Double OT thriller

Salem CC survives Essex in 2 OTs to remain undefeated, Little goes for 42; women remain winless

SATURDAY BASKETBALL
Salem CC 109, Essex 106 (2 OT)
Essex women 64, Salem CC 35

By Riverview Sports News

NEWARK – Mike Green knew his Salem CC basketball team was going to face its share of tests during the season. The Mighty Oaks faced their biggest test so far Saturday and came through it — in double overtime.

Zyaire Gibson hit a 3-pointer with 36.7 seconds left to give second-ranked Salem the lead, then hit a pair of free throws with 12.2 seconds left to seal a 109-106 road win over Essex to remain undefeated.

“Every time on the road get it and go, whether it’s by 20 or two, get it and go,” Green said. “Road wins are tough … You’ve got to win ugly.”

The Mighty Oaks (8-0), who trailed by as many as 12 in the game, had the ball at the end of regulation and the first overtime, but couldn’t get off a shot either time.

Jarrell Little led the Mighty Oaks with 42 points. He was 16-of-28 from the field, 8-of-14 from 3-point range. It’s the most points by a Salem player in the Green Era and the most since Akeem Taylor scored 33 against Camden in his Mighty Oaks debut last January. Niame Scott had 33 against Sussex in February 2024.

Lamar Woody scored 50 for the Mighty Oaks in a February 2020 game against Atlantic Cape. He was 23-of-30 from the floor in that game.

Saaid Lee had 22 points (and five assists), Nasseem Wright 18 (with 16 rebounds and six assists), and Gibson 14.

The Division II Wolverines (2-5) missed an off-balanced 3-pointer contested by Idris Rines for the tie at the end of the second overtime. The 106 points they scored were the second-most against the Mighty Oaks in the Green Era and only the third time a team has scored 100. Brookdale put 107 on them in Green’s second game as coach in 2024.

“Wild, really wild,” Green said of the game. “I’m sure it was good to watch, but it was a tough one.

“They (Essex) were protecting their home. They were up to play against the No. 2 team in the nation and our guys didn’t anticipate that. But they (his team) made winning plays at the end and we got the stop that we were begging for all game long. We finally figured it out.”

The Mighty Oaks entered the game ranked sixth in NJCAA Division III in scoring. It was their fourth game this year scoring more than 100 points and third in a row.

They’ve now won 10 in a row going back to last season. They had two six-game winning streaks last year.

SALEM CC (8-0): Jarrell Little 16-28 2-4 42, Saaid Lee 9-17 3-4 22, Nasseem Wright 6-14 6-8 18, Zyaire Gibson 3-18 5-6 14, Qua Smith 2-5 4-6 8, Stefan Phillips 1-5 1-3 3, Idris Rines 1-7 0-0 2, Jahseir Sayles 0-1 0-0 0 0. Totals 38-95 21-31 109.

Salem CC	48	39	5	17-	109
Essex	46	41	5	14-	106

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HIGHEST SCORING GAMES IN GREEN ERA

PTS	OPPONENT, DATE
119	at RCSJ-Cumberland (53), Jan. 14, 2025
114	RCSJ-Cumberland (56), Dec. 19, 2024
113	Ocean (90), Nov. 18, 2025
112	Luzerne (67), Feb. 1, 2025
111	at Passaic (73), Nov. 20, 2025
110	Harrisburg Area (66), Feb. 10, 2024
109	at Essex (106), Nov. 22, 2025
106	Lancaster Bible JV (71), Nov. 21, 2024
106	RCSJ-Gloucester (70), Jan. 13, 2024
102	Bergen (69), Nov. 13, 2025

Region XIX Standings

DIVISION III	R19	ALL	GSAC
Union	6-0	6-0	4-0
SALEM CC	5-0	8-0	4-0
Northampton	5-0	8-0
Montgomery	3-0	3-1
Camden	4-1	5-1	3-0
Brookdale	5-2	5-4	2-2
Ocean	4-2	4-3	2-2
RCSJ-Gloucester	3-3	3-4	1-3
Bergen	3-4	3-4	1-2
Atlantic Cape	2-3	2-3	1-3
RCSJ-Cumberland	2-3	2-3	2-1
Thaddeus Stevens	1-2	3-3
Passaic	2-5	2-5	2-4
Delaware County	1-5	1-5
Sussex	1-5	1-6	0-3
Luzerne	0-3	2-4
Harrisburg Area	0-3	0-6
Philadelphia	0-6	2-6

SATURDAY’S GAMES
Salem CC 109, Essex 106 (2 OT)
Ocean 96. Philadelphia 86
RCSJ-Gloucester 77, Harrisburg Area 72
Northampton 87, Luzerne 53
Camden 69, Passaic 50
RCSJ-Cumberland 87, Sussex 74
Bergen at Thaddeus Stevens
Union 76, Delaware County 56
Morris 100, Montgomery (Md.) 88
Lackawanna 68, Delaware Tech 61

TUESDAY’S GAMES
Salem CC at Camden
Delaware County at Northampton
Union at Passaic
Philadelphia at Harrisburg Area
Essex at Morris
Thaddeus Stevens at RCSJ-Gloucester
RCSJ-Cumberland at Atlantic Cape
Bergen at Sussex
Montgomery at Lackawanna
Mercer at Middlesex

Women’s game

NEWARK – The Salem CC women were in a tight battle early, then Essex went on an 21-2 run on the way to an 18-point halftime lead and rolled to a 64-35 victory to keep the Mighty Oaks winless.

The Mighty Oaks (0-4) are shorthanded as it is, but their options were even more limited after their two posts fouled out. Injured point guard Justine Cardona remains out, but the team is hoping to have her back for Tuesday’s game against Delaware Tech.

“Our play is very inconsistent right now,” coach Brian Marsh said. “We will keep working hard and get this straightened out.”

Salem CC	14	5	9	7-	35
Essex	14	23	13	14-	64

Region XIX Standings

WOMENS DIVISION II	R19	ALL	GSAC
Union	3-0	8-0	3-0
Mercer	2-0	5-1	1-0
Lackawanna	2-0	2-3
Harcum	1-0	5-1
Essex	1-1	4-1	1-1
Delaware Tech	0-1	1-7
Morris	0-1	0-1	0-0
Middlesex	0-2	4-6	0-1
SALEM CC	0-2	0-4	0-1
Raritan Valley	0-2	1-3	0-2

SATURDAY’S GAMES
Essex 64, Salem CC 35
Mercer at Harcum
Union 92, Middlesex 35
Philadelphia 82, Ocean 46
Passaic67, Camden 56
Montgomery 79, RCSJ-Cumberland 29
Lackawanna 68, Delaware Tech 64

TUESDAY’S GAMES
Salem at Delaware Tech
Harcum at Raritan Valley
Bergen at Sussex
Mercer at Middlesex
RCSJ-Cumberland at Atlantic Cape
Essex at Morris
Union at Lackawanna