BOYS BASKETBALL PLAYOFF PRIMER: Wildwood Catholic, Prep, Ocean City grab high seeds

From staff reports
The high school basketball season is reaching its most exciting point, the state playoffs. It’s win-or-go-home time as teams begin play in their sectional tournaments this week, and from here on out any loss will end a team’s season. It’s high stakes hoops, so let’s take a quick look at which Cape-Atlantic League teams are in and what their chances are for a sectional championship — or more.
Boys
South Jersey Group 1
Cape May Tech (9) at Clayton (8), Tuesday, 5:30 p.m. The Hawks have a tough road test to start the playoffs, and if they win the road may get even tougher as they are on the same side of the bracket as top-seeded Penns Grove and No. 4 Haddon Township. Tech has 2,000-point scorer Josh Wright and he’ll need to come up big if they hope to advance to the semifinals. Title chances: The Hawks are a longshot because of the side of the bracket they are on, but you never know in Group 1.
South Jersey Group 2

Cedar Creek (13) at Haddon Heights (4), Monday, 7 p.m. The Pirates have been playing much better basketball in February, but it’s still a tough ask to go on the road and take down the No. 4 seed. Even with a first-round win, they’d likely have to navigate past No. 5 West Deptford and top-seeded Haddonfield, one of the best teams in South Jersey. Title chances: This section is Haddonfield’s to lose, but getting some state playoff experience will be a building block for the Pirates.
Middle Township (9) at Pennsauken Tech (8), Monday, 5:30 p.m. Middle is 8-14 overall and this is a very long road trip for a first-round matchup. The Tornadoes are a 20-win team that can score the basketball, so the Panthers will have to do whatever they can to slow the game down and play into the 50s. Title chances: Middle is very much a longshot with teams like Haddonfield, Camden and Pleasantville in this section.
Audubon (10) at Lower Cape May (7), Monday, 7 p.m. The Caper Tigers have the exact opposite situation as Middle, as they get to wait at home for a team making a long road trip. Look for Lower to get past this first-round game, but in the second round they’d likely run into Camden, one of the top teams in South Jersey. Title chances: The Tigers likely would have to get through both Camden and Pleasantville to get into the championship game, and that might be too tough an ask.
Point Boro (14) at Pleasantville (3), Monday, 7 p.m. The Greyhounds typically play very well at home, and expect that trend to continue in the opening round. The big question is, if the seeds hold true, could Pleasantville go on the road and beat No. 2 Camden in the semis? Title chances: As good as anyone in the section if the Hounds take care of the ball and make shots. They have the talent to win this section.
South Jersey Group 3
Camden Tech (14) at Mainland (3), Tuesday, 6 p.m. Mainland had an amazing winning streak in the middle of the season, but did the Mustangs peak too early? The Stangs have lost three straight games, including getting drubbed by St. Augustine Prep in the CAL Tournament, so they’ll need to turn things around quickly. The good thing is, they have the talent to compete in this section. Title chances: Not great, with No. 1 Moorestown on the other side of the bracket, but not bad either. If Mainland plays well it could find itself in a semifinal matchup against rival Ocean City.

Cherry Hill West (15) at Ocean City (2), Tuesday, 6 p.m. The Red Raiders come into states having played very well in a loss to St. Augustine Prep in the CAL semifinals, and they’ve been hitting their threes lately, which is a good sign. Title chances: Pretty good considering the way they’ve been playing, but it will still be a tough road with potential matchups against either Highland or Seneca in the second round, and maybe Mainland in the semis.
South Jersey Group 4
Vineland (10) at Cherry Hill East (7), Monday, 4 p.m. Don’t be surprised to see an upset here. D.J. Campbell can really fill it up and will be a handful for the Cougars. A win would put the Fighting Clan into a second-round matchup with either Shawnee or Cherokee. Title chances: Not good with teams like Eastern, Cherokee and Toms River North in this bracket. Vineland needs to hope for a few upsets and also play its best basketball of the season to reach the title game.
Atlantic City (9) at Egg Harbor Township (8), Monday, 5:30 p.m. The lucky prize for the winner of this one likely would be a date against No. 1 Eastern in the second round. For EHT, getting back to states after a long layoff is something the Eagles can gain momentum from, and for a rebuilding Atlantic City team getting playoff experience will pay off big time for its younger players. Title chances: Not good for either team as they are on the same side of the bracket as No. 1 Eastern, No. 4 Millville and No. 5 Lenape.
Clearview (13) at Millville (4), Monday, 5:30 p.m. Millville could be a darkhorse to win this section as the Bolts have shown potential to hang with some really good teams this season. Title chances: Rynell Lawrence, the school’s all-time leading scorer, is the key — they’ll go as far as he takes them, which could be all the way.
Non-Public A South
St. Augustine Prep (1), first-round bye. The Hermits will play either (9) St. John Vianney or (8) St. Joseph-Metuchen in the quarterfinals. Title chances: very good, although they could have a heck of a time with either Camden Catholic or Christian Brothers Academy in the semis. Also, No. 2 Paul VI looms on the other side of the bracket.
Non-Public B South
Holy Spirit (9) at Gloucester Catholic (8), Wednesday, 5:30 p.m. The Spartans have had an up-and-down season, but playing outstanding competition all year will serve them well in the playoffs. Title chances: Not good, as a first-round win would put them up against top-seeded Wildwood Catholic. The Spartans will really have to shoot the three well in order to pull off a couple of upsets.
St. Rose (12) at St. Joseph-Hammonton (5), Wednesday, 7 p.m. The Wildcats have 2,000-point scorer Marcellus Ross, but they were bounced in the first round of the CAL Tournament by Pleasantville. Title chances: Probably a longshot considering if the Wildcats do make it to the semis they’d likely run into Wildwood Catholic.
Wildwood Catholic (1), first-round bye. The Crusaders await either Holy Spirit or Gloucester Catholic in the second round, and are the heavy favorite to win this section. Title chances: Better than good, especially if they continue to play the way they did in defending their CAL Tournament title. Although, they could run into their toughest challenge all year in a finals matchup against Ranney, the No. 2 seed but one of the top teams in the state.