VIDEO: Thompson’s late free throw finishes comeback as Atlantic City claims CAL championship

Posted: February 22nd 2026

By BRIAN CUNNIFF

CapeAtlanticLive.com

EGG HARBOR TOWNSHIP – Part of what has made the Cape-Atlantic League boys basketball playoff tournament so intriguing in recent years is that the best team on paper entering the competition hasn’t necessarily won it.

Instead, the team that has gotten the hottest over the two-week journey has emerged the winner.

That was never more evident than in 2026.

Fifth-seeded Atlantic City, capping a run during which it defeated two teams to which it lost twice during the regular season, used a strong second half and a free throw from emerging star sophomore Don’Taye Thompson with five seconds remaining to post a 62-61 victory over No. 2 Ocean City in Saturday’s title game at Egg Harbor Township High School.

Viking players celebrated wildly at the final buzzer. Some of the players, and even head coach Wayne Nelson, had tears in their eyes as they tried to grasp the enormity of their accomplishment.

“I’m feeling all the emotions,” Nelson said. “Everything we went through during the season. A lot of people gave up on us. But we kept believing the whole way. We just kept trying to get one percent better every day. We knew we had a chance to get here.”

Ocean City opened a 12-1 lead to start the game and led for much of the contest, even though the Vikings made several runs at the Raiders over the second and third quarters. Finally in the fourth, Atlantic City first forged ahead when Thompson sank a three-pointer shortly after getting a steal at halfcourt with 4 ½ minutes remaining.

The Vikings seemed poised to pull away when they took a six-point lead with under two minutes to play. But Chris Pontari sank a critical three-pointer and Josh Lenko later scored off an offensive rebound to tie the game with 22 seconds remaining. On the next Atlantic City possession, Thompson drove hard to the basket from the right wing and was fouled with five seconds remaining. He made the first of the two free throws to give his team the one-point lead. Ocean City’s desperation shot from halfcourt before the buzzer was off the mark.

Thompson, who scored 50 points in Atlantic City’s semifinal win over Middle Township, led all scorers with 24 points on Saturday.

“When the game’s on the line, he wants the ball in his hands,” Nelson said. “He makes big shots and free throws. There’s a specialness about him. When the moment arrives, he has the willpower to make it happen.”

Atlantic City’s defensive pressure seemed to wear down the Raiders in the second half.

“We have athletes, man,” Nelson said. “Our culture doesn’t change. We’re going to pressure you and play defense and hang our hat on that. Our kids were unbelievable.”

Ocean City was also affected by Atlantic City’s ability to score second-chance points. The Vikings got numerous baskets in the second half off offensive rebounds.

“The two keys to the game for us were shadowing Thompson, knowing he could go off and knowing he can really score, and rebounding,” Ocean City coach John Bruno said. “I thought we did a decent job on Thompson but we didn’t do a good enough job with the rebounding. We had some initial good defense but I thought their best offense was the missed shot.”

Ocean City was forced to play many key possessions in the second half without point guard Dean Lappin, who had to sit out long stretches due to foul trouble. He eventually fouled out late in the contest.

“A couple of times their pressure got to us,” Bruno said. “Not having Dean out there for extended periods of time was big.

“But when you get into a game like this, you always say, just give yourselves a chance to win and at 61-61 with 10 seconds left, that’s a chance to win. Credit to Atlantic City. Thompson’s a tough guy to guard and their rebounding was the difference.”

Jalil Daniels added 10 points for Atlantic City (18-9), which had lost twice to both Ocean City and semifinal opponent Middle Township during the regular season.

Pontari led Ocean City (20-6) with 15 points off the bench. Luke Tjoumakaris added 12 points and 14 rebounds and Lenko and Alec Bell also had 12 points apiece.

The victory was Atlantic City’s 10th in the CAL title game but its first since 2013. Saturday marked the Vikings’ first appearance in the title game since 2018.

Atlantic City has made 22 appearances in the CAL title game overall, more than any other program. The contest was first held in 1992.