By LESLEY GRAHAM
The Ocean City Red Raiders girls basketball team notched its 12th straight win Thursday night, defeating the visiting Absegami Braves, 41-25.
The win brings the Red Raiders record to 13-5, while Absegami drops to 12-5. Ocean City is currently sitting in first place in conference play with a record of 10-0.
Seniors Delaney Lappin and Emma Finnegan and sophomore Marin Panico each scored 10 points to lead the Red Raiders. Haleigh Schafer of Absegami topped all scorers with 14 points.
Ocean City struggled early in the game, getting off to a slow start due in part to missing some outside shots and not finding an offensive rhythm. The Braves were equally as slow to start, with the first quarter ending 9-5 in Ocean City’s favor.
As the second quarter got underway, the Raiders stepped up their defensive pressure, creating chaos for Absegami to try to work through. Ocean City was dominant with a high-pressure trapping defense, which allowed Lappin to steal the ball and give her team the lead 19-12 going into halftime.
Absegami came out firing on all cylinders in the second half, cutting Ocean City’s lead down to three points with under three minutes to play, but the Raiders were not about to hand over the game to the Braves.
The Raiders picked up the intensity and were able to convert some big shots in the final two minutes of the quarter to extend their lead back up to seven before the final eight minutes of play.
Ocean City rallied big in the fourth quarter, limiting the Braves to only four points – two free throws and a basket. On the offensive end, the Red Raiders were able to drain 13 points in their largest scoring quarter of the game.
Lappin had seven of her 10 points in the final eight minutes of play, propelling the Raiders to victory.
Ocean City Head Coach Paul Baruffi said he was proud of the grit and the effort his team showed against Absegami.
“We take it one game at a time, because it’s what we have to do. We have to keep grinding, keep playing,” Baruffi said. “Basketball is a game of runs, and it can change instantly.”
“(You) can’t get too over-excited when you are playing well or when you are struggling,” he added. “We have to keep our composure, and we were able to do that tonight.”
The Raiders are back in action Saturday afternoon as they host non-conference foe Raritan in a 3:15 p.m. tip-off.
