Salem opens its season with an intense victory over Woodbury behind MVP Farmer, Bundy
By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News
PENNS GROVE – Anthony Farmer was the last one to get back to the locker room for the post-game meeting. His father, the coach, had already begun his remarks. When you’re the player of the game there are a lot of demands on your time.
Farmer scored 19 points and was right in the middle of all the key moments in the game leading Salem to a 67-56 victory over defending Group I champion Woodbury in their season opener Saturday in the Red Devil Classic.
Before rejoining his teammates in their sanctuary, the senior guard had to negotiate a gauntlet of well-wishers and interviewers following the MVP trophy presentation. But it’s an experience he wouldn’t trade for the world.
“It’s a hassle, everybody asking questions, but I embrace that kind of stuff and that’s what I do it for,” he said. “I love the feeling, it’s a very good feeling and I hope to feel that plenty more times.”
Salem had several leads that seemed comfortable, but Woodbury rallied every time. The Rams never put the Herd away until the final two minutes.
It was a 10-point game early in the third quarter, but the Herd rallied behind some big shots by Jajuan Solomon and Troy Lindsey and eventually took a 42-41 lead on R.J. Heighler’s 3-pointer right before the horn.
The most important minute of the game came early in the fourth quarter and Farmer was right in the middle of it.
The Rams had regained the lead 45-41, but the way teams were making runs in the game that could change in an instant. Farmer went the length of the floor for a layup and then made a steal near midcourt and finished the play with a layup from underneath the basket.
When freshman Ty Lecator followed with a 3-pointer to cap an 11-0 run, Salem led by 10 once again. This time they didn’t let it go. The Herd got within five with two minutes left, but the Rams didn’t let them get any closer.
“I knew I had to make a play,” the guard said. “I’m one of the leaders on the team and they need me, they’re depending on me, and I felt like at that time I know I needed to make a play. Thank the man above I was able to do that.”
“That definitely was a big stretch for us; we needed to make plays,” Farmer the coach said. “That’s his job, he’s a senior, he’s been around. He’s a calm kid, he made the plays that needed to be made as a senior.”
Ramaji Bundy also played a big role. He banked home a 3 from the side-court logo at the end of the first quarter to put Salem up by six. He plunged in the dagger with a minute to go when he hit a 3 to put the Rams up eight.
“Bundy was special all night, man,” Farmer the coach said. “Just some of the plays down the stretch that maybe didn’t show up in the box score. He was huge, getting deflections, chasing balls around, just being active. That’s what he is for us.
“When he’s making shots and scoring for us that’s a bonus, but his energy and effort and leadership is really what we rely on.”
SALEM 67, WOODBURY 56
WOODBURY (0-2) – Troy Lindsey 6 0-0 15, Jajuan Solomon 4 2-7 10, Dorian Dunbar 3 4-6 11, Amara Sacko 1 1-4 4, Isaiah Dulaney 0 0-0 0, R.J. Heighler 7 1-6 16. Totals 21 8-20 56.
SALEM (1-0) – Ramaji Bundy 6 1-1 16, Anthony Farmer 7 4-6 19, Jabez DeJesus 3 1-2 9, Paul Weathers 6 4-4 16, Xavier McGriff 0 0-0 0, Ty Lecator 1 4-4 7, Antoine Rogers 0 0-0 0, Kyree Little 0 0-0 0, Joe Tunis 0 0-0 0. Totals 23 14-17 67.
| Woodbury | 11 | 15 | 16 | 14 – | 56 |
| Salem | 17 | 17 | 7 | 26 – | 67 |
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