After a strong opener, Pennsville goes out on the road less than 18 hours later and struggles
By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News
DEPTFORD – Now you know why major-league managers rest their everyday catchers the day off during an afternoon game that follows a night game. It’s all about getting the proper rest.
On the high school basketball floor Pennsville coach Joe Mecholsky calls it the “Clayton Effect,” a phenomenon tracked at some length and named by Clippers coach Frank Rago on what happens to teams who play early Saturday after a late night against the Clippers the night before.
It didn’t turn out too well for the Eagles Saturday. They were as cold as a mid-winter morning shooting the ball and lost to Deptford 76-50 after getting their season off to a big start the night before.
While the Eagles succeeded in cutting their turnovers in half from the night before, the rest of their game wasn’t as sharp.
They shot 18-for-65 for the game – 14-for-40 from the field, 4-for-25 from 3-point range – and 10-for-22 from the free throw line. And they got in foul trouble early and 6-7 post Daniel Saulin, who gave them 17 points and 14 rebounds the night before, fouled out with seven minutes to go.
“We were in a very physical game today and we did not respond to it,” Mecholsky said. “They wore us down and grinded us out. It’s tough to play back-to-back with a noon start on Saturday.”
The Eagles trailed by eight at the half and went into the dressing room to talk about how they were going turn it around. It didn’t happen and Deptford steadily stretched its lead.
It didn’t help they lost one of their key pieces early in the second quarter. Chase Burchfield suffered a shoulder injury lunging for a loose ball and Mecholsky admitted it “took the air out of the balloon.” The Eagles likely will be without their 3-point threat for at least the next two weeks.
DEPTFORD 76, PENNSVILLE 50
PENNSVILLE (1-1) – Luke Wood 3 4-4 12, Malik Rehmer 2 1-2 5, Jayden Thomas 5 2-7 13, Peyton O’Brien 5 0-0 11, Daniel Saulin 2 0-0 4, Chase Burchfield 0 0-0 0, Coen Petrutz 0 0-0 0, Mason O’Brien 1 2-2 4, Logan Hitt 0 1-2 1, Cole Johnston 0 0-2 0, Carlos Marandino 0 0-2 0. Totals 18 10-21 50
DEPTFORD (2-0) – Bryce Dunn 3 0-0 6, Carter Cooper 5 1-4 11, Deiyon Rowland 4 0-0 11, Ayden Copestick 5 0-0 14, Brian Ono 5 2-4 15, Luke Vilary 0 0-0 0, Jordan Williams 1 0-0 2, Jayden Minter 0 0-0 0, Alonzo Hernandez 3 0-0 7, Grahem Karley 1 1-1 3, Joe Crawley 1 1-2 3, Sean Castello 0 0-0 0, Anais Usher 0 0-0 0, Kenny Cockerill 1 0-0 2. Totals 29 5-11 76.
| Pennsville | 15 | 14 | 11 | 10 – | 50 |
| Deptford | 22 | 15 | 17 | 22 – | 76 |
Riverview Sports News 