Middle Girls Comeback to Defeat Crusaders for CAL Title

It was, as they say, the tale of two halves.
After a poised and mellow rendition of the Star Spangled Banner by Wildwood Catholic freshman Fred Spiewak, the Crusaders started fast behind the all-out hustle of freshman Danielle Sanderlin.
Wildwood Catholic, making its first Cape-Atlantic League Championship appearance, bolted to a first half lead as large as 15 points, but senior-laden Middle Township tightened up its defense, took advantage of some poor Crusader shot selection, and let star guard Lauryn Fields do the rest.
The result was a dramatic, 42-39, comeback victory for Middle Township as the Panthers rode 14 second-half points from Fields to garner the CAL Championship at Richard Stockton College.
Catholic freshman Naily Sadd played Fields tough in the first half, forcing the senior into just one for 13 shooting including zero for five from beyond the arc. The second 16 minutes told a different story as Fields connected on seven big field goals including two three-pointers.
Sanderlin battled like a seasoned veteran with six first quarter points and all-out hustle for every loose ball. She made three baskets sandwiched around teammate Kennedy Johnson’s field goal and foul shot for a quick 9-2 Catholic lead and a time out call from Panther coach John Leahy.
Johnson, who often settled for perimeter shots, nailed a 10-footer before the teams exchanged turnovers. Lauren Legler, back from a severe ankle sprain, hit a free throw for Middle before Johnson’s three-point field goal ended the scoring in the first stanza with the team from North Wildwood out front, 14-5.
The transfer of Johnson, the former Sacred Heart star, and the emergence of newcomer Sanderlin may have left some fans forgetting about home-grown Crusader Katie McCallion. The senior came out firing in the second quarter with a strong driving layup followed by two free throws for a 20-5 Catholic bulge.
The sequence surrounded a Johnson block of a Fields jumper. The Middle star was hounded much of the early going by the surprisingly calm Sabb.
The momentum started turn when Johnson was whistled for her third foul with two minutes left in the second quarter. Middle took advantage and closed the gap to 22-14 at the half.
A Johnson left-handed layup gave the Crusaders a 28-16 lead before the talented and courageous Fields came alive. She connected on consecutive three-pointers before making two more field goals to close the gap to 29-26 and excite the Panther followers.
Middle’s Marianna Peterson scored a basket and was fouled. She missed the try but the Crusaders were called for a lane violation. Before Peterson connected on the bonus effort to bring the Panthers all the way back at 29-29, Johnson was called for a technical foul, her fourth of the contest with 24 seconds remaining in the third quarter.
Fields missed both technical free throws but Johnson was forced to play conservatively for the remainder of the tight contest. Bridget Ruskey’s basket before the horn gave the Panthers their first lead as the third quarter ended 31-29.
Middle’s Legler made two crucial baskets including a three-pointer to help stave off aggressive Wildwood Catholic pressure. Trailing by four points, Crusader Sanderlin converted an offensive rebound and a foul shot to draw Catholic to within one at 40-39 with the game clock winding down.
A Middle turnover put the ball into the hands of Sabb and the freshman bravely and swiftly drove through traffic but her layup attempt with six seconds remaining did not go down and that was the game.
A jubilant Panther squad celebrated wildly as Leahy reflected on the comeback effort.
“Just look at our kids,” he said as reporters surveyed the celebration. “They never gave up. We finally started playing defense and then Lauryn took over the game. This is a special moment for our kids and our community.”
Fields finised with 20 points while Legler and Peterson each scored six points for Middle. Johnson finished with 18 points and Sanderlin netted a dozen for Wildwood Catholic.
Both squads entered the title contest with identical 20-5 records. The fourth- seeded Crusaders split their final six regular season games before getting hot in the league tournament. Wildwood Catholic, which had not qualified for the CAL Championship game since the format was re-introduced in 1992, toppled a feisty St. Joseph’s of Hammonton team, 41-32, in the quarterfinal before pulling off an impressive, 61-52, victory over Cedar Creek in the semi-final.
The Panthers advanced to the big game for the first time in three seasons after defeating Holy Spirit, 51-37, in the semi-final. Middle, which earned its fourth CAL crown demolished Millville, 44-24, in the quarterfinal.