Sectional wrestling

Woodstown goes down to the wire, but falls in South Jersey Group I semifinals; Pennsville falls in sectional quarters

SOUTH JERSEY GROUP I TOURNAMENT
At Woodstown
Audubon 44, Palmyra 25
Woodstown 52, Haddon Twp. 18
Audubon 37, Woodstown 32
At Paulsboro
Paulsboro 70, Pitman 4
Gloucester 60, Pennsville 16
Paulsboro 48, Gloucester 28
Championship match
Wednesday
Audubon at Paulsboro

OTHER MATCHES
Penns Grove 42, Camden 22
Penns Grove 54, Lindenwold 18
Penns Grove 36, Riverside 21

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

WOODSTOWN — In any match, no matter the time of the season ,it’s the little things that can make all the difference between in moving on to the next round of a tournament or going home disappointed. Woodstown didn’t do enough of the little things Monday night.

The Wolverines got to the semifinals of the South Jersey Group I team tournament, but failing to pick up a point here and there in key matches meant the difference in Audubon taking a 37-32 victory to derail their second-half express.

The Wolverines were 2-9 at one point in the season, but rallied in the second half of the year to become the second seed in the sectional team tournament. Five of those early matches came down to the final bout (1-4). Once they turned it around, they had won 10 of their previous 11 entering the tournament.

The Wolverines grabbed a 26-6 lead at the midpoint in the match, winning six of their first seven bouts, but even then they left points on the table. Their fortunes changed when they turned to the lighter weights, opening with back-to-back forfeits and winning only one of the last seven bouts.

The match was decided in the final bout when Audubon junior Tyler Perrozi scored a 10-2 major decision over Laitton Roberts at 144.

“We needed to pin in some areas, where at ’65 and ’75 we had them flat, close to flat, they were almost pinned, we didn’t get it,” Wolverines coach Adam Hyland said. “We get those two pins, we win by one, and we lost by five.

“Those little things are the big differences. We just didn’t come through on those pins tonight. It’s probably happened to us 10 times this year where it came down to the last match. It’s just the way it is. Sometimes you get the bull, sometimes you get the horns.”

The back-to-back forfeits were intended to keep Audubon from building any momentum, but it led the Green Wave to change its strategy and just go best-on-best the rest of the way to chase the points it missed on earlier in the match. The free points became the front end of four straight wins that gave Audubon its first lead of the match, 27-26.

Alex Torres put the Wolverines back on top when pinned Brayden Ervin in the second period at 132.

Torres got in a pickle early in his match, but he quickly turned his fortunes with the help of a headlock he’d been practicing since middle school and got his opponent on his back. It wasn’t long thereafter the Wolverines were back on top 32-27 with two matches remaining.

“When I was about to run out on the mat I was like, ‘This is going to be an important match,’ and it was,” Torres said. “So I ran out there, just giving it my best. It’s about the team at this point and I’ve got to do whatever it takes to help us.

“I had a little trouble when the kid put me to my back but all I was thinking about was I’m not going to give up and that’s when I turned the kid.”

The Green Wave retook the lead with Rocco Noce’s pin at 138, setting up the winner-take-all match at 144.

Angel Hernandez wrestled the 144 match for Woodstown in the quarterfinals, but the Wolverines have been alternating there all season and Hyland sent out Roberts against Audubon because “he does a little bit better job of not getting in danger.” Perrozi was wrestling up from his usual 138, but he was aggressive from the start and scored a dominating 10-2 decision to clinch it.

“I love it,” Perrozi said. “It’s so nervous, but it’s always the best having the last match, just coming down to it. I love the thrill of it and everything. As soon as I got the first takedown it relieved me so much.”

**Audubon’s Tyler Perrozi has control over Woodstown’s Laitton Roberts in the match that decided their South Jersey Group I wrestling semifinal.**

The Green Wave dedicated the victory to heavyweight Jacob Dutill, who spent Monday in the hospital after taking ill Sunday night. His teammates face-timed with him after the match to deliver the news of their victory.

“I was talking to our guys and just said our bullets have to make a bigger bang because we’re shorthanded and we went for it,” Audubon coach John Walsh said.

The Green Wave now faces top-seeded Paulsboro for the South Jersey Group I championship Wednesday.

Woodstown reached the semifinals with a dominating 52-18 win over Haddon Twp. The Wolverines established control with seven straight wins after losing the opening bout and Travis Balback clinched the victory with a decision at 120.

SJ GROUP I QUARTERFINALS
WOODSTOWN 52, HADDON TWP. 18
144: Damian Shepherd (H) pinned Angel Hernandez, 5:22
150: Jayden Donahue (Wo) pinned Jaden Chanthavanh, 5:07
157: Brett Roland (Wo) pinned Antonio Reyes, 0:53
165: Zach Bevis (Wo) maj. dec. over Richard Poblano Benito, 14-5
175: Greyson Hyland (Wo) pinned Joseph Sum, 0:59
190: Bradley Snitcher (Wo) pinned Elijah Borowicz, 1:36
215: Mateo Vinciguerra (Wo) won by forfeit
285: Andre Sinou (Wo) dec. Sean Weikel, 4-3
106: Andrew Marshall (H) pinned Chase Blandino, 1:35
113: Owen Ziegler (H) won by forfeit
120: Travis Balback (Wo) dec. Thomas Andrews, 5-3
126: Carson Bradway (Wo) dec. Blake Thoder, 9-2
132: Alex Torres (Wo) pinned Brady Monoid, 2:00
138: Willem Groom (Wo) dec. Jake Andrews, 4-2

GLOUCESTER 60, PENNSVILLE 16
285: Jeremy Smith (G) pinned Trevor Waddington, 2:54
106: Kloi Tighe (G) pinned Gina Shinn, 0:47
113: Josh Quinones (G) pinned Lucas Thomas, 1:08
120: Christopher Daniels (P) pinned Edgar Morales, 2:44
126: Mason Johnson (G) pinned Kameron Drummond, 5:09
132: John Pfeffer (G) dec. Ayden Perez, 6-1
138: Travis Hagan (P) pinned Greg Harris, 2:21
144: Harry Ulmer (G) pinned Joseph Maurer, 3:20
150: Ashton Wall (G) dec. Sky Eppes, 1-0
157: Robbie McDade (P) maj. dec. over Collin Morrell, 9-1
165: Jacob Zearfoss (G) pinned Cole Campbell, 1:50
175: Jason Chiodi (G) pinned Connor Ayers, 2:48
190: Kaleb Wright (G) pinned Elias Lussi, 2:55
215: Jaden Thompson (G) pinned Daniel Emmons, 4:33

SJ GROUP I SEMIFINALS
AUDUBON 37, WOODSTOWN 32
150: Jayden Donahue (Wo) dec. Giovanni Patti, 7-4
157: Brett Rowand (Wo) won by forfeit
165: Zach Bevis (Wo) maj. dec. over David Borodziuk, 13-1
175: Greyson Hyland (Wo) maj. dec. over Gabriel McCracken, 9-1
190: Christian Burton (A) pinned Bradley Snitcher, 0:32
215: Andre Sinou (Wo) pinned Syncere Faulk, 0:59
285: Mateo Vinciguerra (Wo) dec. Sam Myers, 6-1
106: Rocco Monteferrante (A) won by forfeit
113: Nicholas Sassany (A) won by forfeit
120: Lucas Stinger (A) dec. Travis Balback, 11-5
126: Blaise LaFrance (A) pinned Carson Bradway, 2:40
132: Alex Torres (Wo) pinned Brayden Ervin, 2:54
138: Rocco Noce (A) pinned Willem Groom, 1:53
144: Tyler Perrozi (A) maj. dec. over Laitton Roberts, 10-2

**Woodstown 120 Travis Balback gets Haddon Twp.’s Thomas Andrews on his head in the bout that clinched the Wolverines’ victory in the South Jersey Group I wrestling quarterfinals.**

On the rise

Woodstown scores big win on the road, Schalick may have gotten its signature win, includes box scores from all of Monday night’s Salem County basketball action

MONDAY’S SALEM COUNTY SCORES
Boys
Gloucester City 76, Pennsville 62
Penns Grove 63, Williamstown 22
Schalick 66, Maple Shade 37
Woodstown 55, Glassboro 49
Girls
Kingsway 64, Salem 29
Maple Shade 43, Schalick 15
Pennsville 53, Gloucester City 20
Wildwood 70, Salem Tech 29

By Riverview Sports News

GLASSBORO – Just about a week ago the Woodstown basketball team was teetering precariously on the edge of the South Jersey Group I playoff bubble. Two wins later they’ve come off the edge and now have a little breathing room in the final days of the regular season.

The Wolverines earned their largest power point haul of the season Monday night with a 55-49 road victory over Glassboro. Put that with a blowout win over nine-win Pennsville and an overtime loss to 12-win Gloucester Catholic, over the last five days they have gone from 15 to 13 in the power points standings, 46 points ahead of the 16th and final qualifying spot from the section.

They have three games between now and Saturday’s state cutoff date to pick up more points.

Blake Bialecki (21) and Max Webb (19) combined for 40 points to lead the Wolverines (10-7) in this one, outscoring Glassboro’s two leading scorers, Xavier Sabb and Charles Graves, who had 13 points apiece.

Webb was involved in one of the headiest plays in the game. With about 30 seconds left, the Wolverines were trying to get the ball inbounds. With no timeouts and nobody getting open, Webb smartly threw the ball off a defender in front of him and got it back to save the possession.

Bialecki then made a pair of free throws with five seconds left to ice it.

Another crucial factor to getting the win was the play of Rocco String. The 6-foot-7 junior played the entire fourth quarter with four fouls and never picked up his fifth. And he managed to pick up a couple blocked shots and key rebounds.

WOODSTOWN 55, GLASSBORO 49
WOODSTOWN (10-7) – Blake Bialecki 6-4-19, M.J. Hall 2-0-4, Garrett Leyman 1-0-2, Max Webb 6-4-19, Rocco String 3-1-7, Elijah Caesar 2-0-4. Totals 20-9-55.
GLASSBORO (9-11) – Xavier Sabb 5-3-13, Charles Graves 5-2-13, Clinton Suggs 2-2-8, Michael Dougherty 2-0-6, Josh Buff 1-0-3, Crowly Marley 2-0-4, Jayce Grays 1-0-2. Totals 18-7-49.

Woodstown	20	8	11	15 –	55
Glassboro	10	21	10	8 –	49

3-point goals: Woodstown 6 (Bialecki 3, Webb 3); Glassboro 6 (Graves, Suggs 2, Dougherty 2, Buff).

SCHALICK 66, MAPLE SHADE 37: The Cougars have been looking for that signature win in their winningest season in five years and may have gotten it here.

The teams they had beaten prior to Monday had a combined 12 wins and they picked up a season-high 28 power points for this one. It puts them at No. 18 in the South Jersey Group I power points standings, technically No. 17 since they beat Maple Shade who sits one spot above them.

Nasir and Nylan Sutton led the Cougars with 15 and 13 points, respectively. It was the second time this year and fourth time in their careers they both scored in double figures in the same game. Dan Lis had 14 with three 3-pointers.

The Cougars, now with more wins than the last three seasons combined, have won back-to-back games for the first time since winning the last three games of the 2019-20 season.

MAPLE SHADE (8-13) – Nicholas Gowen 2 0-0 4, Amir Hall 2 0-0 5, Elijah Ashe 3 2-2 8, Antjuan Johnson 2 0-0 6, Hezekiah Delvalle 0 1-2 1, Corey Volcy 6 1-2 13. Totals 15 4-6 37.
SCHALICK (7-10) – Dan Lis 5 1-2 14, Jake Siedlecki 2 0-2 6, Reggie Allen 3 0-2 7, Nylan Sutton 6 1-2 13, Nasir Sutton 6 3-3 15, Jase Volovar 1 0-0 3, Justin Iacona 1 0-0 3, Nyzier Wynder 1 0-0 2, Dylan Sheehan 1 0-0 3. Totals 26 5-11 66.

Maple Shade	6	9	11	11 –	37
Schalick	16	10	17	23 –	66

3-point goals: Maple Shade 3 (Hall, Johnson 2); Schalick 9 (Lis 3, Siedlecki 2, Allen, Volovar, Iacona, Sheehan).

PENNS GROVE 63, WILLIAMSTOWN 22
PENNS GROVE (7-12) – Brandon Robbins 1 0-0 3, Roman Gipson 3 6-6 12, Giomar Conrad 5 3-4 14, KaRon Ceaser 3 1-1 7, Willie Slocum 1 0-0 2, Mehki Ballard 6 0-0 13, Camren Thompson 2 2-2 6, Luis Colon 1 0-0 2, Mr Peterson 2 0-0 4, Will Roy 0 0-0 0. Totals 24 12-13 63.
WILLIAMSTOWN (1-20) – Drew Schnapp 1 0-0 3, Tyrone Price 3 0-0 6, Basill Mateen 3 3-4 10, Josh Roberts 1 0-0 2, Jordan Foley 0 1-5 1. Totals 8 4-9 22.

Penns Grove	9	24	13	17 –	63
Williamstown	5	8	7	2 –	22

3-point goals: Penns Grove 3 (Robbins, Conrad, Ballard); Williamstown 2 (Schnapp, Mateen).

GLOUCESTER 76, PENNSVILLE 62: Ryan James was 6-for-6 from the foul line in the fourth quarter to help Gloucester pull away from a close game.

Danny Saulin returned to the Pennsville lineup after a four-game absence and had 23 points and six rebounds. Peyton O’Brien had 10 rebounds and six assists, and Luke Wood had q8 points and nine boards.

GLOUCESTER (11-10) – Ryan James 4 6-8 15, Marcus Flagg 2 0-0 4, Keegan Cohan 6 2-3 19, Jake Smith 8 1-2 17, Kadon Harris 3 5-6 11, Mike Light 4 0-0 10, Kevin Wall 0 0-0 0. Totals 27 14-19 76.
PENNSVILLE (9-12) – Luke Wood 7-18 0-0 18, Peyton O’Brien 3-9 0-4 6, Daniel Saulin 10-15 3-9 23, Cohen Petrutz 3-9 0-4 8, Mason O’Brien 2-8 0-0 4, Connor Starn 1-1 0-0 3. Totals 26-60 3-13 62.

Gloucester	15	14	24	23 –	76
Pennsville	11	23	16	12 –	62

3-point goals: Gloucester 8 (James, Cohan 5, Light 2); Pennsville 7-20 (Starn 1-1, M. O’Brien 0-3, Petrutz 2-6, P. O’Brien 0-1, Wood 4-9). Technical fouls: Saulin. Total fouls: Gloucester 15, Pennsville 16. Officials: McCormick, Brown, Lundy.

Girls Games

PENNSVILLE 53, GLOUCESTER 20
PENNSVILLE (9-11) – Nora Ausland 4 4-5 14, Taylor Bass 4 3-5 12, Bella Farina 2 2-4 6, Marley Wood 8 3-6 21, Izzy Saulin 0 0-0 0, Kylie Harris 0 0-0 0, Calli Ausland 0 0-0 0. Totals 18 12-20 53.
GLOUCESTER (5-14) – Logan Thomson 1 1-4 3, Kierstynn O’Donnell 0 3-8 3, Elizabeth Schultes 1 0-0 2, Bailey Schoenfeldt 2 0-1 5, Victoria Serrano 2 0-0 5, Alexis Ulman 1 0-0 2. Totals 7 4-13 20.

Pennsville	15	11	12	15 –	53
Gloucester	2	7	5	6 –	20

3-point goals: Pennsville 5 (N. Ausland 2, Bass, Wood 2); Gloucester 2 (Schoenfeldt, Serrano).

WILDWOOD 70, SALEM TECH 29
WILDWOOD (15-5) – Sophia Wilber 1 2-2 5, Angela Wilber 7 0-0 19, Macie McCracken 11 3-4 27, Kaliah Sumlin 1 2-3 4, Rebecca Benichou 4 0-0 10, Cydnee Kilian 1 0-2 2, Ashley Nagle 1 0-0 3, Mia Cripps 0 0-0 0, Janet Gonzalez 0 0-0 0. Totals 26 7-11 70.
SALEM TECH (1-15) – Morgan VanDover 3 0-0 6, Kaylin Beardsley 2 0-0 4, Lavae Scott 2 0-0 4, Demajae White 6 0-0 12, Rylee Doerr 0 1-2 1, TiRonna McGaha 1 0-0 2. Totals 14 1-2 29.

Wildwood	28	18	21	3 –	70
Salem Tech	4	4	9	12 –	29

3-point goals: Wildwood 11 (S. Wilber, A. Wilber 5, McCracken 2, Benichou 2, Nagle); Salem Tech 0. Notes: Wildwood’s McCracken had 10 steals and Sophia Wilber had nine assists.

MAPLE SHADE 43, SCHALICK 15
SCHALICK (5-12) – Abby Willoughby 2-0-4, Cianna Gaines 1-0-2, Carly Vicente 2-1-7, Olivia Lunemann 1-0-2, Ava Scully 0-0-0, Taylor Sparks 0-0-0, Cali Fisler 0-0-0. Totals 6-1-15.
MAPLE SHADE (15-5) – Billie Ormsby 1-1-3, Addison Yackel 7-6-22, Alexis Andrada 3-0-7, Maddy Vessels 3-1-8, Mel Bimmer 1-0-2, Molly Mitchell 0-1-1. Totals 15-9-43.

Schalick	2	3	3	7 –	15
Maple Shade	10	8	20	5 –	43

3-point goals: Schalick 2 (Vicente 2); Maple Shade 4 (Yackel 2, Andrada, Vessels).

KINGSWAY 64, SALEM 29
SALEM (7-12) – Ava Rodgers 1 1-1 3, Ameriyona Hunter 3 1-4 8, Marjziah Bundy 0 0-0 0, Ryann Foote 0 2-6 2, Lyric Hayes 0 0-0 0, Dakirah Gray 0 0-0 0, Carlysia Pierce 2 2-3 7, Nevaeh Hickman 3 1-3 9, Zaniyah Freison 0 0-0 0. Totals 9 7-17 29.
KINGSWAY (9-11) – Erin Lail 2 0-0 5, Kellis Greer 2 0-0 4, Vienna Gantz 4 0-0 10, Emily Barber 2 0-2 4, Olivia Myers 4 2-2 12, Ava Valente 1 2-2 4, Jaylynn Curtis 3 3-4 10, Paige Horton 2 2-2 6, Bella Archer 1 0-0 3, Chloe McNeill 2 0-0 4, Ojanile Gabriel 1 0-0 2. Totals 24 9-12 64.

Salem	9	6	9	5 –	29
Kingsway	25	5	15	19 –	64

3-point goals: Salem 4 (Hickman 2, Hunter, Pierce); Kingsway 7 (Lail, Gantz 2, Myers 2, Curtis, Archer). Notes: Salem’s Bundy had 10 points and seven blocked shots.

Tri-County pairings

Here are the pairings for the Tri-County Conference Tournament; only one Salem County team has a first-round home game

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

Timber Creek’s Liberty Division-leading boys and Williamstown’s Royal Division-leading girls have pulled down the overall No. 1 seeds for next week’s Tri-County Basketball Tournament.

The tournament begins next Monday with 22 games at the higher seeds. The brackets were finalized Sunday and became official at noon today.

Timber Creek is currently 13-3, 8-0 in the Liberty Division, riding a 10-game on-the-floor winning streak and fourth in the South Jersey Group III power points standings. Williamstown is 14-5 overall, 6-0 in the Royal Division and leads the South Jersey Group IV power points standings.

As far as Salem County’s teams are concerned, no county boys team has a first-round home game and Schalick’s girls are the only county team playing at home in the opening round.

Pennsville’s boys and Salem’s girls have No. 1 seeds in their respective seven-team C Flight brackets, have first-round byes and will play home games in Round 2 Feb. 14. Pennsville is 5-0 against the other teams in its bracket, Salem 3-1.

“It’s bittersweet,” Pennsville coach Joe Mecholsky said of his team’s seeding. “It’s not our goal to be the best of the bottom. However, we will get two solid days of practice in as we prepare for the playoffs.

“Hopefully, two home games and the good vibes that come with winning a C bracket will help build momentum into the first round of the playoffs.”

On the girls side, Woodstown is No. 5 in the A Flight and will open the tournament at current Classic Division No. 2 Gloucester Catholic, a team the Wolverines opened the season against and are presently scheduled to play in Saturday’s consolation bracket of the SJIBT. Pennsville is No. 5 and Penns Grove 8 in the B Flight, and Salem is 1, Schalick 3 and Salem Tech 7 in the C Flight.

On the boys side, Salem is No. 6 in the A Flight and will open at Diamond Division leader Overbrook, a solid No. 7 in the South Jersey Group II power points standings. Penns Grove is No. 7 and Woodstown 8 in the B Flight, while Pennsville is No. 1 in C, followed by Schalick (6) and Salem Tech (7).

Day 1 winners are guaranteed two more games. Day 1 losers (except in Flight C) will play one consolation game.

The pairings for all six flights are listed below:

TRI-COUNTY CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT
BOYS BRACKETS
A FLIGHT
Feb. 12
No. 8 Gloucester Catholic (12-8) at No. 1 Timber Creek (13-3)
No. 5 Triton (11-8) at No. 4 Pitman (15-6)
No. 6 Salem (13-6) at No. 3 Overbrook (15-5)
No. 7 Wildwood (11-9) at No. 2 Delsea (13-7)
Feb. 14
Gloucester Catholic-Timber Creek winner vs. Triton-Pitman winner
Salem-Overbrook winner vs. Wildwood-Delsea winner
Consolation games
Feb. 16
Third-place game
Championship

B FLIGHT
Feb. 12
No. 8 Woodstown (9-7) at No. 1 Kingsway (11-10)
No. 5 Glassboro (9-10) at No. 4 Deptford Twp. (10-9)
No. 6 Washington Twp. (11-9) at No. 3 Highland (9-9)
No. 7 Penns Grove (6-12) at No. 2 Clearview (11-8)
Feb. 14
Woodstown-Kingsway winner vs. Glassboro-Deptford Twp. winner
Washington Twp.-Highland winner vs. Penns Grove-Clearview winner
Consolation games
Feb. 16
Third-place game
Championship

C FLIGHT
Feb. 12
No. 1 Pennsville (9-11) bye
No. 5 Clayton (3-16) at No. 4 Cumberland (2-18)
No. 6 Schalick (6-10) at No. 3 Williamstown (1-19)
No. 7 Salem Tech (2-15) at No. 2 GCIT (7-14)
Feb. 14
Clayton-Cumberland winner at Pennsville
Schalick-Williamstown winner vs. Salem Tech-GCIT winner
Schalick-Williamstown loser vs. Salem Tech-GCIT loser
Feb. 16
Third-place game
Championship

GIRLS BRACKETS
A FLIGHT
Feb. 12
No. 8 Highland (10-9) at No. 1 Williamstown (14-4)
No. 5 Woodstown (14-4) at No. 4 Gloucester Catholic (15-5)
No. 6 Washington Twp. (10-8) at No. 3 Wildwood (14-5)
No. 7 Timber Creek (13-8) at No. 2 Clearview (14-3)
Feb. 14
Highland-Williamstown winner vs. Woodstown-Gloucester Catholic winner
Washington Twp.-Wildwood winner vs. Timber Creek-Clearview winner
Consolation games
Feb. 16
Third-place game
Championship

B FLIGHT
Feb. 12
No. 8 Penns Grove (7-8) at No. 1 GCIT (12-7)
No. 5 Pennsville (8-11) at No. 4 Delsea (8-10)
No. 6 Pitman (9-8) at No. 3 Kingsway (8-11)
No. 7 Clayton (8-9) at No. 2 Glassboro (12-5)
Feb. 14
Penns Grove-GCIT winner vs. Pennsville-Delsea winner
Pitman-Kingsway winner vs. Clayton-Glassboro winner
Consolation games
Feb. 16
Third-place game
Championship

C FLIGHT
Feb. 12
No. 1 Salem (7-11) bye
No. 5 Overbrook (3-12) at No. 4 Triton (6-11)
No. 6 Deptford (3-15) at No. 3 Schalick (5-11)
No. 7 Salem Tech (1-14) at No. 2 Cumberland (4-13)
Feb. 14
Overbrook-Triton winner at Salem
Deptford-Schalick winner vs. Salem Tech-Cumberland winner
Deptford-Schalick loser vs. Salem Tech-Cumberland loser
Feb. 16
Third-place game
Championship

This week’s schedule

Here is the Salem County sports schedule for the week of Feb. 5-11

Monday

BASKETBALL
Girls
Wildwood at Salem Tech, 4 p.m.
Pennsville at Gloucester City, 5:30 p.m.
Salem at Kingsway, 5:30 p.m.
Schalick at Maple Shade, 5:30 p.m.
Boys
Gloucester City at Pennsville, 5:30 p.m.
Maple Shade at Schalick, 5:30 p.m.
Penns Grove at Williamstown, 5:30 p.m.
Woodstown at Glassboro, 5:30 p.m.

WRESTLING
South Jersey Group I Tournament
At Woodstown
Audubon vs. Palmyra, 6 p.m.
Haddon Twp. at Woodstown, 6 p.m.
Audubon-Palmyra winner vs. Haddon Twp.-Woodstown winner, 7 p.m.
At Paulsboro
Pitman at Paulsboro, 5:30 p.m.
Pennsville vs. Gloucester, 5:30 p.m.
Pitman-Paulsboro winner vs. Pennsville-Gloucester winner, 7 p.m.

Penns Grove, Camden, Riverside at Lindenwold, 4 p.m.
Schalick at Northern Burlington, 6 p.m.

SWIMMING
NJSIAA Playoffs
Schalick vs. Barnegat at St. Francis Community Center, 4:30 p.m.
Woodstown vs. Cape May Co. Tech at GCIT, 6:30 p.m.

INDOOR TRACK
Salem at Ocean Breeze Complex, Staten Island, N.Y., 5 p.m.

Tuesday

BASKETBALL
Girls
Penns Grove at Schalick, 4 p.m.
Pennsville at Glassboro, 4 p.m.
Salem Tech at Wildwood, 4 p.m.
Gloucester Catholic at Salem, 5:30 p.m.
Woodstown at Overbrook, 5:30 p.m.
Boys
Salem at Gloucester Catholic, 5 p.m.
Glassboro at Pennsville, 5:30 p.m.
Overbrook at Woodstown, 5:30 p.m.
Schalick at Penns Grove, 5:30 p.m.
Salem Tech at Wildwood, 5:30 p.m.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Women
Salem CC at Bucks County CC, 5 p.m.
Men
Montgomery County CC at Salem CC, 7 p.m.

BOWLING
TCC Showcase at 30 Strikes, 4 p.m.

SWIMMING
Schalick at West Deptford, 3:30 p.m.

Wednesday

BASKETBALL
Girls
Glassboro at Woodstown, 4 p.m.

WRESTLING
Pennsville at Haddon Heights, 5 p.m.
Pitman at Schalick, 5 p.m.
Salem at Gloucester Catholic, 6 p.m.

SWIMMING
Schalick at Camden Academy Charter, 3:30 p.m.

Thursday

BASKETBALL
Girls
Penns Grove at Pennsville, 5:30 p.m.
Salem Tech at Pitman, 5:30 p.m.
Salem at Clayton, 5:30 p.m.
Schalick at Overbrook, 5:30 p.m.
Boys
Penns Grove at Pennsville, 4 p.m.
Clayton at Salem, 5:30 p.m.
Overbrook at Schalick, 5:30 p.m.
Woodstown at Washington Twp., 5:30 p.m.
Salem Tech at Pitman, 7 p.m.

SWIMMING
South Jersey Group C Tournament
Schalick at Middle Twp.
Woodstown at Oakcrest

Friday

BASKETBALL
Girls
Schalick at Penns Grove, 4 p.m.
Pleasantville at Salem, 5 p.m.
Cape May Co. Tech at Salem Tech, 5:30 p.m.
Millville at Pennsville, 5:30 p.m.
Woodstown at Lower Cape May, 5:30 p.m.
Boys
Buena at Woodstown, 5:30 p.m.
Penns Grove at Schalick, 5:30 p.m.
Pennsville at Paulsboro, 5:30 p.m.
Salem Tech at Cape May Co. Tech, 5:30 p.m.

WRESTLING
Woodstown at Delran, 6 p.m.

Saturday

BASKETBALL
Girls
South Jersey Invitational Tournament
at Eastern Regional HS
Woodstown vs. Williamstown, 8 p.m.
Boys
Bridgeton at Salem, 12:30 p.m.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Women
Salem CC at Lackawanna College, 1 p.m.
Men
Harrisburg Area CC at Salem CC, noon

WRESTLING
Schalick, Burlington Twp., Cherry Hill-West at Maple Shade, 8 a.m.
Pennsville, Cedar Creek, Delran at Hightstown, 10 a.m.
Salem, Mainland, Timber Creek at Pennsauken, 10 a.m.

BOWLING
Girls
NJSIAA Sectionals

Bittersweet moment

Battavio passes 1,000 points for her career, but Woodstown falls to Cherokee in close game in SJIBT Elite 8, will be updated; includes other county games of the day

SJIBT ELITE EIGHT
Saturday’s Games
Paul VI 77, Timber Creek 33
Cherokee 55, Woodstown 49
Sunday’s Games
Moorestown vs. Gloucester Catholic, 4:45 p.m.
Cinnaminson vs. Williamstown, 6 p.m.

OTHER GAMES
Girls
Pennsville 47, West Deptford 41
Boys
Gloucester Catholic 59, Woodstown 57
Salem 61, Paulsboro 60

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

VOORHEES – She really wasn’t feeling it right after the game, but in a day or so, once the sting of a hard-fought loss melts into the preparation of the next game, Talia Battavio will feel the rush accomplishment wash over her like it never has before in her career.

Battavio became the second Woodstown player to score her 1,000th career point this week when she reached the milestone in the third quarter of Saturday night’s Elite 8 game of the South Jersey Invitational Basketball Tournament at Eastern Regional High School.

The only thing that kept it from being a perfect night was her Wolverines lost to second-seeded Cherokee 55-49.

“It’s a good accomplishment, but it’s not the biggest thing to me,” the junior guard said. “I’m more proud of the South Jersey championship banner that we have and being undefeated in the division, and I think that’s more important than any individual accomplishment.

“It really does not mean anything; we didn’t get the win as a team.”

**Woodstown’s Talia Battavio stands with the banner commemorating her membership in the 1,000-Point Club.**

Battavio became the 11th player in the Woodstown girls program to score 1,000 points. She pumped in 28 in the game – matching her career high set earlier this year against Bridgeton – and now has 1,009 for her career, with the rest of this year and all next season to go. Teammate Megan Donelson, also a junior, reached the milestone Thursday night at Pennsville.

Woodstown plans a special ceremony to recognize the feats Wednesday night.

“I think they’re both relieved,” Wolverines coach Kara Straughn said. “I feel like I’ve lost 10 pounds (during the pursuit) because two girls in a week with 1,000 points. Two juniors.

“She honestly had no clue how many more she needed, which I was worried coming into the game that she was going to get in her head because she’s the queen of doing too much, but she was just enough. She was perfect. She was great.”

Battavio is the fourth Salem County player to notch their 1,000th point this season, joining Donelson and boys players Luke Wood (Pennsville) and Anthony Farmer (Salem). Penns Grove’s Meely Horace (998) can join the club as early as Tuesday.

She needed 19 entering the game and set her sights on it after collecting 11 in the first half. She added nine more in the fourth quarter, including a rare four-point play with 20 seconds left that got her team to 52-48.

“I came in here and I said I’m going to get it,” Battavio said. “I do the best against good teams like this. I come in clutch when it comes to things like this and I love that.”

A free throw by Donelson after the four-point play made it 52-49, but the Wolverines had to foul to give themselves a chance and the Chiefs made three free throws in the final 15 seconds to close it out.

Battavio had envisioned reaching the milestone on one of her signature high-arching 3-pointers in a game the Wolverines would win. Instead, it came on a free throw with 5.5 seconds left in the third quarter.

In a sense, the free throw was an even better scenario because everyone in the gym knew what it was worth and it gave the player a chance to settle and savor the moment without the worry of having to immediately get back on defense. She actually made two free throws in the situation to draw the Wolverines within 36-30 at the end of the quarter.

There weren’t many who gave Woodstown much of a chance. The Chiefs (15-5) have won the tournament five of the last six years and are now in the Final Four for the eighth year in a row, but the Wolverines (14-4) were never out of the game, even when Donelson went out in foul trouble and post Shannon Pierman fouled out.

Three times they had fallen behind by 10 in the second half – as late as with 4:59 to play – and each time they climbed back into the game.

“I think a lot of people take us for granted because we’re a small school, but we wanted that more,” Battavio said. “We have a lot of more heart and it felt like it, too. We all work together, we all want it, it’s a great team.”

“For us to come in and lose by a handful, I can’t ask them for anything else,” Straughn said. “If we play like that against anybody in Group I, we’re beating them by 20 or 30. If we play like that against Wildwood, there’s no way it’s going to be the same outcome (as their 27-point loss 10 days ago). They played their butts off.”

Woodstown returns to the tournament Saturday at 8 p.m. against the loser of Sunday’s Moorestown-Gloucester Catholic game. If that happens to be Gloucester Catholic there already has been discussion of a shifting loser bracket opponents to avoid a Tri-County Conference matchup.

SJIBT ELITE EIGHT
CHEROKEE 55, WOODSTOWN 49
WOODSTOWN (14-4) – Talia Battavio 10 4-5 28, Megan Donelson 4 6-10 15, Gianna Mairoini 0 0-0 0, Alyssa Baber 0 1-2 1, Shannon Pierman 1 3-6 5, Lauren Hengle 0 0-0 0, Emma Perry 0 0-0 0. Totals 15 14-23 49.
CHEROKEE (15-5) – Brielle Alaba 4 6-8 16, Olivia Salverian 2 1-2 7, Sofia Recinto 2 0-0 4, Leila McNair 2 0-0 6, Jada Branford 6 4-6 16, Abby Ball 1 2-2 4, Jordan Arnold 1 0-2 2. Totals 18 13-20 55.

Woodstown	5	14	11	19 –	49
Cherokee	11	13	12	19 –	55

3-point goals: Woodstown 5 (Battavio 4, Donelson); Cherokee 6 (Alaba 2, Salverian 2, McNair 2). Fouled out: Pierman, Alaba, Recinto. Total fouls: Woodstown 22, Cherokee 20.

PENNSVILLE 47, WEST DEPTFORD 41: The Eagles trailed by eight entering the fourth quarter, but Nora Ausland and Taylor Bass combined for 13 points to fuel their comeback. Ausland finished with 18 points and Bass had 10.

PENNSVILLE (8-11) – Calli Ausland 1 0-0 2, Nora Ausland 7 3-3 18, Taylor Bass 5 0-1 10, Karsen Cooksey 0 0-0 0, Bella Farina 3 0-2 6, Kylie Harris 0 0-0 0, Izzy Saulin 1 0-2 2, Marley Wood 4 1-1 9. Totals 21 4-9 47.
WEST DEPTFORD (8-11) – Janie Cross 2 1-2 7, Alivia Arrera 2 0-0 4, Jescenia Diaz 1 0-0 2, DaeOnna Lawrence 3 2-3 8, Reyanna Jamison 4 2-2 10, Alyssa Taylor 0 0-0 0, Olivia Smith 0 0-0 0, Carleen Connelly 2 0-0 4, Addison Fronza 1 0-0 3, Jumanna Abdelhamid 1 1-2 3, Micahya Devose 0 0-0 0. Totals 16 6-9 41.

Pennsville	12	6	9	20 –	47
West Deptford	5	16	14	6 –	41

3-point goals: Pennsville 1 (N. Ausland); West Deptford 3 (Cross 2, Fronza). Total fouls: Pennsville 13, West Deptford 11.

Boys Games

BATTLE BY THE BAY
SALEM 61, PAULSBORO 60
PAULSBORO (8-10) – Malakhai McKenzie 6 1-2 14, Ty Hodges 5 3-7 13, Antonio Pandolfo 2 5-6 11, Ryann Briscoe 2 3-5 7, Aiden Milligan 2 0-0 6, Eric Scott 1 3-4 5, Jamal Robinson 2 0-0 4, Stephen Lane 0 0-0 0. Totals 20 15-28 60.
SALEM (13-6) – Paul Weathers 8 0-0 16, Ramaji Bundy 2 0-0 5, Jabez DeJesus 2 102 7, Tymear Lecator 5 5-6 18, Anthony Farmer 2 11-13 15. Totals 19 17-21 61.

Paulsboro	17	10	12	21 –	60
Salem	15	16	17	13 –	61

3-point goals: Paulsboro 5 (McKenzie, Pandolfo 2, Milligan 2); Salem 6 (Bundy, DeJesus 2, Lecator 3).

GLOUCESTER CATHOLIC 59, WOODSTOWN 57 (OT)
WOODSTOWN (9-7) – Blake Bialecki 6 0-0 16, M.J. Hall 2 0-2 4, Garrett Leyman 2 0-0 4, Max Webb 7 0-0 18, Rocco String 4 0-0 8, Elijah Caesar 2 0-0 5. Totals 23 0-2 57.
GLOUCESTER CATHOLIC (12-7) – Carlos Mendez 4 3-4 13, Jack Mustaro 8 3-5 22, Trey Battle 4 0-0 9, Billy Ginipro 1 0-0 3, Kyle Guldin 5 0-3 10, Ehthan Dugue 1 0-0 2. Totals 23 6-12 59.

Woodstown	12	13	17	10	5 –	57
Gloucester Cath.	14	17	11	10	7 –	55

3-point goals: Woodstown 11 (Bialecki 3, Hall 2, Webb 4, Caesar); Gloucester Catholic 7 (Mendez 2, Mustaro 3, Battle, Ginipro).

Cover photo: Woodstown’s Talia Battavio focuses on the rim as she prepares to score the 1,000th point of her high school career in the SJIBT Elite Eight against Cherokee Saturday night.

Learning curve

Couple of rough patches conspire to send Salem CC women to defeat in final home game of season

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

CARNEYS POINT – Whether you’re a new team in the game or been playing since Naismith hung his first peach basket, three principles remain true about the game. If you don’t protect the ball, rebound and finish at the rim, you don’t win.

The revived Salem Community College women’s basketball team went through three such stretches Saturday and in a 71-41 loss to Raritan Valley CC in the Dupont Field House.

**Salem CC’s Carly Santimaw (1) takes a defensive stance against Raritan Valley’s Jakayia Jenkins in Saturday’s game.**

There was a 10-0 run over the final 4:30 of the first quarter that gave the Lions control of the game. Then there was a 15-4 spree over about the same stretch in the third quarter and finally a forgettable 12-2 fourth quarter in which it didn’t score a field goal.

Take away those stretches and the Mighty Oaks (8-11) hung with a sophomore-laden team of internationals that until recently had been ranked in the JUCO Division II Top 20.

“It’s one of the things we’ve been fighting through, honestly,” Oaks coach Brian Marsh said. “Our energy was there, but our execution wasn’t there.”

That kind of thing can happen when you bring in nine players from nine different schools who played the game nine different ways and try to blend them into one system that wasn’t necessarily the one they signed up for. With a year together under Marsh’s Way next season should go a lot smoother.

“I think if we work on those things for next year they will definitely be great next year,” added Carly Santimaw, a freshman with sophomore credits from Pennsville. “It’s just kind of a learning progress, we just learn as we go and it’s the first year, so …”

The loss was Salem’s fourth in a row and forces the Oaks to win their final three games on the road to make the playoffs.

The game was Salem’s final home game of its first season since bringing the program back after a 10-year break. The school shuttered the program after the 2013-14 season.

Since revitalizing the program Marsh has been trying to spread the word that there is a program here and beating the bushes to find players. He originally was hired as an assistant coach to find players for the upstart program, then was elevated to head coach when the former coach left abruptly for the Midwest.

Both of the players who played their final home games for the Oaks Saturday joined the program after originally coming to campus to do something else. Kyla Buerger came in from Houston to play softball, but she played basketball in high school and became intrigued about helping start a program from the ground floor. Santimaw was coming to Salem just to study, but also liked what she hearing when the Oaks coaches came to her Senior Night at Salem Tech.

“I was really excited,” Buerger said. “I love being a part of stuff like this. I’m not going to lie, it’s been a tough year. We’re not the tallest (team), but it’s mainly the heart that our team has (that helps it persevere).”

“It’s a cool thing to be a part of, because we’re making history,” Santimaw said. “It’s great to be a part of that.”

The Mighty Oaks recognized one of the stars of that last team. After an exhaustive search through the archives over the summer, the school discovered Shaqui Coppage was the all-time leading scorer in program history and recognized the accomplishment at halftime.

Coppage scored 1,236 points in her two seasons (2012-13 and 2013-14) with the Oaks and is second on the school’s all-time scoring list regardless of gender. She scored 1,262 points at Salem High School before that.

She honestly didn’t know where she stood on the all-time list. When the school shut down the program, all the banners and records went into storage – until a summer intern went through them to bring the records up to date.

“It was amazing because I didn’t know any of it until now,” Coppage said. “To know all this now, with the numbers and being the all-time leading scorer, it’s overwhelming. I’m overwhelmed with different emotions. Like I want to cry, but I’m smiling real hard.”

Coppage averaged 22.9 in her sophomore year, which turned out to the program’s final season for a long time. The players learned during the year the program would be discontinued at the end of the season, but they were determined to finish strong and got the team into the playoffs for the first time in 20 years.

She was disappointed they shut it down, but was over the moon when she learned they were bringing it back.

“I was very proud of the school to do so,” she said. “Basketball was the thing that kept me going. It pushed me and for another little girl it could be the same for them, too. It was good to know they brought it back. I have a daughter as well now, so that’s something she can look forward to.”

RARITAN VALLEY 71, SALEM CC 41
RARITAN VALLEY (19-5) – Kerine Thomas 3 0-0 7, Judith Vila 7 0-0 16, Freya Rauschenfels 1 1-2 3, Lucia Noin 11 2-2 24, Quanajah Felder 3 0-0 8, JaNya Mills 2 0-1 4, Vega Gil 2 1-2 5, Julia Fontanillo 2 0-0 4, Alexis Junker 0 0-0 0. Totals 31 4-7 71.
SALEM CC (8-11) – Caroline Zullo 0-6 1-4 1, Maggie St. Clair 2-8 0-0 5, Jakayla Jenkins 1-9 5-6 7, Kyla Buerger 0-0 0-0 0, Carly Santimaw 2-12 0-0 5, Alexa Hopkins 4-8 0-0 11, Callie Rozak 0-0 0-0 0, Kathryn Laurence 4-9 2-4 12. Totals 13-52 8-14 41.

Raritan Valley	21	15	23	12 –	71
Salem CC	9	14	16	2 –	41

3-point goals: Raritan Valley 5 (Thomas, Vila 2, Felder 2); Salem CC 7-18 (St. Clair 1-2, Santimaw 1-4, Hopkins 3-4, Laurence 2-5). Total fouls: Raritan Valley 9, Salem CC 5.

Salem CC athletics director Bob Bunnell (R) recognizes Shaqui Coppage as the all-time leading scorer in the school’s women’s basketball program. On the cover, Mighty Oaks coach Brian Marsh draws up a play during a timeout in Saturday’s game.

Last look

Salem CC women’s basketball team to play its final home game of season Saturday, will recognize Oaks legend Coppage during the day

By Riverview Sports News

CARNEYS POINT – The Salem Community College revived women’s basketball team has been nothing short of road warriors this second half of the season, but Saturday the Mighty Oaks get one final chance to play at home and will recognize one of the legends of their game in the process.

The Oaks (8-10) host Raritan Valley CC (18-5) in their final home game of the season in a noon tip at DuPont Field House. They’ll be looking to snap a three-game losing streak against some of their stiffest competition of the year and secure a winning record at home for the season.

They’ve played their previous four games on the road and will wrap their revival season with three road games after Saturday’s contest.

Salem revived its women’s basketball program this season after a 10-year break from competition and the team is slowly trying to regain a foothold in the Garden State Athletic Conference and JUCO’s Region 19.

As part of the day’s events the school plans to recognize Shaqui Coppage, the fourth player to score 1,000 career points in the program’s history. That’s 1,000 points at a two-year school. Coppage also was a 1,000-point scorer at Salem High School.

Ironically, Raritan Valley was the opposition the last time Salem recognized Coppage’s milestone as a sophomore in 2014.

It’s just another way coach Brian Marsh is trying to spread the word to the community that there is a college team in their own backyard. That’s just one of the challenges one faces when restarting a program.

“It’s been a great learning experience for me,” Marsh said. “It’s not been all sunny and rainbows, but one thing is (the players) haven’t quit. They’ve fought through some things.”

Division champs

Friday roundup: Balback’s pin lifts Woodstown to Diamond Division wrestling crown; also, indoor track sectionals

By Riverview Sports News

SICKLERVILLE – The Woodstown wrestling team went hunting a division title Friday night and it went down to the wire.

Travis Balback’s first-period pin at 120 gave the streaking Wolverines a 42-34 win over Timber Creek for the Tri-County Diamond Division title. Balback pinned Matthew Steele in 1:52.

The Wolverines, who host half the bracket in the South Jersey Group I tournament Monday, are now 11-10. They were 2-9 at one point this season.

Both teams were 3-0 in the Diamond Division going into the match.

The teams traded bouts early in the match. Three straight pins by Brett Rowand (157), Zach Bevis (165) and Greyson Hyland (175) gave the Wolverines a 30-10 lead. A pin by Mateo Vinciguerra at 215 pushed the lead to 36-16, then Timber Creek won three straight bouts (285-106-113) to set the stage for the winner-take-all bout at 120.

All Balback had to do was not lose and the Wolverines would wear the crown, and he took care of business.

WOODSTOWN 42, TIMBER CREEK 34
126: Devin Karge (T) dec. Carson Bradway, 5-2
132: Alex Torres (Wo) pinned Josh Wolfenden, 1:22
138: Joey Walker (T) dec. Willem Groom, SV 4-2
144: Laitton Roberts (Wo) pinned Eric Rambaran, 2:00
150: Ryan Kuriger (T) maj. dec. over Zayden Donahue, 13-4
157: Brett Rowand (Wo) pinned Gavin Bates, 3:13
165: Zach Bevis (Wo) pinned Zyeir Green, 1:02
175: Greyson Hyland (Wo( pinned Elijah Green, 5:49
190: Amir Reason-Dallas (T) pinned Karsten Hantho, 1:42
215: Mateo Vinciguerra (Wo) pinned Josh Bartell, 1:38
285: Jayson Ross (T) pinned Andre Sinou, 0:27
106: Ryan Pancoast (T) pinned Chase Blandino, 3:58
113: Dominic Speakman (T) won by forfeit
120: Travis Balback (Wo) pinned Matthew Steele, 1:52.
Records: Woodstown 11-10, Timber Creek 10-8.

OTHER MATCHES
SCHALICK/CUMBERLAND 44, ABSEGAMI 33
106: Liam Kisby (A) pinned Caleb Jenkins, 4:19
113: DeAnthony Harden (SC) pinned Rafael Estrada-Perez, 2:40
120: Luke Silva (SC) dec. Tristan Brown, 4-0
126: Chase Williams (SC) pinned Michael Famelio, 3:25
132: Aiden Torres (A) pinned Colin Bittle, 4:22
138: Daniel Lloyd (SC) pinned Brendan Ross, 0:19
144: Ayden Jenkins (SC) won by forfeit
150: Christopher Eaton (A) pinned Michael Carastro, 0:31
157: Ibn Russell (A) dec. Riley Papiano, 1-0
165: Sebron Hall-Jones (SC) won by forfeit
175: Julian Rivera (A) pinned Jake Magonagle, 0:40
190: Brayden Wright (A) won by forfeit
215: Evan Elliott (SC) pinned Mason Tharp, 1:42
285: Noval Jenkins (SC) pinned Brandon Miller, 0:43
Schalick had 1 team point deduction (taunting 285).

BURLINGTON TWP. 37, PENNSVILLE 34
215: Messiah Malik (B) pinned Daniel Emmons, 0:12
285: Trevor Waddington (P) won by forfeit
106: Gina Shinn (P) won by forfeit
113: Xavier Moy (B) pinned Lucas Thomas, 3:58
120: Christopher Daniels (P) pinned Jacob Palentchar, 1:15
126: Kaiem Uthman (B) maj. dec. over Kameron Drummond, 20-9
132: Gabriel Supernavage (P) pinned Lucas Rush, 0:29
138: Anthony Cook (B) pinned Maddox Efelis, 0:51
144: Travis Hagan (P) dec. Nicholas Davis, SV 7-5
150: Logan Kahrs (B) dec. Sky Eppes, 9-3
157: Robbie McDade (P) maj. dec. over Dominick Saulle, 12-4
165: Eric Salazar-Hernandez (B) pinned Cole Campbell, 4:45
175: Connor Ayars (P) dec. Dylan Zerillo, 5-1
190: Jacob Davis (B) pinned Justin Oldaker, 1:48

PITMAN 42, PENNS GROVE 26
113: Skylar Nicola (P) won by forfeit
120: Double forfeit
126: Adriano Platt (P) pinned Devine Arce, 4:18
132: Adam Gonzales (PG) pinned Justin Evans, 3:18
138: Jacob Lawrence (P) pinned Raeed Clark, 0:56
144: Chris McIntyre (P) won by forfeit
150: Jonathan Bruno (P) pinned Jayden Owens, 1:55
157: Tre Brown (PG) maj. dec. over Robert Graves, 11-0
165: Chase Rollins (P) pinned Antonio Garris, 0:55
175: Dwayne Guzman (PG) won by forfeit
190: Clinton Bobo (PG) maj. dec. over Dominic Saffioti, 18-5
215: Isaiah Upshur (PG) won by forfeit
285: Aiden Milward (P) pinned Antonio Cooper, 3:49
106: Double forfeit

PENNS GROVE 54, SALEM 6
150: Jayden Owens (PG) pinned Gabrielle Johnson, 0:55
165: Antonio Garris (PG) pinned Jajuan Anderson, 3:09
Penns Grove won by forfeit at 126, 132, 138, 157, 175, 190, 215. Salem won by forfeit at 285.

PITMAN 60, SALEM 6
150: Jonathan Bruno (P) pinned Gabrielle Johnson, 0:36
157: Robert Graves (P) pinned Jahquan Gooden, 0:51
285: Abdullah Jenkins (S) pinned Nicholas Horner, 0:31
Pitman won by forfeit at 106, 126, 132, 138, 144, 165, 190, 215.

Indoor Track

TOMS RIVER – Salem County produced four sectional champions, two runner-ups and qualified 18 individuals and four relays to state across 10 events at Friday’s South Jersey Group I indoor track championship at The Bubble.

All four champions came from the girls side. Schalick’s Jordan Hadfield swept the 1600 and 3200 meter races. Salem’s Anna Buzby won the 800 and Karima Davenport-White won the 55 hurdles.

Salem’s Dominique Lewis placed second in the girls shot put and Woodstown’s Cole Lucas was runner-up in the boys 800.

Salem finished third in the girls standings with 49 points. Schalick was fifth, Woodstown eighth, Penns Grove T-10 and Pennsville T-12. On the boys side, Schalick was sixth, Salem seventh, Woodstown tenth and Penns Grove T-11.

The complete list of Salem County qualifiers to state are posted below:

GROUP I GIRLS
TEAM SCORES: Audubon 72, Clayton 59, Salem 49, Haddon Twp. 43, Schalick 22, Glassboro 15, Woodbury 15, Woodstown 12, KIPP Norcross 8, Bordentown 4, Penns Grove 2, Pennsville 2, Gateway 2, Linewold 2, Buena 1.

SALEM
Anna Buzby: 3. 400 (1:01.84); 1. 800 (2:22.30); 4. Pole vault (8-0)
Karima Davenport-White: 1. 55 hurdles (8.98); 6. 55 dash (7.76)
Sairis Jiminez: 5. 55 hurdles (10.04)
Dominique Lewis: 2. Shot put (34-10)
2. 4×400 Relay (4:22.25)

WOODSTOWN
Jaime Deal: 6. 400 (1:03.51)
Lisa Covely: 4. 55 hurdles (9.96)
Kayla Ayars: 6. 800 (2:35.05)
3. 4×400 Relay (4:23.90)

SCHALICK
Sophia Longo: 5. 800 (2:35.04)
Jordan Hadfield: 1. 3200 (11:16.06); 1. 1600 (5:12.36)

PENNSVILLE
Megan Morris: 5. Pole vault (7-6)

PENNS GROVE
Kayla Smith: 4. Shot put (32-4)

GROUP I BOYS
TEAM SCORES: Glassboro 90, Woodbury 72, Audubon 39, Haddon Twp. 24, Palmyra 15, Schalick 13, Salem 12, Burlington City 10, Clayton 10, Woodstown 9, Gateway 4, Bordentown 4, Penns Grove 4, Buena 3, Florence 1.

SALEM
Anthony Parker: 6. 400 (53.52); 3. 55 hurdles (8.04)
Kaden Robinson: 6. High jump (5-6)
Gradin Buzby: T-4. Pole vault (9-0)
6. 4×400 Relay (3:39.84)

SCHALICK
Charles Fuerneisen: 3. 1600 (4:40.28); 4. 3200 (10:26.84)
Salvatore Longo: T-4. Pole vault (9-0)

WOODSTOWN
Cole Lucas: 2. 800 (2:00.44)
Jacob Marino: 6. 3200 (10:53.60)

PENNS GROVE
4. 4×400 Relay (3:39.49)

Identity through adversity

Shorthanded Pennsville comes through a rough week 3-1 to gain confidence for stretch run; updated to include boxscores of other county games

FRIDAY’S GAMES
Boys
Pennsville 49, West Deptford 46
Riverside 59, Salem Tech 31
Schalick 49, Gateway 40
Girls
Gateway 41, Schalick 33
Gloucester Catholic 83, Salem 31
St. Joe (Hamm.) 43, Salem Tech 36

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

PENNSVILLE – No team deserves to go through the turmoil the Pennsville basketball team has endured this past week. But it happens. And because it did, it just might have been the thing the Eagles needed to establish their identity.

The Eagles have been down three starters for a variety of reasons since last Saturday. Many other teams might have packed it in, but the Eagles were determined to rise above. They went 3-1 this week without them, capped by Friday night’s 49-46 win over West Deptford.

It wasn’t easy and the bullet they dodged could have put them on the deck. They needed a big second half to beat one-win Gateway, but lost the night’s leading scorer Jayden Thomas to a severe ankle sprain in the closing seconds. They needed overtime to get past Schalick, got blown out by Woodstown Thursday and then needed a put-back by Peyton O’Brien with 18 seconds left and two Luke Wood free throws with 3.9 seconds to go to turn back West Deptford after blowing an second-half lead.

Thomas wasn’t the only one who’s been out. Center Danny Saulin was serving the final game of a four-game state/school suspension for a flagrant foul in the Triton game Saturday and they were missing Malik Rehmer for disciplinary reasons. Saulin is due back Monday, while Thomas remains day-to-day.

The Eagles came out of the gauntlet 9-11 on the season when under different outcomes they could easily be 6-14.

“We’re gaining a lot of confidence because guys are stepping up that haven’t had to step up a lot this year and we’re just coming together as a team,” O’Brien said. “Having that many issues you’re not like scared, but you know there are going to be some struggles, but I feel like we faced adversity pretty well.”

“Through the fire, now we’re stronger,” coach Joe Mecholsky said. “I didn’t think (they needed that to find their identity), but that’s the outcome. I didn’t think so, but hindsight being undefeated, that’s what we got.”

Pennsville was hot right out of the gate on this night, opening a 15-4 lead and holding a seven-point lead in the third quarter under a hail of 3-pointers. The Eagles made a season-high eight 3s in the game. They had hit eight in their previous three games combined.

Wood had six of them, including a running buzzer-beater to give them a nine-point halftime lead. He finished with 22 points and moved into fifth place on Pennsville’s all-time boys scoring list (1,107).

“When the roulette wheel keeps coming up red, red, red, red, red – missed 3s, missed 3s, missed 3s, missed 3s – it had to come up black one time,” Mecholsky said. “It came up black for us tonight. The little ball landed on the black for us tonight.”

“We haven’t been able to shoot all season and to finally break through and make some 3s, the whole team, it felt really good,” Wood said.

But their biggest plays of the game came around the basket in the final minute. After being down most of the game, West Deptford held a 46-43 lead with 1:21 to play.

Cohen Petrutz’ putback got Pennsville within one with 56 seconds left. West Deptford gave Pennsville the chance to get back in it when Aiden Cranmer missed two free throws, Mark Koszowski missed the putback and O’Brien cleared the rebound.

Wood missed a spinning layup in traffic for the lead at the other end, but O’Brien was in the perfect spot underneath to rebound and put it back to give Pennsville a 47-46 lead. O’Brien had 10 points, five rebounds and three blocked shots.

“I’m exhausted still from yesterday,” O’Brien said. “Yesterday I had to play a full game and that was a tough game, too. I tried my hardest to get that rebound, doing whatever it takes. I knew if that one didn’t go in then I had to be the one to get it back.”

Cranmer missed again with 3.9 seconds left. This time Wood rebounded and was fouled. He sank both free throws at the other end to make it a three-point game and after a time out to set the final play Cranmer missed a shot from mid-court at the buzzer.

“To go up and get shellacked last night and come back tonight and not fold under the pressure after we gave up a nine-point lead and stick to what we were doing showed a tremendous amount of fortitude in these young men,” Mecholsky said.

“I think our team has just found itself,” Wood said. “This whole past week I think we’ve jelled together, realized what everyone’s good at it, we’ve started playing together a lot better like we know we can. As a whole team it made us stronger. This whole past week I think we’ve really shown up and down our lineup we’re going to go out there and compete and we’re really a basketball team.”

PENNSVILLE 49, WEST DEPTFORD 46
WEST DEPTFORD (6-13) – Andre Johnson 4 0-1 8, Zayd Mijahid 1 0-0 3, Mark Koszowski 2 8-9 12, Jalen Chandler 0 0-0 0, Nick Senatore 4 1-2 11, Allen Eastlack 0 0-0 0, Aiden Cranmer 5 0-2 11. Totals 16 9-14 46.
PENNSVILLE (9-11) – Luke Wood 6-18 4-7 22, Peyton O’Brien 4-7 1-2 10, Cohen Petrutz 4-10 0-0 9, Mason O’Brien 0-4 3-6 3, Connor Starn 1-1 1-2 3, Carlos Merindino 1-2 0-0 2, Cole Johnston 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 16-43 9-17 49.

West Deptford	7	10	15	14 –	46
Pennsville	15	11	9	14 –	49

3-point goals: West Deptford 5 (Mujahid, Senatore 3, Cranmer); Pennsville 8-19 (Wood 6-13, P. O’Brien 1-2, Petrutz 1-3, Johnston 0-1). Total fouls: West Deptford 19, Pennsville 11.

RIVERSIDE 59, SALEM TECH 31
SALEM TECH (2-15) – Chase Wills 5 0-0 10, Haneef Frisby 4 1-2 9, Daviontae Russell 0 1-2 1, Tyler Zampino 3 0-0 6, Antoine Robinson 2 0-0 5. Totals 14 2-4 31.
RIVERSIDE (8-11) – Jashir Bridges 8 2-6 21, Carmine Smith 7 0-0 14, Jamir Brown 2 0-0 4, Cameron Brown 2 0-0 5, John Boston 0 0-0 0, Zaire Ali-Lewis 4 0-0 8, Dan Ventura 1 0-0 2, Isaiah Ali-Lewis 1 0-0 2, Anthony Martinez 0 0-0 0, Jayion Howell 0 0-0 0, John Salerno 1 0-0 3. Totals 26 2-6 59.

Salem Tech	11	9	4	9 –	31
Riverside	19	12	14	16 –	59

3-point goals: Salem Tech 1 (Robinson); Riverside 5 (Bridges 3, Brown, Salerno).

SCHALICK 49, GATEWAY 40
SCHALICK (6-10) – Levi Freeney-Childers 2 9-15 13, Jake Siedlecki 5 0-0 12, Nylan Sutton 4 1-4 9, Daniel Lis 3 0-0 7, Reggie Lewis 2 1-4 6, Nasir Sutton 1 0-0 2. Totals 17 11-23 49.
GATEWAY (1-19) – Sean Cawley 10 0-0 25, Steven Morlachetta 2 1-2 6, Nahmeire Rowe-Walls 1 1-2 4, Benji Contarino 0 3-4 3, A’Key Talley 1 0-0 2, Cody Shaw 0 0-0 0. Totals 14 5-8 40.
3-point goals: Schalick 4 (Siedlecki 2, Lis, Allen); Gateway 7 (Cawley 5, Morlachetta, Rowe-Walls).

Girls Games

GATEWAY 41, SCHALICK 33
GATEWAY (11-8) – Angelina Zagone 4 4-8 12, Gabby Gasis 1 0-0 3, Tabby Bay 1 2-4 4, Bella Fini 6 5-8 19, Molly Sholders 1 1-2 3, Sydney Hughes 0 0-0 0, Jayda Catoe 0 0-0 0. Totals 13 12-22 41.
SCHALICK (5-11) – Ava Scurry 1 0-0 2, Cianna Gaines 1 1-6 3, Taylor Sparks 3 0-0 8, Abby Willoughby 2 0-0 6, Cali Fisler 5 1-7 12, Carly Vicente 1 0-0 2. Totals 13 2-13 33.

Gateway	11	14	4	12 –	41
Schalick	6	7	2	18 –	33

3-point goals: Gateway 3 (Gasis, Fini 2); Schalick 5 (Sparks 2, Willoughby 2, Fisler). Total fouls: Gateway 12, Schalick 15.

ST. JOESEPH (HAMM.) 43, SALEM TECH 36
ST. JOSEPH (8-8) – Cassidy Perri 8 1-2 21, Erica Paranzino 3 0-0 6, Giselle Pescatore 2 0-0 4, Leylani Muniz 1 0-0 2, Madyson Longwith 4 2-2 10. Totals 18 3-4 43.
SALEM TECH (1-14) – TiRonna McGaha 1 0-2 2, Morgan VanDover 4 2-5 11, Hanna DeWitt 2 0-0 4, Kaylin Beardsley 1 0-0 3, Demajae White 2 0-0 4, Shelby Drummond 2 0-0 5, Rylee Doerr 3 1-2 7. Totals 15 3-9 36.

St. Joseph	18	6	6	13 –	43
Salem Tech	8	11	7	10 –	36

3-point goals: St. Joseph 4 (Perri 4); Salem Tech 3 (VanDover, Beardsley, Drummond).

Cover photo: Pennsville’s Peyton O’Brien puts back an offensive rebound with 18 seconds left in the game to give the Eagles the lead for good against West Deptford.

Adams steps aside

UPDATED: Adams puts family first in his decision to step away as Woodstown’s head football coach after 14 seasons, process of finding his successor will be ‘methodical’

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

WOODSTOWN – After spending more than half his life coaching other families’ kids, 18 of those years at his current school and 14 as its head coach, and a whole life ahead of him with his own, John Adams figured it was time.

Thursday afternoon, at the end of an emotional week, he quietly stepped down as Woodstown’s head football coach. He did it genuinely for family reasons.

He informed his coaching staff of his decision earlier in the week and told athletics director Joe Ursino the next day. He chose to tell the players during their weight room session Thursday, a day when the Wolverines’ basketball team had a home game and the other winter sports involving his football players didn’t have a competition.

“I basically said it came down to one major thing,” Adams told Riverview Sports News Friday morning in his first public comments on the decision. “I always would sacrifice things for the program but I always said to myself if my kids ever started having to sacrifice things for me to coach then I’d know I would need to step away.

“My son was starting to get into sports. He’s young, but it was one of those things my wife said to him do you want to play soccer or do you want to go to daddy’s game, because there was a conflict of time. His games would have been Friday nights for his age group and he said he wanted to go to daddy’s game, which I appreciated but at the same time I said a young kid shouldn’t have to be picking something I’m doing. That weighed heavy on me most of the season.”

Another element that made the timing right was the maturity level of the veteran underclassmen to handle such a transition.

Adams, 41, steps away about a season’s worth of wins short of 100 for his career, although he’s never been one to keep up with the numbers. His most recent teams have been a favorite in South Jersey Group I football only to meet some hard-luck finishes before reaching their ultimate goal.

After coming up short in the most heartbreaking of ways each of the previous two years, the Wolverines finally won the SJ Group I title this season and then fell to Glassboro on a last-minute gadget play in the Group I state semifinals.

The former Temple walk-on took the head coaching position in 2010 he admittedly wasn’t ready for but grew into the post and over the next 14 years won five division titles and made 12 playoff appearances. At least three of the seniors on this year’s team will be in the next wave of Wolverines signing to play college football next week – linebacker Jack Knorr (Kutztown), running back James Hill (Kutztown) and quarterback Max Webb (Misericordia).

“I would love to know what people could say negatively about the 14-year career he’s had as our head coach,” said Ursino, who came to Woodstown the same year as Adams. “I’m biased. John and I are friends and also as a former head coach I just look at him and look back on my career and kind of wish I could have had as much of an impact that I’ve seen John have. He was just as much a life figure, a life coach, as he was a football coach.

“I sent him a text message yesterday that it was a bittersweet day. The sweet part is we’re lucky to still have him in our building, still lucky to have him as a leader and someone who can lead our students to be productive citizens when they leave our high school. But it’s bitter because the feeling when you have a coach who’s had so much success and as much of an impact step away, it’s just a really big challenge because I want to make sure that position is filled with the respect of John in mind.”

Adams will remain at the school as a teacher, class advisor and union rep and hopes to stay involved with the strength and conditioning program if that’s the desire of the new head coach. He is hoping the school will stay in-house for his successor and the current staff, which has been together for the length of Adams’ tenure, has several viable candidates within it.

He didn’t rule out a return to coaching in the future, but for now he’s at peace with being a dad to his kids and fan to the Wolverines.

“I did pick the brains of some coaches who previously stepped away in other sports,” he said. “One thing I noticed was some of them said (they) probably stayed a year or two too long and I didn’t want that to be me. That’s why yesterday was so emotional.

“I still have a passion for it. I love the kids to death. But I didn’t ever want to get to a season where I was like gosh, can this get over, like I’m just done.”

Ursino said the process of finding Adams’ successor will not be a quick one, but a methodical one that will provide “multiple opportunities for candidates to demonstrate their ability and knowledge” so the administrative team can make an “informed decision” to identify the coach best to further their mission of “promising every Wolverine a future.”

“This is certainly not going to be the kind of shoot-from-the-hip and let’s get this in place (decision),” he said.

Adams is the third of Salem County’s five head football coaches to vacate since the end of the season, probably the largest shakeup on the county gridiron scene in a long time.

Penns Grove coach John Emel stepped down to take the West Deptford job. Salem’s Danny Mendoza stepped down a couple weeks ago to explore other opportunities. That leaves Schalick’s Mike Wilson and Pennsville’s Mike Healy as the last head coaches standing in Salem County.

Healy now becomes the longest-tenured head football coach in Salem County, beating Wilson by two years.

Reaction internally to Adams’ decision was swift and emotional. Players and former players offered the coach their thanks and messages of gratitude and appreciation on social media all night.

In reply to a post by one of his underclassmen, Adams wrote, “I am going to miss coaching you but I know the leadership is strong with you and the rest of the soon to be seniors. … I am excited to become a fan now.”

The John Adams File

YEAR	RECORD	NOTES
2023	9-3	Diamond Div. champs, Group I state semifinalist
2022	8-2	Diamond Div. champs, CJ-I semifinalist
2021	9-3	SJ-I finalist
2020	4-4
2019	9-2	CJ-I semifinalist
2018	2-8	SJ-1 first round
2017	4-6	SJ-I first round
2016	6-4	SJ-I first round
2015	6-4	Diamond Div. champs, SJ-II first round
2014	7-3	SJ-II first round
2013	11-1	Diamond Div. champs, SJ-II finalist
2012	7-4	SJ-II semifinalist
2011	6-4	Diamond Div. champs, SJ-II first round
2010	3-7
TOTAL	91-55	5 division titles, 12 playoff appearances