VIDEO: Carter’s return helps Crusaders reach CAL semifinals for seventh straight time

Posted: February 14th 2026

Wildwood Catholic's Damiya Carter played for the first time in more than two weeks and scored 24 points to help Wildwood Catholic to a victory over Holy Spirit in a CAL quarterfinal game.

By BRIAN CUNNIFF

CapeAltanticLive.com

NORTH WILDWOOD – Damiya Carter missed six games for the Wildwood Catholic Academy girls basketball team recently after suffering a broken nose during a game against Middle Township in late January.

She returned for Saturday’s Cape-Atlantic League playoff tournament quarterfinal game against Holy Spirit on Saturday. She was forced to wear a mask to protect her still-healing nose.

“It was a little uncomfortable,” Carter said.

It didn’t show in her play, however.

The ultra-talented sophomore poured in 24 points in her first game in more than two weeks to help the Crusaders to a 55-45 win over the Spartans, the result sending Wildwood Catholic to the CAL semifinal round for the seventh straight time.

“It felt great being out there,” said Carter, who also added eight rebounds. “I was excited to get back on the floor with my teammates. They were excited for me to be back, too, so it was great to be out there with them.”

Sixth-seeded Holy Spirit did not go down without a fight. After falling behind by as many as eight points in the first half, the Spartans cut the Crusader advantage to a point at 26-25 midway through the third quarter. But Wildwood Catholic quickly responded with a 23-7 spurt that spanned the rest of the third quarter and the first six minutes of the fourth to put the game away.

Carter was instrumental at the start of the run, scoring a pair of layups and making three free throws. Lily King added a pair of three-pointers and another basket during the surge.

“We went out and made plays at the defensive end and on the offensive end,” Wildwood Catholic coach Steve DiPatri said of his team’s second-half run. “The offense started flowing better. Our rebounding was better. We played with much more poise.”

Wildwood Catholic (18-7), the No. 3 seed in the tournament, will face No. 2 Egg Harbor Township in a semifinal game Wednesday at Middle Township High School. EHT escaped its quarterfinal with a 60-58 win over Our Lady of Mercy Academy.

Wildwood Catholic has qualified for the CAL semifinal round in every season from 2019 on, except for when the tournament was canceled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Crusaders have enjoyed success this season despite employing a small roster – there is no junior varsity team – and losing star point guard Lola McGonigle to injury.

“We have a system. We have a program,” DiPatri said. “When the chaos hit in the offseason with injuries and a little bit of defection, I think our team was doubting ourselves. We just preached calm and getting back in the gym and doing what we do and hopefully everything would fall into place.

“I’m very proud of this team. This has been one of the most rewarding seasons I’ve had as a coach. I don’t think a lot of people thought we’d do what we’ve done. But I’m not satisfied and I’m sure the girls aren’t either.”

King finished with 19 points and 11 rebounds and Dani Daley chipped in 10 points, seven rebounds, four assists and eight steals for Wildwood Catholic.

Lauren Cella led Holy Spirit (9-14) with 15 points, taking her career point total to 992.

Carter’s return certainly increases Wildwood Catholic’s chances in winning the CAL title.

“I think I can help the team a lot,” Carter said. “They did great without me and I’m super proud of them. But with me being back, I think I’m a good fit for the team and it showed in how we played today.”

DiPatri was certainly pleased to have his lineup – as small as it may be with just 10 players overall – back at full strength.

“With Damiya back, everybody moves back to the spots we’ve been training for all year,” he said. “We can run more of our sets cohesively.

“Damiya is obviously a very dynamic player. She came out here today and played with no fear.”