VIDEO: Big second-half run allows Middle to clinch tie for conference title and move closer to securing top seed for CAL Tournament

Posted: February 2nd 2026

The Middle Township High School girls basketball clinched at least a tie for the CAL American Conference title with Monday's win over Our Lady of Mercy Academy.

By BRIAN CUNNIFF

CapeAtlanticLive.com

CAPE MAY COURT HOUSE – The first time the Middle Township High School girls basketball team faced Our Lady of Mercy Academy this season, the Lady Panthers suffered a shocking double-digit loss on the road.

In the third quarter of the rematch on Monday, the game began to trend in that direction once again.

But after a three-point attempt that would have given the Villagers the lead bounced off the rim, Middle responded with an impressive 18-3 run and pulled away for a 54-37 victory.

The win allowed Middle (17-2 overall, 9-1 Cape-Atlantic American Conference) to clinch at least a tie for conference title. An outright conference championship would also most definitely give the Lady Panthers the top seed for the upcoming CAL Playoff Tournament.

“In our division, every game is a battle,” Middle coach John Leahy said. “You throw the records out the window because you know pretty much every game is going to be close. There’s no nights off. But by the time the playoffs come around, you hope you’re super battle tested because of that and that’s the most important thing.”

Mya Robinson began Middle’s second-half run with a layup, followed by three-pointers from Reagen Powell and Ainsley Frederick to give the Lady Panthers a 41-31 lead at the break. Frederick hit another three-pointer and Alexia Dvis made a foul-line jump shot as Middle extended the lead to 46-31. After an OLMA basket, Davis and Frederick each made layups to make the score 50-31.

At that point, it was game over.

“In its simplest form, I think we just made shots and got stops,” Leahy said. “We talk all year how if we want to make runs we have to string together stops and we got four or five of those in a row. Then when you can go on little 6-0 or 7-0 runs, you can extend leads on people.”

Powell started quickly for Middle, the senior guard/forward scoring 15 of her game-high 22 points in the opening half as her team opened a lead as large as 10 points in the second quarter. She also finished with 12 rebounds.

Powell twice beat the buzzer with key baskets. She hit a three-pointer at the end of the first quarter and a left-elbow jump shot at the close of the third quarter.

“We knew we had to play really hard,” Powell said. “We feel like we’re a great team but we also knew (OLMA) could definitely get into us and give us trouble. We were definitely motivated from the loss. It fueled us for this game.”

Mya Robinson was an excellent complement to Powell. The senior mixed 10 points, six assists and four rebounds.

“Mya’s been fantastic for us all season,” Leahy said. “Most nights she’s guarding the other team’s best player – either her or Ainsley. When Mya sticks to what she’s good at, which is defense and rebounding and running the floor and making layups, she’s a major, major contributor for us.”

Abbey Cappelletti chipped in nine points, five assists and four steals and Frederick sank eight points in the win.

Junior forward Khalia Lewis posted 14 points, 12 rebounds and five steals for OLMA (5-12, 3-7).

Middle has two conference games remaining, home contests with Mainland Wednesday and Egg Harbor Township Friday. A win in either game, or one loss by EHT, will give Middle the conference title and put the team in pole position for CAL Tournament seeding.