VIDEO: Palek’s two-way game helps send Middle past OCHS; Wildwood Catholic checks into CAL semis for 6th straight year

Posted: February 16th 2025

By BRIAN CUNNIFF

CapeAtlanticLive.com

CAPE MAY COURT HOUSE – McKenzie Palek is one of the best on-the-ball defenders in the Cape-Atlantic League.

When Palek mixes her usual stingy defense with a strong offensive output, the Middle Township High School girls basketball team is awfully difficult to beat.

Ocean City found that out Saturday afternoon.

Palek scored a team-high 13 points and helped the Lady Panthers hold Ocean City to single digits in points in three of the four quarters as Middle posted a 48-31 win in a Cape-Atlantic League playoff quarterfinal.

“When ‘Kenz’ is making shots and being aggressive and getting north-south, something good usually happens and we saw that today,” Middle coach John Leahy said. “You saw her playing with good pace. We all know she’s fast, but you can’t go fast all the time. When she changes speeds and gets in the lane under control, that’s when you see her making shots.

“We all know what she gives us defensively, but when she’s being aggressive and making good decisions offensively, it really gives us a lift.”

MCKENZIE PALEK

Palek scored 11 of her points in the first half to help Middle (20-5) to a 28-11 lead at the break. Ocean City cut its deficit to 12 points at one stage of the second half, but Middle eventually ballooned its lead to as high as 21 points in the fourth quarter.

The victory sends Middle to the Cape-Atlantic League semifinal round, where the second-seeded Lady Panthers will face No. 6 Our Lady of Mercy Academy on Tuesday at 5 p.m. at Atlantic City High School.

“You set goals at the beginning of the season and one of them is always to win the CAL Tournament,” Lehay said. “You do the work all season to try to set yourself up in the best position by getting the first two games at home. Now we’re playing in a semifinal and then hopefully a final and this is a great experience for us. Of course, we want to win it but either way it’s a great way to tune up state playoffs. You have to win four games to win the CAL Tournament, just like you have to win four games to win a South Jersey title. That’s why I really like this tournament, because it helps simulate the state tournament.”

Reagen Powell added 12 points and eight rebounds and Sarah Farrow chipped in eight points and 10 rebounds for Middle.

Marley Ostrander scored 11 points to lead Ocean City (13-12).

CRUSADERS CHECK INTO CAL SEMIS FOR 6TH STRAIGHT YEAR

Tuesday’s semifinals at Atlantic City will also include Wildwood Catholic for the six straight year.

That’s because the top-seeded Crusaders pulled away from No. 8 Atlantic City in the fourth quarter to post a 55-41 win. Wildwood Catholic led by five points after three quarters before outscoring the Vikings 15-6 in the final period.

Lola McGonigle sank a game-high 23 points to lead Wildwood Catholic (21-4). She also had six rebounds, six steals and four assists. Lily King contributed 12 points and nine rebounds and Anastasia Bowman chipped in eight points, eight rebounds and three blocked shots.

Taison Parker (14 points) and Eileen Roach (13 points) each scored in double figures for Atlantic City (8-17).

Wildwood Catholic will face fifth-seeded Holy Spirit in Tuesday’s semifinal at Atlantic City High School at 7 p.m.