By BRIAN CUNNIFF
ERMA – The Lower Cape May Regional High School boys basketball team stopped a four-game losing streak and gained a bit of revenge Saturday afternoon.
The Tigers downed Ocean City, 56-46, to snap a four-game losing streak while also avenging a loss to the Raiders on Jan. 28.
“You could tell the kids were pretty pumped up about this one,” Lower coach Scott Holden said.
After leading by a point after the first quarter, Lower took control behind a 15-8 edge in the second period. Archie Lawler, who went scoreless for the game’s first seven minutes, posted seven points and Macky Bonner sank a pair of three-pointers to highlight Lower’s second-quarter scoring as Lower took a 24-16 lead at the break.
The Raiders (8-11) got no closer than six points the rest of the way.
Lawler and Jacob Bey carried Lower Cape May (6-13) after halftime, scoring all but five of their team’s second-half points. Lawler had 14 of his game-high 25 points after halftime, while Bey connected on 12 of his 14 points after the break.
Lower led by as many as 16 points in the fourth quarter.
Lower lost, 51-49, in double overtime to Ocean City in the teams’ first meeting.
“I think we had a lot more movement against their zone than we did the first time we played them,” Holden said. “We moved the ball better and we had kids cutting better in and out of spots.”
Bey also had seven rebounds for Lower. Bonner added nine points and six rebounds.
Omero Chevere scored 20 points to lead Ocean City.