VIDEO: Conference champ Middle earns top seed for CAL Tournament

Posted: February 2nd 2024

Middle Township's boys basketball team has won the CAL American Conference title and has earned the top overall seed for the upcoming CAL Tournament.

By BRIAN CUNNIFF

CapeAtlanticLive.com

Thursday served as a celebration of sorts for a Middle Township High School boys basketball team that has enjoyed a wonderful season thus far.

For starters, while the team’s players were going through their school day, the Panthers were named the No. 1 overall seed for the Cape-Atlantic League Tournament that begins next week.

Later, shortly before game time against St. Joseph rolled around, the program, along with the school’s cheerleaders and dance team, honored its graduating players with Senior Night ceremonies. Then, when the contest began, special needs student Steven Smith enjoyed a moment in the sun by scoring the first basket of the game while being saluted with raucous cheers from the large crowd on hand.

When the crux of the game arrived, Middle was on point.

The Panthers doubled up St. Joseph, 70-35, to finish its Cape-Atlantic American Conference slated unbeaten at 12-0.

Bubba McNeil scored 19 points and Anthony Trombetta added 13 points for Middle (19-2 overall, 12-0 CAL American) in the win over St. Joe. Re’Ale Basquin added 10 points and five rebounds.

The victory further validated many observers’ claims that Middle has been the top team in the CAL this season. But now that the CAL Tournament is set to begin next week, the Panthers will get the chance to prove it on the court.

Middle received a bye past the play-in round and will face No. 16 Vineland or No. 17 ACIT in the Round of 16 on Wednesday. A victory there would place Middle in a home quarterfinal next Friday or Saturday against No. 8 St. Augustine or No. 9 Wildwood Catholic.

The semifinal games are scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 14, at Millville High School. The championship is Saturday, Feb. 17, at Egg Harbor Township High School.

(Video clip of Steven Smith scoring first basket of game and team picture both courtesy MTHS Athletics.)