VIDEO, PHOTOS: Win at Boardwalk Classic continues another strong start for Middle

Posted: January 1st 2025

By BRIAN CUNNIFF

CapeAtlanticLive.com

The players and coaches on the Middle Township High School girls basketball team have spent an awful lot of time on school buses so far this season.

The Lady Panthers have already played games in Atlantic City, Newfield, Mullica Hill and Wildwood, and will play in Mays Landing on Friday.

Finally, on Saturday, the team is scheduled to play at home when it hosts Ocean City.

So when you consider the travel, the mostly difficult competition and the fact that the team has rarely been at 100 percent for a game due to illnesses, religious restrictions and other factors, count coach John Leahy among those extremely pleased with the team’s start – a 5-1 mark through six games.

“We’ve played more than half our games missing a starter, we haven’t played a home game yet and we’ve had kids in foul trouble in half the games,” Leahy said. “So when you consider all that, I have to feel good. To be 5-1 and not having played a home game yet and facing some adversity with kids missing games, we have to be happy with where we are.”

Middle’s latest result was a 43-18 victory over Springfield (Pa.) on Monday at the Boardwalk Basketball Classic. It was a dominating defensive effort for the Lady Panthers, who conceded just four points in the second half.

Junior Reagan Powell poured in 19 points and grabbed six rebounds in the win. She’s averaging 11.5 points and 7.2 rebounds through six games. Junior Sarah Farrow added seven points and 10 rebounds. She’s averaging a near double-double so far, at 9.8 points and 12 rebounds so far.

Seniors McKenzie Palek and Isabelle Toland, junior Abbey Cappelletti and freshman Hannah O’Neal have all been consistent contributors as well. Quite a few others are chipping in as role players. 

Middle has had five different players score in double figures in a game at least once this season. 

The team’s lone loss came against powerful Cherokee, 36-30, in the South Jersey Invitational Basketball Tournament Holiday Showcase at Clearview Regional High School. Middle played another highly-regarded team in Cherry Hill West at that event and came away with a 48-43 win.

“Our defense and rebounding have been fantastic and our effort has just been non-stop, which is great,” Leahy said. “If there’s one thing we really need to work at, at times we go through spurts where we’re just unsettled on offense and that can make life hard on ourselves, especially when we play good teams. We’re hoping that’ll improve as we get more experience. Yes, we have a lot of kids that have played in big games but most of them are now playing bigger roles, so the mentality is a little different. But once we settle in and get a little more consistent on offense and if we continue to rebound and defend, that’ll keep us in a lot of games.”