VIDEO: NJSIAA playoffs – Daley sets scoring record at WCA, OC boys win in OT, Wildwood girls advance

Posted: March 2nd 2026

Sophomore Dani Daley set the Wildwood Catholic Academy girls basketball single-season scoring record after netting 37 points in a state playoff win over Ranney Monday.

By BRIAN CUNNIFF

CapeAtlanticLive.com

It was another thrilling evening of state playoff basketball for local teams Monday evening as the action featured a record-setting performance and an overtime nailbiter among the five games involving Cape May County teams.

The following are recaps from the games:

GIRLS

South Jersey Non-Public B – (3) Wildwood Catholic 83, (11) Ranney 76: Dani Daley has been one of the state’s top scorers this season. She now has a record to prove it. The Wildwood Catholic sophomore poured in a career-high 37 points to go with 10 rebounds, six assists and eight steals as Wildwood Catholic won a wild high-scoring second-round game. The 37 points brought Daley’s season total to 563, breaking a 38-year-old school record. Carol “Budy” Barnoski (nee Blum) had scored 555 points as a sophomore in 1988. Ironically, Barnoski’s daughter, Blake, is a freshman key substitute for the Crusaders this season. Damiya Carter added 27 points and Lily King chipped in 10 points for Wildwood Catholic, which overcame a 37-point performance by Savannah Jackson of Ranney (5-17). The victory improved Wildwood Catholic to 20-7, giving the program its seventh 20-win season in the last eight years, although during the season the Crusaders missed out on 20 victories in 2021 the team was limited to 10 games due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Wildwood Catholic will travel to No. 2 Gloucester Catholic for a sectional semifinal game on Thursday. Gloucester Catholic was a 74-26 winner over Koinonia in its quarterfinal game Monday.

South Jersey Group I - (2) Wildwood 51, (7) Gateway 41: After trailing by two points after one quarter, Wildwood used a 16-2 run to take control of the game and advance to the sectional semifinal round. Angela Wilber sank 16 points and Rebecca Benichou added 10 points and seven steals for Wildwood (21-7), which opened a lead as high as 19 points in the fourth quarter before settling for the 10-point win. Wildwood will host No. 3 Audubon on Wednesday at 5 p.m. Audubon was a 48-27 winner over Woodstown in its quarterfinal game.

South Jersey Group III – (5) Hammonton 56, (13) Ocean City 29: In a rubber match between teams that split two games during the regular season, Hammonton ran out to a 27-14 lead at halftime and never looked back. Scarlett Fletcher scored 10 points to lead the Raiders, who finished the season at 14-11.

BOYS

South Jersey Group III - (2) Ocean City 50, (11) Winslow Township 48 (OT): Tighe Olek’s layup with 4.8 seconds to play in overtime was the difference as the Raiders (22-6) advanced to the sectional semifinal round. Ocean City had a 48-45  lead in overtime until Winslow’s Ibraheem Smith hit a long three-pointer with 38 seconds to play to tie the score. Ocean City took time off the clock on its next possession before Olek drove the right side of the lane and got to the rim for his winning layup in the waning seconds. Winslow missed a heavily contested three-point attempt at the buzzer. Luke Tjoumakaris scored 18 points, Josh Lenko added 13 points and Olek chipped in nine for the Raiders (22-6). Smith scored 18 points for Winslow (13-12). Ocean City will host No. 7 Toms River South on Wednesday. TRS topped Mainland, 42-37, in its sectional quarterfinal game.

South Jersey Non-Public B - (2) Holy Cross 78, (10) Wildwood Catholic 41: Wildwood Catholic’s season finished at 7-19 after the loss in the second round. Paris Kinsey had 16 points and Peyton Rosenello added eight in the loss.