By DAVE O’SULLIVAN
Staff Writer
On X @GDsullysays
OCEAN CITY — You couldn’t have come up with a more Ocean City win than the 500th in the outstanding career of longtime coach John Bruno, who’s been pacing the sidelines a stone’s throw from the boardwalk for the past 36 years.
One starter back from a team that went to the sectional championship a year ago, and that’s 5-foot-8 guard Ben McGonigle. Other than that, it was a bunch of guys nobody ever heard of rebounding the ball, passing, looking for their teammates, getting after loose balls, and putting pressure on visiting St. Joseph Academy to not only match the Red Raiders’ energy, but also their toughness.
The Wildcats came in riding a 10-game winning streak and were averaging nearly 65 points per game. They’ve already made 64 three-pointers this year and have nearly 200 steals on defense. And when they got out to a 10-2 first-quarter lead on Friday night, it would have been easy for Ocean City to roll over and try to get their coach’s historic win the following day against Mainland.
But the hallmark of Bruno-coached teams the last three-plus decades is the Raiders never give up, even if they are down by 50.
Ocean City got monster games from McGonigle (18 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists) and Luke Tjoumakaris (19 points, 11 rebounds, 2 steals) as they wiped out that early deficit with an 18-0 run and eventually held off St. Joe, winning 54-42.
Bruno’s record is now 500-394, with his first win coming in 1989 — two years before the world wide web was introduced to the public.
“What he told us was to play with fundamentals. That’s the basketball IQ and he taught us that,” McGonigle said. “This means the world. I love to be a part of this history. He’s one of the best coaches in New Jersey and it’s amazing to be a part of this. He knows the game so well, he pushes players to be the best they can be. He’s just a great coach all around.”
Ocean City (10-2, 4-1 Cape-Atlantic League American) had a chance at the milestone on Monday, but lost 63-52 to Middle Township. McGonigle & Co. weren’t going to be denied again. McGonigle sparked that 18-0 run that stretched into the second quarter with an assist to Tjoumakaris that pulled Ocean City to within 10-7, then he hit a jumper in the lane a few minutes later to give the Red Raiders a 13-10 lead. He and Tjoumakaris then combined for five straight points as the lead reached 20-10.
The Wildcats (11-2, 4-2 CAL American) charged back, however, cutting the deficit to 27-24 by halftime and then taking a 30-29 lead midway through the third quarter. But Ocean City tied the game at 30 on a free throw from Tjoumakaris, and a couple of free throws from Leon Brown gave the Red Raiders a 32-30 lead, and they never trailed again.
They took a 41-35 lead into the fourth quarter, then scored the first two buckets of the final frame on a jumper by Dean Lappin and a baseline layup by McGonigle, stretching the lead to 45-35. St. Joseph Academy got to within 45-37 on a jumper by Will Spross, who finished with 11 points, but that’s as close as the Wildcats could get the rest of the way.
“Ben McGonigle was the best player on the court tonight, and I love Will Spross, he’s a great player,” Bruno said. “I thought our role players all contributed in one way or another. It got a little dicey there at the end handling the ball, but for the most part we did the little things. We had to rebound the ball … and that’s what really limited their opportunities. We wanted to slow them down, so I think defensively we did a great job.”
Ocean City has now gone 36-6 the past two seasons, one of the best stretches in program history, and the Raiders are just a game and a half behind Middle Township in the Cape-Atlantic League American Conference race. But Friday night wasn’t about conference races or anything else, it was about celebrating an Ocean City icon.
“He’s the best. I’m lucky enough to have played for him back in 2012 and I’m lucky enough to be with him for this. Words can’t describe how much he cares about these kids, how much he cares about this district. You got to any events — surf meets, wrestling matches — and he’ll be there. He cares about this community and this school more than anybody I’ve ever seen, and that translates into how hard these kids play for him. And that’s been a staple of John Bruno-coached teams throughout the years, they’ll never give up and that’s a testament to him,” said current assistant coach and former Ocean City player Ryan Gill. “I’ve learned a ton from him — from back when I was a player and the past couple of years as an assistant coach. So much about running a program, all the things you have to worry about, all the planning, all the preparation. He and I — my wife will tell you — will be up until midnight texting about a game the night before. He puts in the work. He runs great practices, our kids come in prepared and they play to represent him.”
Bruno got a huge surprise when he found out at halftime that his daughters had traveled from out of state to be there for the game.
“I told the guys that I’m a guy who gets a little aggravated on the sideline, but I’m on the brink of tears right now,” Bruno saida few minutes after the game. “I really didn’t understand the importance of 500 wins in the big picture. When you see people come out — my daughter coming from Virginia, my (other) daughter traveling from North Carolina, all the friends I have, my ex-players coming back — it makes you realize how important that really is. Not necessarily the 500 wins, but what it took to get to that point with all the players, the coaches, the fans, my family has been through this for 36 years and you have to have the support of your family, and I have the best family. My wife comes to every game and my kids make it whenever they can.
“It’s a testament to being around for a long time,” he continued. “I’ve had my share of losses. People remind me all the time I’m the losingest coach in Ocean City history! But it’s also a testament to longevity. I wish more guys would hang in there and go through the low seasons and try to rebound to a season that is better.”
“This is a great feeling. The past two years have been a crazy ride with so many wins and a lot of that is because of him,” McGonigle said. “After that Middle game, that hurt because we wanted to get it done then, so we had to get it done tonight. I knew I had to step up.”
Bruno doesn’t show any signs of slowing down, so don’t be surprised to see him on the sidelines 10 years from now.
“I just love basketball. The friendships I’ve made through basketball — heck, the reporters, everybody, referees — the whole nine yards.”
WHAT’S NEXT: Ocean City hosts Mainland Regional today at 6 p.m. St. Joseph Academy has a showcase game on Sunday then hosts Middle Township on Tuesday at 7 p.m.
Contact Dave O’Sullivan: sullyglorydays@gmail.com
