VIDEO: Middle overwhelms Wildwood in matchup of local rivals

Posted: February 11th 2025

By BRIAN CUNNIFF

CapeAtlanticLive.com

When the Middle Township and Wildwood high school girls basketball teams met last season, there was drama throughout, with Wildwood’s Macie McCracken hitting a long three-pointer at the buzzer to give her team a three-point win.

When the teams got together on Monday, Middle made sure there’d be no need for late-game theatrics.

The Lady Panthers jumped all over Wildwood from the start, outscoring the Lady Warriors 21-4 in the opening quarter and 41-12 for the first half, en route to a thoroughly convincing 67-30 victory in a game featuring two teams with a chance to make deep state playoff runs, Middle in Group II and Wildwood in Group I.

Middle’s Reagen Powell led all scorers with 18 points, Isabelle Toland hit four three-pointers and finished with 14 points and McKenzie Palek was also in double figures with 13 points. Sarah Farrow added eight points and a game-high 16 rebounds.

McCracken, who was averaging 24 points per game entering the contest, was held to 10 points by Palek and the Middle defense. Kiana D’Antuono also scored 10 points for Wildwood.

Middle (18-5) is set to host Millville Wednesday (weather permitting) in a Round of 16 game in the Cape-Atlantic League Tournament.

Wildwood (14-5) is next scheduled to play Thursday at Overbrook.