Wildwood clinches first outright division title in 15 seasons

By BRIAN CUNNIFF

For all the success the Wildwood High School girls basketball team has enjoyed in recent years, it’s actually been quite a long time since the program had won an outright division title.

That has now changed.

Wildwood clinched first place in the Tri-County Conference Classic Division behind Thursday’s 71-34 victory at Pennsville. The victory gives the Lady Warriors their first outright division title since 2007. Wildwood did share Tri-Co Classic titles in 2018 (with Gloucester) and 2020 (with Gloucester Catholic).

Thursday’s win improved Wildwood to 16-1 overall, 9-0 in division play. Pennsville fell to 12-6, 6-3.

Wildwood placed three players in double figures against Pennsville. Imene Fathi led the way with 18 points, with Macie McCracken close behind with 17. Emily Little chipped in 11 points.

Wildwood put itself in position to win the title thanks to a pair of one-point victories over Gloucester Catholic, a team that has traditionally dominated the Classic Division.

Wildwood has one more division game remaining, the return leg against Pennsville at home on Feb. 25.

Wildwood has picked up a tough non-league opponent this weekend. The Lady Warriors will host Ewing, currently ranked 13th in the state, on Saturday at 4:30 p.m.

Wildwood will also compete in the Tri-County Conference Tournament’s championship bracket next week. The team is seeded second in the six-team bracket and will host No. 3 Clearview or No. 6 Williamstown next Friday.