Baber back in Wolverines’ backcourt after missing junior season, comfort level growing with each game
FRIDAY’S SCRIMMAGES
Girls
Woodstown 55, Camden Tech 12
West Deptford 43, Pennsville 32
Boys
Salem def. Bridgeton
By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News
WOODSTOWN – In the overall scheme of a 33-point blowout in a preseason scrimmage it was a rather insignificant basket, but it sure meant a lot to Alyssa Baber.
When the Woodstown senior guard broke in on a 2-on-1 with Talia Battavio off the tip and scored the layup to open the second half scoring against Camden Tech, it wasn’t just another basket.
It was the first basket she has scored against somebody not wearing a Woodstown uniform in 21 months.
“She needed that confidence,” Wolverines coach Kara Straughn said. “She hasn’t played a full game or a natural game in years. She’s a good shooter. I think she just kind of needs a little confidence and kick start herself again.”
Baber missed her entire junior season following twice-delayed surgery on the ACL she tore in her right knee in one of her team’s last AAU games the May of her sophomore year.
The layup Friday was her first points in a game since a 3-pointer against Pennsville on March 3, 2022. You can look it up. (We did in the gym, and the result surprised her).
“I don’t remember that,” she said. “I didn’t get to shoot a lot my sophomore year, now I can have that feeling of what it’s like to make a basket and I’ve been wanting that. Unfortunately, at Gateway I didn’t get to make anything, but I was just happy being out there and today I made my shot and I was really happy.”
Baber was so excited to get back into it, she couldn’t wait to text Straughn to remind her she had been cleared by her doctors to start practicing. Straughn eased her back into the action in the first scrimmage at Gateway Tuesday playing her only two quarters, but she played all four quarters Friday against the Warriors.
She didn’t score in the first scrimmage or in the first half Friday. But she had two buckets in the third quarter against the Warriors, finished with four points, grabbed four rebounds, dealt three assists and collected five steals before retiring for the day with 2:56 left in the scrimmage.
“Recently I’ve been really anxious about the games so I have a lot of jitters,” she said. “But every time I play it just all comes back to me, even if I’d played two years ago. It just comes back to me and I just love being out here with all the girls again.”
Sitting out while her teammates played made for one of the hardest years of her life. She tried to put on a brave face, but admitted it was tough watching while others play while she couldn’t. Now that she’s back, she’s pushing hard to get back where she was before the injury as a facilitator.
Her return strengthens an already deep array of Woodstown guards and gives Straughn even more options on how to attack an opponent.
“It makes us that much harder to defend,” Straughn said. “Because now I have not just two phenomenal guards, I have three, and then I have two girls underneath who can score 8 to 10 to 12 points. You’re going to overplay Megan or Talia, I have Alyssa Baber who will score. You’re going to overplay my forwards, I have three girls over the top who can score. I have five who can play pretty much any position.”
But scoring isn’t Baber’s game. She’d rather do the things that gets her teammates involved.
The Wolverines won big (55-12) even without top returning scorer Megan Donelson, who didn’t play due to illness. Her absence gave sixth-man Lauren Hengel a chance to shine and she responded with 16 points, four rebounds and four steals.
Battavio led all scorers with 24 points, Shannon Pierman had nine points and eight rebounds, and Gia Maiorini grabbed 10 rebounds.
WOODSTOWN 55, CAMDEN TECH 12
CAMDEN TECH – Ryan Jones 1 1-1 3, Carlee Miller 0 0-0 0, Kiara Miller 1 0-0 3, Vianny Fernandez 2 0-0 4, Brena Stiles 0 0-0 0, Daniya Forrest 0 0-0 0, Erica Bennett 0 0-0 0, Jaelyn White 1 0-0 2. Totals 5 1-1 12.
WOODSTOWN – Talia Battavio 8 3-4 24, Alyssa Baber 2 0-0 4, Shannon Pierman 4 1-2 9, Gianna Maiorini 0 0-0 0, Lauren Hengel 6 3-4 16, Lizzy Daly 0 0-0 0, Brae DiGregorio 0 0-0 0, Jaia Thomas 0 0-0 0, Others 1 0-0 2. Totals 21 7-10 55.
| Camden Tech | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 – | 12 |
| Woodstown | 16 | 16 | 21 | 2 – | 55 |
WEST DEPTFORD 43, PENNSVILLE 32: The teams were locked in a tight battle in the first half, but West Deptford held the Eagles to one field goal in the third quarter and pulled away. Reyanna Jamison (12) and Alivia Arena (10) combined for 15 points in the second half for West Deptford.
Taylor Bass led Pennsville with 10 points. Marley Wood and Nora Ausland had nine each.
“We lost, but everything came together a lot better and I’m excited for Monday (when they host Palmyra),” Pennsville coach Sam Trapp said. “We’ve got to keep improving on defense, finding ways to create opportunities to finish and knowing our personnel.”
WEST DEPTFORD 43, PENNSVILLE 32
PENNSVILLE – Celli Ausland 0 0-0 0, Nora Ausland 3 2-4 9, Taylor Bass 4 2-2 10, Sofia Belitsas 0 0-0 0, Bella Farina 1 0-4 2, Kylie Harris 0 0-0 0, Anikka Macalino 0 0-0 0, Malani McGee 0 0-0 0, Isabelle Saulin 1 0-0 2, Avery Watson 0 0-0 0, Marley Wood 3 2-4 9. Totals 12 6-14 32.
WEST DEPTFORD – Janie Cross 2 2-6 6, Alivia Arrera 5 0-0 10, Jesce Diaz 1 0-0 3, Reyanna Jamison 5 1-3 12, Ciara Moss 1 0-2 2, Olivia Smith 0 2-2 2, DeaOnna Lawrence 3 0-0 6, Kallie Christy 0 0-0 0, Alyssa Taylor 1 0-0 2. Totals 18 5-13 43.
| Pennsville | 7 | 8 | 5 | 12 – | 32 |
| West Deptford | 9 | 8 | 12 | 14 – | 43 |
Boys
Salem went to Bridgeton for its final preseason scrimmage and came back with a win.
The biggest takeaway was the Rams being able to pull it back together after losing the lead. They led by six to eight points most of the game, fell behind 45-44 in the third quarter and then went on a run to pull away.
“That was good,” Rams coach Anthony Farmer said. “We have upperclassmen, so that’s my expectation. You have to stay poised. They’ve been around. I’m not looking for those guys to get rattled. We were sloppy at times, but later in the game we got it back together.”
Freshman Tymier Lecator showed poise beyond his years, hitting two big 3-pointers and taking two charges.
The Rams now start working towards their opener next Saturday against Woodbury in Penns Grove’s Red Devil Classic.
Riverview Sports News 