By BRIAN CUNNIFF
NORTH WILDWOOD – The Middle Township High School boys basketball team used its balance to continue its winning streak Friday.
The Panthers placed four players in double figures in scoring and led from start to finish in a methodical 63-48 victory over Wildwood Catholic Academy. The victory was Middle’s fourth straight.
Middle (7-4) ran out to a 33-20 lead late in the first half and was ahead 33-24 at the break before Wildwood Catholic (3-10) scored the first two baskets of the second half to cut its deficit to five. That was as close as the Crusaders would get, however. Re’Ale Basquine and Jamir McNeil each completed traditional three-point plays late in the third period as Middle took a 43-35 lead into the fourth.
The Panthers put the game away when Bubba McNeil sandwiched a pair of three-pointers around a basket by Jamir McNeil to help take a seven-point lead to as high as 17 points.
Basquine finished with 19 points and Bubba McNeil scored 16 points for Middle. Jamir McNeil and Anthony Trombetta each added 12.
Wildwood Catholic got 17 points from Justin Harper, who left the game with a leg injury early in the fourth quarter but did manage to return. Jah Walker added 10.