SOUTH JERSEY CHAMPS! Late first-half run turns the tide as Ocean City wins second straight sectional title

Posted: March 8th 2026

The members of the Ocean City High School boys basketball team (foreground) celebrate winning the South Jersey Group III championship with the Raider Nation student fan section after defeating Delsea in the title game.

By BRIAN CUNNIFF

CapeAtlanticLive.com

One of the best attributes of this season’s version of the Ocean City High School boys basketball team is that it never panics when facing adversity.

That calmness under pressure was on full display in Saturday’s South Jersey Group III title game.

Trailing 17-11 in the second quarter against a Delsea team that features one of the top post players in the region, Ocean City quickly flipped the game’s script by going on a 13-0 run to close the half. The Raiders never looked back, controlling the entirety of the second half en route to a 51-33 victory that gave them their second straight sectional title.

Ocean City (24-6) next faces Westampton Tech in the state semifinal game Wednesday at Central Regional High School.

Raider point guard Dean Lappin played arguably the best game of his career in the victory. He scored 14 points, dished three assists and came up with four steals. But perhaps more importantly, the 5-9 lefty was a major influence on the game’s tempo.

Luke Tjoumakrais led this-seeded Ocean City with 16 points and six rebounds. Josh Lenko chipped in eight points and four rebounds and Tighe Olek added seven points.

Luke Van Auken, a 6-8 center, tallied 13 points to lead No. 4 Delsea (17-12).  

Ocean City has had many successful boys basketball teams over the school’s history. But never before have the Raiders won back-to-back sectional titles.

The sectional championship is the third under 37th-year coach John Bruno. Ocean City also won the South Jersey title in 1999.

Ocean City has appeared in the South Jersey championship game in each of the past four seasons.