Wildwood teams in next week’s Tri-County tournament

By BRIAN CUNNIFF

Unlike all other high school basketball teams in Cape May County, Wildwood’s boys and girls teams will get a taste of postseason action next week.

Both Warrior teams are set to compete in the inaugural Tri-County Conference Tournament, which was created after the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association determined that no state playoffs would be held during the pandemic-shortened season.

The NJSIAA gave leagues and conferences the power to hold postseason tournaments. But the Cape-Atlantic League, which had already had a postseason tournament in place, decided against holding its event this season.

The Tri-County Conference created a unique event in which three different seven-team pods were created on both the boys and girls sides.

Wildwood’s boys have earned the No. 2 seed for the top pod and will host No. 7 Highland on Monday at 5:30 p.m. The game will air live on 98.7 The Coast radio, with a live video stream available at CoastSportsToday.com and the Coast Sports Today Facebook page.

Wildwood enters its final regular-season game at Pennsville on Thursday as winners of 10 straight after a two-point loss to Penns Grove on opening night. The Warriors clinched their fourth Tri-County Classic Division title in five seasons with Tuesday’s 71-58 win over Gloucester Catholic.

A win against Highland Monday would place Wildwood into a semifinal game against the winner of an opening round game between No. 3 Timber Creek and No. 6 Penns Grove. That game would also be played at Wildwood.

Unbeaten Deptford is the top seed in the first pod. The Spartans will play No. 4 Overbrook or No. 5 Gloucester Catholic in the semifinal round on Wednesday.

The title game will be held on the home court of the highest remaining seed next Friday. The winner of the top pod will be considered the Tri-County Conference postseason champion.

On the girls side, Wildwood (8-3) missed out on competing in the top pod but has been given the No. 1 seed in the second pod. The Lady Warriors will have a first-round bye before playing next Wednesday at home against the winner of Monday’s game between No. 4 Overbrook and No. 5 Gloucester Tech.

The other side of the second pod girls bracket includes No. 2 Delsea, No. 3 Pennsville, No. 6 Williamstown and No. 7 Penns Grove.

If it wins its semifinal game, Wildwood would host the pod final next Friday.

The Wildwood girls finish out their regular season with Thursday’s home game against Pennsville.

Losers in the first two rounds of the tournament will receive consolation games, guaranteeing each team three games.