VIDEO: Second-quarter run helps Lower Cape May pull away from Wildwood

Posted: January 25th 2026

By BRIAN CUNNIFF

CapeAtlanticLive.com

ERMA – The Wildwood High School boys basketball team built a five-point lead in the early stages of the second quarter in Saturday’s game at rival Lower Cape May, and some in the crowd were thinking the Warriors might be on their way to an upset win.

The Caper Tigers had other plans, though.

Thanks to full-court pressure defense that led to numerous Wildwood turnovers, Lower reeled off a 12-0 run and eventually took a three-point lead into halftime. Lower went on to dominate the second half and came away with a rather comfortable 60-39 victory.

“We tightened up our defense, but I also feel like we started making shots,” Lower coach Scott Holden said.

With the score 25-22 at half, Lower ended any drama with a 19-6 edge in the third quarter.

“I think every coach talks at halftime about how important the first two or four minutes of the second half are and how it’s going to impact the direction of how the game’s going to go,” Holden said. “I remember looking up at the clock midway through the third quarter and I turned to my assistants and said, ‘That was a really good four minutes.’”

Lower enjoyed terrific scoring balance in the victory, placing four players in double figures. Ryan Mallon, despite playing with injured fingers, led the Tigers with 16 points. John Fernandez had 11 of his 15 points in the second half, Ty Bonner contributed 11 points and Cole Sederland chipped in 10.

Lower (12-3) won its third straight game.

Trevor Troiano knocked down three three-pointers and scored 11 points to lead Wildwood (7-7).