VIDEO: Shots don’t fall as Wildwood loses in state semifinal

Posted: March 7th 2024

By BRIAN CUNNIFF

CapeAtlanticLive.com

DEPTFORD – The old adage that if you live by the three-point shot, you’ll die by the three-point shot caught up with the Wildwood High School girls basketball team Wednesday evening.

The Lady Warriors, who went into the game leading the state in three-point field goals with 292 for the season, made just 6 for 37 attempts from that distance in a 48-42 loss to Shore in the state Group I semifinal at Deptford High School.

“We tried everything that we could, but our shooting wasn’t the best,” Wildwood senior Kaliah Sumlin said. “If we shot well, I think we could have won.”

Wildwood, which led for most of the contest into the fourth quarter, went extremely cold in the final period, the Lady Warriors going 0 for 9 on threes in the quarter. Shore took the lead for good midway through the period.

Neither team led by more than six points at any stage of the contest.

Wildwood (23-8), a small team in terms of height and numbers, often struggles with rebounding. But the Lady Warriors held a 46-30 advantage in rebounding in the loss.

“This is a pretty tough loss,” senior Sophia Wilber said. “We came in here confident and we rebounded very well. It’s especially hard when something you’ve been doing well all season doesn’t work for us with our shooting. If we had that shooting and rebounding combo together, we probably would’ve beaten them.”

Wildwood junior Macie McCracken, despite not shooting her best and still nursing an illness from over the weekend, pumped in 17 points and grabbed an incredible 20 rebounds to go with five assists. Freshman Rebecca Benichou added nine points. Sophomore Angela Wilber chipped in eight points. Sumlin claimed 13 rebounds.

Wildwood shot just 17 for 64 overall from the floor. Its shooting woes were compounded by the team’s 16 turnovers. Shore had just six turnovers.

Conley Smolokoff led Shore (18-11) with 20 points. She had 14 after halftime. Her steal and basket late in the fourth quarter was one of the game’s critical plays. Reese Fiore added 17 points for the winners.

Wildwood’s seniors leave the program having won two South Jersey championships, the Lady Warriors also winning the sectional title in 2022.

“I think we accomplished way more than anyone thought we could have,” Wilber said. “Everyone worked so hard this season. We did a lot, despite how small our team is.”

Sumlin concurred.

“It feels great to have a South Jersey title – well, two of them,” she said, forcing a smile. “But I’m going to miss everybody.”

Wildwood is in good shape going forward. The Lady Warriors will return three players who averaged in double figures in scoring this season in McCracken, Benichou and Angela Wilber. The program is also expected to add a large incoming freshmen class.