Middle girls will press forward despite key injury

Posted: January 20th 2024

By BRIAN CUNNIFF

CapeAtlanticLeague.com

The tenor of the Middle Township High School girls basketball team changed in an instant a little less than a week ago.

Star forward Madison Palek hurt her foot in the second quarter of a game against Bishop Eustace, suffering the same injury that forced her to miss the final few weeks of last season. In a devastating blow to both her and her teammates, Palek is expected to miss the remainder of this season as well.

So now, Middle has to make due without one of the premier defensive players in South Jersey, one who was also the team’s leading scorer at the time of her injury.

The Lady Panthers lost that game to Bishop Eustace and then subsequently dropped a 56-31 decision to one of the state’s top teams in Mainland on Thursday.

But at 10-5, Middle still has a lot to play for.

“The girls understand that everyone’s going to have to do a little bit more, contribute a little more,” Middle coach John Leahy said.

Last season, Middle Township went on to win a South Jersey title without Palek. Leahy believes this season’s team has the mettle to do so as well.

“We can. We absolutely can,” he said emphatically. “But regardless of who you have in uniform, it’s never going to be easy. I think it’s a matter of the kids sticking together.”

Middle’s lineup has suddenly become much younger. Seniors Hannah Cappelletti and Iyanna Bennett are going to see increased opportunities, but all of the other key contributors are underclassmen. They include juniors McKenzie Palek (Madison’s younger sister) and Izzy Toland and sophomores Reagan Powell, Sarah Farrow, Riley Odom and Abbey Cappelletti. Senior Gabby Cruz also may see an increased role.

While there isn’t a proven dynamic scorer among the bunch, there are quite a few players there capable of reaching double figures in any given game.

“We’re playing a good number of younger kids and they’re going to be given more responsibility,” Leahy said. “I know we’re going to have our ups and downs, especially with the hard schedule we’re playing. Like every year, no matter who you have in your lineup, you just want to continue to improve and build on the positives.”

Middle is currently in the second position in power points in South Jersey Group II. If that seed holds to the playoff qualification deadline, Middle would host as many as three games in the state tournament provided it keeps winning. Leahy also believes the team is still capable of making noise in the Cape-Atlantic League playoff tournament.

“It’ll take some time for us, but the good news is that we have almost a month to the CAL tournament and five, six weeks to the state playoffs,” Leahy said. “We have time, but at the same time we have games coming up fast and furious. We just have to go one day at a time, one practice at a time.

“By the time the playoffs come, with our schedule, I think we’re going to be super battle tested. Hopefully, we’ll be together and we’ll be connected and we’ll be ready to go.”