Atlantic City rallies to top Ocean City in electrifying Cape-Atlantic League championship showdown
Xclusive Dublin of Atlantic City holds the championship trophy high after the Vikings defeated Ocean City for the Cape-Atlantic League Tournament title. His brother and teammate, Jaylen Day gave him a hug.
Head coach Wayne Nelson joined in and held his head tight. “We have been embarrassed since 2013, and I’m happy that I can finally raise the trophy and bring my team here. Now we’re the champions.” Atlantic City sophomore Don'Taye Thompson is overcome with emotion after leading the Vikings to the Cape-Atlantic League Tournament title Saturday against Ocean City.Atlantic City took its first lead on Thompson’s 3-pointer with 4:25 left and the sophomore guard sealed the outcome with a foul shot at the five-second mark as the Vikings defeated Ocean City, 62-61, to win the Cape-Atlantic League Tournament championship Saturday before a capacity crowd at Egg Harbor Township High School. “I wanted the ball back because I knew I’m the one that’s going to put the game away and seal it all,” Thompson added. “This means a lot to us. We worked hard all season for this. We lost to Ocean City twice, and now we came here and we got the job done. We came together as a team. We talked to each other and we said we’re not losing this game, and that’s how we won.” The title is the first for Atlantic City since 2013 and the 10th in program history. The Vikings were the No. 5 seed and defeated 12th-seeded Pleasantville, fourth-seeded Holy Spirit and top-seeded Middle Township to reach their first final since 2018. Tighe Olek of Ocean City holds on to the ball while on the floor in Saturday's Cape-Atlantic League Tournament final against Atlantic City.“This means a lot. We were the fifth seed,” Nelson said. “We had a rough patch during the year where a lot of people doubted us. We knew if we just kept grinding every day and getting better every day that we would hit this flow, which we did in the playoffs. It was led by our defense. “It’s a championship game. The emotion, the first couple minutes of a game, we knew that we could get ourselves back in the game by getting our momentum defensively and pressuring, turning the tempo up in the game because that’s our style. We can’t play their style. We’ll lose. But we know we can speed them up. We could get some steals. That’s what we’ve been doing all year.” Second-seeded Ocean City scored the first 10 points and held a 21-12 lead after the opening quarter. Atlantic City worked its way back and cut the deficit to 29-27 at halftime. The third quarter went back and forth, with Ocean City maintaining its two-point lead heading into the fourth. With the crowd on the edge of their seats, the final eight minutes proved to be electric. A.C. took its biggest lead at 57-51 with 2:30 to play, with Ocean City battling back to tie the game at 61-61 on Josh Lenko’s put-back. Don'Taye Thompson of Atlantic City connects on this dunk in the late stages of the fourth quarter in Saturday's Cape-Atlantic League final against Ocean City.Thompson attacked the basket one last time, drawing a foul with five seconds left. He made the first, with Ocean City’s desperation shot to win missing its mark.“When the moment is … he rises to the occasion,” Nelson said. “That’s special. That’s a special power. He wants the ball in his hands and he’ll make plays whether it’s scoring or even getting to the free-throw line. That’s what he’s been doing all year for us.”“I have a lot,” senior Tamir Rex said. “I do have a lot of faith in him. When he has the ball in his hands, he’s a dynamic scorer. If he needs help, I’ll get the ball and I can score it, but I have a lot of faith in ’T’ with the ball in his hands.” Thompson finished with a game-high 24 points and grabbed six rebounds. Jalil Daniels added 10 points, while Rex chipped in seven points, four assists and three steals. Luke Tjoumakaris of Ocean City looks to make a move in the paint as Javon Lane of Atlantic City defends during Saturday's CAL final.Chris Pontari came off the bench to score a team-high 15 points for Ocean City. Luke Tjoumakaris had 12 points and 14 rebounds, while Lenko and Alex Bell also had 12 points apiece.“It was fun. The crowd was on my side, and I had a lot of fans here, and I appreciate that. I’ve been playing with them since we were little, so they know what I can do.Kevin Minnick A 1988 graduate of the University of Maryland, this is my 38th year covering New Jersey high school sports - with a focus on the seven-county South Jersey region. I've been recognized by the NJSIAA and NJPA for...
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