Salem CC falls to No. 5 Montco as potential game-winning 3 is blocked in closing seconds
By Riverview Sports News
BLUE BELL, Pa. – The Salem CC basketball team came within a whisker of upsetting a nationally ranked region team for the second time this season, but in the end had its potential game-winning shot batted away.
The Mighty Oaks lost to No. 5 Montgomery County CC 74-72 Tuesday night and had the potential game-winning shot in their hands. The Mustangs (18-2) blocked Tyrese Fortune’s potential game-winner with 1.4 seconds left to deny Salem’s upset bid and extend their own winning streak to 12 games.
“We fought,” Salem coach Mike Green said. “The Montco coach celebrated as if they won the championship; that doesn’t sit right with me. I guess he forgot they’re the defending champs and ranked No. 5. We will see them again.”
The Mighty Oaks (18-7) played catch-up most of the game. They were down seven with 1:51 to play, but Akeem Taylor dropped in three straight layups between a couple Montco free throws to bring them within 73-70 with 31.9 seconds to left.
Xavier Brewington’s layup of a Taylor pass with 8.8 seconds left made it a one-point game. Salem fouled on the inbounds play and Montco’s Baasil Saunders hit the second of two free throws to set up the final play.
Taylor brought the ball up the floor for the Mighty Oaks and got it to Fortune on the right side of the arc with time running out. Emfinger slipped between Taylor and Saunders to block Fortune’s shot.
With a little better spacing, it might have been different.
Fortune raised his hands after falling to the floor seeking a foul, but there was no call and the clock ran out.
The Mighty Oaks, who received votes in the national JUCO Division III poll for the second time in three weeks, played the top four D-3 teams in Region 19 over their last six games. Green was hoping to gain a split of the gauntlet, but instead went 1-3 while winning the two easier games in between.
Region XIX standings
Here are the men’s and women’s Region XIX basketball standings; games through Feb. 4
| MEN’S DIVISION III (x-based on percentage) | REGION | ALL |
| Union | 13-0 (1.000) | 17-3 |
| Montgomery | 14-1 (.933) | 18-2 |
| Philadelphia | 14-2 (.875) | 18-5 |
| Camden | 13-3 (.813) | 15-9 |
| Northampton | 11-4 (.733) | 18-4 |
| Salem | 11-5 (.688) | 18-7 |
| Brookdale | 11-6 (.647) | 16-7 |
| Atlantic Cape | 10-6 (.625) | 13-10 |
| Ocean | 8-6 (.571) | 12-7 |
| RCSJ-Gloucester | 8-8 (.500) | 10-14 |
| Passaic | 6-8 (.429) | 10-12 |
| Lehigh Carbon | 6-11 (.353) | 6-16 |
| Sussex | 5-10 (.333) | 7-17 |
| Delaware County | 5-11 (.313) | 7-15 |
| Harrisburg Area | 4-11 (.267) | 5-17 |
| Luzerne | 3-12 (.200) | 5-14 |
| Thaddeus Stevens | 3-13 (.188) | 4-16 |
| Bergen | 2-15 (.118) | 3-19 |
| RCSJ-Cumberland | 0-15 (.000) | 0-22 |
TUESDAY’S GAMES
Montgomery 74, Salem 72
Union at Philadelphia
Brooksdale 75, Passaic 64
Ocean 95, Bergen 89
Camden 81, Luzerne 63
Northampton 80, RCSJ-Gloucester 68
Lehigh Carbon 71, Thaddeus Stevens 70
Raritan Valley 87, Middlesex 70
Atlantic Cape 71, Delaware County 70
Lackawanna 102, Mercer 97
THURSDAY’S GAMES
RCSJ-Gloucester at Salem
Sussex at Union
Frederick at Delaware Tech
Harrisburg Area at Luzerne
Thaddeus Stevens at Passaic
Baltimore City CC at Harcum
Lehigh Carbon at Manor College
Raritan Valley at Essex
Montgomery at Northampton
Atlantic Cape at Ocean
Prestige Prep at Morris
Camden at RCSJ-Cumberland
| DIVISION II WOMEN | REG | ALL |
| Union | 13-0 | 22-0 |
| Harcum | 11-3 | 18-5 |
| Lackawanna | 10-4 | 15-6 |
| Raritan Valley | 8-4 | 14-9 |
| Mercer | 7-6 | 14-6 |
| Middlesex | 4-8 | 9-12 |
| Salem CC | 4-10 | 10-10 |
| Essex | 2-11 | 4-13 |
| Morris | 0-0 | 0-0 |
| Delaware Tech | 0-13 | 0-19 |
TUESDAY’S GAMES
Raritan Valley at Middlesex, ppd.
Montgomery 65, Camden 47
Ocean 62, Bergen 50
Sussex 76, Lehigh Carbon 66
Harcum 84, Essex 56
Brookdale 75, Passaic 51
RCSJ-Gloucester 88, Northampton 49
Bucks 60, RCSJ-Cumberland 25
Lackawanna 73, Mercer 66
Delaware Tech at Union
THURSDAY’S GAMES
RCSJ-Gloucester at Salem
Northampton at Passaic
Baltimore City CC at Harcum
Lehigh Carbon at Manor
Sussex at Montgomery
Raritan Valley at Essex
Camden at RCSJ-Cumberland
Bucks at Mercer
Atlantic Cape at Ocean
Philadelphia at Brookdale
Montgomery (Md.) at Middlesex
Riverview Sports News 