Ocean City's tight defense holds Egg Harbor Township to only two points in the fourth quarter to close out the win.
By Lesley Graham
In what was a back and forth contest for most of the evening, the Ocean City High School boys’ basketball team defeated Egg Harbor Township, 57-38, in the second game Saturday of the Coaches vs. Cancer doubleheader.
The starting five for Ocean City – Joey Sacco, Luke Varallo, Donovan Graham, Mike Rhodes and Gannon Brady – combined for 52 of Ocean City’s 57 points.
Varallo led all scorers with 18 points for the Red Raiders.
The contest was a physical battle between both teams. The opening quarter was slow to get started for the Red Raiders before they were able to put together a 14-6 run midway through the quarter. Ocean City ended the first quarter up by eight.
In the second quarter, high-intensity action continued with the referees allowing physical play to occur on both ends of the court. There was great hustle and ballhandling skills by both teams, but Ocean City was able to find and make some open shots. The Red Raiders took a 10-point lead into the locker room at halftime. 
Both teams fight for a loose ball.
The Eagles came out of halftime with the hot-shooting hand, going on a run of their own in the third quarter. They were able to close the gap and make it a three-point game during the third quarter and were down by only six headed into the final minutes of the game.
But Ocean City found its shooting groove, draining baskets in the fourth quarter when the Eagles were unable to get the ball to drop. Ocean City allowed Egg Harbor Township only two points in the final quarter to close out the victory.
The boys’ win followed a 50-14 victory by the Ocean City girls’ basketball team over Egg Harbor Township in the first game of the Coaches vs. Cancer doubleheader.
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.
Ocean City's tight defense holds Egg Harbor Township to only two points in the fourth quarter to close out the win.
