VIDEO: Surging Middle in pole position in CAL American after 20-point win over Atlantic City

Posted: January 9th 2026

By BRIAN CUNNIFF

CapeAtlanticLive.com

CAPE MAY COURT HOUSE – After a difficult start that featured three losses to top-flight out-of-area teams, the Middle Township High School basketball team used this week to prove it’s still the team to beat in the Cape-Atlantic American Conference.

The Panthers used torrid shooting from the three-point arc in the opening quarter to grab an early lead it never relinquished in an impressive 55-35 win over Atlantic City Thursday evening. Coming on the heels of Tuesday’s 10-point victory over previously unbeaten Ocean City, Thursday’s win left Middle as the lone team still unbeaten in CAL American play.

“We’re happy with this week but we still have to get better,” Middle coach LaMarr Greer said.

Middle next has conference road games at Wildwood Catholic and St. Augustine Prep on Monday and Wednesday, respectively.

“Now we have to go on the road,” Greer said. “Going on the road in our conference is very hard. We know what’s ahead. We have to work hard in practice to get ready.”

Against the Vikings, Middle made each of its first five attempts from behind the arc in the opening quarter, with junior Derion Hawkins making three. The Panthers jumped to a 21-11 lead after the first quarter and never led by less than seven points the rest of the way. Ahead by eight going into the fourth quarter, Senior Mason Murawski gave the Panthers a lift by scoring nine of his team-high 16 points in the fourth quarter to help his team outscore Atlantic City by 19-7 in the period. 

“It’s all about our ball movement and being on time and on target with our passing,” Greer said. “Guys are giving up a good shot to get a great shot. We’re really stressing that in practice.”

Hawkins also joined Murawski in double figures with 12 points. Kanye Perkins added nine points and four assists and Chase Moore chipped in eight points and nine rebounds for Middle (3-3 overall, 3-0 CAL American).

Middle was also able to keep control of the game by taking care of the ball. One game after turning the ball over 18 times in the win over Ocean City, the Panthers committed just 10 miscues against the Vikings (5-3, 2-1).

“Sprints (in practice) will cure everything,” Greer said with a laugh. “We had them on the line for sprints (in Wednesday’s practice) for every turnover we had against Ocean City. They ran for every one of them.”

There’s still a long way to go. But right now, all teams in the CAL American are trying to sprint after Middle.