By LESLEY GRAHAM
The Ocean City High School boys basketball team had a strong start to the 2019-2020 season, defeating the visiting Middle Township Panthers 65-48 on Friday evening.
Gannon Brady and Tom Finnegan both led the way for the Red Raiders, scoring 23 points each to top all scorers. Mike Rhodes chipped in 15 points for Ocean City.
The starting five for Ocean City included Brady, Finnegan, Rhodes, Joe Repetti and Brad Jamison.
Ocean City opened up the game with a seven-point run, forcing Middle Township to call an early timeout before the Panthers were able to put up their own points on the board.
The Red Raiders held onto the lead for the first quarter, 16-10, despite a brief momentum swing off a full-court press from the Panthers.
Finnegan got the scoring started in the second quarter with a big three, increasing the Red Raiders’ lead. Both teams settled into a rhythm, with physical play on both ends of the court as Ocean City took a 30-24 lead into the half.
Middle Township made some apparent adjustments at halftime, as the Panthers came out on fire to start the third quarter.
The Red Raiders soon saw their lead evaporate as the score was knotted at 31 with a quarter and a half left to play. The remainder of the third quarter was spent trading baskets amid intense play by both teams. However, Ocean City would take the lead 50-41 and never look back.
During the final eight minutes of play, Ocean City started to pull away with clean passing and quick ball movement, giving the Red Raiders open looks to the basket. They would drop 15 points in the final quarter and hold Middle Township to only seven points.
The Red Raiders will be back in action Sunday evening at the PBA Tip Off weekend at Ocean City High School. They will take on Pleasantville with a 7 p.m. game time.
