Ocean City Boys and Girls Both Face Do-or-Die Games 4 p.m. Today in State Basketball

The Ocean City High School boys and girls basketball teams, both the No. 4 seeds in the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association Group III South playoffs, will hit the court at 4 p.m. on Saturday for semifinal games.
The Red Raiders girls squad gets to host the game against No. 9 Woodrow Wilson in the Dixie Howell Gymnasium. The Ocean City boys are on the road to top seed Kingsway.
The girls made it to the semifinals with a 51-44 win over No. 5 seed Seneca on March 3. Woodrow Wilson upended No. 1 seed Delsea, 47-33.
"We are excited," said Ocean City forward Emily Duggan, who scored eight points in the win over Seneca, the Red Raiders' fifth consecutive victory.
The Ocean City girls believe they are peaking at the right time of the year and their play on the court supports it.
When leading scorer Julia Duggan was bottled up in the quarterfinals, players like Emily Duggan, Reilly Larkin and Emily Gillian made the Golden Eagles pay.
The Red Raiders also believe their experience from last season will help in the semifinals.
"We were here last year and we are hoping we can take it all the way this year," Larkin said. "Last year we struggled in the end, but this year we plan on going all the way."
The Ocean City boys hope to carry the momentum from Thursday night's overtime thriller against the top-seeded Dragons.
The Red Raiders overcame a five-point deficit in the final minute and a half of regulation to send their quarterfinals game to overtime. Matt Bosch scored the game-tying bucket.
In overtime, Tom Ballezzi nailed a three-pointer from the top of the key to give Ocean City a spot in the sectional semifinals with a 59-57 win over No. 5 Central Regional.
Kingsway routed No. 9 Highland, 48-23.
"This team, for whatever reason to their credit, seems to live for the moment," Ocean City coach John Bruno said. "They have been down in the past, things didn't look good, but somehow, some way the ball bounces our way."
Bruno has been impressed with his team's composure whether they are ahead or behind this season. It appears that's the right mindset to have going up against a top seed.
"Those kids stay so focus," he said. "They stay within themselves."