VIDEO: Turco nets 1K point in win; Crusader boys’ win streak snapped

By BRIAN CUNNIFF

ATLANTIC CITY — The Wildwood Catholic High School girls basketball team has officially entered the conversation about which team should earn the No. 1 seed for the upcoming Cape-Atlantic League playoff tournament.

The Crusaders posted a 51-46 victory over Atlantic City Saturday at the Battle by the Bay showcase event to further strengthen an already impressive resume.

Wildwood Catholic improved to 15-2 in posting its fifth straight victory — the last three coming over quality opponents, including the Vikings, who lead the CAL American Conference and entered the contest at 12-4.

Senior forward Gabby Turco scored her 1,000th career point in the win, hitting the milestone on a layup while being fouled early in the fourth quarter. She finished with 19 points, tying for game high with teammate Marianna Papazoglou.

Wildwood Catholic led from start to finish, although the Crusaders did face some anxious moments in the final period before pulling away for good.

The Crusaders ran out to an 18-9 lead after one quarter and eventually led by as many as 16 points in the third quarter, only to see Atlantic City cut its deficit to three points at midway through the fourth quarter.

But Papazoglou converted a three-point play and later made two free throws as the Crusaders scored five straight points to up their margin to eight points. Atlantic City didn’t challenge the rest of the way.

Wildwood Catholic held Atlantic City’s Ciani Redd-Howard, one of the CAL’s top players, without a point. Redd-Howard fouled out of the contest early in the fourth quarter.

Wildwood Catholic out-rebounded the taller Vikings, 51-43. Papazoglou had 18 rebounds, with Turco adding 12.

CRUSADER BOYS STRUGGLE

It’s hard to get up for every big game.

The Wildwood Catholic High School boys team experienced just that at the Battle by the Bay Saturday, never really competing in a surprising 64-44 loss to Seton Hall Prep at the Battle by the Bay showcase event.

The defeat to the 19th-ranked team in the state ended a nine-game winning streak by the Crusaders.

Wildwood Catholic trailed almost from start to finish, its only lead coming on a Taj Thweatt basket to open the game’s scoring.

The Crusaders made only 17 of 52 shots from the floor (32.7 percent), while Seton Hall Prep was an efficient 24 for 45 (53.3 percent).

Seton Hall Prep (11-5), which won its ninth straight game, received balanced scoring. Forward Gary Hinds scored 16 points to pace four Seton Hall Prep players in double figures.

Wildwood Catholic cut an 11-point deficit to two points midway through the third quarter, but Seton Hall Prep went on an extraordinary 20-0 run to put the game away.

Wildwood Catholic went more than seven minutes of game time from midway through the third quarter to midway through the fourth quarter without scoring a point.

Thweatt led Wildwood Catholic (13-3) with 17 points and 12 rebounds.