One of the Middle Township High School girls basketball team’s biggest rivals did the Lady Panthers a huge favor Wednesday night.
Sacred Heart’s 47-41 victory over Holy Spirit, coupled with Middle’s easy 70-43 over Bridgeton, created a three-way tie for the title in the Cape-Atlantic League’s National Conference among Middle, Sacred Heart and Holy Spirit. The three teams finished an impressive 18-2 in conference play this season, with each club beating the other once. Middle Township, however, will play in Saturday’s CAL championship game by virtue of the league’s “Rose Bowl Rule,” which states that the team that has gone the longest without appearing the title game earns the right to participate.
Middle (21-4 overall) will take on American Conference winner Vineland at noon at Richard Stockton College. The game will be broadcast live on WCZT-FM 98.7 radio. The boys CAL title game, featuring Holy Spirit of the National Conference and St. Augustine Prep of the American Conference, will follow at 2 p.m.
Middle Township has a rich history in the CAL title game but hasn’t appeared in the game since 1997. The Lady Panther program is 3-3 all-time in the contest, having appeared in each of the first six league title games. The first boys and girls CAL title games were held in 1992.
Vineland will be making just its second appearance in the contest. It beat Bridgeton in overtime in the 1998 CAL title game.
For a complete preview written by Gazette Leader Sports Editor Brian Cunniff, who will also call the game on WCZT Radio this Saturday at Noon, click on this link: http://www.shorenewstoday.com/index.php/wildwood-mainmenu/sports/9089-sacred-hearts-win-places-middle-township-in-cal-title-game.html
