VIDEO: Benichou’s shot boosts Lady Warriors; Raiders roll in boys game

Posted: February 11th 2024

By BRIAN CUNNIFF

CapeAtlanticLive.com

WILDWOOD – Wildwood won a girls game that featured a wild second half and Ocean City led the boys game from start to finish as the two high schools split a girl-boy basketball doubleheader Saturday afternoon.

Wildwood posted a 60-53 victory in the girls game. Ocean City rallied from an 18-point third-quarter deficit to take a one-point lead at 49-48 on a three-pointer by freshman Brielle Smith with 4:15 to play. Wildwood, however, took the lead again for good on its next possession when freshman Rebecca Benichou made a long three-pointer from beyond the top of the key. Benichou’s shot started an 8-1 run for Wildwood. Ocean City got no closer than five points the rest of the way.

Wildwood (17-6) won the contest despite junior star Macie McCracken being held 10 points below her scoring average. She finished with 14 points, scoring 12 of them in the second half. Her four free throws in the fourth quarter helped seal the victory.

McCracken was also instrumental in Wildwood’s run in the third quarter that gave the Lady Warriors their 18-point lead when she scored seven points and dished two assists in the period.

Angela Wilber and Benichou picked up the scoring slack for the Lady Warriors by combining for 10 three-pointers. Wilber scored 18 points on six threes, while Benichou finished with 14 points on four threes and a pair of free throws. Sophia Wilber added 13 points and five assists.

Smith scored 12 of her 16 points in the second half for Ocean City (5-17). Madelyn Adamson posted 13 points, Marley Ostrander contributed 12 points and McKenna Chisholm registered 10 points and 16 rebounds for the Raiders.

Wildwood is next in action Monday when it hosts Washington Township in a Tri-County Conference tournament game.

In the boys game, Ocean City ran out to a 12-2 lead and never looked back en route to a 59-42 victory. Kori Segich scored 11 of his game-high 28 points in the opening period. He also claimed 11 rebounds and came away with three steals in the game.

Pat Grimley added 12 points and nine rebounds and Dylan Schlatter came close to a triple-double with seven points, eight rebounds and 11 assists.

Jordan Fusik hit four three-pointers and finished with 16 points for Wildwood (13-10). Junior Hans added 12 points.

Ocean City (22-2) next plays Wednesday in a Cape-Atlantic League playoff semifinal against Mainland at Millville High School. Wildwood is next in action Monday in a Tri-County Conference playoff game at Delsea.

WALL OF FAME CEREMONY

Wildwood High School inducted three new members into its Wall of Fame during a ceremony held between the two games. Inductees included Bernie McCracken, Monica Johnson and Teresa Polini-Cunniff.

The late McCracken, of no relation to the current Wildwood girls player and current Wildwood boys coach, was one of the top South Jersey coaches of all-time in terms of winning percentage, winning 74.4 percent of his games. He led Wildwood to two state titles and seven South Jersey championships. McCracken’s daughters and grandchildren accepted the award 

Johnson is South Jersey’s all-time leading scorer in girls basketball, having finished with 3,173 career points. She led Wildwood to three state Group I championships. She averaged more than 30 points per game as a senior. Johnson was also a soccer standout in high school, scoring 54 career goals, one of which was the first goal in program history. She went on to play college basketball for two seasons at Seton Hall before a knee injury ended her career.

Polini-Cunniff led Wildwood to its first state title in girls basketball in 1991 and finished her career with 1,305 points. She was also a league all-star in tennis and softball as a high school athlete. Polini-Cunniff went on to become a junior college All-American at Mitchell College before playing for two seasons at Rutgers University, where she was part of an Atlantic 10 champion Scarlet Knights team as a junior. Polini-Cunniff was a longtime assistant girls basketball coach under Dave Troiano at Wildwood and is now in her seventh season as head coach.

Bernie McCracken, Monica Johnson and Teresa Polini-Cunniff were inducted into the Wildwood High School Wall of Fame Saturday. Pictured are (from left): Johnson; McCracken’s daughters, Beth and Laurie: Polini-Cunniff.