Sierra's late pin clinches Middle's win over OCHS

Written by Brian Cunniff Wednesday, December 19, 2012 09:58 pm

CAPE MAY COURT HOUSE – The first dual match of the season for both sides produced a lot of excitement for the Middle Township and Ocean City high school wrestling teams.

In a match that featured a dizzying array of early pins, the Panthers outlasted their rivals from north, 42-39, getting the clinching points when Jason Sierra won by fall midway through the first period at 220 pounds in the next-to-last bout.

Middle was ahead, 36-33, going into Sierra’s bout and collectively knew that its heavyweight, Jason Viola, was going to be an underdog against Ocean City’s Josh Johnson. (Johnson won the bout by pin.)

Sierra immediately took the Raiders’ Jeff Payne to his back, eventually secured two back points and then decked Payne 53 seconds into the bout.

The pin was one of six wins by fall by the Panthers (1-0) in the bout. All but one of them occurred in the first period. Ronray Harris (113), Kenny Dale (126), Brandon Curtis (132) and John Mallett (160) all pinned their respective Ocean City opponents within the first minute. Jake Canter (152) scored his fall 23 seconds into the second period.

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OCHS teams go four for four on Tuesday

Written by Tom Williams Wednesday, December 19, 2012 01:37 pm

Tuesday was a perfect day for Ocean City High School sports teams.

The boys basketball team earned its first victory of the season when junior guard Jeremy Sullivan hit a spinning layup with 18 seconds left for a 48-47 win over visiting Bridgeton. Sullivan then stole the ball when the Bulldogs brought it downcourt. Senior Ryan Laverty led the OCHS offense with 21 points, his third straight 20-plus game.

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Hot shooting carries Middle to shocking lopsided win over Prep

Written by Brian Cunniff Wednesday, December 19, 2012 12:04 am

CAPE MAY COURT HOUSE – It’s a result that certainly will resonate throughout the Cape-Atlantic League and the rest of the South Jersey high school basketball community.

The Middle Township High School boys team used torrid shooting to post a rather surprising 67-47 victory over St. Augustine Prep in a battle of two of the top teams in the CAL Tuesday night.

“We were talking before the game,” Middle coach Tom Feraco said of a conversation he had with his assistant coaches, “and we thought it would either be an ‘Augie’ blowout, a close game for them or a close game for us. Never did we think we’d win it like this.”

Middle actually trailed 12-3 to start the game but closed the half on a 25-12 spurt to take a four-point lead at the break. The Panthers then exploded for 29 points in the third quarter – practically an unseemly total against one of the better teams in South Jersey – to up its lead to 57-37 going into the fourth quarter. The Prep put together a mini spurt to close to within 14 points early in the period, but Middle later went up by as much as 23 points before settling for its comfortable 20-point victory.

Read more: Hot shooting carries Middle to shocking lopsided win over Prep

Crusaders frolic past Cape Tech

Last Updated on Tuesday, December 18, 2012 08:47 am Written by Brian Cunniff Tuesday, December 18, 2012 08:46 am

CAPE MAY COURT HOUSE – There aren’t too many “big” games played this early in the season, but Monday’s contest against Cape May Tech qualified as just that for the Wildwood Catholic High School boys basketball team.

The Crusaders, the defending Cape-Atlantic United Conference champion, had already been saddled with a conference loss in any opening-night defeat to Sacred Heart and their chances of repeating as conference champions would have taken a severe hit with another loss.

Motivated by the loss to the Lions and filled with confidence following an impressive non-league win over Rancocas Valley over the weekend, Wildwood Catholic was never challenged by the Hawks.

The Crusaders raced out to an 18-4 lead after one period, held Tech to only three first-half field goals and cruised to a 67-33 victory that upped the team’s record to 2-1 overall, 1-1 in the conference.

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Championships decided at Scoop Taylor hoops tournament

Written by Brian Cunniff Monday, December 17, 2012 01:14 pm

WILDWOOD CREST – Upper Township teams won two out of four championships as the Scoop Taylor Tip-Off Classic grammar school basketball tournament concluded Sunday afternoon.

Upper Township won the varsity girls (grades 7-8) championship while Upper Township I took top honors at the junior varsity boys (grades 5-6) level.

Middle Township I (varsity boys) and Margaret Mace (junior varsity girls) also claimed championships at their respective levels.

The following is a recap of the second half of the tournament:

THURSDAY, DEC. 13

Varsity Girls Consolation – Wildwood 27, Crest Memorial 23: Wildwood used a 10-2 third-quarter run to take the lead for good after the game was tied at the half. Tatiana Alston canned 17 points to pace the Lady Warriors. Rosalia Daddi netted nine points for the Crest.

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Boardwalk Basketball Classic tips off early with Battle at the Boards

Last Updated on Monday, December 17, 2012 02:15 pm Written by Brian Cunniff Sunday, December 16, 2012 12:11 pm

WILDWOOD – For the first time ever, the Boardwalk Basketball Classic holiday tournament will begin prior to Christmas.

The tournament will host the second annual Battle at the Boards high school basketball showcase event on Saturday, Dec. 22 at the Wildwoods Convention Center. The event will include four boys and two girls games, many of which include teams from Cape May County. The Boardwalk Basketball Classic will continue Wednesday, Dec. 26 through Sunday, Dec. 30 at the Convention Center.

The Battle at the Boards, sponsored by Crest Savings Bank, is highlighted by the Andrew Alamemo Memorial Boys and Girls Island Championship games between rivals Wildwood and Wildwood Catholic. The girls will play at 5:45 p.m., with the boys to follow at 7:30 p.m. Alameno was a native of Wildwood Crest and graduate of Wildwood Catholic High School who died in the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City on Sept. 11, 2001.

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High school basketball season opens

Written by Brian Cunniff Saturday, December 15, 2012 11:23 am

Recaps of opening-night high school basketball games involving Cape May County teams:

BOYS BASKETBALL

Middle Township 77, Bridgeton 41: The Panthers ran out to a 25-4 lead after one period and never looked back. Tommy Feraco (18), LaMarr Greer (14) and Tom Catanoso (11) each scored in double figures in the win.

Wildwood 75, Clayton 66: Francis Christian drained seven three-pointers and poured in a game-high 30 points to pace the Warriors. Jose Valentin added 11 points and 10 rebounds.

Read more: High school basketball season opens

Southern Cape May County girls basketball preview

Written by Brian Cunniff Thursday, December 13, 2012 10:14 pm

A new high school girls basketball season begins this weekend for area teams. By the time it ends, some teams will have enjoyed outstanding seasons while others will hope the experience translates to greater things to come.

It’s a long, grueling journey, with most teams jamming 26 regular-season games into about 12 weeks and then hoping there are many more games to play in the state playoffs.

What we think we know about all the teams in mid December isn’t necessarily what we will know about them by late February. But the one certainty is that there’ll be many highs and lows and much excitement along the way.

The following is a look at each of the area’s high school girls basketball teams:

Read more: Southern Cape May County girls basketball preview

Southern Cape May County boys basketball preview

Written by Brian Cunniff Thursday, December 13, 2012 10:13 pm

It was a rather successful season in area high school boys basketball last winter.

Middle Township and Cape-Atlantic United Conference co-champion Wildwood Catholic were two of the six teams, out of 22, that qualified for the inaugural CAL playoff tournament. Middle won two games in that tournament to reach the final and both clubs later combined for three state playoff victories.

Wildwood posted its best season in years, winning 20 games and a share of the Tri-County Classic Division title.

Lower Cape May enjoyed a competitive season, earning a handful of exciting wins among its 13 victories.

Even Cape May Tech had its moments despite winning only six times, battling some good teams to close games.

Will this season be as successful? At this point we can only guess. By late February, the picture will become much clearer. In between, expect the unexpected.

The following is a look at each of the area’s high school boys basketball teams:

Read more: Southern Cape May County boys basketball preview

Scoop Taylor Tip-Off Classic results

Written by Brian Cunniff Thursday, December 13, 2012 12:24 pm

The following are results from early games played in the Scoop Taylor Tip-Off Classic grammar school basketball tournament held at the Wildwood Crest Pier Recreation Center. The tournament continues Thursday through Sunday, Dec. 13-16.

THURSDAY, DEC. 6

Junior Varsity Girls – Margaret Mace 29, Cape Trinity 16: Natalia Rulon swished eight points and Maddie McCracken sank six points for the winners. Erin Connelly netted a game-high 11 points in the loss.

Varsity Girls – Middle Township 25, Bishop McHugh 11: Bridget Ruskey pumped in a game-high 17 points and Olivia Nelson added six for the winners. Lauren Moretti scored 10 points in the loss.

Varsity Girls – Margaret Mace 25, Wildwood 9: Mackenzie McCracken tallied nine points and Lily Collier chipped in six for the Falcons. Tatiana Alston scored five points for Wildwood.

Junior Varsity Boys – Upper Township I 47, Cape Trinity 9: Cole Markley and Justin Klemick led a balanced effort with eight points each for Upper, which had all 11 of its players score. Antonio Melendez fired in seven points in the loss.

Read more: Scoop Taylor Tip-Off Classic results