VIDEO: McNeil brothers help Middle break through against EHT

Posted: December 19th 2023

Brothers Jamir (left) and Bubba McNeil combined for 36 points in Middle Township's win over EHT Monday.

By BRIAN CUNNIFF

CapeAtlanticLive.com

CAPE MAY COURT HOUSE – The juniors and seniors on the Middle Township High School boys basketball team have accumulated quite a few achievements over the past few seasons.

On Monday, the Panthers added another to their resume.

With brothers Jermaine and Jamir McNeil leading the way, Middle scored its first victory over reigning Cape-Atlantic League and South Jersey Group IV champion Egg Harbor Township during the careers of all of the team’s current players, the Panthers rolling to an 84-61 decision in front of a large crowd on hand for the team’s season opener. 

“I know this was big for the kids because they told me they hadn’t beaten EHT since (the seniors) were in eighth grade,” Middle coach LaMarr Greer. “We have so much respect for them. They were champs last year. They won the CAL last year. They won South Jersey last year. Went to a state final. It doesn’t matter that they lost all their starters (to graduation). The culture is still there. The coach (Cameron Bell) is still there. The guys they have are good players and they’re only going to get better. We have all the respect in the world for them.”

The McNeils were at the heart of Middle’s effort in the victory. Jermaine, a senior, posted 19 points, six assists and four rebounds. Jamir, a junior, flirted with a quadruple-double before exiting the game for good with six minutes to play with the outcome decided. He mixed 17 points with nine assists, six rebounds and six steals.

Middle would be hard pressed to repeat Monday’s shooting performance. The Panthers made 31 of 53 shots from the floor (58.5 percent), including a sizzling 9 of 17 from three-point range (52.9 percent). The torrid shooting was no doubt helped along by a willingness to share the basketball, as Middle recorded assists on 21 of its 31 field goals.

“We’re demanding that they share the ball,” Greer said. “I always tell them that’s getting them ready for college. You’re not going to step on campus somewhere and shoot the ball all the time. You have to learn how to get others involved and do other things.”

Middle held an 11-point lead at the half before exploding for 26 points in the third quarter and scoring the first four points of the fourth to post its largest lead at 70-43. 

Jamir McNeil wowed the crowd by scoring five points in the final four seconds of the third quarter. He scored on a nifty move to the basket while being fouled and sank the free throw before stealing an EHT outlet pass and slamming the ball home on a thunderous dunk just before the buzzer sounded to end the period.

As well as Middle played, Greer still sees room for improvement. The Panthers were sloppy at times with the ball, to the tune of 17 turnovers.

“Way too many turnovers,”Greer said. “And the other thing that’s sticking with me is that right around the beginning of the second half we let EHT score on six straight possessions and that can’t happen. Our defense and our defensive rebounding determine if we win or lose and that still has to improve.”

Anthony Trombetta was also in double figures for Middle with 13 points. Re’Ale Basquin and Michael Zarfati each added nine. Riley Powell, Chase Moore, Aydan Howell and Amir Elston all had good moments off the bench.

Freshman Jalen Bell, son of the head coach, led EHT with 18 points. 

The victory was Middle’s second in a row to start the season over a respected Group IV opponent. The Panthers beat Lenape, 64-56, in the Jimmy V showcase event at Cherokee High School on Saturday.

“Two really good wins, but we have to get better every day,” Greer said. “In my mind, I’m still trying to figure out how we can get better.”

(Featured video courtesy MTHS Athletics YouTube channel)