VIDEO: Big 3Q run leads WCA past Ocean City

By BRIAN CUNNIFF

NORTH WILDWOOD — The Wildwood Catholic High School girls basketball team seemed to be in a bit of trouble early in the third quarter of Friday’s game against Ocean City.

Marin Panico scored in the lane and Avery Jackson knocked down a three-pointer to give the Raiders a four-point lead to open the second half.

The Crusaders, however, responded with their best stretch of basketball of the season to date.

Wildwood Catholic reeled off a 16-0 run to turn the game in its favor and eventually finished with a 40-33 victory in a Cape-Atlantic League East Division contest.

“The ball started flowing and everyone on our team made shots,” DiPatri said. “We had contributions from the entire team and that’s key.”

Marianna Papazoglou scored more than half of Wildwood Catholic’s points in the win, posting a game-high 23 to go along with 11 rebounds. She had seven of her points during the Crusaders’ decisive third-quarter run. Her teammates also made critical plays during that stretch, with Kimmy Casiello, Alyia Gray-Rivera and Lauren McCallion also scoring in the period. Papazoglou, Casiello and Gray-Rivera each sank three-pointers in the quarter.

“When everyone scores on our team in addition to Marianna, we feel like we can play with and beat just about anyone,” DiPatri said.

The big run allowed Wildwood Catholic to open a lead as large as 12 points at 34-22. Ocean City got no closer than six points the rest of the way.

Despite making only 2 of 7 free throws in the fourth quarter, Wildwood Catholic (3-1) effectively saw out the game with strong ball control against frantic Raider pressure in the closing minutes.

“Your end game is one of those things that usually takes time to adjust to,” DiPatri said, “but here we are just a couple weeks into the season and we’re right in big games against teams like Middle Township and Ocean City. I thought we did a really good job handling the ball at the end.”

The victory came one game after Wildwood Catholic lost at Middle earlier in the week.

“We had to do a little self inventory after the way we played Monday,” DiPatri said. “We were not happy with our performance. We had to make some adjustments, both mentally and with Xs and Os. I thought we showed those adjustments pretty well.”

Panico scored 15 points for Ocean City (1-3), which shot just 2 for 20 from three-point range and committed 20 turnovers.

Papazoglou was named the CoastSportsToday.com/98.7 The Coast Player of the Game.