VIDEO: SOUTH JERSEY CHAMPS! Quest to threepeat is complete as Middle wins title in dominating fashion

Posted: March 9th 2025

Middle Township's players and coaches celebrate winning the program's third straight South Jersey championship

By BRIAN CUNNIFF

CapeAtlanticLive.com

CAPE MAY COURT HOUSE – Not 20 minutes after the Middle Township High School girls basketball team won its second straight South Jersey title last season at Cinnaminson, McKenzie Palek had her eyes set on what she called a “threepeat.”

The senior guard’s prophecy was fulfilled Saturday evening.

Thanks in large part to an incredibly dominating second quarter, Middle claimed its third straight South Jersey Group II championship with a convincing 56-31 victory over Haddon Heights in front of a large crowd in its home gymnasium.

“‘Kenz’ was the first one to say threepeat, right when she got interviewed after we won last year,” Middle coach John Leahy said, “and for the last 12 months, that’s all we’ve talked about. Every huddle, every workout over the summer, every time at practice, every time in the weight room. We kind of used it as, if someone wants to get lazy, we kind of said, ‘Do you want to threepeat or do you want to be handing in uniforms early?’

“Our kids have been really, really focused. The whole (Cape-Atlantic League) Tournament and over the last three weeks, really, the kids have been awesome. They’ve been really, really determined.”

Despite out-rebounding third-seeded Haddon Heights by 10-2 in the opening quarter, top-seeded Middle (27-5) found itself trailing 13-11 going into the second period after the Garnets knocked down three three-pointers in the first. But the Lady Panthers responded by turning the game on its head by outscoring Haddon Heights 24-6 in the second quarter.

Middle junior forward Reagen Powell erupted offensively in the first half, particularly in the second quarter. She made six of her final seven field-goal attempts and all five of her free-throw opportunities in scoring 18 of her game-high 28 points in the opening half. Fourteen of those points came in the second quarter. Powell also had nine rebounds and three blocked shots for the game.

“I thought defensively we did a much better job getting out on their shooters after the first quarter,” Leahy said. “They have four or five kids who’ve made more than 30 threes for the season, so we talked about finding their shooters and making them shoot contested twos off the dribble and having them try to score over people.

“Offensively, I think we just settled in. We talked about getting in the lane and getting to the basket because Haddon Heights doesn’t have a lot of size or shot blockers. Reagen was just phenomenal all game but in that second quarter she really, really imposed her will. She got in the lane and elevated and used her size and her length. It was a great way for us to go into halftime.”

Holding a 16-point lead at the break, Middle made sure there was no more drama by outscoring Haddon Heights 13-7 in the third quarter to put the game away.

That turned the fourth quarter into a party for the hundreds of Middle fans in attendance, who roared with approval at every basket, rebound, steal and blocked shot. Their fate sealed, the players from Haddon Heights (22-9) allowed Middle to dribble out the final 45 seconds as giddy Lady Panther players smiled, hugged and leapt with joy as the final seconds ticked away, all while their fans gave them a standing ovation.

The celebration continued long after the players accepted the sectional championship trophy for the third straight time. They posed for pictures with family and friends and cut down the net at the north basket as those close to the program lingered in the gym long after the game’s conclusion.

Saturday marked the second time during its threepeat that Middle won the South Jersey title on its home floor.

“Our gym makes a difference, home court makes a huge difference,” Leahy said. “The crowd was phenomenal tonight. You know what basketball means to this community when you get this kind of support from your fans, your administration, your staff and everyone associated with this school. It’s tremendous to be able to do it a second time on our home floor. It’s just really special.”

Junior forward Sarah Farrow complemented Powell’s efforts with another wonderful double-double performance that concluded with 15 points and 17 rebounds. Palek was again brilliant at the defensive end, holding Haddon Heights leading scorer Emma Harris (15.8 ppg entering the contest) to just three points. Senior forward Izzi Toland added eight points. And junior guard Abbey Cappelletti played her usual steady game as the facilitator of Middle’s offense.

Middle out-rebounded Haddon Heights by 35-14 for the game.

It all led to yet another championship for Middle, which dominated the entire South Jersey Group II Tournament. The team’s smallest margin of victory in the four sectional playoff games was 13 points.

The win was extra special for Leahy, whose mother, Evelyn, was celebrating her birthday.

“I think she was supposed to go to the Lobster House,” he said before adding with a laugh, “but instead she spent it at Tom Feraco Court.”

Middle will next face Central Jersey champion Manasquan on Wednesday at 5 p.m. at Monroe High School in the state Group II semifinal. It’s a rematch from last year’s state semifinal, which was won by Manasquan.