O.C. beats Westhampton Tech in semis, but NSJIAA cancels finals
By DAVID NAHAN/Sentinel staff
OCEAN CITY – The Ocean City High School girls basketball team secured its place in the state finals last week, but ended the season without the opportunity to play for the title, courtesy of the corona virus spreading across New Jersey, the United States and the world.
After beating Mainland on March 10 for the South Jersey Group III sectional title, the Red Raider girls took out Westampton Tech, 50-38, in the Group III state semifinals before learning that the spread of the COVID-19 virus would prematurely end the season before last weekend’s state finals could be played.
The Red Raiders would have played Ramapo, which won the other Group III semifinal by beating Warren Hills, 55-48.
The New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) decided after last Thursday’s semifinals that it was canceling the remainder of the playoffs, including the state finals.
“We have been making our decisions one day at a time, taking into account the best available guidance from the state health department and the CDC (Centers for Disease Control),” the NJSIAA posted on its web site March 12. “Now, given the rapidly changing circumstances and uncertainties facing our member schools, our student-athletes, our host facilities, and many others, we no longer see a viable path to the completion of the group championships on Saturday and Sunday.
“We understand that our decision will disappoint many, but believe it to be in the best interest of our student-athletes and all those involved with the games,” the NJSIAA wrote.
Although a disappointment to the teams and coaches, it leaves the Ocean City girls with a 23-8 record and an earned berth in the state finals.
To put that in perspective, the girls started with a 1-5 record after playing tough out-of-conference games that prepared them for the rest of the season. After that start, the girls were 22-3 the rest of the way.
To become a state finalist, the girls beat Westampton Tech last week behind the big play of four of its seniors – Abbey Fenton, Delaney Lappin, Emma Finnegan and Lauren Mirsky.
Fenton led the Red Raiders in scoring with 17 points, including four 3-pointers, the range at which she had been the most dangerous all season. Finnegan controlled the boards, hauling down 11 rebounds, and Mirsky and Lappin contributed on both ends. Lappin had 12 points and 5 rebounds and Mirsky contributed 11 points and 4 rebounds.
The girls had to battle Westampton Tech’s two powers, Nisea Burrell, who had 19 points, and Ciara Brannon, who had 13 rebounds and 10 points.
Ocean City also got help from its other players as well. Marin Panico had 6 points and 4 rebounds, Marlee Brestle had 1 point and 4 rebounds, Megan Crawford, another senior, added a rebound and Finnegan also had 3 points.