Both Salem CC teams earn important victories Saturday, each pulling them out late in the game
By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News
CARNEYS POINT – The game was a lot closer than anybody wearing green and grey would have liked, but considering what the Salem CC basketball team is about to run into it was probably the best thing that could happen to it.
The Mighty Oaks head into the most demanding stretch of the season, a stretch that will determine their starting point in the Region XIX playoffs, when they play four of the other top five teams in their next six games, including region-leading Union Tuesday night. Some might say that stretch started Saturday with an 88-81 win over Passaic, which played said Union to a two-point game its last time out.
The Panthers matched Salem’s athleticism and gave the Mighty Oaks all they could handle. Before the start of the second half, Panthers coach Anthony Virgil reminded his team of the importance of the first five minutes of the half, but they lost it in the final two minutes.
The Mighty Oaks (15-4) took a 76-75 lead on a Tyrese Fortune free throw with 2:31 to play, then outscored the Panthers 12-6 over the final 1:51 to snag the victory extend their longest winning streak of the season to six games.
The separation started with a three-point play by Taylor and included a thunderous dunk by the sophomore with 24 seconds left that put it away and provided a watershed moment for the player.
Taylor and Jyheim Spencer both had double-doubles. Taylor had 32 points – 22 in the second half – and 11 rebounds. He hit 13 of 22 shots from the floor and also had six assists and three blocked shots. Spencer grabbed almost every rebound in the first five minutes of the game and despite playing on a balky ankle finished with 10 points, 18 rebounds five assists and three blocks.
This story will be updated.
Photo of Salem CC’s Akeem Taylor (24) and Jyheim Spencer (32) at the basket Saturday by John Holt.
PASSAIC COUNTY CC (9-9) – Keymani Nevers 5-12 1-2 11, Ladorien Ladson 4-8 1-4 9, Shindon Thompson 5-12 1-1 12, Jayquan Briggs 7-19 5-6 19, Steven Rodriguez 5-13 2-4 14, Anthony Valdez 1-3 0-0 2, Josh Renta 0-1 0-0 0, A’Juwan Tiggs 4-8 1-2 9, Leonardo Torres 0-1 0-0 0, Josiah Etienne 2-3 0-0 5. Totals 33-81 11-19 81.
SALEM CC (15-4) – Tamir Powell 5-12 1-2 12, Tyrese Fortune 2-5 3-7 7, Xavier Brewington 1-10 2-4 4, Akeen Taylor 13-22 6-8 32, Jyheim Spencer 4-4 2-2 10, Dontavius Jones 3-4 2-2 9, A.J. Jones 0-1 0-0 0, Tivon Woolford 2-2 0-0 4, Josh Ramos 2-5 0-0 5, Taje’e Jordan 1-2 0-0 2, Stefan Phillips 1-1 1-2 3. Totals 34-68 17-27 88.
| Passaic | 32 | 49- | 81 |
| Salem CC | 38 | 50- | 88 |
St. Clair hits game-winner
NEWARK – Maggie St. Clair hit a layup with 30 seconds left and the Salem CC women played tight defense to force Essex into a bad shot at the end to pull out a 76-75 win and keep their region playoff hopes alive.
St. Clair finished with 20 points. Kathryn Laurence erupted for a career-high 26 on the strength of a career-high tying six 3-pointers
The win brought the Mighty Oaks to 8-8 on the season with eight games to play. Teams either .500 overall or .500 in Region XIX make it to the postseason.
This story will be updated.
SALEM CC 76, ESSEX CC 75
SALEM CC (8-8) – Kathryn Laurence 10 0-0 26, Jakayla Jenkins 1 5-7 7, Maggie St. Clair 9 0-0 20, Caroline Zullo 3 0-0 7, Nyaijah Jackson 4 1-2 9, Dani Gustin 1 0-0 2, Akira Chambers 2 1-4 5, RayNescia King 0 0-0 0, Alexa Hopkins 0 0-0 0. Totals 30 7-13 76.
ESSEX CC (3-9) – Natalie Fonseca 0 3-3 3, Kaheema McDonald 0 2-2 2, MiaMarie Thomas 1 0-0 2, Jakira Coar 11 0-0 26, Katherinne Avecillas 4 0-0 10, Basirat Animashaun 3 1-1 7, Michelle Hernandez 4 0-0 8, Mya Jackson 0 0-0 0, Kayley Lynch 4 9-9 17. Totals 27 15-15 75.
| Salem CC | 27 | 17 | 15 | 17- | 76 |
| Essex CC | 23 | 18 | 18 | 19- | 75 |
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