After winning its first two games on the road, the Salem CC men’s basketball team has risen to No. 2 in the JUCO Division III poll
By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News
CARNEYS POINT – Mike Green knew his Salem CC basketball team was going to be playing with a target on its back this season. Well, that target just got a lot bigger.
After winning their first two games on this road last week, the Mighty Oaks have moved to No. 2 in the NJCAA Division III poll that was released Monday. It’s their highest ranking ever. They were No. 5 in the preseason poll.
The Mighty Oaks collected 98 poll points from the voters, seven ahead of No. 3 Riverland. Defending national champion Mohawk Valley (1-0) remains No. 1, picking up all nine first-place votes.
“It’s cool,” Green said. “That looks good for today and it looks good if anybody’s been following from what I’ve been saying at the beginning, when I really first got here, like you want to make it a powerhouse.
“Still got to give credit to that last year’s team. This team has that target on their back. It’s great publicity for Salem, great publicity for everybody involved, but it comes with a certain dedication and a certain swagger you gotta have about it.”
The Mighty Oaks’ first game as the No. 2 team in the country is their home opener Thursday, when they’ll raise the banner for their district championship and fifth-place finish at the national tournament.
“This is a proud moment for our college and community,” athletics director Bob Hughes said. “Being recognized nationally while honoring last year’s championships is a testament to the foundation we’re building here at Salem.”
The Mighty Oaks will see but not play No. 11 Sandhills CC at this weekend’s Penn Highlands Turkey Classic and have three other currently ranked teams on the schedule (Union, Northampton, Montgomery County).
“We’re hunted now,” Green said. “We’ll see how we deal with it.”
JUCO Division III Rankings
| TEAM (REGION) | REC | PTS | PV |
| Mohawk Valley (3) (9 1st-place votes) | 1-0 | 105 | 1 |
| Salem CC (19) | 2-0 | 98 | 5 |
| Riverland (13) | 2-0 | 91 | 7 |
| Northern Essex (21) | 4-1 | 84 | 8 |
| Minnesota State C&T (13) | 1-0 | 77 | 4 |
| Dallas Richland (5) | 1-3 | 70 | 3 |
| Union (NJ) (19) | 1-0 | 63 | 9 |
| Duchess (15) | 3-0 | 56 | 10 |
| Herkimer (3) | 0-1 | 49 | 2 |
| Northampton (19) | 3-0 | 42 | 12 |
| Sandhills (10) | 1-2 | 34 | 6 |
| Dallas Mountain View (5) | 3-1 | 23 | 13 |
| Dallas North Lake (5) | 3-0 | 13 | NR |
| Joliet (4) | 2-1 | 10 | NR |
| Montgomery County (Pa.) (19) | 0-0 | 5 | 15 |
| Receiving votes: Bunker Hill, North Country, Owens, Hostos, Dallas Eastfield, Ridgewater. |
Riverview Sports News 