VIDEO: Middle survives nervy finish to win fifth straight; showdown with WCA up next

Posted: January 24th 2025

Reagen Powell scored 16 points for Middle Township in a 45-42 win over OLMA.

By BRIAN CUNNIFF

CapeAtlanticLive.com

CAPE MAY COURT HOUSE – The Middle Township High School girls basketball team seems to be rounding into form.

The Lady Panthers won their fifth straight game Friday, surviving a late Our Lady of Mercy Academy rally to win, 45-42, after holding a 16-point third-quarter lead. Middle Township endured a nervy finish, as OLMA got off a couple of heavily contested three-point attempts before the final buzzer.

But despite some late-game issues, Middle coach John Leahy was pleased with the result and the manner in which it was reached.

“We had a handful of possessions at the end where we could have made a couple more free throws or maybe we could have gotten an extra stop or two but, for the most part, we really did a ton of good things tonight,” Leahy said. “I feel good about where we are. This was a big week for us with three home games against some good teams (Williamstown and Atlantic City in addition to OLMA) and it was good to take care of business at home.

“At 13-2, we’re definitely trending in the right direction. I think we’re getting close to where we’re playing a full 32 minutes. I feel like right now we’re around 26 really good minutes. We all know if you want to win a championship you have to get to 32. We’re working to get there.”

Guard/forward Reagen Powell continued her wonderful junior season in the win, netting 16 points to lead Middle. She’s averaging 14.5 points and nearly seven rebounds per game so far.

Senior McKenzie Palek added 11 points and senior forward Izzy Toland chipped in eight points. Junior forward Sarah Farrow contributed six points and 14 rebounds. Junior guard Abbey Cappelletti dished five assists.

Middle will put its win streak on the line Monday at rival Wildwood Catholic in an important Cape-Atlantic American Conference game. Wildwood Catholic is the last team to beat Middle, 42-37, back on Jan. 11.

Monday’s game, scheduled for a 6 p.m. start, brings together teams with a combined 25-5 overall record. It’s another CAL American game featuring two high-level teams.

“The reality of our league is that everyone’s really good,” Leahy said. “We get 12 league games and there are no gimmies. There’s a team tonight in OLMA that could have gone away and they didn’t. They made it really tough for us at the end. You’re in for a fight every night in this league and that’s what’s going to get us ready for February and March.

“We just want to keep winning, keep getting better and hopefully that’ll get us as many games as possible in our building once we get to the playoffs.”