January 23, 2002
NJSIAA Tournament deadline is approaching
By TOM WILLIAMS
Sports Columnist
February 2 is the date circled on most basketball coaches’ calendars. It is the deadline to qualify for the
NJSIAA Tournament and the goal – or, at least, the first step – for most of those coaches.
A team must have at least a .500 record for all games, including those played on Feb. 2, to be included in
the post-season tournament.
With just a little more than a week to go, there are a dozen teams that have already clinched positions and
are now playing to move up in the seedings to get a home game or two – six boys and six girls teams.
Starting with the boys, lets see how Cape-Atlantic League teams shape up.
In Group 4, Absegami and Vineland have been eliminated from the tournament picture, Absegami for the
fourth straight season. Atlantic City, a South Jersey finalist the last two years, needs one more win to
make it. The Vikings have Egg Harbor Township, undefeated Burlington City and Vineland before the cutoff,
though they could have already qualified by beating Ocean City Tuesday night in a game too late for The
Gazette deadline. The other Group 4 team is Millville, which must win two games from among Lower Cape
May, Absegami, Vineland and Mainland. Millville has not won a tournament game since 1993.
In Group 3, Egg Harbor Township has clinched a spot for the fourth straight year. The Eagles will be trying
to end a four-game tournament losing streak. The other four Group 3 teams entered this week needing to
win.
Ocean City needed four straight wins. If the Raiders upset Atlantic City Tuesday night, they still have to
beat Triton, Middle Township and Lower Cape May, all on the road. Lower has an even tougher road in
trying to end a two-year tournament drought, needing five wins from among Millville, Buena, Wildwood,
Oakcrest, Ocean City and Wildwood Catholic.
The other two Group 3 teams need just one win. Mainland can qualify for the fourth straight year by beating
either Absegami, Millville, Buena, Oakcrest or Clearview. Oakcrest will qualify for just the sixth time in 25
years if it beats either St. Joseph, Middle, Lower or Mainland. The Falcons have not won a tournament
game since 1978.
Middle Township and Buena have both qualified in Group 2, Middle for the 22nd straight time under Tom
Feraco. Buena earned its first two tournament wins ever last year. Hammonton has been eliminated for the
10th straight year, leaving Pleasantville and Bridgeton.
Pleasantville, the defending South Jersey champion, needs one win and Bridgeton, which needs three, is
among the Greyhounds’ opponents. Bridgeton also plays St. Augustine, Vineland and Hammonton.
In Group 1, Wildwood and Cape May Tech are still alive. Wildwood is looking for its 18th appearance in 25
years, though the Warriors have lost four straight games, and Tech is trying to reach the post-season for
the first time in its six years.
St. Augustine has qualified for the 25th straight time under Paul Rodio. The Prep has won four straight
South Jersey titles, though those titles were in Parochial B and they are in A this year. Spirit has qualified
for the seventh straight time but has just a 5-16 tournament record over the last 24 years.
Wildwood Catholic has ended a two-year absence by qualifying in Parochial B and St. Joseph is out of the
picture. That leaves Sacred Heart, which needs three wins from among Holy Spirit, Cape May Tech,
Schalick and two games with Hammonton.
Moving to girls basketball, Absegami has qualified for the sixth straight time in Group 4. Atlantic City and
Vineland both need one win to make it and one of them is sure to get it, since they play each other.
Vineland would end a three-year drought. Millville needs five wins against Lower Cape May, Clayton,
Absegami, Vineland and Cherry Hill West so it seems likely the Bolts will sit out the tourney for the fifth
straight year.
In Group 3, Lower Cape May has clinched its third straight tourney appearance. Ocean City entered the
week needing one win against Triton, Middle, Lower or Sacred Heart to qualify. Paul Baruffi’s team are in
if they beat Atlantic City Tuesday night in a game too late to report here. Mainland needs two wins against
Absegami, Buena or Oakcrest to make it for the 18th straight year. Oakcrest needs wins against Middle,
Our Lady of Mercy and Mainland to end its six-year absence. And EHT must beat Vineland, Atlantic City,
Pleasantville and Middle to make it for the third straight season.
In Group 2, Middle Township has been eliminated, ending its 24-year streak. Pleasantville has failed for the
14th straight year. Buena needs four wins and Bridgeton five to qualify.
Wildwood, the two-time defending state champion, has qualified in Group 1 for the 23rd time in 25 years
and Cape May Tech has been eliminated. Holy Spirit has qualified in Parochial A for the seventh straight
season.
In Parochial B, Sacred Heart has made it for the fifth straight year along with St. Joe. OLMA has been
eliminated from contention for the fourth straight year, leaving Wildwood Catholic on the bubble. The
Crusaders need two wins to qualify for a sixth straight season.
These summaries are, of course, based on the available schedules. Changes, additions and subtractions
to the original schedules might alter the needs of some of these teams.
Two things, however, are for sure.
There are a lot of significant basketball games coming up between now and Feb. 2. And the Cape-Atlantic
League will be well represented again in the NJSIAA Tournaments.
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