Development of diversified offense a major reason why Wildwood is playing deep into March

Posted: March 11th 2026

The Wildwood High School girls basketball team's coaches discuss strategy during a timeout during the South Jersey Group I championship game at Haddon Township.

By BRIAN CUNNIFF

CapeAtlanticLive.com

The Wildwood High School girls basketball team has been known as a three-point shooting team for the past few seasons. 

Two seasons ago, when the Lady Warriors won a South Jersey Group I title, they led the state with 298 three-pointers. Last season, they made 259 shots from beyond the arc.

Coming into this season, Wildwood featured a pair of guards in Angela Wilber and Rebecca Benichou who would each eventually surpass 200 career three-point field goals and 1,000 career points.

But while Wildwood can at times shoot it as well as anyone from the perimeter, there’s no doubt its transformation to a team that can also score in the post was a major reason why the program was able to win its third sectional title in five seasons last weekend.

Wildwood is set to face New Providence in the state Group I semifinal Wednesday evening at 7 at Monroe Township High School.

The addition of junior forward Joelle Murphy, a transfer from Wildwood Catholic, helped lead to the diversification of Wildwood’s offense.

“We initially, as soon as Joelle transferred over, that kind of shifted our mindset as coaches that we could throw the ball inside a lot more,” Wildwood assistant coach Jim Clarke said. “But I think it took some time to convince the girls it was the right way to go.”

Murphy and sophomore forward Addison Troiano have been incredibly productive over the second half of the season, particularly in Wildwood’s last two playoff victories. Murphy was the most influential player on the floor in the sectional final against Haddon Township, racking up 14 points, 14 rebounds and six blocked shots. Troiano added nine points, four rebounds and three assists. One round earlier against Audubon, Murphy posted 13 points and nine rebounds, while Troiano recorded eight points, eight rebounds and four assists.

A couple of weeks ago, in a triple-overtime win over Glassboro, Troiano recorded her first career triple-double, posting 13 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists. Murphy tallied 17 points and eight rebounds.

The team has reaped the benefits, winning eight of its last nine games going into Wednesday’s state semifinal. The lone defeat during that stretch came in the Tri-County Conference championship game to Gloucester Catholic, which went into this week ranked sixth in the state and will be playing for the state Non-Public B title on Thursday.

“We won games early in the season without really throwing the ball inside as much but I think the girls saw we were going to have more sustained success by going and pounding the ball inside,” Clarke said. “Even if we’re not scoring inside, getting shots by playing inside out is the best. The best three-point shooting teams drive and kick or the ball gets kicked out of the post. You’re never going to be able to stand on the perimeter and bomb away. Once we got that to click, we’ve been playing better ever since.”

The result has been an incredibly balanced team in terms of scoring. Benichou leads the team in scoring at 13.2 points per game, with Wilber also in double figures at 11.1. But Murphy, at 9.3 points per outing, and Troiano, at 8.0 points per contest, are combining for more than 17 points per game from the forward position. Murphy and Troiano can also make the occasional three-pointer to make defenses stretch, but most of their scoring has come around the basket.

Murphy’s presence has also allowed Wildwood to become a better defensive team, now that the 6-2 shot blocker is guarding the rim.

The addition of Murphy has helped lead to an increase in production by the 5-8 Troiano, who’s been one of the area’s most improved players over the past month.

“Addison has really taken off, especially the last month,” Clarke said. “Everything about what she's doing has been lifted. She’s attacking the basket better. Her post-to-post passing has been incredible. If she’s not leading us in assists the last month, she’s close.

“Joelle being here has taken a lot of pressure off her. She’s not guarding the other team’s biggest player and she’s not having the biggest girl on the other team guard her. She’s been so good with her post moves that the second-best post player on most teams hasn’t been good enough to stop her.”

Wildwood’s transformation to a more balanced offense has given opposing defenses fits. With 192 for the season, the team still averages almost 6 ½ three-point field goals per contest. But the team’s increased propensity to score around the basket has been a major benefit.

“When we throw the ball in the post, a lot of times we’re down there (in a) one-on-one matchup,” Clarke said. “Everyone pretty much has known that in the past you had to run us off the three-point line. Now we’re able to pound the ball inside and have success, too.”