Atlantic City and Mainland will meet for the 3rd time this year when they play Friday night at Atlantic City High School in a semifinal game in the NJSIAA South Jersey Group 4 Tournament. That was the big news in tonight's NJSIAA action. The two teams split during the season, Mainland winning by 11 at Atlantic City and the Vikings winning in overtime in Linwood.

Mainland defeated Toms River North tonight, 58-54, and Atlantic City broke open a tie game in the final 70 seconds to defeat Vineland, 53-47. Sean Bannon scored 22 points for Mainland, which rallied from a 7-point first period deficit. Umar Shannon led Atlantic City with 19 points. The Vikings trailed by 9 after the first quarter but rallied to lead by 3 at the half.

Two CAL boys teams won on the road in Group 2. Middle Township defeated Haddonfield, 55-50, in double overtime with Taz Harris getting 20 points & Jason Thompson 19. And Pleasantville edged Medford Tech, 57-55, after rallying from behind in the 4th quarter.  Nate Evans scored 18 for the Greyhounds. Both will play formidable opponents in Friday night's semifinals - Middle traveling to Collingswood and Pleasantville to Cinnaminson.

In girls play, Absegami edged Lenape, 54-51, behind Tara Booker's 26 points. Gami will host Washington Township on Friday night at Richard Stockton College. They cannot play at home because of the Region 8 Wrestling Tournament.

In Non-Public A, Danielle Wessler made two free throws in the final 5 seconds to clinch Holy Spirit's 41-37 win over Bishop Ahr. Kristy Jabier led Spirit with 11 points. The Spartans will now travel to St. John Vianney on Saturday. 

In Non-Public B, St. Joseph defeated Wildwood Catholic for the 3rd time this season, 47-44, behind Aliyah Nelson's 12 points. Sally O'Donnell scored 32 of the Crusaders' 44 points. St. Joe now goes to Sacred Heart on Friday night. Our Lady of Mercy was eliminated by Bishop Eustace, 64-48, despite 15 points by Taylor Thompson. And. in Group 2, Buena lost to Delran, 54-41, with Latisha Dunkle leading the Chiefs with 17 points.

Five CAL teams are in action tonight.

In boys play, Hammonton will host Central in Group 3 and two Cape-Atlantic teams will debut in Non-Public A - Holy Spirit hosting Gloucester Catholic and St. Augustine Prep hosting Bishop Ahr. If Spirit and The Prep both win, they will meet for the third time on Saturday in Absecon. Holy Spirit won the two regular season games.

In girls action tonight, Ocean City host Woodrow Wilson, the team that has eliminated the Raiders from the last 3 tournaments, in one Group 3 game. Lower Cape May will host Moorestown in the other. 

Tom Getzke and I will have the radio broadcast of the Ocean City game online.