Tough battle

Woodstown girls suffer rare second straight loss, won’t use growing pains in new situation as an excuse, vow to work to improve

By Riverview Sports News

WESTMONT – Woodstown’s girls have two of the most dynamic scorers in South Jersey, but the Wolverines they needed to have more involved in the offense and were upset by Pennsauken 55-44 Tuesday in the consolation game of the Haddon Twp. Holiday Tournament.

Talia Battavio and Megan Donelson led all scorers with 17 points apiece, but the Wolverines (4-2) got only 10 points from three other scorers. Sianni Hill and Kimora Truitt scored 14 points apiece for Pennsauken, but the Lady Indians (3-2) had two players with at least eight.

The Wolverines also had a tough shooting day, going 2-for-25 from 3-point range that dropped their overall proficiency to 26 percent.

“Today was a tough battle for us,” Woodstown coach Matt Smart said. “Pennsauken was a physical team who rebounded the basketball very well. They pushed the ball in transition and made some big shots.

“We took some good shots today, but they just didn’t fall. At times we were trying to force things and playing tight. We must remember to play loose and have fun because when we do that, we play our best.”

Donelson and Kyia Leyman had 10 rebounds apiece for Woodstown, but Pennsauken grabbed 43 total rebounds and converted numerous third and fourth opportunities. Hill had 12 boards, while Mayeline Rodriguez and Aliza Allen had nine each.

After Tuesday, Battavio (1313) and Donelson (1280) now are both in the top 10 of Salem County’s all-time leading scorers in girls basketball.

The Wolverines have lost two in a row after opening the season 4-0. They lost two in a row in February last year then bounced back to reach the South Jersey Group I championship game.

They return to action Friday against Glassboro where they look to extend another streak – their winning streak in the TCC Diamond Division. They have won 33 straight against Diamond Division opponents (FYI, it’s 31 straight against Salem County foes).

“The last two games were tests for us that pointed out a lot of things that we need to work on,” Smart said. “People will call this growing pains, that we have a lot of girls who are playing varsity minutes for the first time or that a new system takes some time to get used to. We aren’t going to use that as an excuse.

“We are going to take this time to evaluate things that we are doing well and things that need to be improved. The great part about basketball is the season doesn’t end in December. While the days seem to be flying by, we still have a lot of season left.

“If we are the same team in February that we were at the beginning of the season, we wouldn’t be satisfied. We have said it all season: As a team we need to focus on being the best 2024-25 Woodstown girls basketball team we can be. Predictions, seeding and personal honors aren’t what this team is concerned with. We are concerned with getting better each and every day.”

HADDON TWP. HOLIDAY TOURNAMENT
CONSOLATION GAME
PENNSAUKEN 55, WOODSTOWN 44
WOODSTOWN (4-2) – Talia Battavio 7-30 1-2 17, Emma Perry 0-1 1-2 1, Lauren Hengel 1 1-4 3, Megan Donelson 5-17 7-9 17, Kyia Leyman 3-6 0-2 6, Gianna Maiorini 0-3 0-2 0. Totals 16-61 10-16 44.
PENNSAUKEN (3-2) – Kimora Truitt 3 6-12 14, Mayeline Rodriguez 2 2-2 6, Sianni Hill 6 2-4 14, Aliza Allen 2 2-6 8, Hadley Rodriguez 4 0-0 9, Doriana Mateo 2 2-2 4, Kinya Dawson 0 0-0 0.. Totals 19 14-26 55.