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
Salem County action in boys, girls basketball and more
FRIDAY’S GAMES BOYS BASKETBALL Schalick 67, Maple Shade 46 Pennsville at Salem Tech GIRLS BASKETBALL Woodstown 37, GCIT 27 Pennsville 51, West Deptford 40 Salem 45, Salem Tech 13 WRESTLING Pennsville at William Penn (Del.) Tournament
1000-Point Watch
PLAYER
FRIDAY
TOTAL
Taylor Bass, Pennsville
20 vs. GCIT
956
Blake Bialecki, Woodstown
DNP
750
Tymear Lecator, Salem
DNP
674
By Riverview Sports News
WOODSTOWN — Woodstown is a different kind of team this season than it’s been in the past and as such is having to learn to make its own way. Everyone is watching to see how the Wolverines handle things with their two dynamic scorers gone to the next level and Friday night they took a big step in that direction.
Facing adversity for the first time this season, the Wolverines played their way back into the game in the second quarter and went on to defeat GCIT 37-27.
“It was a tough game,” Woodstown coach Matt Smart said. “It’s the first game all year we started down, but I’m super proud of how the girls responded to adversity.”
The Wolverines (3-0) didn’t have a double-figure scorer, but they let defense be their guide. They held GCIT to seven field goals and 17 points over the final three quarters.
“The first quarter didn’t go our way, but we were taking good shots that just weren’t falling,” Smart said. “The girls never lost confidence in their game and each other.
“At the end of the first quarter I challenged the girls to match GCIT’s physicality, to be honest, with the basketball and to continue to play as a cohesive unit. They did that and more.”
Mia Waterman led the Wolverines with nine points – all on 3-pointers. Lauren Hengel had eight points, while drawing the defensive assignment on GCIT’s Averie Clement. Miya Leyman also scored eight points. Talia Guardascione only scored three points, but it was a three-point play in the third quarter that got everyone on the Woodstown side excited.
“We have a group of girls who are willing to work and learn together,” Smart said. “I’m grateful to be able to coach a tight knit group of girls that are willing to learn and develop as a team.”
PENNSVILLE 51, WEST DEPTFORD 40: Taylor Bass moved another 20 points closer to 1,000 and Marley Wood added 13 to her list already in the 1000-Point Club for Pennsville.
Bass and Wood combined for 11 in the second quarter as the Eagles (2-1) pulled away from a 10-10 tie to take a 287-17 halftime lead. Bass tweaked her ankle during the game and coach Steve Merritt lifted her with a little more than a minute to play for her protection or she likes would have 21 for the third game in a row. She currently sits on 956 career points.
3-point goals: West Deptford 6 (Fronza, Jamison, Lawrence, Taylor 3); Pennsville 4 (Bass. Johnston 2, Wilson). Fouled out: Jamison. Total fouls: West Deptford 16, Pennsville 14.
SALEM 45, SALEM TECH 13: Kemp Carr got the Salem football team back on a winning track and now as the seasons changed he’s looking to do the same with the Rams’ girls basketball team.
Dyalra Anderson posted a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds and Carlysia Pierce filled the box score with 12 points, six rebounds, four assists and four steals, leading the Rams over Salem Tech 45-13 for their first win of the season and first under new coach Carr.
“I’m happy how hard our girls play,” Carr said.
The Wolverines showed improvement from their season-opening loss to Woodstown, reducing their missed layups and turnovers. Their in-your-face defense held the Chargers scoreless in the second quarter.
Thirteen players played and eight scored. In addition to the double-figure scorers, Timmiyah Simmons added eight points and four rebounds, and Shyla Parsons grabbed six boards.
Salem Tech
3
0
3
7-
13
Salem
17
14
9
5-
45
BOYS BASKETBALL PITTSGROVE — Orion Baldwin and Julian Dickerson scored 18 points apiece to lead Schalick to its first win of the season, 67-47 over Maple Shade.
After a tight first half, the Cougars pulled away in the third quarter and then put it away with a 20-7 fourth. Kade Macom gave them three double-figure scorers when he popped for 11.
NEW CASTLE, Del. – Schalick’s Emma Cain won two matches and scored seven team points in the consolation round of the Girls Beast of the East Tournament at William Penn High School. The 115-pounder scored both her wins with pins before being pinned in the fifth consolation round.went 3-2 in the Girls Beast of the East
Schalick, Woodstown girls both deliver dominating defensive performances, includes all Salem County games, 1000-point watch
THURSDAY BASKETBALL GIRLS GAMES Pennsville 50, Glassboro 35 Woodstown 54, Penns Grove 10 Schalick 35, Overbrook 16 BOYS GAMES Overbrook 84, Schalick 53 Glassboro 66, Pennsville 26 Salem 82, Salem Tech 25 Woodstown 63, Penns Grove 55
By Riverview Sports News
PINE HILL – Navaeh Robinson went off for 17 points and Schalick held Overbrook scoreless the entire first half on the way to a 35-16 victory.
The Cougars (2-0) jumped out to a 16-0 halftime lead before the Rams finally scored on a 3-pointer in the third quarter. They have allowed just 51 points in winning their first two games for the first time in more than 15 years.
“We have had shutout quarters in the past but never a full half,” Schalick coach John Whalen said. “We told the girls in the beginning of the season we were making our mark on the defensive end this year.
“As always, we emphasize effort. It’s the one thing you always have control over. To their credit, they have bought in and taken pride in their effort. It has fueled our start to the season and I know they will continue to work to get better.”
WOODSTOWN 54, PENNS GROVE 10: The Wolverines put together a balanced scoring attack and another strong defensive effort to defeat its second straight in-county opponent to open the season.
Eleven different players scored for the Wolverines, led by Lauren Hengel’s 11 points and 10 from Kendall Young. Their defense held the Red Devils (0-2) scoreless in the second quarter and without a field goal in the fourth.
The Wolverines also had good ball movement, collecting 17 assists on their 22 field goals. Young had five assists and Mia Waterman had four. Kyia Leyman had three assists to go with nine points, six rebounds and two blocked shots.
Woodstown’s girls have now won 39 straight against Salem County competition.
Penns Grove 5 0 4 1- 10 Woodstown 17 17 14 6- 54 3-point goals: Woodstown 8 (Hengel 2, Leyman, Young 2, Waterman, Guardascione, White). Fouled out: Cummings. Total fouls: Penns Grove 7, Woodstown 11.
PENNSVILLE 50, GLASSBORO 35: Marley Wood had a double-double with 15 points and 13 rebounds and Taylor Bass scored 21 points for the second game in a row as the Eagles won their first game of the season.
The teams were locked in a close game at halftime, but the Eagles outscored Glassboro 30-18 in the second half to win the game. Bass had 13 in the second half, including a 3-pointer at the end of the third quarter that got everyone’s attention, and Wood had 11. Addison Johnston had their other six points in the half on two of her three 3-pointers.
Bass and Wood also combined for nine assists and four steals. Jaiden Wilson grabbed eight rebounds and Jada Burns had five rebounds and four assists.
WOODSTOWN 63, PENNS GROVE 55: After dropping nail-biters in their first two games, the Wolverines broke out with their first win of the season. Alejandro Vazquez hit three 3-pointers first half and finished with 19 points. Elijah Caesar had 16 and Lucas Fulmer added 13 with three second-half 3s.
The Wolverines trailed 33-28 at halftime, but used a 17-7 third quarter to take the lead.
“We could easily be 3-0; just a couple plays away,” Woodstown coach Ramon Roots said. “It feels good to get that first one, though.”
Penns Grove’s Zane Thomas led all scorers with 26 points.
WOODSTOWN (1-2) – Elijah Caesar 6 4-7 16, Blake Bialecki 0 2-2 2, Alejandro Vazquez 7 1-2 19, Joshua King 2 2-7 6, Lucas Fulmer 5 0-0 12, C Miller 0 0-0 0, Andrew White 3 1-2 7. Totals 23 10-20 63. PENNS GROVE (2-1) – Roman Gipson 0-0-0, Haneef Frisby 0-1-1, William Roy 4-2-13, Geonni Conrad 4-1-12, Zane Thomas 11-3-26, Mishawn Brantley 0-1-1, Luis Colon 1-0-2, Jeremy Costacamps 0-0-0. Totals
Woodstown 20 8 17 18- 63 Penns Grove 16 17 7 15- 55 3-point goals: Woodstown 7 (Vazquez 4, Fulmer 3); Penns Grove 5 (Roy, Conrad 3, Thomas). Fouled out: Roy. Total fouls: Woodstown 13, Penns Grove 17.
GLASSBORO 66, PENNSVILLE 26: The Eagles had a tough time of it in Ray Heine’s debut as head coach. They fell behind 20-8 in the first quarter and never recovered. Mason O’Brien was their leading scorer with nine points. Glassboro’s Xavier Sabb outscored Pennsville by himself by a point.
PENNSVILLE (0-1) – Daniel Knight 7, Mason O’Brien 9, Gavin Spears 4, Chanler Lindenmuth 2, Jake Layfield 2, Aidan Clark 2. GLASSBORO (1-2) – Xavier Sabb 27, Alex Adeleye 2, Maurice Davis 17, William Boggans 12, Derreck Robinson 2, Cam Parker-Akins 4, Lorenz Jones 2.
Pennsville 8 5 11 2- 26 Glassboro 20 21 16 9- 66
SALEM 82, SALEM TECH 25: The Rams jumped out to a 28-6 lead in the first quarter and never looked back. Neziah Spence led the Rams with 16 points and Deshaan Williams had another monster game, going for 15 points and 10 rebounds.
Salem 28 24 11 19- 82 Salem Tech 6 7 3 9- 25
OVERBROOK 84, SCHALICK 53: Lamar Little knocked down eight 3-pointers and scored 36 points to lead the Rams. Bilal Robinson added 17 points. The Rams (2-0) had 12 3s in the game. Orion Baldwin and Julian Dickerson scored 14 points, respectively, for Schalick (0-2).
Salem CC wins first game as nation’s No. 1 team, puts up 100 again to give Green his 50th win
By Riverview Sports News
TOMS RIVER – Some teams might have a hard time handling a No. 1 ranking for the first time. Salem CC embraced it.
The Mighty Oaks played their first game as the No. 1 team in JUCO Division III Thursday and never missed a beat, sailing past Ocean CC 100-78 for their 15th straight win.
“The guys did an excellent job against a really good Ocean team,” Salem coach Mike Green said after posting his 50th career coaching victory (50-17).
The Mighty Oaks (15-0), who supplanted season-long No. 1 Mohawk Valley in the top spot earlier this week, built a 47-38 halftime lead, then started the second half with a 16-2 run to take complete control.
The Vikings (8-4) scored the next five points, then Salem scored the next eight points to go up by 26. A few minutes later they went on another 12-4 run to open a 30-point lead.
The Mighty Oaks had three 20-point scorers in the game. Saaid Lee had 25 points, 10 rebounds and came within two assists of a triple-double. Zyaire Gibson hit five 3-pointers on the way to 20 points. Jarrell Little had 24 points and four assists.
Idris Rines came off the bench to give them eight points and eight rebounds, Stefan Phillips had nine points and eight boards, and newly named GSAC Player of the Week Nasseem Wright had six points, 10 rebounds and nine assists.
SALEM CC 100, OCEAN CC 78 SALEM CC (15-0): Saaid Lee 9-13 7-8 25, Jarrell Little 10-14 1-1 24, Zyaire Gibson 6-8 3-7 20, Stefan Phillips 4-7 0-0 9, Idris Rines 4-10 0-0 8, Nasseem Wright 2-9 2-2 6, Jahseir Sayles 1-7 1-2 4, Qua Smith 1-3 2-4 4, Michael Goodwin 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 37-71 16-24 100. OCEAN CC (8-4): Myles Marabuto 4-6 3-4 14, Jamari Smith 2-10 0-3 4, Kai Barckley 1-4 0-0 2, Aiden Sosinov 9-15 5-5 24, James Gibbons 3-8 0-0 6, AJ Lemons 6-13 1-5 14, Jack Malek 0-2 0-0 0, Omar Hadid 1-3 0-0 3, Aiden Falduto 1-1 0-0 3, Jeremy Grospe 0-0 0-2 0, Matton Watson 0-2 0-0 0, Tristan Ulrich 0-1 0-0 0, Mason Trey 2-10 1-4 6, Liam Yefet 1-1 0-0 2, Joe Witter 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 30-78 16-23 78.
Salem CC
47
53-
100
Ocean CC
38
40-
78
3-point goals: Salem CC 10-23 (Lee 0-1, Little 3-5, Gibson 5-6, Phillips 1-2, Rines 0-3 Sayles 1-6); Ocean CC 8-29 (Marabuto 3-5, Backley 0-1, Sosinov 1-3, Gibbons 0-2, Lemons 1-7, Malek 0-1, Hadid 1-1, Falduto 1-1, Watson 0-2 Ulrich 0-1, Krey 1-5). Rebounds: Salem CC 52 (Lee 10, Phillips 7, Rines 8, N. Wright 10, Smith 7); Ocean CC 40 (Smith 10, Susinov 8). Technical fouls: Smith. Total fouls: Ocean CC 13.
Region XIX Standings
DIVISION III
R19
ALL
GSAC
SALEM CC (1)
9-0
15-0
9-0
Northampton (2)
8-0
13-1
Union (7)
8-1
9-2
6-1
Ocean (RV)
8-2
8-4
5-3
Montgomery (10)
4-1
7-2
Brookdale
11-3
11-5
7-3
Camden
6-3
9-4
6-3
RCSJ-Cumberland
6-4
6-7
5-5
Atlantic Cape
4-5
5-6
3-6
Bergen
5-8
6-8
2-5
Thaddeus Stevens
2-4
5-7
RCSJ-Gloucester
4-8
5-9
1-5
Sussex
2-8
5-10
2-7
Delaware County
2-8
3-10
Passaic
2-9
2-11
2-7
Harrisburg Area
1-5
2-10
Philadelphia
1-8
6-8
Luzerne
0-6
3-10
Number in parenthesis is JUCO Division III national ranking
THURSDAY’S GAMES Salem CC 100, Ocean 78 Union at Atlantic Cape Camden 76, RCSJ-Cumberland 55 Northampton 80, Luzerne 70 Morris at Georgian Court JV Bergen 85, RCSJ-Gloucester 71 Raritan Valley 80, Orange County 79 Sussex 73, Passaic 64 Mercer 101, Essex 97 FRIDAY’S GAMES Delaware County at CCBC Dundalk SATURDAY’S GAMES Salem at Sussex Passaic at RCSJ-Gloucester Union at Bergen Essex at Delaware Tech Delaware County at Cecil Middlesex at Howard CC Middlesex at Montgomery County (Md.)
Salem’s Farmer collects 100th career coaching win in nail biter over Woodstown; story will be updated
TUESDAY BASKETBALL BOYS Clayton 102, Schalick 65 Salem 62, Woodstown 59 Wildwood at Pennsville GIRLS BASKETBALL Wildwood 66, Pennsville 37 Schalick 40, Clayton 35 Woodstown 50, Salem 21
By Al Muskewitz Riverview Sports News
WOODSTOWN – Anthony Farmer certainly has had easier wins, but it’s hard to imagine any more personally satisfying at this stage in his coaching career than the one he collected Tuesday night.
Farmer scored his 100th career coaching win when his Salem basketball team held off a furious fourth-quarter charge by Woodstown for a 62-59 victory in their season opener.
“Obviously it’s a feel good moment to accomplish a milestone,” the nine-year coaching veteran said. “It just means you’ve been around a long time.
“To get 100 wins, taking over some programs that were in a rebuild. My first two stops were rebuild situations; I didn’t step into anything that was put together. First stop was pretty unsuccessful (at Middle Twp.), but then you come to Salem and you walk into something and build something of your own and I’m really proud of that.”
He would have had the milestone late last season, but the Rams were stripped of four wins in their 5-1 start due to an ineligible player. Despite the blow, the Rams went on to make the playoffs and post a winning record for the season, but it left him one short of the milestone and nine months to think about it..
In collecting the milestone win, Farmer now joins an elite group with 100 coaching wins, 1,000 high school points (St. Augustine) and 1,000 college points (Rutgers). He went on to play professionally overseas, but those records are incomplete.
“That speaks highly right there; that’s big time,” Farmer said. “I don’t know how many people across the state who can pull out a resume like that. To be a 1,000-point scorer in high school, 1,000-point scorer in the Big East, which was the best college basketball conference in America when I played, and then to transition because that doesn’t always translate.
“Because you were decent player at the high school level, at the college level, doesn’t mean you can go on and have success on any level. It just doesn’t. People just think because you were a decent player that it translates and it just doesn’t. You see so many great athletes fail on the coaching side because it doesn’t always translate. I must be learning and doing a little something right.”
Daeshaun Williams scored 22 points and grabbed 13 rebounds to lead the Rams’ effort. Marshall Stephens, playing his first high school basketball game in two years, had 10 points and eight boards. Tymear Lecator had 13 points in the second half.
Stephens played for the Rams as a sophomore, but moved to New York and only played football there last season because he didn’t think it was fair to his longtime teammates back in Salem to play their game while he was away.
“That tells you a lot about Marshall and his loyalty and how he feels about the Salem community and the kids,” Farmer said. “It’s a great opportunity with Antwuan (Rogers) signing early (with Temple football) and leaving, he’s able to step in. He’s very raw, but he’s an athlete.”
The Rams had big leads in both halves, but couldn’t shake their hosts. The Wolverines got it back to one at halftime with a big second quarter and were down 12 in the fourth quarter, but brought it back to a one-possession game.
It was their second straight nailbiter for Woodstown. The Wolverines lost to Woodbury 53-52 at Penns Grove Saturday in their season opener. In both games they couldn’t get off a final shot.
Blake Bialecki led the Wolverines with 15 points. Elijah Caesar had 12 and Joshua King 11.
“It was a lot closer than it should have been,” Farmer said. “That nine (point lead) should’ve turned into 15, 16 the last two minutes, not four, so we’ve got to finish better.”
SALEM (1-0): Tymear Lecator 13, B.J. Robbins 0, Neziah Spence 7, Harlem Parsons 1, Cole Sayers 6, Daeshaun Williams 22, Xavier McGriff 4, Marshall Stevens 10, Donnie Weathers 0. WOODSTOWN (0-2): Elijah Caesar 4 3-5 12, Jalen Markward 0 0-2 0, Andrew White 3 1-2 8, Blake Bialecki 4 5-7 15, Frank Hoerst 1 1-2 3, Connor Miller 1 2-2 5, Alejandro Vazquez 1 2-2 5, Joshua King 5 0-0 11, Lucas Fulmer 0 0-0 0. Totals 19 14-22 59.
Clayton 102, Schalick 65: The Cougars put four scorers in double figures, but it wasn’t near enough to overcome the Clippers’ depth firepower.
The Clippers ran 16 players into the game and 13 of them scored. James Fritz led the assault with 25 points, 10 steals and seven rebounds. Isaiah Aviles had 14 points and Jackson Venuto added 12 points and eight assists.
Kade Macom had 16 points to lead Schalick. Sherrod Jones had 11 and Orion Baldwin and Cooper Willoughby had 10 apiece.
SCHALICK (0-1): Orion Baldwin 5-0-10, Julian Dickerson 4-0-8, Dylan Sheehan 2-0-4, Sherrod Jones 5-0-11, Justin Iacona 3-0-6, Kade Macom 7-0-16, Cooper Willoughby 5-0-10. Totals 31-0-65, CLAYTON (1-0): Jackson Venuto 4 2-4 12, Anthony Taylor 1 0-0 2, Dominic Lemon 2 0-0 5, Trevor Rehm 4 0-0 9, King Mosley 2 0-0 5, Enok Figeruoa 0 0-0 0, Mason Gable 0 0-0 0, Nasir Carter 2 4-4 8, Isaiah Aviles 7 0-0 14, Anthony Archer 2 0-0 4, Kevin Mosley 2 1-2 8, Michael Bull 1 0-3 2, Kieran Queflander 0 0-0 0, Sincere Sierra 1 0-0 2, Justin Delaney 2 0-0 6, James Fritz 10 4-5 25. Totals 40 11-18 102.
SALEM — Woodstown opened its season looking a lot different than it had the past four years, but the results were the same.
The Wolverines may not have the dynamic scorers they had in recent years, but their defense was just as stout and together they produced a 50-21 win over Salem.
“Different can be good,” coach Matt Smart said. “Right now we are trying to figure out our identity, things like who are the leaders, who can play great defense, who can help us score.
“Almost every girl on our team has a vastly different role on the team than they have had in the past. We are still trying to figure out how to use everyone most effectively and yes there will be some struggles, but each and every girl is embracing the role.”
The Wolverines got balanced scoring from their starters with Lauren Hengel hitting three 3-pointers in the first quarter and finishing with a team-high 14 and Mia Waterman hitting four 3s in the game for 12 points. Kendall Young had 10 points.
Defensively, the Wolverines held their hosts to two field goals and single digits each quarter.
“You can really tell the girls enjoy the game of basketball and enjoy being around each other,” Smart said. “They give up good shots for better shots, they are starting to play as a defensive unit, and they are having fun doing it. They are smiling and laughing all the time, but when it comes to the game, they are able to lock in and perform.”
Wildwood 66, Pennsville 37: The Warriors opened a 23-12 lead in the first quarter, then put it away with a 27-3 third quarter. They hit four of their 11 3-pointers in the first quarter and five in the third.
Rebecca Benichou led three Wildwood scorers in double figures with 17 points, with eight rebounds, seven assists and five steals. Laila Fathi had 15 and Angela Wilber 12. The trio combined for 10 of the Warriors’ 3s.
Pennsville’s Taylor Bass led all scorers with 21 points, moving to within 85 of becoming the Eagles’ next 1,000-point scorer.
Schalick 40, Clayton 34: Willow Davis scored nine of her game-high 12 points in the first half to help Schalick establish the lead and Olivia Vanacker had six of her 10 in the fourth quarter to help the Cougars close out their first season-opening win since 2022.
“It was a great win for us to set the tone for our season,” Cougars coach John Whalen said.
Accorsi finds the response overwhelmingly positive as he recruits the region for players for Salem CC’s upstart football program By Al Muskewitz Riverview Sports News
CARNEYS POINT – On the chance you see ever-moving Jay Accorsi walking across campus these days you might mistake him for one of the college’s professors the way that bursting three-ring binder is tucked under his arms.
It’s not one of the three playbooks he has built for the football teams he’s coached in the past, but it is something just as important for the Salem Community College football program he’s trying to build from the ground up.
The binders these days aren’t full of blocking schemes, running plays and coverage plans, they’re loaded with info on players who have shown an interest in joining the Mighty Oaks in the fall — and there are a lot of them.
“This is the second one,” Accorsi said as he flipped through one of the books during one of his recent rare days in the office. “The littler one filled up so fast, I went and bought this myself.
“And this is just (from) the internet and the ones who reached me. Every day I’m putting 15, 20, 30 kids’ names in there. I can’t keep up with all the interest on the internet. I haven’t even put in the ones of the kids I’ve met — and I’ve met at least 2, 3, 4 at every school.
“I knew it would be popular, I knew there would be a lot of players, I just never envisioned it would be this many.”
Interim head coach Jay Accorsi holds one of the binders filled with the data on players interested in joining Salem CC’s upstart football program.
From the moment the board of trustees gave the OK to bring football to the school for the first time, Accorsi, the team’s interim (and presumptive permanent) head coach, has been scouring South Jersey pitching the program to high school players who ultimately will be its lifeblood.
He started with the Salem County schools first, then worked his way through Cumberland, Atlantic and Cape May counties and is just finishing up Gloucester County. Camden County will be next and the hope is to get into Burlington County before the holidays.
And that’s just locally. There’s sure to be interest in the nearby states and perhaps a trickle down from current junior colleges about the make the move into the NCAA landscape.
Every place Accorsi has stopped, the reaction has been the same. Coaches and administrators who initially weren’t aware Salem was starting football beamed with excitement at the news. They quickly made him aware of players that fall into circumstances that fuels Accorsi’s belief JUCO football could flourish in New Jersey in general and at Salem in particular.
“It was how I thought it would be, but it’s even more refreshing,” he said. “Everybody’s just been, ‘Hey, coach, it’s about time.’ They’ve had to send their players off to so many different places. Now they don’t need to. They have a place right in their backyard.
“The response has been exactly what I thought it would be and so much more. Every coach has said that and I think that’s awesome.”
And some of the players he finds on those visits aren’t even current players.
At one school, the former head coach Accorsi remembers playing against at Rowan stopped him in the hall on his way out of a meeting with the current head coach to reminisce. When he learned the Mighty Oaks were starting football and the type player they expected to attract, the former coach told Accorsi to wait right there.
The school’s security guard played for the former coach and went to a Division II program where things didn’t work out. The old coach called the guard down from the front office and they all talked. Within minutes, the new recruit, who had been playing in a local semi-pro league to stay in shape and had some pretty good film, filled out a questionnaire, applied to the college and completed his paperwork.
“There are so many of those,” Accorsi said. “I just happened to be there that day. It’s just an awesome story. This is a perfect opportunity for a person like that.”
The Mighty Oaks plan to officially launch the program on Jan. 28, at which time they’ll introduce the permanent head coach and other details related to their inaugural season in the fall.
With all the interest so far, Accorsi suspects they will have a “pretty good number” of players for spring practice. They’re in the binder.
CCBC Catonsville banked in four 3-pointers in the second half to pull away from Salem CC 81-64
By Riverview Sports News
CATONSVILLE, MD. – The Salem CC women’s basketball team ran into a team that banked in four of its six 3-pointers in the second half and couldn’t build on the momentum developed from its first win of the season and fell at CCBC Catonsville Monday 81-64.
The Cardinals hit all six of their 3-pointers in the final three quarters after going 0-for-7 beyond the arc in the first quarter, but the four in the second half defied convention.
“Ridiculous,” is the way Salem coach Brian Marsh described it.
Khloe Wallace hit two of the 3s in the fourth quarter and finished with nine points. Keashiana Murphy led all scorers with 25 points. Tarshay Bell had 16 points and 13 rebounds.
Tanijya Shaw led Salem with 20 points. Dani Gustin had 19 points and 12 rebounds.
CCBC CATONSVILLE 81, SALEM CC 64 SALEM CC (1-8) – RayNescia King 2-7 0-0 5, Tanijya Shaw 7-24 6-8 20, Kasey Oliver 3-8 0-0 6, Dani Gustin 8-12 3-4 19, Jayda Hunter 2-8 0-0 4, Justine Cardona 2-7 0-0 5, Ameriyona Hunter 0-0 0-0 0, Paula Wilson 2-5 0-0 5. Totals 26-71 9-12 64
Salem Tech boys win basketball season opener for first time since 2021; Roy leads Penns Grove with a career high
BOYS BASKETBALL Salem Tech 58, Cape May Tech 42: The Chargers got their season off to a positive start behind 13 points from Ayden Myers and nine from Aiden Bobo. They pulled away with an 18-6 second quarter and slammed the door with a 16-9 fourth. It’s their first win in a season opener since 2021.
Penns Grove 57, St. Joseph 48: William Roy III went off for a career-high 16 points and Roman Gipson had 12 as the Red Devils won their second straight. Roy’s previous career high was 15 against Pennsville last season.
GIRLS BASKETBALL Salem Tech at Cape May Tech
SWIMMING Woodstown 100, West Deptford 70: Nixon Mikaela won two events (200 IM, 100 breast) and three of the four members of the Wolverines’ three winning relays also won an individual event. won individual events. Matt Roser won the 50 free, Matthew Melniczuk won the 100 free and Bailey Wells won the 100 back. Noah Chui completed the relay teams.
Salem CC men grab top spot in JUCO Division III basketball poll
By Al Muskewitz Riverview Sports News
CARNEYS POINT — 66 games. One week short of two years since getting the job.
That’s all it took for Mike Green to take the Salem CC men’s basketball team from one that was three games below .500 on Christmas Day 2023 to the No. 1 team in the land.
Monday afternoon the undefeated Mighty Oaks (14-0) were installed as the No. 1 team in JUCO Division III supplanting defending national champion Mohawk Valley, which had been No. 1 all season and lost to Division II No. 14 Orange County by 30 Saturday.
The Mighty Oaks, who had been No. 2 each of the previous five weeks, received all nine first-place votes from the pollsters and collected 105 points, seven ahead of No. 2 fellow Region XIX member Northampton (12-0). Mohawk fell to No. 3.
It’s their first No. 1 ranking in school history.
“It’s good to see, letting the kids decide on the basketball court,” Green said. “You never know when these type of things happen so fast how the community feels about you. I’m glad we were rewarded with being No. 1.”
Green gave his players off Monday, but they were all in the gym working when the news of the poll’s release broke at 2 p.m.
“Being No. 1 in the country is a dream,” leading scorer Jarrell Little said. “A lot of players on our team, we weren’t a No. 1 team in nothing or never the best team in our area. Now we’re in college (and No. 1), that’s a real accomplishment. That means you’re really a winner.”
And it happened quickly. Green was was hired on Dec. 23, 2023, and his team went 9-9 the rest of the season. It went 26-8 last year, finishing fifth in the national tournament (losing to Mohawk in the second round), and is undefeated this year with virtually an entirely new squad.
“It’s a testament to everybody who has been around and helping out,” Green said. “It’s a big deal and should be a big deal for the Salem community … I’m just glad these kids get to see their name as No. 1.”
The Mighty Oaks have put it together with a balanced scoring attack that’s among the best in the country driven by sharp ball movement that averages more than 19 assists a game. They have four players averaging in double figures — Little (19.9 ppg), Nasseem Wright (19.6), Saaid Lee (14.4) and Zyaire Gibson (10.3) — and three of the four have more than 45 assists. Lee is second in the country (D3) with 75.
“(The key is) us playing together and us being more unselfish than other teams,” Little said. “When we put this team together people thought we wouldn’t get together. There were a lot of ball-dominant players and most people thought this team was not going to really work because they’re all going to need the ball. We put it together pretty well. We’re totally opposite (of that thinking).”
The Mighty Oaks already were playing with a target on their backs from their high tournament finish a year ago and were getting every team’s best shot this year. The No. 1 ranking just intensifies that, but their approach doesn’t change.
The Region XIX leaders put their newly minted ranking on the line for the first time Thursday at Ocean (7-3), a team they beat with 113 points at home last month and received votes in this week’s poll. They travel to Sussex (3-10) on Saturday.
Getting through those two games would give the Mighty Oaks a joyous noel (no Ls) at Christmas and should allow them to maintain the top billing into the new calendar year.
“Nothing changes,” Green said. “We’re still hunting. We like to say we’re still hunting. We don’t want to be the one getting hunted; we’re still hunters. We’ve still got to go out there and hunt like none of this ever happened.”
“We’re not done yet,” Little said. “We’re coming for everything.”
JUCO Division III poll
TEAM (1st place)
RECORD
POINTS
SALEM CC (9)
14-0
105
Northampton
12-0
98
Mohawk Valley
7-1
91
Dallas College Richland
9-6
84
Riverland
11-1
77
Herkimer
7-1
70
Union (NJ)
9-1
63
Northern Essex
14-3
56
Sandhills
9-4
49
Montgomery County (Pa.)
6-2
42
Dallas College Eastfield
8-5
26
Dutchess
10-3
24
Anoka-Ramsey
11-1
23
Massasoit
13-2
11
North Country
10-1
7
Also receiving votes: Queensborough, Ridgewater, CC of Allegheny County, Dallas-North Lake, Ocean.
Here is the Salem County sports schedule for the week of Dec. 15-21
MONDAY, DEC. 15 BOYS BASKETBALL x-Pennsville at Palmyra, 4 p.m. Salem Tech at Cape May Tech, 5:30 p.m. Penns Grove at St. Joseph, 7 p.m. GIRLS BASKETBALL x-Palmyra at Pennsville, 4 p.m. Salem Tech at Cape May Tech, 4 p.m. SWIMMING Woodstown vs. West Deptford, RiverWinds, 3:30 p.m. BOWLING Salem vs. Salem Tech at Wood Lanes, 4 p.m. WOMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL Salem CC at CCBC-Catonsville, 5 p.m.
TUESDAY, DEC. 16 BOYS BASKETBALL Schalick at Clayton, 5:30 p.m. Salem at Woodstown, 5:30 p.m. Wildwood at Pennsville, 5:30 p.m. GIRLS BASKETBALL Pennsville at Wildwood, 5:30 p.m. Clayton at Schalick, 5:30 p.m. Woodstown at Salem, 5:30 p.m. TRACK Salem at Bennett Center
WEDNESDAY, DEC. 17 GIRLS BASKETBALL Buena at Salem Tech, 4 p.m. WRESTLING Pennsville, Gloucester Catholic at Salem, 5 p.m. Schalick at Penns Grove, 5 p.m. SWIMMING Schalick vs. Gloucester Catholic at GCIT, 4:45 p.m. Salem vs. Glassboro at GCIT, 7:15 p.m. BOWLING Salem vs. Clayton at Bolero Lanes, 4 p.m.
THURSDAY, DEC. 18 BOYS BASKETBALL Overbrook at Schalick, 5:30 p.m. Pennsville at Glassboro, 5:30 p.m. Salem at Salem Tech, 5:30 p.m. Woodstown at Penns Grove, 5:30 p.m. GIRLS BASKETBALL Glassboro at Pennsville, 5:30 p.m. Penns Grove at Woodstown, 5:30 p.m. Salem Tech at Salem, 5:30 p.m. Schalick at Overbrook, 5:30 p.m. COLLEGE BASKETBALL Salem CC at Ocean, 5 p.m.
FRIDAY, DEC. 19 BOYS BASKETBALL Maple Shade at Schalick, 5:30 p.m. Pennsville at Salem Tech, 5:30 p.m. GIRLS BASKETBALL GCIT at Woodstown, 5:30 p.m. West Deptford at Pennsville, 5:30 p.m. Salem Tech at Salem, 5:30 p.m. SWIMMING Schalick vs. Glassboro at GCIT, 8:30 p.m. WRESTLING Pennsville at William Penn (Del.) Tournament, 4:30 p.m.
SATURDAY, DEC. 20 BOYS BASKETBALL Salem vs. Pleasantville in Ocean City, 3:30 p.m. GIRLS BASKETBALL Penns Grove at Winslow, 11 a.m. Salem Tech at Highland, 11:30 a.m. WRESTLING Penns Grove at Clearview Tournament, 9 a.m. Pennsville at William Penn (Del.) Tournament, 9:30 a.m. Burlington Twp., Camden at Salem, 10 a.m. Pennsville girls at Jackson Memorial, 2 p.m. Woodstown at University of Delaware INDOOR TRACK Penns Grove, Woodstown at Ott Center, Philadelphia BOWLING Salem girls vs. Burlington Twp., Bowlero Bristol, 12:30 p.m. COLLEGE BASKETBALL Salem CC at Sussex, noon WOMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL Salem CC at Cecil, 11 a.m.
SUNDAY, DEC. 21 WRESTLING Woodstown at University of Delaware
Riverview Sports News 