Sports
Ocean City Girls' Basketball Team Elevates Its Game
The Red Raiders are coming off two impressive wins heading into the Mainland game on Friday night.
The Ocean City High School girls' basketball team seems to be peaking at the right time.
The Red Raiders, who seem to have put last week's loss to Egg Harbor Township behind them, are coming off two impressive victories heading into Friday night's contest with rival Mainland Regional.
Ocean City, which is 18-6, defeated St. Peter's, 51-43, on Feb. 20 at the Prime Events Shootout at Holy Spirit High School in Absecon.
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The last couple of games have been better, especially the St. Peter's game," Ocean City coach Paul Baruffi said. "That was a really big win. They were probably the most talented team we played all year. We made shots that we haven't made in other games.
"I think it showed that we can beat a high-level team, and that gave us a lot of confidence. It carried into (Feb. 22 against Atlantic City). I'm hoping to keep it going."
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The 51-36 win over the Vikings showed that the Red Raiders are a focused team.
After beating a quality team like St. Peter's and knowing a rivalry game is ahead, it is easy to look past an opponent.
However, the Red Raiders wanted to avenge a loss earlier this season to the Vikings. The Red Raiders were without Julia Duggan, the team's leading scorer and rebounder, for most of that game.
"I think we had a lot of incentive the way the first game unfolded," Baruffi said. "We wanted to show that we can beat them. When we lost to Egg Harbor Township on Friday, I told them a lot of things have to change. We spoke about it the next day in practice. There are some things we have to do and some things we weren't doing. They responded. That's all I can ask."
The team as a whole responded. Duggan continues to fill up the stat sheet, but all the Red Raiders have contributed.
Duggan had a double-double in both games, and added seven assists against the Vikings.
Against St. Peter's, Katie Johnson and Reilly Larkin each scored 10 points, and Emily Duggan added seven.
On Wednesday, Emily Gillian netted 11 points, and Larkin added 10. The Red Raiders will need that kind of depth in the playoffs. Ocean City hosts Pinelands on March 1 in the opening round of the NJSIAA Group III South playoffs.
