Another perfect run

Woodstown girls rout Overbrook to complete third straight sweep of Tri-County Diamond Division schedule

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

WOODSTOWN – If it’s going to take winning three straight Super Bowls before they anoint the Kansas City Chiefs as a dynasty, what would you call the Woodstown girls basketball team after three undefeated seasons within their division?

The Wolverines completed their third straight undefeated run through the Tri-County Conference Diamond Division Friday with a 76-18 rout of Overbrook.

They have gone 10-0, 10-0 and 8-0 in the division over the last three seasons, but the actual in-division winning streak is 30 going back to 2021 – 31 if you count a playoff win against division rival Penns Grove during the same stretch. Their last loss in the Diamond came at Glassboro (60-45) on Feb. 25, 2021.

With a win over Penns Grove in Tuesday’s quarterfinals of the South Jersey Group I tournament, they will have 20 wins for the third year in a row and fourth straight in years they had that many games to win.

“It proves it’s not just a year-to-year team, it’s the program,” first-year head coach Kara Straughn said. “It’s a testament to how good our program is, not just like one year we’re really good (and it drops off).

“We’ve been consistently good and it’s because we have girls who have grown up in this program and who are good leaders, so then the young girls are coming in and we’re continuing to win. They work their butts off, so they deserve to be 10-0 in the division.”

The Wolverines (19-6) were heavily favored and took control by scoring the first 10 points of the game and opening a 22-6 lead at the end of the first quarter.

The most impressive part of the quarter was Woodstown center Shannon Pierman collecting a double-double before it was over. She had eight of the game’s first 10 points and ended the quarter with 12 points and 11 rebounds. She finished with 20 and 14 for her ninth double-double of the season and eighth in her last 12 games.

“I do not think that’s ever happened before,” an astonished Pierman said. “I didn’t realize it, I wasn’t keeping track. I thought it led off to a good start so we could get momentum going and get a win out of it.”

The plan all along was to play the starters for a comfortable amount of time and then give the reserves the floor.

The starters came out for the final 1:15 of the first half and then for good with 2:36 left in the third quarter. In addition to Pierman, Megan Donelson had 16 points – extending her streak in double figures to 38 games – five rebounds, four assists and three blocked shots; Talia Battavio had nine points and Lauren Hengel had six points, nine rebounds and four assists.

The backups took advantage of their opportunity. Sophomore post Jala Thomas scored a career-high eight points. Sophomore Lizzy Daly (4/6) and freshman Kendall Young (5/4) both had career highs in points and rebounds, and Ava White scored her first varsity points. The reserves held the Lady Rams (9-17) scoreless the entire time they were on the floor.

“That’s what they’re going to have memories about,” Straughn said. “Oh, yeah, we beat Overbrook, but that Ava’s first points or Jala had her career high. Those girls who cheer for the first five get cheered on by them.

“That’s what builds programs That’s what builds the morale, That’s what builds the relationships. Those games where they’re not so fun statistically, but they’re fun as a team.”

WOODSTOWN 76, OVERBROOK 18
OVERBROOK (9-17) – Leslies Rosario 0 0-0 0, Jael Presley 1 0-0 2, Kaylee Burkhardt 0 0-2 0, Gianna Simon 3 0-0 7, Sarah Evans 2 0-0 6, Leiani Knight 0 0-0 0, Kayla Reynolds 0 0-0 0, Talia Wiggins 1 0-0 3, Ahlani White 0 0-0 0. Totals 7 0-2 18.
WOODSTOWN (19-6) – Talia Battavio 3 2-2 9, Megan Donelson 7 0-1 16, Alyssa Baber 1 0-2 2, Shannon Pierman 9 2-2 20, Lauren Hengel 3 0-0 6, Emma Perry 1 0-0 2, Brae DiGregorio 1 0-0 2, Jala Thomas 4 0-0 8, Lizzy Daly 2 0-0 4, Kailyn Kennedy 0 0-0 0, Talia Guardascione 0 0-0 0, Kendall Young 2 1-2 5, Ava White 1 0-0 2. Totals 34 5-9 76.