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McNeal beats buzzer as Wildwood advances
The Wildwood High School girls basketball team had trouble executing on offense for almost the entire second half Saturday afternoon.
But on the last possession of the game, the Lady Warriors couldn't have executed any better.
Shakiryah Bishop drove into the top of the lane and dished off beautifully to a wide-open Latifah McNeal, whose layup at the buzzer gave Wildwood a 41-39 victory over Gloucester in a South Jersey Group I semifinal Saturday afternoon.
The basket was McNeal's only field goal of the second half.
Gloucester actually had the ball with a chance to take the last shot, but Bishop forced a jump ball with 7.3 seconds to play, giving Wildwood the ball at halfcourt. Following a timeout, Bishop used a screen from Shaniqua Roper to get into the lane before passing off to McNeal. The buzzer sounded as McNeal's shot kissed off the backboard, before the ball fell softly in the basket to give Wildwood the win. The Lady Warrior players and coaches mobbed the floor in celebration while Gloucester's players, coaches and fans stood in stunned silence.
"For the first time all game, the girls actually listened," said laughing Wildwood coach Dave Troiano, who drew up the winning play in the timeout. "We couldn't have executed that any better. I told Shaniqua to make sure she set a good screen, and then I told Shakiyrah to look for Latifah if the defense stepped up to her. We did a great job on the last possession."
Bishop scored 15 points, Loretta Kelly added 11 points and McNeal had nine points, 17 rebounds and six steals for the Lady Warriors, who led by 12 points at one stage of the first half only to see Gloucester take a lead as large as four points early in the fourth quarter.
Gloucester (19-8) had beaten Wildwood twice in the regular season by a total of five points combined.
The win sends Wildwood (19-7) to Monday's South Jersey Group I final for the second time in as many seasons. Wildwood, which lost to Palmyra in last year's sectional title game, will take on Salem, which beat Penns Grove by two points in the other semifinal Saturday afternoon.
NOTE: Check back frequently as we hope to add some video highlights from the game shortly.
But on the last possession of the game, the Lady Warriors couldn't have executed any better.
Shakiryah Bishop drove into the top of the lane and dished off beautifully to a wide-open Latifah McNeal, whose layup at the buzzer gave Wildwood a 41-39 victory over Gloucester in a South Jersey Group I semifinal Saturday afternoon.
The basket was McNeal's only field goal of the second half.
Gloucester actually had the ball with a chance to take the last shot, but Bishop forced a jump ball with 7.3 seconds to play, giving Wildwood the ball at halfcourt. Following a timeout, Bishop used a screen from Shaniqua Roper to get into the lane before passing off to McNeal. The buzzer sounded as McNeal's shot kissed off the backboard, before the ball fell softly in the basket to give Wildwood the win. The Lady Warrior players and coaches mobbed the floor in celebration while Gloucester's players, coaches and fans stood in stunned silence.
"For the first time all game, the girls actually listened," said laughing Wildwood coach Dave Troiano, who drew up the winning play in the timeout. "We couldn't have executed that any better. I told Shaniqua to make sure she set a good screen, and then I told Shakiyrah to look for Latifah if the defense stepped up to her. We did a great job on the last possession."
Bishop scored 15 points, Loretta Kelly added 11 points and McNeal had nine points, 17 rebounds and six steals for the Lady Warriors, who led by 12 points at one stage of the first half only to see Gloucester take a lead as large as four points early in the fourth quarter.
Gloucester (19-8) had beaten Wildwood twice in the regular season by a total of five points combined.
The win sends Wildwood (19-7) to Monday's South Jersey Group I final for the second time in as many seasons. Wildwood, which lost to Palmyra in last year's sectional title game, will take on Salem, which beat Penns Grove by two points in the other semifinal Saturday afternoon.
NOTE: Check back frequently as we hope to add some video highlights from the game shortly.
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