Mighty Oaks go smiling into the holidays after big fourth quarter carries them to road win in final game of 2025
By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News
NORTH EAST, Md. — Cecil leading scorer Bri Shelton was having a rough day in the field, but launched a shot late in the fourth quarter trying to put her team back on top after the visitors had fought all game to wrestle away the lead. The ball bounced up and down off the rim several times then rolled around a few more and Salem CC coach Brian Marsh’s heart jumped every time.
When it finally slid off the cylinder and onto the floor the Mighty Oaks felt like they finally got a piece of good luck in an otherwise tough start to the season. Justine Cardona then buried three late free throws and Salem came away with a 69-64 win that sent them into the holidays with a smile.
“It’s been a tough November and December and we’re finally getting healthy,” Marsh said. “We definitely wanted to leave on a good note. I told them let’s go home with a smile on their face, Come out here and do what we need to do and take care of business and that’s what they did.”
The Mighty Oaks (2-8) had been playing catch-up all game, but they finally put it together with a 23-10 fourth quarter. They went to a full-court press hoping to speed up the Seahawks and attacked the basket when they got a turnover. The Seahawks didn’t make a field goal in final 5:11.
Niecey King and Justine Cardone kept the pressure on Shelton all game. Their effort limited the freshman, who had been averaging 17 a game, to just two points on 1-for-11 shooting and 0-for-8 from 3-point range.
“We played well down the stretch,” Marsh said. “We saw some things on tape we thought we could speed the game up and get them into some turnovers and that’s what we did.”
The Mighty Oaks trailed by two when King hit their shot of the game, a 3-pointer from the corner to put them up for good, 64-63 with 1:36 to play. It was her third 3-pointer of the season, matching her total of a year ago.
“That was a really big shot by our sophomore point guard, who is really coming into her own,” Marsh said.
The Seahawks tied it on a free throw with 1:05 to play, A layup by Shaw put Salem back up by two and Cardona hit three throws in the final 34 seconds to close it out.
Tanijya Shaw led the Mighty Oaks with a career-high 27 points, hitting 11 of 20 shots from the floor. It was her fourth straight 20-point game. She’s averaging 23.3 ppy during the run.
Cardona scored 16 points off the bench, grabbing seven rebounds and coming up with four steals. She was 10-of-16 from the free throw line, Kasey Oliver had 11 points and seven rebounds. Dani Gustin grabbed a game-high 13 rebounds.
“It’s a really nice win on the road and right before Christmas break,” Marsh said. “It gives us something to look forward to in 2026.
“I just want this team to play well and play together and see how this thing ends. That’s really what we’re looking for.”
SALEM CC 69, CECIL 64
SALEM CC (2-8) – RayNescia King 2-10 2-3 7, Tanijya Shaw 11-20 4-8 27, Kasey Oliver 4-11 3-3 11, Dani Gustin 1-5 4-6 6, Jayda Hunter 1-6 0-0 2, Justine Cardona 3-10 10-16 16, Ameriyona Hunter 0-1 0-0 0, Paula Wilson 0-4 0-0 0. Totals 22-67 23-36 69.
CECIL (4-7) – Nydia Mack 3-15 7-10 15, JaMya Muhammad 2-8 4-7 8, Bri Shelton 1-11 0-0 2, Mia Thompson 0-5 0-0 0, Sara-Zionna Benson 3-7 6-6 12, DeeDee Williams 2-4 2-4 6, Zuri Matthews 1-2 0-0 2, Kendra Watters 5-11 3-8 13, Ramiya Malik 1-4 0-0 2, Madi Cleary 2-5 0-0 4. Totals 20-72 22-35 64.
| Salem CC | 14 | 18 | 14 | 23- | 69 |
| Cecil | 14 | 23 | 17 | 10- | 64 |
3-point goals: Salem 1-12 (King 1-4, Shaw 1-4, Cardona 0-2, Wilson 0-2); Cecil 2-18 (Mack 2-5, Muhammad 0-2, Shelton 0-8, Matthews 0-1, Watters 0-2). Rebounds: Salem 45 (Gustin 13, Oliver 7, Cardona 7); Cecil 47 (Watters 12, Mack 8, Muhammad 7). Fouled out: Hunter, Benson, Malik. Total fouls: Salem 25, Cecil 26.
Region XIX Women’s Standings
| DIVISION II | R19 | ALL | GSAC |
| Harcum (6) | 6-0 | 14-1 | |
| Union (8) | 8-1 | 14-1 | 6-0 |
| Mercer (19) | 6-2 | 10-3 | 3-1 |
| Essex | 6-3 | 9-4 | 4-2 |
| Delaware Tech | 3-4 | 4-10 | |
| Raritan Valley | 3-5 | 6-8 | 3-3 |
| Lackawanna | 2-6 | 2-9 | |
| SALEM CC | 1-5 | 2-8 | 0-3 |
| Middlesex | 1-6 | 5-11 | 0-4 |
| Morris | 0-4 | 0-4 | 0-3 |
Number in parenthesis is JUCO Division II national ranking
SATURDAY’S GAMES
Salem CC 69, Cecil 64
Essex 73, Delaware Tech 58
Passaic 53, RCSJ-Gloucester 50
Westchester 73, Bergen 28
Montgomery County 70, Middlesex 62
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