VIDEO: Strong work on offensive glass helps LCM get past Wildwood in Hall's Carpet Care Game of the Week

Posted: December 23rd 2023

By BRIAN CUNNIFF

CapeAtlanticLive.com

WILDWOOD – Lower Cape May’s Macky Bonner missed two free throws late in Saturday’s game at the Boardwalk Basketball Classic at the Wildwoods Convention Center.

The rebound, however, somehow made it back to Bonner’s hands.

That play was a critical one, and it was also the continuation of a recurring theme throughout the game. The Caper Tigers pounded Wildwood on the offensive glass, picking up eight such rebounds in the second half and 12 for the game, and finished with a 57-52 victory over the Warriors.

For Lower, the win avenged a close loss to Wildwood last season.

“That loss to Wildwood was one of the most disappointing we had last year,” Lower coach Scott Holden said. “Wildwood played very well against us but we didn’t play our game. Today we played our game. The kids know each other well, so it’s always going to be a good game.”

Despite some struggles at the foul line, Bonner led Lower with 16 points. The senior point guard also controlled the pace of the game.

“Macky is so key to us because he’s such a leader,” Holden said. “He had a couple too many turnovers and he missed some key foul shots but all the other things he did for us were immense. And I know going forward he’s going to make those foul shots and he’ll cut down on the turnovers.”

Lower jumped out to a 20-12 lead after the first quarter and held off a series of Wildwood runs throughout the game. The Warriors managed to tie the game at one point in the third quarter but never took the lead. Wildwood had its deficit in the five- and six-point range with a couple of minutes left, but key free throws by Auri Wright and a technical foul whistled against the Warriors helped Lower hold off the challenge.

The Caper Tigers got a major boost from sophomore Josh Gretta off the bench. He knocked down four three-pointers and scored 14 points. Ty Bonner added 10.

Lower improved to 3-1 with the victory after a season-opening loss to Hammonton.

“That was a tough first loss to a pretty darn good Hammonton team, but the last two games have been huge for us,” Holden said. “To beat teams like Oakcrest and Wildwood in back-to-back games is big.”

Junior Hans (16), Brian Cunniff (13) and Ryan Troiano (11) each scored in double figures for Wildwood (2-2).