Month: November 2024

Oaks cut down in OT

Salem CC men hit the road for first time this season, lose six-point lead late in regulation, then the game in overtime; updated with full box score

By Riverview Sports News

BLACKWOOD – The Salem CC men’s basketball team hit the road for the first time this season Tuesday night and did a lot of things right, but in the end lost to Camden County College 102-93 in overtime to end a four-game winning streak.

On the positive side, the Mighty Oaks (6-2) had one of their better shooting nights of the season – both from the field and behind the arc – had a six-point lead in the final 1:30 of regulation and had the shot they wanted at the end.

But in the end, they didn’t follow the game plan in overtime and missed too many free throws in crucial situations.

“I think we handled it fairly well, except for when we didn’t,” Oaks coach Mike Green said. “The guys shot it better, the ball moved some. I think had too big of a lapse when it’s time to win the game.”

The Oaks shot 30-of-72 from the floor and were a season-best 13-of-28 from 3-point range. They were 20-of-29 from the free throw line.

They placed four scorers in double figures. Xavier Brewington continued his hot streak, scoring a career-high 22 points along with seven rebounds and seven assists. He was 8-of-12 from the floor, 4-of-8 from 3-point range. The freshman from Dover is averaging 18.3 points, 6.8 rebounds and 4.5 assists over his last four games.. 

“Some other guys played well (too),” Green said, “but he’s pushing us in the right direction. He’s playing really good basketball right now.”

Tyrese Fortune had 16 points, Niame Scott 14 and Stefan Phillips 11. Josh Ramos had nine – all from 3-point range. Phillips was 7-of-8 from the free throw line and is now 21-of-23 there for the season. Fortune had eight rebounds and Phillips had six.

The game was tied at 87 with nine seconds left in regulation. Scott had a layup at the buzzer to win it, but the shot didn’t fall. In overtime it was all Camden (5-2).

“We didn’t follow the scouting report,” Green said. “The scouting report is simple for those guys. We didn’t follow it all game and it came back to bite us in the butt.”

The Oaks don’t play again until they visit Thaddeius Stevens on Dec. 3. After playing eight games in 17 days, Green is giving the players off from basketball through the weekend so they can focus on academics.

Camden CC 102, Salem CC 93 (OT)

SALEM CC (6-2) – Xavier Brewington 8-12 2-4 22, Tyrese Fortune 6-15 2-3 16, Niame Scott 4-10 4-6 14, Stefan Phillips 2-3 7-8 11, Josh Ramos 3-8 0-2 9, A.J. Jones 3-6 1-2 8, Tyrone Tolson 3-7 0-0 7, Rodney Shelton 1-7 2-2 6, Shyheed Taylor 0-1 2-2 2, Tivon Woolford 0-1 0-0 0, Julien Jones 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 30-72 20-29 93.
CAMDEN CC (5-2) – Tyson Shaw 4-10 5-8 13, Demere Hollingsworth 7-11 3-4 19, Mikey Campbell 7-12 0-0 14, Elijah Hightower 11-16 3-4 25, Jacquez Williams 3-5 3-3 11, Christian Barksdale 1-1 0-0 2, Noah Allen 2-3 0-0 4, Charlie LeBarre 0-0 0-0 0, Davit Geleshvilli 2-4 0-0 4, Cam Rembert 4-4 0-0 8, Titus Blalock 0-4 2-3 3, Matt Dicristo 0-3 0-0 0. Totals 41-73 16-22 102.

Salem CC 46416-93
Camden CC414615-102

3-point goals: Salem CC 13-28 (Brewington 4-8, Fortune 2-2, Scott 2-4, Ramos 3-8, A. Jones 1-2, Tolson 1-2, Woolford 0-1, J. Jones 0-1); Camden CC 4-12 (Hollingsworth 2-5, Williams 2-2, Gelashvilli 0-1, Blalock 0-4). Rebounds: Salem CC 32 (Brewington 7, Fortune 8); Camden CC 35 (Hollingsworth 8, Hightower 6. Technical fouls: Hightower. Fouled out: Fortune. Total fouls: Salem CC 16, Camden CC 23.

Getting to know …

Nora Ausland, Pennsville’s puzzle master

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

PENNSVILLE – Every athlete looks forward to that special year that’s their senior high school season, but Pennsville girls basketball player Nora Ausland has a lot more than one reason to be excited about the year ahead.

AUSLAND

One last chance to play the game she’s dedicated her life to is only part of it. She has the chance to finish her high school career for the coach she started it with at another school, she’s on the verge of becoming a 1,000-point scorer and later in the year she’ll get to play in an NBA arena.

Along the way she may even rekindle the spark for a sport she loves but has been muted a little over the past two seasons, perhaps rekindle it to the point of wanting to play on the next level.

The final adventure started for Ausland Tuesday afternoon, but before taking part in her first preseason practice she spent some a few minutes with Riverview Sports News talking about her hopes and expectations for the year ahead and putting together the puzzle that has made her the player she has become.

RIVERVIEW SPORTS NEWS: Today was your first day of practice for your senior season. There’s a lot going on in the Pennsville girls basketball program this year. What are you hopes and expectations for your senior year?

NORA AUSLAND: I hope I can reach my 1,000 points this season, which would be exciting for me, and I hope we can all learn to play together and learn to grow so we have a good season this year.

RSN: How much have you been anticipating your senior season?

NA: I didn’t think I would be so excited or so scared, but now that I’m here I’m like a little excited to play.

RSN: You’ve got a lot going on – a new coach, going for 1,000 points, playing in an NBA arena late in the season – so how interesting a year will it be?

NA: I think it’s the coolest season I’ve had yet. I forgot we were going to the NBA court (they play Clayton in the Wells Fargo Center Feb. 11), and I get to score my 1,000 and have another chance to play and have fun.

RSN: How excited were you when Coach Merritt got the job. You played for him your freshman year at Salem. Are you excited to be with him again?

NA: I was very excited when I found out he had the job because freshman year was one of my best years yet and it was one of my favorite years, so I’m glad he’s back and that he’s here to coach us and help us.

RSN: How was your experience with him that one year and what’s he going to bring to your program that may be different than what’s been here before?

NA: Freshman year was one of my best year. Not only does he like tell us what to do he helps us figure out what to do and figure out how to do it and he helps people who aren’t as skilled to learn the skill, which is why I like him so much. A few of our girls need to grow more and learn more, so I’m glad he’s back.

It was fun playing for him because it wasn’t like you’d just practice, practice, practice, we would have fun. At the end of it he would allow us to shoot for fun, so it was fun. He can be (a tough guy) if you’re not paying attention or goofing off, but usually no.

RSN: Have you ever been served by him at the ice cream stand? (Merritt helps out at Hudock’s Custard Stand in Salem during ice cream season).

NA: I have not. I didn’t go there this year at all.

Nora Ausland (yellow shirt) and her Pennsville basketball teammates listen to new coach Steve Merritt talk about the season ahead. Ausland started her high school career playing for Merritt at Salem.

RSN: How was your first year at Pennsville last year and how quick was the adjustment?

NA: I’m glad everyone accepted me because I was a new student and a new player on a new team. I’m friends with everyone. The coaching really messed me up last year. It was different. I wasn’t used to that.

The transfer was fine. A bunch of people came up to me and talked to me and invited me to do stuff, which is nice, so I could fit in. Coming here was a great idea.

RSN: I know you’re on the verge of 1,000 points. (She needs 193 points to become the eighth Pennsville girls with 1,000 and needs 98 rebounds for 500 of those). How big a goal is that for you?

NA: It wasn’t even something that was in my that I could do, but after my freshman year and I got as many points as I did I realized that wow I can actually do this. But my sophomore year when I broke my foot, I was gone for half a season, really worried me because I didn’t know if I’m going to be able to do that. But last year and this year it’s going to be a good year so I’ll definitely be able to get that.

RSN: Did your brother getting it inspire you to want to do it? (Gage Ausland graduated from Salem in 2020 with 1,144 points at Salem and is 32nd on the Salem County boys scoring list.)

NA: I guess my dad influenced me the most. He’d always tell me to work hard, don’t give up, when you’re in the game actually try, don’t sit there and be whatever. I want to try this year. I want to get my 1,000th point.

RSN: If you play to last year’s scoring average (13.8 ppg), 1000 would come Jan. 23 at home against Salem. If you play to your career average (12.8), it would come Jan. 28 at home against Overbrook. Would you rather get it against your old team, the Wells Fargo Center or it doesn’t matter as long as you get it? 

NA: It doesn’t really matter where it happens, once I get it I’ll be happy for myself, but having it in the Wells Fargo Center would be pretty cool. That would be nice.

RSN: How did you learn about the team playing in the Wells Fargo Center? How much are you looking forward to the experience and what’s the biggest arena you’ve ever played in before?

NA: My dad told me. I guess he got the schedule and then he told me about it and I was like, that’s really cool.

I don’t think I’ve ever played in a big arena, just high school gyms. I’ve been in the Salem Community College gym, but that’s pretty much it. Playing in the Wells Fargo Center definitely will be like a once-in-a-lifetime thing, especially this young. I’m very excited. I’m very nervous, too. That’s a lot of pressure.

RSN: You’re a basketball-only player, don’t do anything else but play basketball. What’s it like dedicating yourself to one sport all year round?

NA: It feels good knowing that I can get better every year and work all the time all year round and not have another sport in my way in doing something that I actually want to do. Having only one sport, I think that’s good for me. It’s basketball, I grew up on basketball. It’s the only sport I like.

RSN: What’s the neatest basketball experience you’ve ever had?

NA: Probably my freshman year, our first round of the playoffs. We were the higher seed and we were told we were going to lose, but we actually won that game. It was a really fun experience. (Seventh-seeded Salem beat Schalick 34-27 and Ausland had 15 points, 18 rebounds and six blocked shots).

RSN: Earlier this month a lot of seniors signed to play college sports. Were you one of them or have you committed to college going forward? Basically, where’s your recruiting stand?

NA: I don’t want to play in college. The past two years, sophomore and junior years, the coaches made me lose my love for basketball.

Maybe I can get the spark back this year. I probably can because I have Merritt as a coach. I hope I can.

RSN: So what are your plans beyond high school?

NA: I’m going to go to Salem Community College for however long it is to get my Associate’s in accounting and then go to Rowan to do my accounting classes.

RSN: When did you make that decision to not play college basketball?

NA: Last year. It was hard (and she starts tearing up as she thinks about it). I always said I want to go to the WNBA, blah, blah, blah, but the past two years just messed with me. 

RSN: Let’s wrap up with some fun stuff. What do you do off the basketball court?

NA: I don’t do much. I just go to school and then to practice and then go home. I don’t do much.

I do puzzles.

RSN: See, there’s something. What’s the biggest puzzle you’ve put together?

NA: A 2,000-piece. It was a picture of Las Vegas. I have like 10 puzzles all done and I hang them up on my wall. I like the challenge of it.

The first one I did I started in eighth grade and then I just stopped doing it because I couldn’t do it, and then I picked it back up again my sophomore year. The Las Vegas one took me four days. My 100-piece ones or 1000-piece ones took me like a day or two.

Breaking it down

Taking a look at the Group I championship game from the unique perspective of a coach who played both finalists this season

EDITOR’S NOTE: Schalick football coach Mike Wilson is uniquely qualified to break down Friday’s Group I championship game between Cedar Grove and Glassboro. His Cougars played Cedar Grove in their first game of the year (Battle at the Beach) and Glassboro – twice actually – in their final game (South Jersey Group I final). They are the only team in the state to play both finalists in any of the five public school title games.

By Mike Wilson
Special to Riverview Sports News

OVERVIEW 

Cedar Grove (13-0) has scored 557 points this year (42.8 ppg). Quarterback Stephen Paradiso has thrown for 3,501 passing yards and 42 touchdowns against only seven interceptions. The Panthers have rushed for 1,216 yards as a team and scored 26 touchdowns on the ground. This is a high-powered, no huddle, Air Raid Offense that has been tough to stop this year. 

The Cedar Grove defense has been good this year as well only giving up 13 points per game over 13 games. 

Glassboro (12-0) has Division I talent all over the field led by the Sabb brothers, Xavier and Amari, and the addition of senior transfer running back Kenny Smith has been tremendous for the Bulldogs. 

Amari Sabb has caught 56 passes for 1,049 yards and 12 touchdowns and Xavier Sabb has caught 43 for 774 yards and 11 touchdowns. Smith has rushed for 1,407 yards and 19 touchdowns in nine games (he had to sit the first three as a senior transfer). Their two quarterbacks, Kris Foster and Jack O’Connell both have thrown for more than 1,000 yards and have 30 combined touchdown passes.

Glassboro relies on a defense that only gives up five points per game. 

Schalick head coach Mike Wilson talks to his team after a game. The Cougars played both teams in this year’s Group I championship game, Cedar Grove and Glassboro. (Photo by Heather Papiano)

AT FIRST GLANCE 

Cedar Grove and Glassboro are two of the best football teams I have seen in a long time. It’s going to be a great match up. 

Having played both of them, Cedar Grove doesn’t look impressive on film but they are impressive in person. The Panthers are a different level in person, well coached, know their system very well and execute on a high level. 

Glassboro is just physically tough and have playmakers everywhere. It’s not easy to beat the Bulldogs because of their sheer physical nature of play. It reminds me of playing Bridgeton while I was in high school. 

KEYS TO VICTORY

Can Cedar Grove protect their quarterback against the Front 5 of Glassboro? 

Cedar Grove throws the ball an awful lot. I think we can all agree Glassboro has a very good front five; they’ve only given up like five points per game this year. They’re good, they’re star-studded, they’re big, they’re fast, they’re physical. But Cedar Grove is very good at pass protection. We threw a lot at them and they picked everything up.

That’s going to be the matchup going into the game. I can see Glassboro dominating, but I can also see Cedar Grove picking it up because I’ve seen it on both side.

Can Glassboro slow down an offense that they haven’t seen before? 

Nobody runs what they’re going to see. Nobody they play this year runs anything close to that.

It’s a spread offense, but it’s Air Raid. They’re the fastest no-huddle team I’ve seen ever live for high school football. And the pass concepts they ran, nobody in Glassboro’s schedule runs any of that stuff.

It’s very unique. You can’t practice it. It’s hard to replace stuff that you don’t do. It all depends on how fast Glassboro can ease into the game. Kind of like the Eagles (Sunday) night where the defense took about two or three series to get used to what the Rams were doing and then they were fine the rest of the game. Can you ease into the game when it’s still close?

Can Cedar Grove protect against the big play capability of the Sabbs and Smith?

I think so. Of all the teams we played this year, Cedar Grove is very fundamentally sound. I would think they’ll make Glassboro work for it. I don’t think you’re going to see Cedar Grove line up wrong, be out of place. 

Glassboro might just have better athletes than them, but Cedar Grove is not going to line up wrong, they’ll be in the right spots. It’s can their athletes match up direct with (Glassboro’s) athletes.

Who will win the special teams battle? 

Cedar Grove has a very good placekicker (Sebastian Kovacs). That kid’s going to put the ball in the end zone every time. He can kick a field goal because he has a leg and a half. (Kovacs is 7-of-9 on field goals, long of 42; 70 of 72 on PATs). The quarterback does the punting and the flip side of it is Glassboro hasn’t punted the football in over a month. So, if I’m Cedar Grove I want those guys to punt. And if you look back to how Glassboro got beat last year, I think Mountain Lakes blocked a kick or two.

I think the third phase of the game, if it’s close, can decide the game.

Left cover photo: Schalick kicker Hunter Dragotta (12) tries to corral Cedar Grove receiver Jackson Morrice during their season opener. Right cover photo: Glassboro’s Jordan Gravener (75) wraps up Schalick’s Reggie Allen during the South Jersey Group I championship game. (Photos by Heather Papiano)

Salem CC women fall

Cold shooting start conspires to let a home game Mighty Oaks believe they should have won slip away

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

CARNEYS POINT – It’s never too early to start talking about saving the season.

After losing one of the those winnable home games that got away Saturday, 81-71 to Essex, Salem CC women’s coach Brian Marsh had his team in the dressing room contemplating what kind of team it wanted to be this season.

“Do they want to make the playoffs or do they just want to be a team that’s average,” Marsh said. “They have a chance to do something really special here, but in this league anybody can be beat at any time, that’s the thing they have to realize. You’re not just going to walk on these courts and beat people anymore, it’s just not going to happen … especially in this league where you have teams ranked in the top 25 in the country.

“You’ve got to get wins when you can get them. I think this was one we let slip away.”

Sure, the margin made it look like a close game, but the Oaks (3-2) shot it terribly in the first half and dug themselves a hole too big to get out from.

Kathryn Laurence hit a 3-pointer on their first shot of the game, but then they went 7-for-39 the rest of the half. They were 10-for-49 when they were 18 points down with four minutes left in the third quarter. They took 20 more shots than the Wolverines (2-3) in the game and made two fewer field goals.

The Wolverines had only seven players and their entire starting five scored in double figures. Natalie Fonseca led all scorers with 23 points. Mia Marie Thomas and Basirat Amirashaun each had 17. Amirashaun also had a game-high 16 rebounds., six assists and five steals.

The only reason the Oaks got as close as they did at the end is because Maggie St. Clair started hitting from the outside. She nailed four 3-pointers in the fourth quarter and finished with a team-high 17 points.

“I told them at halftime we were missing a lot of shots and if we’re not making shots we’ve got to make it up somewhere,” Marsh said. “We’ve got to rebound, we’ve got to get some steals, we’ve got to get some pressure on their guards and we’ve got to get some easy baskets, and we just didn’t do it

“I just don’t think our energy level was where it needed to be. We’re still teaching this team a sense of urgency, where can we get better. This is a game at home that we should have won.

“I think we’ve won games like this in the past, especially in the preseason where we’re able to turn it on in the third quarter and win and it eventually caught up to us. Unfortunately, we didn’t match their intensity.”

Essex CC 81, Salem CC 71

ESSEX CC (2-3) – Natalie Fonseca 9-17 5-7 23, Mia Marie Thomas 4-13 9-12 17, Katherinne Avecillas 6-10 0-1 14, Basirat Amirashaun 6-16 4-6 17, Kayley Lynch 3-5 4-7 10, Mannal Sanni 0-0 0-0 0, Kousassi Yao 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 28-62 22=33 81.
SALEM CC (3-2) – Maggie St. Clair 6-15 1-2 17, Dani Gustin 2-7 0-0 4, Kathryn Laurence 2-11 1-3 7, Jakayla Jenkins 4-10 0-0 8, Akira Chambers 3-5 2-2 8, RayNescia King 0-1 2-2 2, Myaijah Jackson 3-8 4-6 10, Caroline Zullo 3-8 0-0 6, Geovanna Tjaden 3-6 0-0 8, Jolee Robinson 0-1 0-0 0, Imara James 0-5 0-0 0, Alexa Hopkins 0-5 1-2 1. Totals 26-82 11-17 71.

Essex CC 22112523-81
Salem CC13141529-71

3-point goals: Essex 3-13 (Fonseca 0-4, Thomas 0-3, Avecillas 2-5, Amirashaun 1-1); Salem CC 8-28 (St. Clair 4-9, Laurence 2-8, King 0-1, Jackson 0-1, Zullo 0-1, Tjaden 2-5, Hopkins 0-3). Rebounds: Essex 46 (Amirashaun 16, Lynch 7); Salem CC 38 (Gustin 8, Tjaden 7). Fouled out: Lynch, Jackson, Tjaden. Total fouls: Essex 18, Salem CC 24.

In a great place

Salem CC men complete season-opening homestead 6-1 after beating Atlantic Cape; Brewington on a three-game tear

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

CARNEYS POINT – When Coach Mike Green and Xavier Brewington got this year’s Salem CC basketball schedule and saw the first seven games of the season all were at home they genuinely thought the Mighty Oaks could go through the run undefeated.

Outside circumstances have since prevented that from happening – not by much – but they’re still in a pretty good neighbood.

The Oaks reached the end of their season-opening homestand Saturday with a 72-63 win over Atlantic Cape CC and are quite happy with the 6-1 record it produced. The only blemish is a loss to Delaware Tech. They’ve won four in a row., the longest streak since Jan. 25-Feb. 5, 2022 (five games).

“To be honest I thought we wouldn’t lose a game,” Green said. “We had a bunch of kids that we thought were going to be eligible. Think about it, there’s a 6-6 kid, a 6-5 kid, a 6-3 kid, so you’d be that much bigger and stronger.

“I was thinking 7-0, to be honest; I had hi-i-i-gh hopes, man. But where we are is great. We’re in a great place. These guys picked up the slack. We’ll be stronger in January.”
 
The Oaks strained the theory of being better shooters in the Saturday afternoon in the first half, but they came out with a different vibe in the second half that carried them to the victory.

When the Oaks guard better, they shoot better, and they did both to start the second half. They went on an impressive 21-1 run over the first five minutes of the half to turn a seven-point halftime deficit into a 13-point lead and then kept the Bucs at arm’s length the rest of the game.

They forced the Buccaneers (2-5) into six turnovers during that stretch and scored points (13) off all of them.

“During halftime we had a talk like we’re better than this and we had to push it,” Brewington said. “Coach told us we had to fight through it, it was going to be a dogfight the whole game. They’re not sweet, they’re a really good team, so we had to play as team and play harder than them.

“It’s not even halftime, it’s during the games, too. Coach is very blunt with us. He’ll tell what we need to do, what we need to get right. We take it to the chin and we’ve just got to push through it and do what the coaches tell us to do. That’s how it’s about winning.”

Brewington came off screens to hit a 3 and a 2 to give the Oaks the lead and then hit back-to-back 3s later in the half to keep the lead in double digits. The freshman scored a career-high 20 points and has scored 51 points in his last three games. 

He was 7-of-14 from the field against the Bucs and hit 5 of 9 from 3-point range against the Bucs. He also grabbed six rebounds, dealt six assists and played solid defense on the Bucs’ Christopher Parker. In his three-game hot streak Brewington is 16-of-33 from the field, 8-of-13 from 3, and 11-of-12 from the line.

“X is a good basketball player,” Green said. “He’s got to get comfortable. A too comfortable X is a danger to us. A comfortable X, a confident X, is a really, really good player. He hasn’t shown it; he’s been showing it these last (three) games. 

“He’s very comfortable and he’s confident right now. We’re trying to get the rest of our guys up there because there’s a bunch of them who can play. We’ve got to get them confident. We’ve got to get them comfortable.”

Rodney Shelton and Niame Scott also scored in double figures for the Oaks, putting up 12 points apiece. Scott also grabbed a team-high nine rebounds

The Oaks shot 41 percent overall (54-133) and 42 percent from 3-point range (28-of-67) in their two previous Saturday wins, a marked improvement from their colder hand during the midweek night games. 

But in the first half against the Bucs they were just 12-of-38 from the floor and 4-of-23 from 3-point range. They missed their last 12 shots from behind the arc.

But in the second half, shooting towards the windows that let in the daylight, they were 8-of-17 from 3-point range. Shyheed Taylor drained one from the top of the key to open the half and the Oaks were off and running. They hit four 3s in the opening salvo and six of their first nine shots overall.

Now the scenery changes. The Oaks play their next two games and four of the next five on the road.

“That might be better for us,” Green said. “I know when I played I used love being on the road, so maybe some of these guys can come out of their shell on the road.”

Salem CC 72, Atlantic Cape 63

ATLANTIC CAPE (2-5) – Deandre Brown 1-1 0-0 3, Jeremy Ellis 8-13 0-0 16, Jalen Jenkins 0-5 0-0 0, Omero Chevere 2-9 1-2 6, Christopher Parker 4-12 3-4 12, Maquaje McDaniels 3-9 2-2 9, Samir Jones 0-1 1-2 1, Ramar Cook 1-3 0-0 2, Semajah Echols 6-14 2-2 14. Totals 25-67 9-12 63.
SALEM CC (6-1) – Tyrese Fortune 2-9 0-0 4, Josh Ramos 1-4 0-0 3, Xavier Brewington 7-14 1-2 20, Rodney Shelton 6-8 0-0 12, Shyheed Taylor 1-3 3-3 6, Niame Scott 3-14 4-5 12, Julien Jones 1-1 0-0 2, A.J. Jones 1-8 2-3 5, Tivon Woolford 1-3 0-0 2, Tyrone Tolson 2-6 0-1 6, Stefan Phillips 0-1 0-0 0, Sami Anderson 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 25-72 10-15 72.

Atlantic Cape CC 3528-63
Salem CC2844-72

3-point goals: Atlantic Cape 4-13 (Brown 1-1, Ellis 0-1, Chevere 1-4, Parker 1-3, McDaniels 1-3, Echols 0-1); Salem CC 12-40 (Fortune 0-4, Ramos 1-4, Brewington 5-9, Taylor 1-1, Scott 2-7, A. Jones 1-7, Woolford 0-1, Tolson 2-6, Anderson 0-1). Rebounds: Atlantic Cape 47 (Ellis 13, Echols 8, Parker 7); Salem CC 37 (Scott 9, Brewington 6, Shelton 6). Total fouls: Atlantic Cape 11, Salem CC 14.

Cover photo of Salem CC’s Xavier Brewington by John Holt.

Wolverines stopped in semis

A tough first quarter sends Woodstown to defeat in Group 1 state semifinals, Glassboro headed back to state title game

GROUP I SEMIFINALS
Glassboro 36, Woodstown 0
Cedar Grove 52, Butler 21
CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
Glassboro vs. Cedar Grove

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

GLASSBORO – The Woodstown coaches gathered their players at the 30-yard line for one final post-game huddle. While the other team celebrated at the other end of the field, the coaches stood before the Wolverines and one by one told them how proud they were of what they had done this season.

The comments were genuine, the sudden finality made it emotional, but it really wasn’t the message the players were prepared to hear. The Wolverines came into this cold, rainy night with designs on getting to the state championship game. 

But Glassboro scored three touchdowns in the first quarter and rode them to a 36-0 win that sent them to Group I title game for the second straight year and ended the Wolverines’ season one game short of the promised land for the second year in a row.

“The game didn’t have the outcome we wanted, but we fought through everything,” Woodstown senior running back Bryce Belinfanti said. “We had fun in our last game and we just trooped it out. That’s what it was about, trooping it out. Everyone on the field has character and that’s something we’ll walk away with forever.”

The undefeated Bulldogs (12-0), who now face undefeated Cedar Grove in next week’s title game, jumped out to a 22-0 lead in the first quarter with the help of a couple happy accidents.

Amari Sabb took a pop pass from Jack O’Connell 7 yards to open the scoring, then Kenny Smith scored on a pair of 1-yard runs after the Bulldogs recovered back-to-back onsides kicks that looked like brilliant strategy but actually weren’t planned at all.

Freshman Moses Robles, Glassboro’s kickoff specialist, just missed both kicks. Mehki Parker recovered the first one at the Woodstown 45, Davon Barr got the second at the 50 and it didn’t take long for the Bulldogs to find the end zone after either one.

“We didn’t plan it,” Glassboro coach Timmy Breaker said. “He just kind of muffed it on both of them and they got both of them. That changed the game. We didn’t plan for that to happen and when it happened a second time around I couldn’t believe it. A broken clock is right twice a day.”

“It didn’t surprise me, really,” Belinfanti said. “It’s the semis, people gotta do what they’ve gotta do to win.”

Although his two touchdown runs were short, Smith wound up rushing for 204 yards to close in on 5,000 career yards. The senior transfer set the tone for the Bulldogs when he broke off a 59-yard run on their first play from scrimmage and he had a 48-yard run in the middle of the second quarter worthy of its own SportsCenter moment.

“He’s made our offense so dynamic,” Breaker said. “He’s made us so explosive. Having a seasoned guy, a senior, back there able to run that football and sometimes you just lean on him to do it. In a game like this – we talked about it earlier at school – we knew coming out he was getting that ball and he was excited for it.”

Glassboro’s Kenny Smith (3) watches intently as teammate Xavier Sabb tries to elude Woodstown’s Rocco String Friday night. (Photo by Ellen Sickler)

Xavier Sabb went 22 yards with a screen pass in the final minute of the second quarter to give the Bulldogs a 30-0 halftime lead.

“We made some mistakes early, we put ourselves in a little bit of a hole,” Woodstown coach Frank Trautz said. “That’s a very talented team over there. I don’t think the score was indicative of the guys we have, but it is what it is tonight. We just came up short.”

Trautz appealed to his players’ legacy in his halftime speech and the Wolverines showed a lot of moxie in the second half. He noted the players have been teammates since they were little and may be heading into their final 24 minutes together so make the most of them.

They responded by driving into the red zone on their opening possession of the half before turning it over. They also stopped the Bulldogs with an interception by Carter Orlandini and a fumble recovery in the red zone. The only touchdown Glassboro scored after halftime came on a 6-yard pick-six in the fourth quarter.

“We found ourselves in a big hole, but the second half we battled,” quarterback Garrett Leyman said. “We never gave up and I think anybody who was here can see that. (The second half) just showed we never give up, it doesn’t matter what the score is, what the weather is, wer’e never ready to go home, and we showed it tonight.”

The Wolverines (10-2) reached the state semifinals for the second year in a row with a first-year head coach and quarterback in the second half of the year that hadn’t played the position since eighth grade. 

Leyman, a senior receiver and defensive back, burst on the scene as a quarterback with a four-touchdown debut at Salem and stayed in the position the rest of the season as Jack Holladay never returned from his shoulder injury and directed the Wolverines to four wins.

Their only two losses of the season both came to Glassboro – in the Diamond Division title game and Friday night – prompting the stadium public address announcer to say the Wolverines would have had an undefeated season if it weren’t for the Bulldogs.

“I think I had a lot of things I could’ve cleaned up and done better for my team,” Leyman said. “I’m proud of myself for stepping up, (but) I just think there’s a lot I could’ve done to change the outcome. This wasn’t the final goal. We wanted to make it to the state championship.”

Glassboro 36, Woodstown 0

WOODGLASS
71st Downs17
37-90Rushing25-261
2-3-1C-A-I11-14-1
9Passing109
5-4Fum-lost1-1
2-24.5Punts0-0
3-25Penalties8-50
Woodstown (10-2) 0000-0
Glassboro (12-0)22806-36

SCORING SUMMARY
G-Amari Sabb 8 pass from Jack O’Connell (kick failed), 8:17 1Q
G-Kenny Smith 1 run (Amari Sabb run), 5:53 1Q
G-Kenny Smith 1 run (Xavier Sabb pass from Jack O’Connell), 2:07 1Q
G-Xavier Sabb 22 pass from Jack O’Connell (Amari Sabb run), 33.5 2Q
G-Maurice Davis 6 interception return (kick failed), 9:18 4Q

NJSIAA PLAYOFFS
GROUP 2 SEMIFINALS
Rumson-Fair Haven 44, Point Pleasant Bobo 10
Shabazz 8, Hanover Park 7
CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
Rumson-Fair Haven vs. Shabazz

GROUP 3 SEMIFINALS
Old Tappan 43, Pascack Valley 14
Mainland 36, Somerville 35
CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
Old Tappan vs. Mainland

GROUP 4 SEMIFINALS
Phillipsburg 35, Ramapo 6
Millville at Winslow (Saturday)
CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
Phillipsburg vs. Millville-Winslow

GROUP 5 SEMIFINALS
Union City 42, East Orange 0
Toms River North 27, Washington Twp. 10
CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
Union City vs. Toms River North

NON-PUBLIC A SEMIFINALS
St. Joseph (Mont.) at Bergen Catholic (Saturday)
Don Bosco Prep 35, St. Augustine 14
CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
St. Joseph (Mont.)-Bergen Catholic vs. Don Bosco Prep

NON-PUBLIC B SEMIFINALS
(Saturday Games)
Holy Spirit at DePaul
St. John Vianney at Pope John
CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
Holy Spirit-DePaul vs. St. John Vianney-Pope John

Woodstown’s Bump Carter (71) gets a line on Glassboro’s Amari Sabb during their Group I state semifinal game Friday night. (Photo by Ellen Sickler)

Salem winter sports

Here is the complete 2024-25 Salem County winter sports schedule; look for the weekly schedule on the website starting in December; x-scrimmage

NOV. 23
MENS COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Atlantic Cape CC at Salem CC, 2 p.m.
WOMENS COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Essex County at Salem CC, noon

NOV. 26
MENS COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Salem CC at Camden County, 7 p.m.

DEC. 3
MENS COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Salem CC at Thaddeus Stevens, 7 p.m.
WOMENS COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Salem CC at Union, 5 p.m.

DEC. 6
SWIMMING
Salem vs. Gloucester Catholic at GCIT, 7 p.m.
Schalick vs. Woodstown at GCIT, 8:30 p.m.

DEC. 7
BOYS BASKETBALL
x-Penns Grove at Egg Harbor Twp., noon
MENS COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Bergen CC at Salem CC, 2 p.m.
WOMENS COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Raritan Valley CC at Salem CC, noon

DEC. 9
GIRLS BASKETBALL
x-Gloucester City at Salem Tech
x-Millville at Pennsville
x-Pleasantville at Penns Grove
x-Salem at Paulsboro
x-Schalick at Oakcrest
BOYS BASKETBALL
x-Atlantic Tech at Salem
x-Cedar Creek at Schalick
x-Penns Grove at Lindenwold

DEC. 10
GIRLS BASKETBALL
x-Penns Grove, Winslow at Highland
x-Woodstown at Moorestown Friends
BOYS BASKETBALL
x-Moorestown Friends at Woodstown
BOWLING
Salem Tech vs. ACIT
MENS COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Salem CC at Ocean County, 5 p.m.
WOMENS COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Salem CC at CC of Morris, 5 p.m.

DEC. 11
GIRLS BASKETBALL
x-Paulsboro at Schalick
x-Schalick at Bridgeton
BOYS BASKETBALL
x-Salem at Hammonton
x-Schalick at Winslow
x-West Deptford at Salem Tech
BOWLING
Salem vs. West Deptford at Bolero Lanes

DEC. 12
GIRLS BASKETBALL
x-Cumberland at Pennsville
x-Schalick at Salem
BOYS BASKETBALL
Mastery Charter at Salem Tech
x-Pennsville at Cumberland
x-Penns Grove at Egg Harbor Twp.
x-Lower Cape May at Schalick
x-Salem at Vineland
x-Woodstown at Gateway
SWIMMING
Schalick vs. Highland at GCIT, 4:45 p.m.
Salem vs. Pitman at GCIT, 5:45 p.m.
BOWLING
Salem vs. Gloucester City at Westbrook Lanes
Salem Tech vs. Clayton at Wood Lanes
MENS COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Salem CC at Williamson Trades, 7 p.m.
WOMENS COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Bucks County CC at Salem CC, 5 p.m.

DEC. 13
GIRLS BASKETBALL
x-Hammonton at Woodstown

DEC. 14
BOYS BASKETBALL
Penns Grove Showcase
Glassboro vs. Lindenwold
Salem vs. Woodbury, 4:30 p.m.
Paulsboro at Penns Grove, 6 p.m.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Penns Grove Showcase
Bridgeton at Penns Grove, 1 p.m.
Glassboro vs. Woodbury
WRESTLING
Schalick Holiday Tournament
Woodstown in Delaware Valley Tournament
MENS COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Brookdale CC at Salem CC, noon
WOMENS COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Salem CC at Lackawanna, noon

DEC. 16
GIRLS BASKETBALL
x-Pennsville at Palmyra
x-Woodstown at Kingsway
BOYS BASKETBALL
x-Clearview at Woodstown
x-Palmyra at Pennsville
Buena at Salem Tech
SWIMMING
Woodstown vs. West Deptford at Riverwinds

DEC. 17
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Schalick at Cape May Tech
BOYS BASKETBALL
Cape May Tech at Schalick
BOWLING
Salem vs. Salem Tech at Wood Lanes
INDOOR TRACK
Salem at Bennett Center, Toms River
WOMENS COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Mercer County CC at Salem CC, 5 p.m.

DEC. 18
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Wildwood at Pennsville
Salem at Woodstown
Salem Tech at Penns Grove
Schalick at Clayton
BOYS BASKETBALL
Wildwood at Pennsville
Clayton at Schalick
Penns Grove at Salem Tech
Woodstown at Salem
TRACK
Pennsville Polar Bear Meet
BOWLING
Salem in Holiday Showcase at Laurel Lanes, Maple Shade

DEC. 19
SWIMMING
Schalick vs. Gloucester Catholic at GCIT, 4:45 p.m.
Woodstown vs. Deptford at GCIT, 7 p.m.
Salem vs. Triton at GCIT, 8:15 p.m.
WRESTLING
Palmyra, Salem at Pennsville
Penns Grove at Schalick
Timber Creek at Woodstown
BOWLING
Salem vs. Clayton, Wood Lanes
MENS COLLEGE BASKETBALL
RCSJ-Cumberland at Salem CC, 5 p.m.

DEC. 20
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Overbrook at Schalick
Pennsville at Glassboro
Salem at Salem Tech
Woodstown at Penns Grove
BOYS BASKETBALL
Glassboro at Pennsville
Penns Grove at Woodstown
Salem Tech at Salem
Schalick at Overbrook
WRESTLING
Pennsville at William Penn (Del.) Invitational 

DEC. 21
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Salem Tech at Gloucester Catholic, 1:30 p.m.
Boardwalk Classic
Wildwood Convention Center
Penns Grove vs. Timber Creek, 2:15 p.m.
SJIBT Tournament
Highland at Woodstown, 11:30 a.m.
WRESTLING
Pennsville at William Penn (Del.) Invitational
Woodstown in Beast of the East Tournament
TRACK
Pennsville, Salem, Woodstown at Ott Center, Philadelphia

DEC. 22
WRESTLING
Woodstown in Beast of the East Tournament

DEC. 23
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Boardwalk Classic
Wildwood Convention Center
Woodstown vs. Holy Spirit, 7:30 p.m.
BOYS BASKETBALL
Salem Tech at Pennsville, noon
WRESTLING
Pennsville at Mainland 

DEC. 26
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Pennsville at Washington Twp.

Boardwalk Classic 
Wildwood Convention Center
Salem vs Millville, 1 p.m.
BOYS BASKETBALL
Schalick at West Deptford Tournament

DEC. 27
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Pennsville at Buena
Penns Grove at Audubon Tournament
Woodstown in Haddon Twp. Tournament

Boardwalk Classic
Wildwood Convention Center
Salem vs. Bridgeton, 11:30 a.m.

BOYS BASKETBALL
Penns Grove at Delsea, 9:30 a.m.
Pennsville at Buena
Salem vs. Westampton Tech at Deslea, 5 p.m.
Salem Tech in ACIT Holiday Tournament
Schalick at West Deptford Tournament
Woodstown at New Egypt Tournament
WRESTLING
Pennsville at Overbrook Tournament
Penns Grove, Schalick at Clayton Tournament

DEC. 28
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Penns Grove at Audubon Tournament
BOYS BASKETBALL
Salem Tech in ACIT Holiday Tournament
Woodstown at New Egypt Tournament
TRACK
Woodstown at Ott Center, Philadelphia
WRESTLING
Audubon, Long Branch, Northern Burlington at Woodstown
Penns Grove at Cumberland Duals
Schalick at Clayton Tournament

DEC. 30
BOYS BASKETBALL
Schalick at Gloucester City, 11:30 a.m.

Boardwalk Classic
Wildwood Convention Center
Salem vs. Oakcrest, 2:45 p.m.
Penns Grove vs. St. Augustine, 7:30 p.m.

DEC. 31
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Woodstown in Haddon Twp. Tournament
BOYS BASKETBALL
Boardwalk Classic
Wildwood Convention Center
Salem vs. Millville, 10 a.m.

JAN. 2
BOWLING
Salem vs. Lindenwold at 30 Strikes
Salem Tech vs. Gloucester City at Wood Lanes

JAN. 3
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Glassboro at Woodstown
Pennsville at Overbrook
Penns Grove at Schalick
Salem Tech at Camden Academy Charter
Wildwood at Salem
BOYS BASKETBALL
Gloucester Catholic at Salem Tech
Overbrook at Pennsville
Salem at Wildwood
Schalick at Penns Grove
Woodstown at Glassboro
WRESTLING
Penns Grove in Bohemia Manor (Md.) Tournament
Schalick at Egg Harbor Twp.
SWIMMING
Woodstown vs. Triton at GCIT, 7 p.m.
Schalick vs. Glassboro at GCIT, 8:30 p.m.

JAN. 4
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Pennsville at Cumberland, 11:30 a.m.
BOYS BASKETBALL
Cumberland at Pennsville, 11:30 a.m.
Eastern at Penns Grove, 1 p.m.
WRESTLING
Pennsville at Hammonton Duals
Haddon Heights, Mainland, Overbrook at Schalick
Woodstown in Collingswood Duals
INDOOR TRACK
Salem, Woodstown at Ott Center, Philadelphia

JAN. 6
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Penns Grove at Haddon Twp., 7 p.m.
Schalick at Buena
BOYS BASKETBALL
Buena at Schalick
Camden Tech at Salem Tech
WRESTLING
Paul VI at Pennsville
Salem at Cumberland
SWIMMING
Schalick vs. West Deptford at River Winds
Woodstown vs. Lower Cape May

JAN. 7
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Clayton at Salem Tech
Overbrook at Penns Grove
Salem at Pitman
Schalick at Glassboro
Woodstown at Pennsville
BOYS BASKETBALL
Glassboro at Schalick
Pennsville at Woodstown
Penns Grove at Overbrook
Pitman at Salem
Salem Tech at Clayton
BOWLING:
Salem Tech vs. Lindenwold
MENS COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Camden County at Salem CC, 7 p.m.
WOMENS COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Camden County at Salem CC, 5 p.m.

JAN. 8
WRESTLING
Gloucester Catholic at Schalick
Pennsville at Penns Grove
Woodstown at Deptford
TRACK
Pennsville, Salem at Bennett Center, Toms River

JAN. 9
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Glassboro at Salem
Penns Grove at Pitman
Schalick at Salem Tech
Triton at Pennsville
Wildwood at Woodstown
BOYS BASKETBALL
Pennsville at Gloucester Catholic
Pitman at Penns Grove
Salem at Glassboro
Salem Tech at Schalick
Woodstown at Wildwood
BOWLING
Salem Tech vs. Kingsway at Wood Lanes
SWIMMING
Schalick at Camden County Tech
Woodstown vs. Highland at GCIT
WOMENS COLLEGE BASKETBALL
RCSJ-Cumberland at Salem CC, 5 p.m.

JAN. 10
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Salem at LEAP
BOYS BASKETBALL
LEAP at Salem
Pennsville at Clayton
WRESTLING
Collingswood at Schalick

JAN. 11
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Delsea at Woodstown, 11:30 a.m.
BOYS BASKETBALL
Woodstown at Camden Catholic, 11:30 a.m.
St. Joseph at Penns Grove, 1 p.m.
Schalick at Collingswood
WRESTLING
Pennsville, Oakcrest, Overbrook at Millville
Penns Grove at Deptford
Schalick, Cumberland, Timber Creek at Buena
Woodstown in Cinnaminson Duals
MENS COLLEGE BASKETBALL
RCSJ-Gloucester at Salem CC, noon
WOMENS COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Salem CC at Middlesex, noon

JAN. 13
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Clayton at Salem
Overbrook at Woodstown
Pennsville at Schalick
Penns Grove at Glassboro
Salem Tech at Wildwood
BOYS BASKETBALL
Glassboro at Penns Grove
Salem at Clayton
Schalick at Pennsville
Wildwood at Salem Tech
Woodstown at Overbrook
SWIMMING
Woodstown vs. Schalick at Vineland YMCA
TRACK
Pennsville at Ocean Breeze, Staten Island

JAN. 14
WRESTLING
Cumberland, Salem at Penns Grove
Pennsville at Pitman
Schalick at St. Joe (Hamm.)
BOWLING
Salem vs. Gloucester City at Wood Lanes
Salem Tech vs. Clayton
MENS COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Salem CC at RCSJ-Cumberland, 5 p.m.
WOMENS COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Harcum at Salem CC, 5 p.m.

JAN. 15
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Pennsville at Penns Grove
Pitman at Salem Tech
Salem at Gloucester Catholic
Schalick at Woodstown
BOYS BASKETBALL
Gloucester Catholic at Salem
Penns Grove at Pennsville
Salem Tech at Pitman
Woodstown at Schalick
SWIMMING
Woodstown vs. Haddon Heights at Camden County Tech
WRESTLING
Woodstown at Middle Twp.

JAN. 16
WRESTLING
Clayton at Penns Grove
Pennsville at Schalick
SWIMMING
Woodstown vs. Gloucester Catholic at GCIT, 5:45 p.m.
Schalick vs. Pitman at GCIT, 7:15 p.m.
Salem vs. Deptford at GCIT, 8:15 p.m.
BOWLING
Salem vs. Salem Tech at Wood Lanes
MENS COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Salem CC at Atlantic Cape, 6 p.m.
WOMENS COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Salem CC at Anne Arundel CC, 5 p.m.

JAN. 17
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Camden County Tech at Salem Tech
Salem at Gloucester City
BOYS BASKETBALL
Camden County Tech at Woodstown
Haddon Twp. at Pennsville
TRACK
Pennsville, Salem, Woodstown in NSIAA Relays, Bennett Center, Toms River

JAN. 18
BOYS BASKETBALL
Salem at Lenape, 1 p.m.
WRESTLING
Pennsville vs. Collingswood, Sterling, Vineland
Penns Grove, Salem, Overbrook at Pitman
Deptford, Haddon Twp., Pemberton at Schalick, 9 a.m.
Buena, Haddon Heights, Pennsauken at Woodstown
MENS COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Passaic County CC at Salem CC, 2 p.m.
WOMENS COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Salem CC at Essex County, noon

JAN. 20
BOYS BASKETBALL
Penns Grove vs. Burlington City at Woodbury, 12:30 p.m.

JAN. 21
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Glassboro at Pennsville
Penns Grove at Woodstown
Salem Tech at Salem
Schalick at Overbrook
BOYS BASKETBALL
Overbrook at Schalick
Pennsville at Glassboro
Salem at Salem Tech
Woodstown at Penns Grove
BOWLING
Salem vs. ACIT at Wood Lanes
Salem Tech vs. Collingswood at Wood Lanes
MENS COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Salem CC at Union College, 7 p.m.
WOMENS COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Salem CC at Delaware Tech, 6 p.m.

JAN. 22
WRESTLING
Clayton at Schalick
Gloucester Catholic at Salem
Timber Creek at Pennsville
Woodstown at Overbrook
TRACK
Pennsville, Woodstown at Bennett Center, Toms River

JAN. 23
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Clayton at Penns Grove
Pitman at Schalick
Salem at Pennsville
Salem Tech at Overbrook
BOYS BASKETBALL
Gloucester Catholic at Woodstown
Overbrook at Salem Tech
Pennsville at Salem
Penns Grove at Clayton
Schalick at Pitman
SWIMMING
Woodstown vs. Pitman at GCIT, 5:45 p.m.
Salem vs. Schalick at GCIT, 7:15 p.m.
BOWLING
Salem vs. Lindenwold at Wood Lanes
Salem Tech vs. Gloucester City at Westbrook Lanes
MENS COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Williamson Trades at Salem CC, 4 p.m.

JAN. 24
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Buena at Salem
Pennsville at Delsea, 7 p.m.
BOYS BASKETBALL
Salem Tech at Buena
WRESTLING
Woodstown at Pennsville

JAN. 25
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Penns Grove at OLMA, 11 a.m.
Schalick at Camden County Tech
BOYS BASKETBALL
Camden County Tech at Schalick, 11:30 a.m.
Pennsville at Clearview, 11:30 a.m.
West Deptford at Woodstown, 11:30 a.m.
WRESTLING
Salem, Timber Creek, Lower Cape May at Haddon Heights
Schalick, Holy Spirit, Toms River North at Vineland
Woodstown, Hillsborough, West Essex at Watchung Hills
SWIMMING
Salem at Invitational, GCIT
MENS COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Northampton CC at Salem CC, 2 p.m.
WOMENS COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Middlesex at Salem CC, noon

JAN. 27
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Gloucester City at Schalick
Palmyra at Salem
Salem Tech at Gateway
Woodstown at Cinnaminson
BOYS BASKETBALL
Pennsville at Gloucester City
SWIMMING
Salem vs. Woodstown at GCIT, 7 p.m.
BOWLING
Salem vs. Clayton at Wood Lanes

JAN. 28
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Gloucester Catholic at Salem Tech
Overbrook at Pennsville
Salem at Wildwood
Schalick at Penns Grove
Woodstown at Glassboro
BOYS BASKETBALL
Glassboro at Woodstown
Pennsville at Overbrook
Penns Grove at Schalick
Salem Tech at Gloucester Catholic
Wildwood at Salem
MENS COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Salem CC at CC of Philadelphia, 7 p.m.
WOMENS COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Union at Salem CC, 5 p.m.

JAN. 29
WRESTLING
Clayton at Salem
Cumberland at Woodstown
Pennsville at Gloucester Catholic
Pitman at Schalick
BOWLING
Salem Tech vs. Lindenwold at Wood Lanes

JAN. 30
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Schalick at Paulsboro
Wildwood at Penns Grove
Winslow at Salem
Woodstown at Clayton
BOYS BASKETBALL
Clayton at Woodstown
Penns Grove at Wildwood
Salem at Camden County Tech
Salem Tech at Camden County Tech
TRACK
Salem in TCC Showcase, Bennett Center

JAN. 31
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Salem Tech at Camden County Tech
BOYS BASKETBALL
Gateway at Salem Tech
WRESTLING
Clayton at Pennsville
Penns Grove at Gloucester Catholic
TRACK
Pennsville, Woodstown at Bennett Center, Toms River

FEB. 1
BOYS BASKETBALL
Woodstown at Bridgeton, 11:30 a.m.
WRESTLING
Pennsville, Clearview, Hammonton at Central Regional
Penns Grove vs. Bordentown, Vineland, Winslow
Salem, Schalick, Palmyra at Lindenwold
TRACK
Woodstown in SJTCA at Bennett Center
MENS COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Luzerne County CC at Salem CC, noon
WOMENS COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Salem CC at Raritan Valley CC, noon

FEB. 3
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Pennsville at West Deptford
Salem at Audubon
BOYS BASKETBALL
Buena at Pennsville
Riverside at Penns Grove
TRACK
Pennsville, Salem at Ocean Breeze Complex, Staten Island
BOWLING
Salem vs. Hammonton at DiDonato Bowling Center

FEB. 4
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Glassboro at Schalick
Pennsville at Woodstown
Penns Grove at Overbrook
Pitman at Salem
Salem Tech at Clayton
BOYS BASKETBALL
Clayton at Salem Tech
Overbrook at Penns Grove
Salem at Pitman
Schalick at Glassboro
Woodstown at Pennsville
MENS COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Salem CC at Montgomery County (Pa.) CC, 7 p.m.
WOMENS COLLEGE BASKETBALL
CC or Morris at Salem CC, 5 p.m.

FEB. 5
WRESTLING
Pennsville at Gateway
Penns Grove at Clearview
BOWLING
Salem, Salem Tech in TCC Showcase at 30 Strikes

FEB. 6
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Glassboro at Penns Grove
Salem at Clayton
Schalick at Pennsville
Wildwood at Salem Tech
Woodstown at Overbrook
BOYS BASKETBALL
Clayton at Salem
Overbrook at Woodstown
Pennsville at Schalick
Penns Grove at Glassboro
Salem Tech at Wildwood
WRESTLING
Woodstown, Williamstown at Hammonton
MENS COLLEGE BASKETBALL
RCSJ-Gloucester at Salem CC, 7 p.m.
WOMENS COLLEGE BASKETBALL
RCSJ-Gloucester at Salem CC, 5 p.m.

FEB. 7
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Pennsville at Millville
WRESTLING
Salem at Winslow
BOWLING
NJSIAA Playoffs

FEB. 8
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Cumberland at Schalick, 11:30 a.m.
BOYS BASKETBALL
Pennsville at West Deptford, 11:30 a.m.
Absegami at Salem, noon
WRESTLING
Burlington City, Egg Harbor Twp., St. Joe (Hamm.) at Pennsville
Woodstown, Williamstown at Hammonton
MENS COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Salem CC at Harrisburg Area CC, noon

FEB. 10
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Penns Grove at Pennsville
Schalick at Winslow
BOYS BASKETBALL
Pennsville at Triton
Salem at Winslow
Schalick at Maple Shade
TRACK
Pennsville, Salem at Ocean Breeze, Staten Island
WRESTLING
Playoffs Rounds 1 & 2

FEB. 11
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Gloucester Catholic at Salem
Pennsville vs. Clayton at Wells Fargo Center
Salem Tech at Pitman
Woodstown at Schalick
BOYS BASKETBALL
Pennsville at Penns Grove
Pitman at Salem Tech
Salem at Gloucester Catholic
Schalick at Woodstown
WOMENS COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Mercer County CC at Salem CC, 5 p.m.

FEB. 12
WRESTLING
Haddon Heights at Pennsville

FEB. 13
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Pennsville at Pitman
Penns Grove at Salem
LEAP Academy at Schalick
Woodstown at Salem Tech
BOYS BASKETBALL
Pitman at Pennsville
Salem at Penns Grove
Salem Tech at Woodstown
Schalick at Pennsauken Tech

FEB. 14
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Triton at Schalick
BOYS BASKETBALL
Salem Tech at Camden Academy Charter
WRESTLING
Schalick, Burlington Twp., Maple Shade at Cherry Hill West
Sectional Finals

FEB. 15
WRESTLING
Central Regional, Delran, Haddon Heights at Woodstown
Pennsville at Hightstown
Penns Grove, Gloucester Catholic at Lindenwold
TRACK
Pennsville, Salem at Bennett Center, Staten Island
Woodstown in NJSIAA Sectionals at Bennett Center
MENS COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Salem CC at Sussex County CC, 2 p.m.
WOMENS COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Lackawanna at Salem CC, 1 p.m.

FEB. 18
GIRLS BASKETBALL
TCC Showcase
BOYS BASKETBALL
Deptford at Penns Grove
TCC Showcase
WOMENS COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Montgomery County  (Pa.) CC at Salem CC, 5 p.m.

FEB. 20
GIRLS BASKETBALL
TCC Showcase
BOYS BASKETBALL
TCC Showcase

FEB. 22
GIRLS BASKETBALL
TCC Showcase
BOYS BASKETBALL
TCC Showcase

FEB. 23
TRACK
Pennsville, Salem at Bennett Center, Staten Island

MAR. 2
TRACK
Meet of Champions, Ocean Breeze, Staten Island

Oaks ‘guard the yard’

Salem CC men score second-most points in the Mike Green era fueled by ‘solid-steal’ defense

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

CARNEYS POINT – The Salem CC men’s basketball team scored 100 points for the first time this season, which was cause enough for celebration. While it takes a lot of buckets to put that many points on the board, this one was fueled by the defense.

The Mighty Oaks collected 27 steals among the 29 turnovers they forced Lancaster Bible JV into Thursday night and although the defense got a little loose late in the game it was the thing that made their 106-71 possible.

“Our guys did a good job with that today,” Green said. “We were good for certain periods. Once the lead swelled up we did some things I didn’t like, but to get that lead we did what we were supposed to do.”

The 106 points matched the second most in coach Mike Green’s 24-game tenure with the Oaks (5-1). They had that many in a win over RCSJ-Gloucester last January. Their single-game high under Green is 110 against Harrisburg Area last February.

They scored 31 points off their takeaways and, truthfully, should have had more. Appropriately, they went over 100 when Julien Jones picked Marco Labasez’ pocket near midcourt, took it the other way on a driving layup and hit and-one that came with it.

Jones and Shyheed Taylor had six steals apiece. Tivon Woolford had five. Eight of the 10 Salem players who got in the game had at least one.

“It’s good to hear those numbers,” Jones said. “Our past games we hadn’t really been playing that well defensively, so that builds our confidence coming into our next game.

“As smaller guards that’s what we got to do. When we get the chance (to play) one thing we’re going to do is play defense. One of the four things (Green) says most is ‘guard your yard.’ He puts that confidence in our head that we could play defense all the time.”

It didn’t take long for the Oaks to determine the Chargers weren’t the ballhandlers they were last season. After reading the room, Green called time two minutes into the game, plugged in the full-court pressure and the Oaks went to work.

They immediately went on an 11-0 run to take control and led by 19 at halftime. The Chargers opened the second half with a run that got them within 11, then the Oaks started finding their long-range shot and used a pair of Xavier Brewington 3s to key a response that pushed the lead to 21. At one point later in the half they turned over the Chargers on six straight possessions on the way to a 30-point lead.

“It didn’t surprise us,” Taylor said of the steals. “We work really hard. We knew we’d come together one day and get a lot of steals, play defense, score a lot. Once we come together I feel like nobody can stop us.”

Rodney Shelton (20) had 11 points, 12 rebounds and eight blocked shots for the Mighty Oaks Thursday night. (Riverview Sports News photo)

The steals were only part of the story. Rodney Shelton blocked eight shots – four in each half – and altered numerous other shots. He might even have more once they break down the film. He also had 12 rebounds.

“That’s just natural; I’ve been doing that since ninth grade,” Shelton said. “My game is all through film. You’re not going to catch my stats in game in person. You’ve got to take it to the film and dissect it and realize that I blocked it.

“They went up pretty soft. As a natural shot blocker I just felt as though they took advantage of me and I just went and put it back in their hands. I’m actually proud of what I did today.”

“I really want to shout out Rodney,” Jones said. “He was blocking shots. He was defending the paint really well. He was rebounding defensively really well. My defense comes from trusting Rodney that he protects me, so shout out Rodney for that.”

Six players scored in double figures, led by Woolford’s 18. Jones had 14, Brewington 13, Tyrone Tolson and Josh Ramos 12 each and Shelton 11. Everybody who played for the Oaks scored.

The Oaks wrap up their season-opening seven-game home stand Saturday against Atlantic Cape CC (2-4), a team that swept them last year.

LANCASTER BIBLE JV (1-4) – Curtis Brosious 0-2 0-0 0, Harrison Owens 0-2 0-0 0, Antonio Osbourne 2-6 2-2 8, A.J. Switzer 6-14 2-2 15, Brock Osbourne 4-11 4-6 12, Amari Williams 1-4 0-0 3, Jaden Miller 0-0 0-0 0, Karahn Garfield 0-1 0-0 0, Caleb Mills 1-4 0-0 3, Marco Labasez 7-14 9-11 24, Noah MacCartney 1-3 0-0 2, Elijah Hogan 2-6 0-2 4. Totals 24-67 17-23 71.
SALEM CC (5-1) – Tyrese Fortune 2-7 2-2 6, Josh Ramos 5-10 0-0 12, Xavier Brewington 4-9 3-3 13, Rodney Shelton 5-9 1-1 11, Shyheed Taylor 2-4 2-3 6, Julien Jones 5-10 4-5 14, A.J. Jones 4-8 0-0 8, Tivon Woolford 8-12 0-0 18, Tyrone Tolson 4-6 2-2 12, Sami Anderson 2-6 1-2 6. Totals 41-81 15-18 106.

Lancaster Bible JV3338-71
Salem CC 5254-106

3-point goals: Lancaster Bible 6-17 (Brosious 0-2, Owens 0-1, A. Osbourne 2-3, Switzer 1-2, Williams 1-1, Garfield 0-1, Mills 1-3, Labasez 1-4); Salem CC 9-28 (Fortune 0-1, Ramos 2-6, Brewington 2-4, Shelton 0-1, J. Jones 0-3, A. Jones 0-2, Woolford 2-5, Tolson 2-4, Anderson 1-2). Rebounds: Lancaster Bible 41 (Labasez 10, Hogan 9); Salem CC 38 (Shelton 12, Fortune 7, Brewington 7). Fouled out: Fortune, Anderson. Total fouls: Lancaster Bible 10, Salem CC 20.

Shyheed Taylor (21) brings the ball into the front court for the Mighty Oaks. Taylor had six of Salem CC’s 27 steals in the game. (This photo, cover photo by John Holt)

X hits the spot

Salem men hold off Ocean for fourth win of the season, best start since reviving the program; women routed on road by Harcum

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

CARNEYS POINT – Mike Green has said in order for his Salem CC basketball team to be successful it has to be a “high-volume assist team” because it has a lot of shooters.

The Mighty Oaks didn’t shoot it as often as they have in other games this year Tuesday night but they still were finding the open man at a good clip. One of their biggest plays of the night was a sharp assist from Xavier Brewington to Rodney Shelton for a backdoor layup that gave the Oaks enough breathing room to hold off the Vikings 78-71.

Their 4-1 start is their best since reviving the program in 2019.

“I’ll take it,” Green said. “It’s better being 4-1 than 1-4 all the time.”

Brewington had the best of both worlds Tuesday. The freshman returned to his scoring roots in the game with a career-high 18 points and was credited with three assists. He was a scorer his first two years in high school and last year at Cross Christian Prep, but when two players transferred into his high school his junior year his role changed to more of a grinder.

The pass he threw to Shelton came out of a timeout with 1:01 to play and the Oaks leading by three. He read the floor, drew a double team and found Shelton open down on the low left block. When the shot fell through the Oaks had a 76-71 lead with 39.7 seconds to play.

“Coach told us to execute the play and I came off the roll (and Shelton) was wide open,” Brewington said. “I saw him through the double team, so I just threw it up top and you know how tall he is (6-7) so I dumped it off to him and he got the and-one.”

Shelton finished with 10 points and eight rebounds. Niame Scott gave the Oaks 10 points off the bench. 

The Oaks had 18 assists on their 27 baskets – their second most of the young season and second-best ratio – and Green said that wasn’t enough. They took a season-low 61 shots – 12.5 fewer than their season average entering the game.

They did shoot 44 percent from the floor in the game, but what skewed their percentage was going 5-of-20 from 3-point range. They made 17 Saturday against Lehigh Carbon.

“Our tempo wasn’t good,” Green said. “We played the way they wanted to play; they slowed us way down. They made us play how they wanted to play; that’s on us.”

Interestingly, the Oaks are 28-for-67 from behind the arc in their two weekend home games, and are now 19-of-92 in their weeknight games. They came into the game leading all of JUCO Division III in 3-point attempts per game and ranked second in 3s made per game.

There are a couple theories that could explain the disparity. The weekend games are played on Saturday afternoon when the sunlight beams through the windows on the back wall at DuPont Fieldhouse and the players are most fresh. The weeknight games are in a darker gym after the players have been in class all day.

“I’ll go with the ‘B,’” Brewington said. “Saturday we usually just come straight to the gym. B, usually we’re all tired and we come out a little sluggish, but we’re good enough to keep it up and play as a team.”

“I don’t think we shot it bad as a whole; 44 percent from the field is not bad,” Green said. “Our shooters didn’t make shots; I’ll (agree on) that. We didn’t get them enough shots. I don’t think 18 assists is enough. And it could’ve been from practice yesterday; I killed them yesterday in practice. Who knows? There are a lot of variables that go into it.”

All those theories will get tested later this week with games on Thursday and Saturday to wrap this season-opening seven-game home stand.

The Oaks led 37-33 at halftime but came within an eyelash of having it much closer. Ocean’s Myles Marabuto banked in a 3-pointer from his side of his center stripe off a catch-and-shoot inbounds play that started with four-tenths of a second left.

There were a lot of people in the gym who thought the shot was launched in time – Green was not one of them — but the officials waved it off as too late.

It did set the stage for a tight second half. Ocean took its first lead of the game with 13:46 to play and led by six with nine minutes left. The Oaks retied with 6:50 left and retook the lead for good on two Tyrese Fortune free throws with five minutes to play.

Women’s Game

HARCUM 113, SALEM CC 53: The fast start the Salem CC women’s team has gotten off to hit more than a speed bump in its first road game of the season.

The Lady Oaks, who won their first three games by an average of 37 points, fell behind 32-8 in the first quarter and were chopped down by the Bears.

Salem CC 78, Ocean CC 71

OCEAN CC (3-2) – Myles Marabuto 2-3 0-0 5, Jamari Smith 5-13 2-3, Dekari Harrell 1-5 2-4 4, Brian Starrett 0-4 0-0 0, Dylan Csik 5-12 7-8 17, Dylan Hall 0-2 0-0 0, Kai Barckley 4-7 1-2 9, Jeremy Grospe 0-0 0-0 0, Jack Dougard 0-0 0-0 0, Dorian Alston 0-2 2-2 2, Maximus Hebron 1-3 0-0 2, Robert Reirson 9-11 1-2 19. Totals 27-62 15-21 71.
SALEM CC (4-1) – Tyrese Fortune 3-8 3-4 9, Josh Ramos 2-7 0-0 5, Xavier Brewington 5-10 7-7 18, Rodney Shelton 5-6 0-1 10, Shyheed Taylor 3-8 0-1 6, Dontarius Jones 1-5 2-4 5, Niame Scott 3-5 3-3 10, Julien Jones 1-3 0-0 3, A.J. Jones 1-2 0-0 2, Tivon Woolford 0-1 0-0 0, Tyrone Tolson 1-1 0-0 2, Stefan Phillips 2-2 2-2 6. Totals 27-61 17-22 76.

Ocean CC 3338-71
Salem CC3741-78

3-point goals: Ocean 2-14 (Marabuto 1-1, Smith 1-1, Harrell 0-1, Starrett 0-2, Csik 0-4, Barckley 0-1, Alston 0-1, Negron 0-2, Peirson 0-1); Salem 5-20 (Fortune 0-3, Ramos 1-5, Brewington 1-3, Taylor 0-1, D. Jones 1-3, Scott 1-1, J. Jones 1-1, Woolford 0-1, Tolson 0-2). Rebounds: Ocean 31 (Smith 8, Csik 7); Salem 32 (Shelton 8, Brewington 7). Technical fouls: A. Jones. Total fouls: Ocean 18, Salem 19.

Getting comfortable

Salem CC women: Freshman post settling into her position, life away from home, enjoys career day against Lehigh Carbon

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

CARNEYS POINT – Being so far from home and on her own for the first time in her life, Salem CC freshman Akira Chambers admitted her first couple months at school were “scary, shaky and nervous.”

But as she’s slowly settled into her new environment and gotten more comfortable on a higher level of basketball she put all that emotional excess behind her for the first time Saturday and came out of it closer to the player she and the Mighty Oaks want her to be.

The 5-foot-11 post from Cleburne, Texas — one of five Texans on the roster – scored a lifetime high 21 points and gave the Mighty Oaks the reliable post presence coach Brian Marsh has been looking for in an easy 85-36 win over Lehigh Carbon at DuPont Fieldhouse.

“Most people know that I’m from Texas,” Chambers said. “I think one of the biggest things today was knowing that I had my family at home watching and supporting me; they couldn’t be here today. I have a big support system already here with my coach, my team, my family.

“One of the things today was just to go out there and play hard, play like I know how to play basketball. I’m at a higher level, it’s time to go up and change and do what I’m supposed to do to help my team to help me out more. I think my biggest goal today was just get out and play and have fun.

“I can definitely say today I let loose way more than I have any other game. I finally came back out.”

Chambers was ready from the jump. She had scored only 15 points in the Mighty Oaks’ first two games, but had that many in the first half Saturday on 7-for-8 shooting. She had eight of the Oaks’ first 12 points.

She couldn’t remember having a 20-point game in high school. With the help of her big outing Saturday she is averaging 12 points and five rebounds through her first three college games, and gives the Mighty Oaks that aggressive, athletic post they were sorely missing last season.

“I’ve really been working with her,” Marsh said. “I’ve been in higher ed a long time so I try to tell people the first semester is always the hardest. You’re always from your home, away from your parents; that’s why we try to be family here, but it’s hard. I always tell them to get through that first semester.

“What we’ve been working on with Akira is I always used to use basketball as therapy. It’s two hours where you just forget everything. That’s what I’ve been trying to tell her. It’s two hours, don’t worry about it. Thanksgiving break’s coming up, I give them two weeks off for Christmas, so you’re getting to the end of it, getting closer to home.

“It’s been hard on her, I’ll be really honest, but she’s doing a really good job of dealing with it. Our team is really close-knit, so I think that’s helped and I think she’s just been really working on herself just to play basketball.”

The game was full of gaudy numbers. Their 49-point margin was their largest margin of victory since reviving the women’s program last year; they only beat the Cougars by three last season. Their 93 shots and 29 assists were the most since bringing back the program.

Ten of the 11 Mighty Oaks who played scored and the only who didn’t, Geo Tjaden, came within one assist of a backdoor double-double (10 rebounds, nine assists). Nyiajah Jackson was their second-leading scorer with 18 points.

It wasn’t just on the offensive end. The Oaks forced Lehigh Carbon into 34 turnovers and held it to six points in each the second and third quarters. Their 19 steals tied their post-revival high and their 48 rebounds were the second-most since bringing back the program. 

Marsh would place it “in the top three” defensive efforts in his two-year tenure with the program.

“We wanted to go out and play aggressive man defense and as I’ve been saying really utilize our length and our athleticism,” Marsh said.

SALEM CC 85, LEHIGH CARBON 36
LEHIGH CARBON (1-3) – Jacksymerth Martinez 1-15 0-2 3, Emily Sebastian 8-12 4-6 20, Sarah Hope 2-7 0-0 4, Julianna Bowen 2-3 0-0 4, Maddy Taylor 1-4 0-2 2, Morgan Ritchie 1-5 0-0 3, Bronwyn McKee 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 15-48 4-10 36.
SALEM CC (3-0) – Maggie St. Clair 4-9 0-0 8, Dani Gustin 2-5 1-2 5, Kathryn Laurence 3-5 0-0 7, Jakayla Jenkins 2-3 0-0 4, Akira Chambers 9-14 3-6 21, RayNescia King 2-11 1-2 5, Nyaijah Jackson 9-12 0-0 18, Geo Tjaden 0-9 0-0 0, Jolee Robinson 2-7 0-0 4, Imara James 4-7 0-0 8, Alexa Hopkins 2-11 0-0 5. Totals 39-93 5-10 85.

Lehigh Carbon 106614-36
Salem CC25242016-85

3-point goals: Lehigh Carbon 2-8 (Martinez 1-4, Sebastian 0-1, Hope 0-1, Ritchie 1-2); Salem CC 2-16 (St. Clair 0-1, Laurence 1-2, King 0-1, Jackson 0-1, Tjaden 0-4, James 0-1, Hopkins 1-6). Rebounds: Lehigh Carbon 35 (Taylor 14, Hope 6); Salem CC 48 (Tjaden 10, Robinson 8, Jenkins 6). Technical fouls: James. Total fouls: Lehigh Carbon 12, Salem CC 14.