CAPE MAY COUNTY GIRLS BASKETBALL PREVIEW
Posted: December 13th 2023
By BRIAN CUNNIFF
CapeAtlanticLive.com
The long offseason and short preseason are just about complete, meaning a new high school girls basketball season is upon us.
Here in Cape May County, we’ve been blessed to witness some of South Jersey’s top programs. Four of the six teams reached sectional championship games last season, with Middle Township and Ocean City coming away as winners.
Could we see a repeat of that kind of success out of our local teams? It’s way too early to tell, but the potential is certainly there.
The following is a look at each of Cape May County’s high school girls basketball teams:
Cape May Tech's girls basketball team is led by (from left) Johanna Longstreet, Amanda Daino, Emma Drumm, Anna Delaney and Marley Wetzel.
CAPE MAY TECH
Head coach: Dan Loesch (second season, 6-14 career)
Assistant coaches: Rob Causey, Kyarra Williams
Last season: 6-14
Varsity returnees: Senior - Johanna Longstreet (5-6 G/F), Ajaon Greer (5-6 F); Juniors - Amanda Daino (5-5 F), Marley Wetzel (5-5 F), Emma Drumm (5-8 F); Sophomore - Hayli Estes (5-4 G).
Varsity newcomers: Juniors - Anna Delaney, Maya Kaced, Mariah Mitchell; Sophomores - Kiana D’Antuono, Maris Daniels; Freshman - Emma Oravits.
Outlook: Cape May Tech enters the new season with a relatively young team, with many of the major contributors expected to come from the sophomore and junior classes. The team will lean on Emma Drumm (8.2 ppg, 5.0 rpg), last season’s leading scorer and rebounder, Amanda Daio, Marley Wetzel and Johanna Longstreet to lead the way. Hayli Estes, who played significant minutes as a freshman last season, is also a top player. Cape May Tech also expects a significant contribution from Anna Delaney, a transfer from Middle Township. This figures to shape up as a rebuilding season but the Hawks should be able to compete with quite a few of the teams on their schedule.
Season opener: Thursday at Atlantic Tech, 5:30 p.m.
Seniors (from left) Layla Nunez Roach, Hailey Elwell, Kaitlyn McGuigan, Kyra Ridgway and Jazzy Serrano will help lead the Lower Cape May Regional High School girls basketball team into the new season.
LOWER CAPE MAY
Head coach: Scott Douglass (second season of second stint, 159-131 career)
Assistant coaches: Paul Baruffi, Greg Douglass, Jen Elwell
Last season: 11-11
Varsity returnees: Seniors - Kaitlyn McGuigan (5-7 G), Hailey Elwell (5-6 G), Brianna Loper (5-7 G/F), Kyra Ridgway (5-8 F), Jazzy Serrano (5-9 F), Layla Nunez Roach (5-6 G); Juniors - Olivia Lewis (5-6 G), Alex Voigt (5-7 F), Bernadette Erb (5-10 F), Kaylei DeLeon (5-7 F); Sophomores - Ainsley Reed (5-6 G), Meredith Lutjen (5-6 G).
Varsity newcomers: Junior - Isabella Arbelo Miranda; Sophomores - Giordana Raymond, Nouran Moustafa; Freshmen - Savannah Wareham, Brooke Robinson, Violet Vitelli, Addison Grey, Sa’hara Moore.
Outlook: After a .500 season last winter, Lower Cape May hopes to take another step forward in 2023-24. The Lady Tigers, with most of last year’s key players back, plus the addition of a couple of freshmen who should see varsity time right away, appear poised to challenge for the title in the Cape Atlantic United Conference, after finishing second last season. Kaitlyn McGuigan is a proven scorer who has averaged in double figures in each of the last two seasons, while Hailey Elwell is a proven outside shooting threat. Briana Loper is another solid player who returns after missing much of last season due to injury. There is improved depth in the program, which should allow Lower Cape May to compete with most of the teams on its schedule and challenge for a winning record overall.
Season opener: Monday at Buena, 5:30 p.m.
Seniors (from left) Madison Palek, Iyanna Bennett, Hannah Cappelletti and Gabby Cruz lead defending South Jersey Group II champion Middle Township into the new season.
MIDDLE TOWNSHIP
Head coach: John Leahy (20th season, 371-152 career)
Assistant coaches: Brynn Caraballo, Brandee Day, Jordan Sykes
Last season: 23-9, South Jersey Group II champion, CAL Playoff Tournament semifinalist
Varsity returnees: Seniors - Madison Palek (6-1 F), Hannah Cappelletti (5-4 G), Iyanna Bennett (5-6 F), Gabby Cruz (5-7 F); Juniors - McKenzie Palek (5-8 G/F), Isabelle Toland (5-10 F), Rylee Morrow (5-6 G); Sophomores - Abbey Cappelletti (5-3 G), Riley Odom (5-4 G), Reagan Powell (5-7 F).
Varsity newcomers: Junior - Mylee Moore (5-6 G); Sophomores - Alexia Davis (5-7 F), Mya Robinson (5-7 F), Sarah Farrow (5-7 F); Freshmen - Ella Leahy (5-7 F), Allison Nagle (5-5 G).
Outlook: Middle Township has traditionally been one of the Cape-Atlantic League’s and South Jersey’s top teams and this season should be no different. The Lady Panthers will have to replace the scoring, rebounding, ball handling and leadership skills of Jada Elston, who led the program to the South Jersey title last season and is now at Division I Fairleigh Dickinson, but the program seems equipped to do just that. Division II Clarion University commit Madison Palek (10.0 ppg, 7.7 rpg, 1.8 bpg) returns after missing the end of the regular season and the CAL and state playoffs last year due to a foot injury. Her younger sister, McKenzie, and Hannah Cappelletti are also returning starters and scoring threats, and players such as Izzy Toland and Iyanna Bennett bring back significant varsity experience. Other players such as Abbey Cappelletti, Riley Odom, Reagan Powell and Rylee Morrow significantly bolster the team’s depth. There is no doubt Middle has the potential to challenge for league and sectional championships this winter if the team stays healthy.
Season opener: Saturday vs. Vineland, 1 p.m.
MCKENNA CHISHOLM
OCEAN CITY
Head coach: Trish Henry (first season)
Assistant coaches: Jay Connell, Shaune McLaughlin, George McNally, Sue Repetti
Last season: 23-7, South Jersey Group III champion
Varsity returnees: Seniors - McKenna Chisholm, Alexis Allegretto, Sophia Bishop; Junior - Madelyn Adamson.
Varsity newcomers: Sophomores - Kaia Chew, Scarlett Fletcher, Gabrielle Henry, Allie Hudson, Callie Smith; Freshman - Brielle Smith.
Outlook: Ocean City lost four starters to graduation and another key player who decided not to play in order to concentrate on other sports from last year’s South Jersey championship team. Head coach Stephanie Gaitley also left to take over at Division I Fairleigh Dickinson, meaning new head coach Trish Henry is the program’s fourth head coach in as many seasons. But Henry coached many of the players at various youth levels, so the transition to her style shouldn’t be much of an adjustment. She has also surrounded herself with top assistant coaches with respected basketball pedigree. While the team is much younger than last year’s Raiders, it is full of multi-sport athletes who should help the team compete. Madelyn Adamson (10 ppg) is a proven scorer and is already considered to be one of the top guards in the CAL, while McKenna Chisholm is expected to be the team’s top post threat. This is a team that many see as making vast strides as the season goes along and could become a tough out once the CAL and state tournaments roll around. Repeating last season’s 23 wins might be a lot to ask, but this team will most certainly earn its share of victories.
Season opener: Thursday at Wildwood Catholic
The seniors on the Wildwood High School girls basketball team include (from left) Kaliah Sumlin, Sophia Wilber and Ashley Nagle.
WILDWOOD
Head coach: Teresa Cunniff (sixth season, 121-40 career)
Assistant coach: Jim Clarke
Last season: 22-8, South Jersey Group I finalist, Tri-County Classic Division co-champion
Varsity returnees: Seniors - Sophia Wilber (5-3 G), Kaliah Sumlin (5-2 G), Ashley Nagle (5-0 G); Juniors - Macie McCracken (5-7 G/F), Mia Cripps (5-4 G); Sophomores - Angela Wilber (5-1 G),
Varsity newcomers: Junior - Janet Gonzalez (5-7 F); Sophomore - Cydnee Kilian (5-6 F); Freshman - Rebecca Benichou (5-2 G).
Outlook: Wildwood has the luxury of bringing back one of South Jersey's most prolific scorers in Macie McCracken (22.3 ppg, 7.2 rpg), who reached 1,000 career points during her sophomore season. The program, however, features just nine players and McCracken, even though her natural position is shooting guard, might be guarding post players defensively because she’s the team’s tallest player at just 5-7, now that Sinaia Hills, last season’s starting power forward/center, has moved out of state. But what Wildwood lacks in numbers and size it will try to make up for in speed, quickness and athleticism. McCracken, Sophia Wilber and Angela Wilber can all push the pace of a game and shoot it well from distance and the addition of talented freshman Rebecca Benichou should bolster the team’s offense. Kaliah Sumlin, the team’s fastest player, is an elite on-the-ball defender. While Wildwood might struggle against good teams with size, the Lady Warriors certainly have enough talent and athleticism to compete for the Tri-County Classic Division title and make a strong run in the South Jersey Group I Tournament. Maintaining health and staying out of foul trouble will be paramount for this group.
Season opener: Friday vs. Pennsville, 4 p.m.
Seniors and returning starters (from left) El McCabe, Ava Vogdes, Kaci Mikulski and Destiny Wallace lead a talented Wildwood Catholic Academy girls basketball team into the 2023-24 season.
WILDWOOD CATHOLIC
Head coach: Steve DiPatri (27th season overall, 11th at Wildwood Catholic after 16 seasons at Sacred Heart; 552-149 career)
Assistant coach: Kate Caruso
Last season: 24-6, South Jersey Non-Public B finalist, CAL Playoff Tournament semifinalist
Varsity returnees: Seniors - Kaci Mikulski (5-8 G), Ava Vogdes (5-10 F), El McCabe (5-10 F), Destiny Wallace (5-8 G); Juniors - Anastasia Bowman (6-0 F), Grace Murphy (5-8 F); Sophomores - Maura Bean (5-4 G), Lily King (5-10 G), Angelina Richards (5-8 F), Sophia Sarri (5-8 F).
Varsity newcomers: Freshmen - Lola McGonigle (5-2 G), Joelle Murphy (6-1 G/F)
Outlook: As good as Wildwood Catholic has been over the past decade, there’s potential here for this to be the program’s best team in quite a while. There are three four-year starters in Kaci Mikulski (14.7 ppg, Division II Jefferson University commit), Ava Vogdes (7.1 rpg) and El McCabe (27 three-pointers, 59 assists), plus a top defender in Destiny Wallace (Division II Georgian Court commit) returning. Add in a dynamic freshman point guard in Lola McGonigle and this team’s starting five can match up well with anyone in the region. Forward Anastasia Bowman and guard Lily King are solid bench contributors who would start in most programs. Wildwood Catholic is a team that can win playing any style; they’re equipped to perform well in a fast-paced game with lots of offense but can also dig in and grind out victories in low-scoring games as well. This is a team that should be able to challenge for the CAL Playoff Tournament championship and make a long run in the South Jersey Non-Public B playoffs.
Season opener: Thursday vs. Ocean City, 6 p.m.
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