with a 57-27 win over (16) Toms River South and then beat (9) Hammonton, 69-30. Next came a 44-39 semifinal win over Cherry Hill West before the convincing win over (another Cape Atlantic League team) Absegami in the final.

The semifinal win over Cherry Hill West was the only game Mainland was challenged. The Mustangs had just three scorers, but it was enough. Ava Mazur led the way with 17 points. Kasey Bretones scored 15 and Bella Mazur added 12 points. The other three tournament wins were by an average of 31 points.

SJ Group 4

Championship: (2) Lenape 58, (1) Williamstown 37.

Defense was the name of the game for the only public school team that wasn’t from the shore area to win a sectional title. Lenape allowed just 29.7 points in its four tournament wins. The others were 56-23 over (15) Atlantic City; 53-39 over (7) Southern Regional and 41-20 over (3) Cherokee. In the championship win freshman El-Anita Joe-Samuel led Lenape with 16 points while junior Alexa Henry scored 14 points.

Photo Courtesy of Mainland basketball

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Author: Marc Narducci

Shore Teams Dominate Girls’ Basketball

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