Pennsville girls coach Merritt returns to the court after two-year hiatus, Hall of Fame coach ‘nervous’ for the return, but it felt ‘almost as if I never stopped’
By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News
PENNSVILLE – So, it wasn’t a “real” game in the sense it wouldn’t count against his already substantial coaching record. But the coaching was very real and the man doing it was loving every minute of being back at it.
Steve Merritt was back in the game, on the bench calling the shots for the first time in two years directing the Pennsville girls basketball team in a season-opening scrimmage with Millville under real game conditions.
The result wasn’t what the Eagles wanted – they lost 34-32, falling behind on a layup with 39 seconds to play – but there was a lot of learning on both sides.
The Hall of Fame coach looked comfortable, even if he was up half the night anticipating the 4 p.m. return.
“Woke up at 2, couldn’t go back to sleep,” he said describing his day. “Woke up at 4, couldn’t go back to sleep. Woke up at 6, took the dog out for a run. Got here at 2 and sat in the parking lot.
“Just keyed up, ready to go. Just so excited about it. Nervous as hell, but looking forward to it. Once we got going I realized how much I had missed it. It was just a lot of fun.”
Merritt last coached the Salem girls in 2022. In 19 seasons with the Rams he went 257-220 with three South Jersey Group I girls basketball titles, back-to-back state runner-up finishes and four 20-win seasons. All told, he has won nearly 500 games across multiple sports.
Pennsville athletics director Jamy Thomas coaxed the 72-year-old out of retirement after Sam Trapp left for the AD’s job at Triton Regional in March. Merritt was approved by the Pennsville school board in July and the next month he was inducted into the Salem County Sports Hall of Fame.
“I think he’s a great coach and I think this season is going to go amazing,” junior guard Taylor Bass. “You come to practice and I’ve noticed that I haven’t really wanted to check my phone or check my watch to see what time I’m going to leave. I enjoy being here and I enjoy playing basketball.
“I’ve always enjoyed playing basketball, but for some reason this just feels more … fun.”
Once Monday’s game started Merritt’s vision narrowed to the degree he lost all sense of his physical surroundings and focused solely on the action unfolding on the court.
Before the game he checked the two scorebooks like the basketball referee he used to be. When Millville scored its first basket of the game on an open layup on the low block he immediately called a time out. In the final minute of the first quarter he dictated a note to his assistant after a turnover led to another open layup that gave Millville the lead.
During the first JV quarter he wanted a timeout with the Eagles leading 11-3, but the refs didn’t hear him. The Eagles proceded to get a steal and a layup and he waved off the stoppage. In the fourth quarter he switched the players’ alignment on the foul line and they came away with the rebound.
“It felt almost as if I had never stopped,” Merritt said. “It almost seemed a continuation of where I was before.
“It was what I thought it would be. It was more than I hoped it would be. It was enlightening because I know what we have to work on.”
The Eagles played without senior Nora Ausland, who needs one more practice before she can play, and fell behind 23-20 at halftime. They were at their best in the third quarter when they outscored Millville 10-2 to carry a five-point lead into the fourth.
But things went south in the final eight minutes and they scored only two points in the quarter – Jaida Burns’ layup with 2:24 left that tied the game at 32. It stayed that way until Millville’s Jaylynn Jones drove an open right side to put Millville up 24-32 with 39 seconds left. Pennsville worked for the tying basket, but Marley Wood lost the dribble in traffic with 12.8 left and the Eagles never got another shot.
“I think fatigue set in and we panicked a bit,” Merritt said.
The Eagles have another scrimmage Thursday before Merritt’s return engagement gets going for “real” Dec. 18. They’re certainly not easing into it. The Eagles open their season against defending South Jersey champion Wildwood.
At least it’s at home.
Millville 34, Pennsville 32
| Millville | 11 | 12 | 2 | 9- | 34 |
| Pennsville | 9 | 11 | 10 | 2- | 32 |
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