VIDEO: New-look Raiders continue impressive start to season by nipping Wildwood Catholic

Posted: December 19th 2024

By BRIAN CUNNIFF

CapeAtlanticLive.com

NORTH WILDWOOD – Rumors of the demise of the Ocean City High School boys basketball team have been greatly exaggerated.

A team thought to endure its share of struggles after losing four senior starters who accounted for more than 90 percent of the team’s scoring last season has picked up back-to-back impressive road victories to start the season in Cape-Atlantic American Conference games after Thursday’s 45-40 win over Wildwood Catholic.

That win came on the heels of a 66-64 victory at St. Augustine Prep on Tuesday.

“The thing I’ve been most impressed with from our kids so far is our composure,” Raider coach John Bruno said. “For a team without a lot of varsity experience, they’ve shown pretty good composure so far.”

They needed it Thursday against Wildwood Catholic.

After holding a five-point lead at the half, Ocean City saw Wildwood Catholic go on a 14-5 spurt to start the third quarter to go ahead by four points. But Ben McGonigle, the one Raider with significant varsity experience, knocked down a pair of short jumpers to tie the game at 32-32 heading into the fourth period.

Both teams struggled to score in the final quarter. Another short McGonigle jump shot broke the stalemate with 4:17 remaining and Luke Tjoumakaris added a basket a little more than a minute later to extend the Raider lead to four points.

Ocean City went ahead by as many as seven points before settling for the five-point victory. Dean Lappin, Josh Lenko and McGonigle combined to make five straight free throws in the final 1:30 for Ocean City.

Tjoumakaris led the Raiders with 13 points. Lenko added 12 and McGonigle finished with 11 after scoring eight points in the second half.

Tayshaun Jackson played a terrific game for Wildwood Catholic (1-1), finishing with 16 points. Calvin Kiker added nine. The Crusaders hurt themselves, however, by shooting just 1 for 7 from the foul line.