LINWOOD – The Red Raiders boys basketball team is off to an unbeaten start, including a win after a tough battle against the Mainland Mustangs Dec. 22.
In the final game before the holiday break, Ocean City High School’s team held onto a 13-point halftime lead to beat Mainland Regional High School 52-40.
Mustang Dallas Rowell led all scorers with 14 points and the Raider duo of Josh Lenko and Luke Tjoumakaris were right behind him at 13 points apiece.
The Raiders came into the game flying high after a close 57-53 win against Lower Cape May Regional the night before and kept the momentum rolling into the Mustang Corral.
Ocean City’s offense started on fire from beyond the arc and hit three straight three-pointers in the first quarter to pull ahead. Coming off a big 32-point game against Lower, Lenko capped off the Raider run with a drive to the basket and put the Mustangs down but not out.
Mainland’s leading scorer from last season, Rowell hit a three-pointer to stop the bleeding and the quarter ended with the Mustangs down 18-7. Mainland kept pace with Ocean City for the rest of the first half with an even second quarter. The highlight was Rowell forcing a turnover, getting a breakaway and dunking the ball on the other side of the court.
After a disappointing end to their last game, in which the Mustangs lost to Haddon Township 53-48 after holding a fourth quarter lead, Colt Russo and the Mustangs refused to go away silently.
Russo helped Mainland stay in striking distance with his versatility and general presence under the basket. He scored all 13 of his points in the second half primarily under the basket with tough put-backs as opposed to the Haddon Township game, in which his damage came from three three-pointers.
Junior Cole Stefano had his second straight game with nine points and stole the ball twice from Ocean City for easy layups the other way.
Despite the slow start, the Mustangs stayed in the game and outscored Ocean City 33-32 over the final three quarters.
Mainland’s offensive pressure was especially high in the fourth quarter, but the Raiders stayed true to their identity and got everyone involved. All five starters scored in the final frame with Dean Lappin directing traffic and taking care of the ball. Lappin and Tighe Olek finished with nine points each.
Asked after their previous game about playing Mainland, Ocean City head coach John Bruno said, “I do not want to hear anything about how good anybody is for this game. It does not matter when it comes down to these teams. They will play at a higher level because it is a rivalry. Mainland has played scrappy and I think they are surprising some people with how tough they play.”
Ocean City added two more wins at the Boardwalk Basketball Classic in Wildwood over the past weekend, beating Winslow 48-42 and then taking down Shipley (Pa.) High School 66-55 behind 27 points from Lenko and 15 each from Lappin and Tjoumakaris.
With the loss and another to St. John Vianney 59-42 on Dec. 26, Mainland dropped to 1-4 after a couple of close games to start the season. The Mustangs won their first game over Oakcrest High School 59-29 behind 26 points from Rowell, but now sit with a three-game loss streak. Mainland will have to wait until Jan. 22 to get the rematch against Ocean City, but have plenty of time before then to get back on track.
Mainland will get on the court again starting on Saturday, Jan. 3, at home against Hammonton High School for an early 11:30 a.m. tipoff. Hammonton won last season’s matchup 67-45 which broke a three-game win streak the Mustangs held over the Blue Devils.
The Raiders will also be back in action after New Year’s with a trip to Middle Township High School at 7 p.m. Jan. 6. Ocean City’s next game at home will be on Jan. 8 against St. Joseph High School.
– STORY and PHOTOS by DAVID NAHAN/Sentinel staff
