By DAVE O’SULLIVAN Publisher CAPE MAY — None of the players on the Oakcrest girls basketball team had ever experienced a state playoff game. The newcomers were looking to crash the party against defending South Jersey Group 2 champion Lower Cape May Regional — and nearly did. The ninth-seeded Falcons sliced into a 9-point halftime deficit with some tough defense and some inside baskets, and eventually tied the score, 42-42, before the No. 8 Caper Tigers pulled away in the final three minutes to win 58-45 and advance to face top-seeded Cinnaminson in the second round. A 3-pointer by Olivia Aires, Oakcrest’s only senior, and a putback by Kayla Harris tied things up at 40, and moments later another putback by Harris knotted the score at 42. A traditional 3-point play by Lower’s Tayanis Torres put the Caper Tigers in front for good, 45-42. Torres scored again moments later to push the lead to 47-44, and after a pair of free throws by Olivia Levin and an inside basket by Jessica Elliot, Lower had a 51-44 lead and some breathing room. “That’s what we’re working on, trying to build the program at Oakcrest, is just hard work and dedication,” said coach Erica Bell-Henry, herself a former player at Oakcrest. “No matter who we play, we just have to come out and do what we do. My girls gave it a good shot, we’re just inexperienced. But we’ll get there.” Freshman guard Brielle Smith brings the ball up for Oakcrest against the Caper Tigers. Freshman guard Brielle Smith brings the ball up for Oakcrest against the Caper Tigers. Aires said that despite the loss, she was proud of the Falcons’ effort — not only against Lower Cape May, but throughout the season. “We only had seven players this year and people were putting us down, but I know they are going to come out and get it next year. They looked up to me and I looked at them like they were my children, my family,” Aires said. “This has been probably the best experience of my life, honestly. Some days, it was hard, it definitely was. But we went out with a bang. It was tough (being the only senior), but I thought I handled it well. We had our ups and downs and we had to pick each other up throughout the year. Oakcrest hasn’t been to the playoffs in about 10 years, since my coach played, so it was pretty awesome to go to the playoffs my senior year. Next year, they are going to go even further. I know that.” Contact Dave O’Sullivan: sully@acglorydays.com; on Twitter @GDsullysays [adsense]