By Lesley Graham
The Ocean City High School girls’ basketball team defeated the Egg Harbor Township Eagles, 50-14, Saturday afternoon in the first game of a doubleheader for Coaches vs. Cancer.
The Coaches vs. Cancer program is a national collaboration between the National Association of Basketball Coaches and the American Cancer Society that encourages local communities, teams and their coaches to make a difference in the fight against cancer. The players and coaches for both teams sported pink socks, headbands and T-shirts to draw attention to the cause.
The starting five for Ocean City consisted of Danielle Donoghue, Emma Finnegan, Tori Rolls, Savanna Holt and Molly Hoffman. Finnegan led all scorers with 13 points.
The Red Raiders had nine different players registering points on the afternoon to evenly distribute the scoring.
Ocean City used crisp passing and excellent ball movement to get stellar looks at the basket, racking up 34 points in the first half. Egg Harbor Township was able to convert on two free throws and two buckets for seven points.
In the second half, the Red Raiders kept their foot on the gas and continued a dominating defense that forced the Eagles into turning over the ball and taking difficult shots. Ocean City utilized its bench in the second half to help close out the game.
There were also highlights off the court during the game. Members of the Ocean City 1979 South Jersey Girls’ Championship team were in attendance to be recognized for their stellar accomplishments 40 years ago.
Pat Dougherty, one of only three coaches in the history of Ocean City girls’ basketball, was delighted to see her former players from 1979 and relive some of the memories of that great season.
“To be one of only three coaches in the history of girls’ basketball, all of whom have won more than 200 games, I’m proud they are maintaining the tradition of excellence,” Dougherty said.
