Mighty Oaks pull away from tight game in final two minutes, working through a needed challenge for the gauntlet that lies ahead
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, one that will determine their starting point in the Region XIX playoffs, when they play the other four top five teams in their next six games, starting with 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.
After Saturday’s games around the league, they remain third in the Region XIX standings by winning percentage, but second behind Union based on games behind the leader. (See the updated standings elsewhere on the website)
Over the next 17 days the Mighty Oaks (15-4) play at Union (1), Northampton (4), at CC of Philadelphia (5) and at Montgomery (2) with a couple trap games with Williamson Trades (12-7) and Luzerne (4-9) in between. They won the first five games of their current season-best six-game winning streak by an average of 33.4 points with a couple 60-point blowouts and might have started getting comfortable with their position so a game like Saturday provided a reminder of what it’s like to be challenged.
“We’ve never been in a position like that,” freshman double-double machine Jyheim Spencer said. “It’s always we’re blowing teams out, we’re blowing teams out. We needed that type of challenge to where the game is close so we could see how we reacted. I feel we reacted well.”
“We needed this,” added sophomore Akeem Taylor. “The best teams always put on the toughest game. Some games aren’t going to be that pretty. A lot of games are ugly that you win, but the good teams always pull them out.”
The Panthers (9-9) 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, but they lost it in the final two minutes.
It was tight throughout the second half with neither team holding what would be a comfortable lead. The Mighty Oaks took the lead for good 76-75 on a Tyrese Fortune free throw with 2:31 to play, then outscored the Panthers 12-6 over the final 1:51 to nail it down.
“They challenged us big time, maybe moreso than anybody in a long while,” Mighty Oaks coach Mike Green said. “We responded. In those last two minutes our guys buckled down and they executed.”
The separation started with a three-point play by Taylor and included a thunderous dunk by the sophomore with 24 seconds left that provided a watershed moment for the player. After the three-point play, he blocked a shot on the other end that sent Tamir Powell off on a breakaway layup. Taylor hit another free throw to make it 82-75, the delivered the death blow.
“I hadn’t dunked in a long time because of my ankle, so when I saw I was open I was like this is the one,” he said. “I don’t know if I’ll be able to dunk like that next game but I needed that one. I was like this is the one. My eyes lit up.”
Taylor and Spencer both had double-doubles. It was Taylor’s first and Spencer’s fourth. They both joined the team off the injured list Jan. 7, five games ago.
Taylor had 32 points – 22 in the second half – and 11 rebounds. He hit 13 of 22 shots from the floor (8-of-10 in the second half) 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 that had him noticeably limping by the end of the game finished with 10 points without missing a shot, 18 rebounds, five assists and three blocks. He’s had three straight double-doubles.
“That’s my role on the team, to run the floor, block shots and get the rebounds for my teammates; that’s really my role on the court,” Spencer said. “My ankle was so messed up so I’m trying to focus on something other than trying to score the ball, something that’s going to help my team out.”
Photo of Salem CC’s Akeem Taylor (24) and Jyheim Spencer (32) at the basket Saturday by John Holt.
SALEM CC 88, PASSAIC 81
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 |
Riverview Sports News 