Ocean City High School Girls Basketball Team Falls In State Final

TOMS RIVER, NJ — Despite trailing for most of the game, the Ocean City High School girls basketball team put together a late surge in Sunday afternoon’s NJSIAA Group 3 State Championship game.

In the end, however, it was Pascack Valley that survived a late three-point attempt to pull out a 48-45 victory and capture its first state title since 2008, according to nj.com.

Pascack Valley jumped out to a 10-0 lead in the first quarter, and was in control for most of the game. However, Ocean City made a late run to pull within one late, but Pascack Valley was able to hold on for the win.

Grace Sacco led Ocean City with 16 points, five rebounds, three assists and a steal. Alexis Paone put down 15 points, grabbed eight rebounds, had an assist and made two steals.

Brianna Smith led Pascack Valley with 16 points and five rebounds.

Ocean City advanced to the state title game one year after being eliminated in the semifinals. The Red Raiders made it to this year’s state final with a 58-57 overtime win over Ewing in the semifinals.

Ocean City qualified for the state tournament by winning the NJSIAA South Jersey Group 3 title for the second straight year with a 38-31 win over Mainland.

Earlier in the tournament, Ocean City defeated Pinelands,49-19.

In the quarterfinals, Ocean City defeated No. 8 Toms River East, 51-25, behind a 16-point performance from Paone.

In the semifinals, it was a 47-34 win over No. 5 Woodrow Wilson. Paone led the way with a game-high 15 points, followed by Sacco with 12.