CAPE MAY COUNTY GIRLS BASKETBALL PREVIEW

Posted: December 17th 2024

By BRIAN CUNNIFF

CapeAtlanticLive.com

Last winter saw Cape May County experience a successful high school girls basketball season.

Middle Township and Wildwood each won South Jersey championships. Wildwood Catholic advanced to the title game of the Cape-Atlantic League Playoff Tournament. Lower Cape May captured a conference title. Cape May Tech won its most games in 10 years. And Ocean City laid the foundation for what is expected to be an improved team this winter.

The new season begins this week. Can the local teams repeat last season’s successes? We’re about to find out.

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

Cape May Tech hopes to break through with a winning season this winter. The team is led by seniors (from left): back row - Emma Drumm, Mariah Mitchell, Amanda Daino, Marley Wetzel; front row - Brynn Brophy, Ellen Mkrtchyan, Anna Delaney.

CAPE MAY TECH

Head coach: Dan Loesch (third, 16-31 career)

Assistant coaches: Rob Causey, Savannah Holt, Taryn Repici

Last season: 10-17

Varsity returnees: Seniors - Amanda Daino (5-7 G/F, Anna Delaney (5-4 G), Emma Drumm (5-8 F), Marley Wetzel (5-7 F); Junior - Marisa Daniels (5-0 G); Sophomore - Emma Oravits (5-6 F). 

Varsity newcomers: Seniors - Brynn Brophy (5-2 G), Mariah Mitchell (5-3 G), Ellen Mkrtchyan (5-2 G); Freshman - Bobbi Fanshaw (5-10 F).

Outlook: Cape May Tech enters the new season with one of the more experienced teams in program history. The Lady Hawks return all five starters from a team that won 10 games last season and are optimistic they can challenge for a winning season and host a first-round state playoff game. Emma Drumm (10.7 ppg, 4.6 rpg), Amanda Daino (10.1 ppg) and Anna Delaney (8.8 ppg, 3.3 rpg) are proven scorers and should also provide senior leadership, along with Marley Wetzel. Emma Oravits saw significant time last season as a freshman. Brynn Brophy, a transfer from Middle Township, and athletic freshman Bobbi Fanshaw should help with depth. Cape May Tech should be able to challenge for a top two or three position in the Cape-Atlantic United Conference and with a break or two could compete for the conference title.

Season opener: Tuesday vs. Schalick 

Seniors Bernadette Erb, Kaylei DeLeon, Isabell Arelo Miranda and Alext Vogt lead defending CAL United Conference champion Lower Cape May into the new season.

LOWER CAPE MAY

Head coach: Scott Douglass (third season of second stint, 178-138 career)

Assistant coaches: Paul Baruffi, Greg Douglass, Olivia Levin

Last season: 19-7, Cape-Atlantic United Conference champions

Varsity returnees: Senior - Alex Vogt (5-9 F); Junior - Meredith Lutjen (5-6 G); Sophomores - Brooke Robinson (5-10 F), Savannah Wareham (5-5 G).

Varsity newcomers: Seniors - Isabell Arelo Miranda (5-5 G), Kaylei DeLeon (5-7 F), Bernadette Erb (5-10 F); Junior - Nouron Mustafa (5-5 G); Sophomore - Addison Grey (5-9 F); Freshman - Leks Domanowski (5-5 G).

Outlook: Lower Cape May emerged as one of the surprise teams in the entire Cape-Atlantic League last season. The Lady Tigers enjoyed a 19-win campaign that featured a United Conference championship. But the team lost its two leading scorers and primary ball handlers in Kaitlyn McGuigan and Hailey Elwell to graduation and will begin the new season with a young and mostly inexperienced team. Lower will lean on senior Alex Vogt and sophomore Brooke Robinson (8.7 ppg, 6.5 rpg), two returning starters, to lead the way. Robinson was one of the CAL’s top freshmen last season and will most likely lead the team in scoring. Sophomore Savannah Wareham will handle the point guard duties. Lower moves up to the more competitive National Conference and may need some time to get its footing. But the Lady Tigers will be well coached and should be better in the second half of the season as the new players gain more experience and get more comfortable with the speed of the game.

Season opener: Tuesday at Ocean City

Two-time defending South Jersey champion Middle Township is led by co-captains McKenzie Palek, Reagen Powell, Abbey Cappelletti and Izzy Toland.

MIDDLE TOWNSHIP

Head coach: John Leahy (21st season, 394-161 career)

Assistant coaches: Brynn Caraballo, Brandee Day

Last season: 23-9, South Jersey Group II champion, CAL Playoff Tournament semifinalist

Varsity returnees: Seniors - McKenzie Palek (5-9 G/F), Isabelle Toland (5-11 F); Juniors - Abbey Cappelletti (5-3 G), Sarah Farrow (5-7 F), Reagan Powell (5-9 G/F).

Varsity newcomers: Senior - Mylee Moore (5-7 G); Juniors - Alexia Davis (5-8 F), Mya Robinson (5-8 F); Sophomores - Ainsley Frederick (5-9 G), Ella Leahy (5-7 F), Isabel Miller (5-4 G), Allison Nagle (5-6 G); Freshman - Hannah O’Neal (5-7 G). 

Outlook: Middle Township is the two-time defending South Jersey Group II champion and the Lady Panthers fully expect to compete for a sectional title again this winter. McKenzie Palek (7.2 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 3.3 apg) and Izzy Toland (25 three-pointers) are experienced seniors. Junior Reagen Powell (8.6 ppg, 6.2 rpg) exploded in the second half of last season and has the potential to be in the conversation as one of the CAL’s top players this winter. Juniors Abbey Cappelletti and Sarah Farrow also return after making critical contributions for last year’s team. Meanwhile, there are also some talented sophomores and juniors who saw spot varsity action a season ago keen for increased roles. As usual, the Lady Panthers will play a very challenging schedule, with many of those tough games on the road. In fact, Middle won’t play a home game until Jan. 4. A team with size, athleticism and experience, Middle is considered to be one of the top teams in all of South Jersey and could challenge for the CAL playoff tournament title. Middle coach John Leahy enters the season six wins from 400 for his career.

Season opener: Tuesday at Atlantic City

OCEAN CITY

Head coach: Trish Henry (second season, 7-18 career)

Assistant coaches: Jay Connell, Shaune McLaughlin, George McNally, Sue Repetti

Last season: 7-18

Varsity returnees: Juniors - Kaia Chew (5-4 G), Scarlett Fletcher (5-10 F), Gabrielle Henry (5-4 G), Allie Hudson (5-4 G); Sophomore - Marley Ostrander (5-9 G/F). 

Varsity newcomers: Senior - Naomi Nnewihe (5-10 F); Junior - Lilly Murphy (5-6 G/F); Sophomores - Casey Adamson (5-3 G), Cecelia Mirsky (5-10 F), Emma Vince (5-5 G). 

Outlook: Ocean City struggled a bit against a difficult schedule last season with an extremely young roster, although the Raiders did manage to play some very good teams to games with close margins. Ocean City suffered a blow over the summer when FDU commit Madelyn Adamson, last season’s leading scorer, suffered a knee injury that will force her to miss the season. However, the team will get a boost from the return of senior Naomi Nnewihe, a Brown commit for soccer and an elite athlete who returns to the court after concentrating on her primary sport last winter. Juniors Kaia Chew, Gabby Henry, Allie Hudson and Scarlett Fletcher and sophomore Marley Ostrander all should be better for gaining valuable varsity experience as younger players last season. Ocean City drops into the National Conference this season, giving the team a more manageable league schedule. There’s a chance this team could show significant improvement in the win column this winter.

Season opener: Tuesday vs. Lower Cape May

Macie McCracken and Janet Gonzalez are the seniors on the defending South Jersey Group I champion Wildwood High School girls basketball team.

WILDWOOD

Head coach: Teresa Cunniff (eighth season, 144-48 career)

Assistant coach: Jim Clarke, Nicole DeHorsey, Steve Prince

Last season: 23-8, South Jersey Group I champions, Tri-County Classic Division co-champions

Varsity returnees: Seniors - Macie McCracken (5-8 G/F), Janet Gonzalez (5-7 F); Juniors - Cydnee Kilian (5-6 F), Angela Wilber (5-2 G); Sophomore - Rebecca Benichou (5-2 G). 

Varsity newcomers: Junior - Kiana D’Antuono (5-7 F); Sophomore - Sarah Djellal (5-6 F); Freshmen - Lily Atkinson (5-2 G), Emma Contreras (5-9 F), Antoinette Cooper (5-8 F), Julia Ennis (5-3 G), Mollie Farrell (5-3 G), Laila Fathi (5-4 G), Ellasyn Morey (5-4 G), Addison Troiano (5-7 F).

Outlook: Wildwood, which led the state with 298 three-pointers, used its dynamic offense to win the South Jersey Group I title last season. The Lady Warriors bring back their three leading scorers from last season – senior Macie McCracken (22.7 ppg, 10.4 rpg, 3.3 apg, 4.5 spg, 107 three-pointers), junior Angie Wilber (10.9 ppg, 77 three-pointers) and sophomore Rebecca Benichou (11.5 ppg, 78 three-pointers) – so there’s every reason to think they’ll be extremely competitive again, especially for a small Group I school. Junior Cydnee Kilian is another player with varsity experience. Wildwood is also helped by transfers Kiana D’Antuono and Sarah Djellal and by a large and talented freshmen class, led by guards Laila Fathi and Lily Atkinson and forwards Addison Troiano and Emma Contreras. For the first time in approximately two decades, Wildwood has the numbers to field a junior varsity team. With a star player in McCracken, a West Chester commit, two other proven scorers in Wilber and Benichou and a roster that features a good mix of experience, youth and an impressive array of outside shooters, Wildwood should again challenge for a 20-win season and division and South Jersey championships.

Season opener: Wednesday at Pennsville

Seniors Reagan Flickinger, Anastasia Bowman, Grace Murphy and Kristen Wareham lead a Wildwood Catholic team that won 23 games in 2023-24 into the new season.

WILDWOOD CATHOLIC

Head coach: Steve DiPatri (28th season overall, 12th at Wildwood Catholic after 16 seasons at Sacred Heart; 575-153 career)

Assistant coach: Kate Caruso, Chris Israel

Last season: 23-4, CAL Playoff Tournament finalist

Varsity returnees: Seniors - Anastasia Bowman (6-0 F); Juniors - Lily King (5-10 G), Angelina Richards (5-8 F); Sophomores - Lola McGonigle (5-2 G), Joelle Murphy (6-2 F).

Varsity newcomers: Seniors - Reagan Flickinger (5-8 F), Grace Murphy (5-8 F), Kristen Wareham (5-6 G); Sophomore - Violet Vitelli (5-4 G); Freshmen - Damiya Carter (5-8 G), Dani Daley (5-8 G), Peyton Hill (5-10 F), Sophia Lutz (6-0 F), Reilly Kelso (5-8 G), Juniper King (5-8 G).

Outlook: Wildwood Catholic lost four starters to graduation, including career 1,000-point scorer Kaci Mikulski, from a 23-4 team that suffered three losses to CAL and state champion Mainland, one of the CAL’s all-time great teams. But there is still a lot of talent both remaining in and entering the program. Senior Anastasia Bowman and junior Lily King are poised for headlining roles after serving as understudies over the past two seasons, while sophomore guard Lola McGonigle (13.3 ppg, 4.6 apg) is a budding star. Senior Reagan Flickinger, junior Angelina Richards and sophomore Joelle Murphy are solid role players. Meanwhile, the Crusaders also feature two of the CAL’s top freshmen in Damiya Carter and Dani Daley. Wildwood Catholic, with one of its tallest teams in recent memory, is keen to remain among the elite in both the Cape-Atlantic League and across South Jersey. The Crusaders should challenge for the CAL playoff tournament title and make a long run in the South Jersey Non-Public B Tournament. Coach Steve DiPatri, already the CAL’s all-time wins leader among girls basketball coaches, enters the season 25 wins shy of 600 for his career.

Season opener: Tuesday vs. Absegami