By BRIAN CUNNIFF

Staff Writer

ERMA – It was setting up to go down to the wire. But then a technical foul late in the fourth quarter changed the complexion of the game.

Trailing by two points with a little more than two minutes to play, the Lower Cape May Regional boys basketball team was whistled for a technical foul after committing a common foul, and rival Middle Township used the opportunity to pull away for a 37-29 win.

Middle made three of the four free throws at the stoppage of play and then sank two more after being fouled on the ensuing possession to swell its lead from two to five points.

“We’re down eight and then we cut it to two, and then we go offensive foul, foul, technical foul and offensive foul,” said Lower coach Scott Holden, lamenting his team’s late-game miscues. “You just can’t do that and expect to win.”

Middle improved to 14-7 overall and finished its Cape-Atlantic National Conference schedule at 8-4.

“It’s been a hard row to hoe in this league this year,” Middle coach Tom Feraco said. “To be 14-7, I’m proud of this team, especially since this was a group that almost all of them only played JV ball last year.”

Tommy Catanoso sank 15 points and Darrell Shelton added 12 for the Panthers in the win.

Bobby O’Donnell had 14 points to lead Lower Cape May (12-10, 5-7), which jumped out to a 7-0 lead to start the game, only to see Middle rally to take a 15-14 lead at the half.

The teams combined to shoot only 8 for 41 from three-point range.

Middle made 11 of 14 attempts from the foul line. Lower was just 1 of 2.

(For more coverage of this game, see this week’s editions of the Gazette.)