VIDEO: Middle rallies to grind out important conference victory at Ocean City

Posted: January 3rd 2024

By BRIAN CUNNIFF

CapeAtlanticLive.com

OCEAN CITY – The Middle Township High School boys basketball team has been one of the top scoring teams in South Jersey so far this season.

On Wednesday, the Panthers proved they could win without necessarily lighting up the scoreboard.

Middle, after falling behind by five points early in the third quarter, rallied to grind out an important road victory over Ocean City, 50-44, to take sole possession of first place in the Cape-Atlantic American Conference.

“This is huge,” Middle coach LaMarr Greer said. “I have such much respect for their program. Ocean City has tough kids that know how to win in multiple sports. We’re thankful to get out of here with a win. We’re getting more comfortable in these kinds of games. Last year and the year before that, I’m not sure I would have said that.”

Middle (7-1 overall, 3-0 CAL American), which entered the contest averaging nearly 71 points per game, scored just 18 in the first half and held a four-point lead at intermission. Ocean City then scored the first nine points of the third quarter to take its largest lead at 23-18. But Middle responded with a 10-3 spurt, highlighted by two three-pointers by Anthony Trombetta, and never trailed again. Later, after Ocean City’s Kori Segich scored to bring the Raiders within two at 36-34, Middle scored seven straight points off putbacks by Jamir McNeil and Re’Ale Basquin and a three-pointer by Bubba McNeil to take its largest lead of the game at 43-34. Ocean City never got closer than five points the rest of the way.

“We have to be able to play in these kinds of games,” Greer said. “This is in conference, at Ocean City, and you have to expect it to be like this and you have to learn to win like this. It’s not realistic to think we’re going to score 80 and make every three-pointer in every game and that it’s going to be easy. That just isn’t going to happen against a team like Ocean City.

“This is what we expected. We had to tie our boots up tight and go to work. Our kids responded to the challenge. I give our kids credit.”

Jamir McNeil scored 16 points to lead Middle, getting 10 of them in the second half. He also had five assists.

“He’s getting to the rim for us but he’s also been really distributing the ball for us,” Greer said. “You can see him maturing. It’s not all about scoring. He’s getting everyone involved. It’s a testament to the work he’s been putting in.”

Trombetta added 11 points, nine of which came after halftime.

Segich scored 13 of his 15 points in the second half for Ocean City (7-1, 3-1). He also had seven rebounds. Charlie LaBarre added 13 points.