VIDEO: Middle pulls away from Prep to check into CAL semifinal

Posted: February 11th 2024

By BRIAN CUNNIFF

CapeAtlanticLive.com

CAPE MAY COURT HOUSE – It wasn’t the best effort by the Middle Township High School boys basketball team, but it was certainly good enough.

The Panthers shook off a bit of a rocky start by using a 17-5 spurt over the course of the third quarter on their way to a 53-37 victory over St. Augustine Prep in a Cape-Atlantic League playoff quarterfinal game Saturday afternoon.

The victory sends top-seeded Middle into the semifinal round against No. 4 Atlantic City. That contest will be played Wednesday at 7 p.m. at Millville High School. The game will be broadcast exclusively by Cape Atlantic Live.

Middle beat Atlantic City, 54-48, in mid January. But the Vikings, who have been disqualified for the state tournament due to incidents at a game earlier this season at Mainland, figure to be a tough out.

Middle is making its second straight CAL semifinal appearance, having lost last year’s game to St. Augustine.

“We’re thankful to get to another (CAL) semifinal,” Middle coach LaMarr Greer said. “It’s going to be tough. Atlantic City is in a situation where they can’t play in states so this (tournament) is their championship. We have to be ready. We were there last year and we were in the state (Group II) semifinals last year, too, so hopefully that experience will kick in. We need to have a couple good days of practice. That’s where it starts.”

Jamir McNeil paced Middle (23-2) in the win over the Hermits (13-12), just missing a double-double with 18 points and nine rebounds. He also had three assists and two steals. Greer, however, was more pleased with McNeil’s disruptive effort on the defensive end than with what he did offensively.

“His defense ignites us more than his offense and he’s the head of our defense,” Greer said. “That’s his responsibility, just like a lot of the other good Middle guards. He’s been embracing that.”

Re’Ale Basquin added 10 points and six rebounds for Middle.

Lower Township resident Noah Plenn led eighth-seeded St. Augustine with 16 points.