Middle hopes to learn from loss to powerful Lenape in opener

Posted: December 17th 2025

By DAVID WEINBERG

For CapeAtlanticLive.com

CAPE MAY COURT HOUSE – The scoreboard at Middle Township High School displayed a loss for the boys basketball team on Tuesday.

Lenape pulled away in the third quarter to en route to a 65-58 victory over the Panthers in the season-opener for both teams.

Middle coach LaMarr Greer interpreted the score differently.

“To me, it was a win,” Greer said. “I thought it was great for us. This is the time of year when you learn about your team and we learned a lot. We have to learn how to take care of the ball and to play with discipline and not with emotion.”

It was difficult for the Panthers to stem their excitement.

A large crowd filled Tom Feraco Court to watch two of South Jersey’s top programs in action.

Lenape is the two-time defending South Jersey Group IV champion. Middle has reached the South Jersey Group II final the past two years, losing to national power Camden both times.

Middle hung with the Indians for the first half, before Lenape took control in the third quarter.

Lenape took the lead for good when guards Nolan Barnes and Jaiden Boyd each hit jumpers to break a 26-26 tie and put the Indians ahead 30-26. Guard Brett Halfpenny swished two of his five total three-pointers during a 10-2 run that left Lenape with a 47-32 edge entering the final period.

The lead remained at double digits until the final minute, when Middle’s Michael Farrow hit a pair of three-pointers and scored the Panthers’ final eight points.

Boyd led all scorers with 25 points. Halfpenny scored 17 and Barnes finished with 13 for Lenape.

Chase Moore topped Middle with 14 points. He also mixed 10 rebounds, five steals and four assists.  Kanye Perkins added 10 points and eight rebounds.

“We tended to have some lulls last year and that happened again for us tonight,” Greer said. “We have to learn how to handle adversity and overcome it.”

They will get some chances to develop over the next few weeks.

Tuesday’s game was the start of a very challenging part of the schedule for Middle. The Panthers will take on Philadelphia Public League contender Samuel Fels on Saturday and also play St. Joseph-Metuchen and defending South Jersey Group III champion Ocean City later this month.

Greer is hoping the experience gained from playing tough games early will pay off later.

“I spent a lot of time with some great college coaches over the summer and they all told me the same thing,” Greer said. “Schedule hard (games) in the beginning, learn about your team, and you’ll be a whole different team in February and March.

“I’ve always said we’re a no-record program. Nobody asks what your (won-loss) record was at the end of the year. They just ask, ‘What championships did you win?’”