Month: January 2026

WJFL all shook up

As previously reported by Riverview Sports News, the WJFL Diamond Division is shaken up with Glassboro, Woodstown, Penns Grove all out, Pennsville in; 76 teams in different divisions than a year ago

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

The Diamond Division of the West Jersey Football League may look a lot different than it has in the past, but it still appears to be just as strong as it’s ever been.

The ”SEC West” of Group I football is still no country for old men.

Two-time reigning state champion Glassboro may have been moved out in the latest two-year shakeup of WJFL division alignments, but there is still a lineup of heavy hitters residing there.

All six teams in the new division lineup were playoff teams in 2025. But the biggest takeaway locally is both Woodstown and Penns Grove are out, vanquished to the Independence Division. They had been Diamond Division teams since the inception of the WJFL in 2010.

“No problem for us,” Woodstown coach Frank Trautz said Monday, the day the league formally announced the alignments. “The name of the division doesn’t mean anything; they change every two years and teams are constantly moving. The goal is always the same. We want to try and position ourselves the best we can for the post season.”

The new Diamond Division has Pennsville, Schalick, Salem, Burlington City, Overbrook and Paulsboro. The new Independence Division is Penns Grove, Woodstown, Buena, Clayton, Pitman and Woodbury.

Schalick was 5-7, but played in the sectional title game for the third year in a row. Pennsville (5-5, Patriot) was a South Jersey Group I quarterfinalist and Salem (6-5) and Paulsboro (9-2) played in the Group I semifinals. Burlington City, which won an appeal to come out of the Constitution Division and replaces Gloucester in the Diamond reshuffle, was the No. 2 finisher in the South Jersey Group I UPR and No. 1 seed in the Central Jersey bracket and Overbrook (6-4, Patriot) was a playoff team in Group II.

The WJFL granted five of the 11 appeals it heard. More than 20 were said to be filed. Fifteen teams changed divisions from the pre-appeal alignment. Seventy-six of the league’s 96 teams will be playing in different divisions than they did in the 2024-25 realignment.

In the new Independence Division, only Clayton (5-5) had a non-losing record and Woodbury (3-7) was the only team that made the playoffs. Penns Grove went 0-9 and is looking for a new coach, and Woodstown went 3-7 in a season beset by injuries.

“We feel like our division will be challenging, but we must challenge ourselves to get better,” Pennsville athletics director Jamy Thomas said. “We are familiar with the teams in our division and we are getting back a few Salem County rivals.”

Teams are now awaiting word on their scheduling crossovers. The new alignments may make filling schedules easier.

It has been rare that all five Salem County teams played in the same division. Pennsville plays an annual trophy game with Penns Grove. The last time the Eagles played all four of the other Salem County teams in the same season was 2019.

“(It) would be nice if the scheduling committee added Woodstown as one of our cross-overs so we would once again play all of the Salem County schools during the regular season,” Thomas said.

The WJFL said it was hoping to have the schedules and crossovers in place by mid-January.

WEST JERSEY FOOTBALL LEAGUE
DIAMOND: Burlington City, Overbrook, Paulsboro, Pennsville, Salem, Schalick.
INDEPENDENCE: Buena, Clayton, Penns Grove, Pitman, Woodbury, Woodstown.
AMERICAN: Winslow, Washington Twp., Kingsway, St. Augustine, Atlantic City, Millville.
CLASSIC: Camden, Glassboro, Mainland, Cedar Creek, Holy Spirit, Ocean City.
COLONIAL: Cherokee, Shawnee, Rancocas Valley, Burlington Twp., Pleasantville, Delsea.
CONSTITUTION: Paul VI, Delran, Haddonfield, Seneca, West Deptford, Willingboro.
CONTINENTAL: Cherry Hill East, Eastern, Lenape, Northern Burlington, Williamstown, Pennsauken.
FREEDOM: Camden-Eastside, Cherry Hill West, Cinnaminson, Gloucester, Moorestown, Triton.
MEMORIAL: Absegami, ACIT, Egg Harbor Twp., Hammonton, Lower Cape May, Oakcrest.
LIBERTY: Bridgeton, Cumberland, Timber Creek, St. Joe’s (Hamm.), Vineland, Highland.
CAPITOL: Allentown, Ewing, Hightstown, Hopewell Valley, Princeton, Trenton.
VALLEY: Hamilton, Lawrence, Notre Dame, Nottingham, Robbinsville, Steinert.
NATIONAL: Audubon, Bishop Eustace, Collingswood, Gateway, Haddon Heights, Sterling.
PATRIOT: Bordentown, Camden Catholic, Florence, KIPP, Maple Shade, Riverside.
ROYAL: Clearview, Deptford, Holy Cross, Mastery, Pemberton, WW-Plainsboro.
UNITED: Gloucester Catholic, Haddon Twp., Lindenwold, Middle Twp., Palmyra, Wildwood.

Salem County WJFL History

YEARSCHALICKPENNS GROVEPENNSVILLESALEMWOODSTOWN
2026DiamondIndependenceDiamondDiamondIndependence
2025DiamondDiamondPatriotDiamondDiamond
2024DiamondDiamondPatriotDiamondDiamond
2023HorizonDiamondRoyalDiamondDiamond
2022HorizonDiamondRoyalDiamondDiamond
2021UnitedDiamondUnitedDiamondDiamond
2020UnitedDiamondUnitedDiamondDiamond
2019DiamondDiamondDiamondDiamondDiamond
2018DiamondDiamondDiamondDiamondDiamond
2017ClassicDiamondDiamondDiamondDiamond
2016ClassicDiamondDiamondDiamondDiamond
2015DiamondDiamondClassicClassicDiamond
2014DiamondDiamondClassicClassicDiamond
2013DiamondDiamondClassicClassicDiamond
2012DiamondDiamondClassicClassicDiamond
2011DiamondDiamondClassicClassicDiamond
2010DiamondDiamondClassicClassicDiamond

Welcome to the club

Pennsville’s Bass passes 1,000-point mark in Eagles’ win over Clayton

MONDAY BASKETBALL
GIRLS
Pennsville 51, Clayton 38
Salem 38, Penns Grove 26
Hammonton 49, Woodstown 37
Wildwood 70, Salem Tech 12
BOYS
Penns Grove 58, Salem Tech 19
Clayton 94, Pennsville 77

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

PENNSVILLE – There were no outward signs in the gym before the game that something special was about to happen but everyone knew about the milestone they came to see.

It just might have taken a little longer than anticipated.

Pennsville senior Taylor Bass became the latest player to join the Salem County 1,000-Point Club Monday when she reached the milestone on a three-point play 15 seconds into the fourth quarter of the Eagles’ 51-38 win over Clayton.

She became the 20th Pennsville player all time – boy or girl – to reach the milestone, the third in its girls program in two seasons and the second still active. Her 16 points against the Clippers left her with 1,008 for her career.

“There wasn’t that much anticipation if I’m lying; it was definitely very anticipated,” Bass said. “I was quite anxious I wasn’t going to get it today when everybody was able to pop out because the next game was going to be away.

“I’m glad I got it today. It was definitely killing me waiting all that time until now.”

It probably should have come last year, when senior Nora Ausland and junior Marley Wood both reached the milestone, but the early part of Bass’ career was beset by injuries. There was a thought she would get it Dec. 27, when she needed only 14 points, but was held to six by Haddon Twp.’s tenacious face guarding.

The balloons and posters came out after halftime and were stashed behind the bench, but, honestly, it was looking like the celebration might be delayed another day as foul trouble kept her on the bench for the better part of two quarters.

She picked up her third foul early in the second quarter after scoring only five points and her fourth in the first minute of the second half that put her on the bench the rest of the third quarter. She still needed three points for the milestone.

“I definitely kept getting frustrated, not with anybody else, but myself because I just kept fouling and fouling,” Bass said. “I was scared a little I wasn’t going to get it, but there was still a whole ‘nother quarter left; I knew I had it.”

She wanted to go back in even with the foul trouble, but coach Steve Merritt didn’t want to run the risk of losing his biggest threat with the game still very much in doubt.

“I told her I love you dearly and if it were up me I’d adopt you, but nobody in his right mind would put you back in the game in the third period with four fouls. Nobody,” Merritt said. “She come over and said can I go back in. I said no. There was anger, I could read that look, but I could not do it.

“I rolled the dice years ago and got lucky to get away with it but I wasn’t going to do it tonight. Not when she was that close. It was absurd.”

Bass reentered the game to start the fourth quarter with the Eagles down 38-37 and immediately went to work. The first time she got the ball she drove hard to the basket and was fouled. The layup for points 998 and 999 gave the Eagles the lead. The free throw that followed gave her 1,000 points on the dot and made it 40-38.

“I never really thought I was going to get a three-point play,” she said. “I wanted some points … because I was not having a good game. I was not playing too good today.

“I’ve never been so scared standing on the foul line (for the milestone and-one) before. I was so nervous. My hands were like shaking.”

The three-point play took the lid off everything. Bass scored eight more points in the quarter, the Eagles seemed to play more relaxed and they held the Clippers scoreless the entire quarter to win by double digits.

“It was like a weight lifted off of all of us,” Bass said. “It obviously wasn’t just me that wanted it. They wanted it for me and when I finally got it we were like OK let’s go, we all just got real excited. Our adrenaline was pushing and everything.”

“That was a very important moment and let’s celebrate that, great, but we still have another important moment ahead of it, let’s go win this thing,” Merritt said. “And they came out and played inspired defense for the first time all season. I told them if you continue to do that the game is yours.”

With Bass struggling early and sitting later, the Eagles needed to find some offense somewhere. Addi Johnson got them going early, scoring six points in the first quarter and 11 in the first half. Then with Bass sitting in third, Izzy Saulin got them back in the game scoring six points, diving for loose balls and grabbing several rebounds.

“I think I just focused in,” Saulin said. 

NOTES: Bass also had seven rebounds and five steals … Wood added five points to her career total, but she also grabbed nine rebounds, dished 11 assists and blocked three shots.

PENNSVILLE 51, CLAYTON 38
CLAYTON (1-6): Deondria Simon 1 2-4 5, Janice Blair 0 0-4 0, India Bryant 8 2-2 23, India Williams 3 0-1 6, Gabby Searle 0 0-0 0, Lenaya Carr 1 2-4 4. Totals 13 6-15 38.
PENNSVILLE (4-2): Taylor Bass 7 2-5 16, Marley Wood 2 1-4 5, Addison Johnston 5 1-1 12, Jaiden Wilson 2 0-0 5, Kylie Harris 0 0-0 0, Izzy Saulin 3 1-2 7, Jaida Burns 3 0-0 6. Totals 22 5-12 51.

Clayton1115120-38
Pennsville1581414-51
3-point goals: Clayton 6 (Simon, Bryant 5); Pennsville 2 (Johnston, Wilson). Total fouls: Clayton 10, Pennsville 13.
Pennsville’s Taylor Bass (1) gets carried off the floor by her teammates after reaching the 1,000-point plateau Monday night.

SALEM 38, PENNS GROVE 26: MVP Madison Dixon filled up the box score with 13 points, eight rebounds, four steals and four assists and did a defensive job on Penns Grove’s hottest hand, leading the Rams to the Battle for the Bridge title at Xfinity Mobile Arena.

Salem coach Kemp Carr and MVP Madison Dixon.

It was the Rams’ third win of the season, matching their win total of all of last year. 

“We’re working, we’re working hard as a group,” coach Kemp Carr said. “The coaches, the players, they’re bought in …. to all the mentality type factors that weren’t there last year.”

The Rams (3-2) weren’t intimidated by the bright lights and the NBA floor.

Freshman Dyaira Anderson had 15 points, nine rebounds, a blocked shot and three steals. Carlysia Pierce had 11 rebounds and six steals.

As the game’s MVP, Dixon will have the opportunity to hand the game ball to the refs prior to the 76ers game against Milwaukee Jan. 27.

HAMMONTON 49, WOODSTOWN 37: The Wolverines (4-4) lost to an undefeated opponent for the second straight game. Gabriella Stevenson led Hammonton with 17 points and 13 rebounds. Lauren Hengel led Woodstown with 15 points.

Hammonton (7-0)1114168-49
Woodstown (4-4)841016-37

WILDWOOD 70, SALEM TECH 12: The Warriors hit seven 3-pointers and got scoring from 12 players. Angela Wilber (14), Rebecca Benichou (11) and Joelle Murphy (11) scored in double figures.

Salem Tech (2-3)2226-12
Wildwood (5-4)3118147-70

Boys games

PENNS GROVE 58, SALEM TECH 19: The Red Devils (5-2) got balanced scoring from 11 players and held the Chargers (1-4) to one point in the first quarter at the Xfinity Mobile Arena. Jerry Wooton, Ahkeen Edwards and Luis Colon had eight points apiece. Jeremy Costacamps had seven and three others scored six apiece.

“That’s kind of what we are,” coach Damian Ware said. “No super star, just balanced across the board.”

Salem Tech (1-4)1459-19
Penns Grove (5-2)18121216-58

CLAYTON 94, PENNSVILLE 77: Mason O’Brien scored a career-high 37 points as the Eagles enjoyed their highest scoring game in two seasons, but it still wasn’t enough to overcome the Clippers’ firepower. James Fritz led Clayton with 18 points, six rebounds, four assists and five steals. Jack Venuto had 12 points, five rebounds and seven assists. Michael Bull had 10 points and six boards.

Pennsville (1-7)20221916-77
Clayton (3-3)28252419-94

1,000-Point Club

Here is a list of Salem County’s all-time leading scorers in basketball; documented additions/updates should be sent to al.muskewitz@gmail.com; Pennsville’s Taylor Bass is projected to join the list tonight

Boys

PLAYERSCHOOLTOTALYEAR
Paul GauseSchalick31442005
Keith JacksonSalem19401986
Richard BrokenbaughPenns Grove17301989
Marcus RobinsonSalem17261990
Joe HickmanWoodstown17261972
Zach ManorowitzPennsville16792020
Mike HollowaySchalick16342015
Rashan HollowaySchalick16222014
Kavon LewisPenns Grove16002020
Dominique RoyPenns Grove15742008
Mike WrightPenns Grove15511988
Greg FrithSchalick15321990
Fred DrainsWoodstown14441989
Jawan RoanePenns Grove14242018
Jerry DickersonSalem14161963
Sean CollinsSchalick13931996
Geshawn DavisPenns Grove13932013
Melvin AllenSchalick13552014
Bradley RowandWoodstown13462000
Tyler LunsfordSchalick13452016
Dan FeruckPennsville12841980
Lowell FortuneSalem12551989
Brian SyeSalem12271978
Ralph KowalkowskiSt. James12201955
Josh HedgemanSchalick12191989
Luke WoodPennsville11982025
Jamar D. JohnsonPenns Grove11892020
Anthony FarmerSalem11752024
Jim ShiversWoodstown11701973
George SeagerPennsville11581989
Michael MoorePenns Grove11471991
Gage AuslandSalem11442020
Butch KarrPennsville11432009
Scott PowersWoodstown11341993
Joe CassidySt. James11171983
Clifton ShawPenns Grove11111996
Billy McMackinWoodstown11052003
Joe MecholskyPennsville11031992
Mike DriscollWoodstown11001968
Brandon BermudezSalem Tech10972023
Tim BuzbyPennsville10931987
Jim BrownSalem10851985
Ramon RootsSalem10802016
Mike HarrellSchalick10751986
Brian BookerWoodstown10682002
Keith RobinsonPenns Grove10652019
Troy JohnsonSchalick10622017
Lew RidgewaySalem10581975
Eric SpencerSt. James10541990
Tom SummielSalem10501971
Clint HitchnerWoodstown10501996
Jamy ThomasPennsville10481994
DeAndre SolomonSchalick10442014
Charles McNeilPenns Grove10401956
Jim SmithWoodstown10381955
Charles HainesPenns Grove10301953
Bruce SpencerSt. James10231983
Colin RiegerPennsville10142015
Darryl GauseSchalick10072001
Dan YucisPennsville10031999
Matt KatesSchalick10022008
Terrence SorrellSalem1988
James RoweSalem1997
Ron MichaelSalem2002
William BarnesSalem2005
Derrick ParsleySalem2008
Woodrow FurbushSalem2011

Girls

PLAYERSCHOOLTOTALYEAR
Katie KlinePennsville21102004
Amanda YoungSt. James17621995
Sharias HillPenns Grove16612009
Brittany SmithSalem16232007
Talia BattavioWoodstown16202025
Megan DonelsonWoodstown15882025
Tia FurbushSchalick15742021
Tori SmickWoodstown15662013
Shayla LlanosSalem14362008
Crystal BaileySchalick14061984
Stephanie OwenWoodstown13811993
Dawn CurryPennsville12882008
Tamara WatkinsPenns Grove12762005
Charlie BaldwinWoodstown12752020
Shaqui CoppageSalem12652010
Vynette MillerSalem12551985
Kelli GriffithPennsville12481989
Paige CaldwellWoodstown12372017
Ryane WoodPennsville12242022
Carly LanePenns Grove12172001
Shaniece BanksPenns Grove12052008
Elizabeth HudockSalem12032019
Marie PatrickSalem11861995
Hannah CookseyPennsville11682019
Lindsey MinchPennsville11632010
Riley FulmerWoodstown11632022
RaNiyah WilsonPenns Grove11562025
Nora AuslandPennsville11442025
Tiasia TatemSalem11392015
Che’Na ThompsonSalem11302009
Ashley HansenSchalick11242008
Bethany HumenikWoodstown11202009
x-Marley WoodPennsville11162026
Kelly ThompsonWoodstown11151990
Latika RossSalem11022001
Lindsay RivellSalem10812001
Caitlin McCafferyPennsville10802003
Natrice ReedPenns Grove10652018
Meely HoracePenns Grove10632024
Kayla MayersWoodstown10412015
Shannon PollockSt. James10371993
Christy BrittonSt. James10371989
Ashley EngelWoodstown10122007
x-Taylor BassPennsville10082026
Susanne DalySt. James10021991
Sandy AlstonPenns Grove1983
x-active
There are a lot of points in this picture of 1,000-point scorers (L-R) Woodstown’s Talia Battavio and Pennsville’s Marley Wood, Ryane Wood, Luke Wood, Nora Ausland and Jamy Thomas. There were more than 7,100 points represented here at the time this photo was taken.

This week’s schedule

Here is the Salem County sports schedule for the week of Jan. 5-10, highlighted by Penns Grove’s basketball doubleheader at Wells Fargo Center and Pennsville’s Taylor Bass’ bid for 1000 (both Monday), and No. 1 Salem CC’s return vs. No. 7 Union

MONDAY, JAN. 5
BOYS BASKETBALL
Penns Grove vs. Salem Tech at Wells Fargo Center, 2:30 p.m.
Pennsville at Clayton, 5:30 p.m.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Penns Grove vs. Salem at Wells Fargo Center, 1 p.m.
Hammonton at Woodstown, 5:30 p.m.
Clayton at Pennsville, 5:30 p.m.
BOWLING
Salem vs. Overbrook at Wood Lanes, 4 p.m.
SWIMMING
Schalick vs. West Deptford at River Winds, 3:45 p.m.

TUESDAY, JAN. 6
BOYS BASKETBALL
Clayton at Salem Tech, 5:30 p.m.
Glassboro at Schalick, 5:30 p.m.
Overbrook at Penns Grove, 5:30 p.m.
Woodstown at Pennsville, 5:30 p.m.
Salem at Pitman, 7 p.m.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Penns Grove at Overbrook, 4 p.m.
Glassboro at Schalick, 4 p.m.
Pennsville at Woodstown, 5:30 p.m.
Pitman at Salem, 5:30 p.m.
Salem Tech at Clayton, 5:30 p.m.
BOWLING
Salem Tech vs. Gloucester Catholic at Westbrook Lanes, 3:45 p.m.
Salem vs. Lindenwold at Wood Lanes, 4 p.m.
INDOOR TRACK
Penns Grove, Schalick at Cherokee Throwdown
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Union at Salem CC, 5 p.m.
WOMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Monroe-Bronx at Salem CC, 7 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 7
WRESTLING
Deptford at Woodstown, 5 p.m.
Schalick at Gloucester Catholic, 5 p.m.
Penns Grove at Pennsville, 6 p.m.

THURSDAY, JAN. 8
BOYS BASKETBALL
Glassboro at Salem, 5:30 p.m.
Penns Grove at Pitman, 5:30 p.m.
Schalick at Salem Tech, 5:30 p.m.
Wildwood at Woodstown, 5:30 p.m.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Pitman at Penns Grove
Salem at Glassboro, 5:30 p.m.
Salem Tech at Schalick, 5:30 p.m.
Woodstown at Wildwood, 5:30 p.m.
WRESTLING
Pennsville at Paulsboro, 6:30 p.m.
SWIMMING
Woodstown vs. Highland at GCIT, 7 p.m.
Schalick vs. Cumberland at GCIT, 8:30 p.m.
INDOOR TRACK
Pennsville, Schalick at Bennett Complex, 5 p.m.
BOWLING
Salem Tech vs. Lindenwold at Wood Lanes, 3:45 p.m.

FRIDAY, JAN. 9
BOYS BASKETBALL
Buena at Schalick, 5:30 p.m.
Salem at LEAP, 5:30 p.m.
Triton at Pennsville, 5:30 p.m.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Penns Grove at Kingsway, 4 p.m.
Schalick at Buena, 5:30 p.m.
WRESTLING
Pennsville, Salem at TCC Girls Jamboree, Kingsway, 5 p.m.

SATURDAY, JAN. 10
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Delsea at Pennsville, 11:30 a.m.
Woodstown at Haddonfield, 1 p.m.
WRESTLING
Deptford at Penns Grove, 9 a.m.
Woodstown at Cinnaminson, 9:30 a.m.
Salem, Gloucester at Washington Twp., 10 a.m.
Schalick, Cumberland, Timber Creek at Buena, 10 a.m.
Pennsville, Millville, Oakcrest at Overbrook, 10 a.m.
INDOOR TRACK
Woodstown at Bennett Center, Toms River
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Salem CC at RCSJ-Gloucester, 7 p.m.
WOMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Salem CC at RCSJ-Gloucester, 5 p.m.

Saturday roundup

Results and highlights from Saturday’s wrestling, indoor track action involving Salem County teams

Wrestling

HAMMONTON DUALS
GATEWAY/WOODBURY 51, PENNSVILE 20
106: Mike Graham (GW) pinned Brett Land, 5:53
113: Vincent Toner (GW) maj. dec. Erick Davalos, 14-3
120: Leo Butler (GW) pinned John Sassi, 1:24
126: Christian Snyder (GW) tech fall over Mehki Dicks, 15-0 (2:45)
132: Chase Baker (P) tech fall over Aiden Barbato, 15-0 (4:34)
138: Cameron Torres (GW) pinned Vincent Grether, 4:28
144: Stephen Ericsson (GW) dec. Nathaniel Mason, 11-4
150: Travis Hagan (P) pinned Dylan Letzgus, 2:54
157: Gabe Supernavage (P) pinned Gio Alvarez, 0:27
165: Robbie McDade (P) dec. Daniel Rivera, 12-8
175: Josh Reynolds (GW) won by forfeit
190: Josiah Bradshaw (GW) pinned Cristian Blyler, 1:15
215: Shane Young (GW) won by forfeit
285: Ahmad Fears (GW) dec. Jacob Hand, 3-2

PENNSVILLE 59 WINSLOW 14
113: Christopher Steed (WI) maj. dec. Erick Davalos, 9-1
120: John Sassi (P) won by forfeit
126: Mehki Dicks (P) pinned Alverse Cannon, 5:24
132: Chase Baker (P) pinned Nathan Downey, 4:51
138: Noah Young (WI) maj. dec. Vincent Grether, 9-1
144: Nathaniel Mason (P) dec. Nathan Smalls, 7-4
150: Travis Hagan (P) pinned Joshua Martinez, 1:54
157: Gabe Supernavage (P) pinned Chase Hamilton, 0:47
165: Robbie McDade (P) pinned Luke Vigorito, 0:26
175: Cristian Blyler (P) tech fall over Pablo Hernandez, 16-0 (5:35)
190: Caleb Walderrama (WI) won by forfeit
215: Hunter Coulbourn (P) won by forfeit
285: Trevor Waddington (P) dec. Izuchukwu Ugwuzor, 6-4
106: Brett Land (P) won by forfeit

PENNSVILLE 53, BUENA 28
120: John Sassi (P) won by forfeit
126: Mehki Dicks (P) pinned Konner Raynor, 4:40
132: Chase Baker (P) won by forfeit
138: Thomas Hann (B) pinned Vincent Grether, 1:55
144: Zach Cohen (B) maj. dec. Nathaniel Mason, 14-3
150: Travis Hagan (P) pinned Gionni Sharkey, 2:55
157: Gabe Supernavage (P) pinned Gage Forvour, 1:10
165: Robbie McDade (P) pinned Billy Haslam, 0:44
175: Matt Cohen (B) won by forfeit
190: Larry Spellman (B) pinned Cristian Blyler, 2:40
215: Anthony Trainor (B) won by forfeit
285: Jacob Hand (P) pinned Mason Zaak, 1:40
106: Brett Land (P) pinned John Sutton, 3:28
113: Erick Davalos (P) tech fall over Alex Alicia, 19-2 (5:42)

DAN TRAINER COLLINGSWOOD DUALS
WOODSTOWN 65, CAMDEN/CAMDEN EASTSIDE 6
106: T.J. Conto (WO) won by forfeit
113: Jadon Middlemiss (WO) pinned Fahim Bright, 0:47
120: Carson Bradway (WO) won by forfeit
126: Walker Battavio (WO) pinned Adrian DeJesus, 1:44
132: Barry Coverly (WO) tech fall over Iyzuhs Abreu, 19-4 (4:33)
138: Luke Woronicak (WO) won by pin, 1:31
144: Unknown
150: Unknown
157: Ahmad Clossen (CCE) pinned Mathias Ellis, 3:25
165: Logan Warfield (WO) pinned Nekai Underdue, 3:20
175: Greyson Hyland (WO) pinned Levar Wilson-Morant, 1:05
190: Asher Fitzpatrick (WO) pinned Terrance Rothmiller, 3:41
215: Bradley Snitcher (WO) pinned Gabriel Marshall
285: Mateo Vinciguerra (WO) pinned Anthony Nelson

CHERRY HILL WEST 41, WOODSTOWN 29
106: Aiden Sanchez (CHW) pinned T.J. Conto, 0:08
113: Caden Rossi (CHW) dec. Jadon Middlemiss, 4-0
120: Carson Bradway (WO) dec. Aeden Wynne, 6-0
126: Walker Battavio (WO) pinned Mason Hare, 1:34
132: Barry Coverly (WO) tech fall over Jamir Jackson, 16-1 (4:00)
138: Brandon Darling (CHW) pinned Luke Woronicak, 3:16
144: Mason Mahan (CHW) maj. dec. Nehemiah Carter, 14-6
150: Angel Mena-Martinez (CHW) pinned Josh Woronicak, 3:31
157: Jakob Ubarry (CHW) pinned Mathias Ellis, 0:34
165: Gabe Jones (CHW) pinned Logan Warfield, 0:40
175: Clayton Tyson (CHW) maj. dec. Greyson Hyland, 11-3
190: Asher Fitzpatrick (WO) over Praise Okereafor (SV-1 5-2)
215: Bradley Snitcher (WO) pinned Nick Fareas, 0:52
285: Mateo Vinciguerra (WO) pinned Anthony Vanella, 0:20

GLOUCESTER 57, WOODSTOWN 16
106: Connor Frenetic (G) tech fall over T.J. Conto, 15-0 (2:00)
113: Jacob Vazquez (G) tech fall over Jadon Middlemiss, 16-0
120: Ethan Santiago (G) pinned Carson Bradway, 2:26
126: Gavin Lee (G) pinned Walker Battavio, 4:17
132: Barry Coverly (WO) vs. Alexander Ekimoglou
138: Aidan Johnson (G) pinned Luke Woronicak, 0:17
144: Darrian Smith (G) pinned Nehemiah Carter, 0:17
150: Greg Harris (G) tech fall over Josh Woronicak, 17-2 (2:49)
157: Michael Eller (G) pinned Mathyias Ellis, 2:46
165: Derek Scruggs (G) pinned Ricky Watts, 3:39
175: Greyson Hyland (WO) maj. dec. Harry Ulmer, 8-0
190: Ashton Wall (G) pinned Asher Fitzpatrick, 1:31
215: Bradley Snitcher (WO) pinned Bryce Busan, 1:07
285: Mateo Vinciguerra (WO) pinned Alex Anderson, 0:36

OVERBROOK QUAD
SCHALICK 72, OVERBROOK 12
120: E’Shion Underwood (S) won by forfeit
126: Caleb Jenkins (S) won by forfeit
132: Jacob Potts (S) won by forfeit
138: Colin Bittle (S) pinned Jaden Marshall, 1:53
144: Michael Baisch (S) won by forfeit
150: Mason Hollywood (S) pinned Karter Reed, 0:45
157: Ayden Jenkins (S) won by forfeit
165: Anthony Deaver (S) won by forfeit
175: Xyon Marshall (O) won by forfeit
190: Jayden Devan (O) won by forfeit
215: James Cook (S) pinned Augustus Guzman, 5:21
285: Gerardo Felipe (S) pinned Shyer Scarborough, 1:13
106: Victor Fenske (S) won by forfeit
113: Nicholas Latona (S) won by forfeit

SCHALICK 47, HADDON HEIGHTS 32
113: Aniello Napolitano (H) tech fall over Nicholas Latona, 21-5 (3:59)
120: Cole Denning (H) pinned E’Shion Underwood, 1:18
126: Caleb Jenkins (S) pinned Joseph DeRosa, 3:30
132: Jacob Potts (S) pinned Gavin Gilliss, 1:11
138: Colin Bittle (S) pinned Brennan Albright, 0:46
144: Michael Baisch (S) pinned Michael Fitter, 0:48
150: Ryan Bailey (H) pinned Mason Hollywood, 2:32
157: Ayden Jenkins (S) pinned Matthew Boone, 3:51
165: Jayden Bonilla (H) pinned Ayden Hubbard, 5:29
175: Andrew Gutkin (H) pinned Ricky Watt, 1:44
190: Evan Elliott (S) pinned Shawn Thompson, 1:16
215: James Cook (S) pinned Cameron Mayo, 0:59
285: Nathan Lelionis (H) dec. Gerardo Felipe, 8-6
106: Victor Fenske (S) tech fall over Andrew Hanchey, 19-3 (3:59)

SCHALICK 59, MAINLAND 12
106: Victor Fenske (S) won by forfeit
113: Nicholas Latona (S) won by forfeit
120: E’Shion Underwood (S) pinned Jaxon Serra, 0:42
126: Mario DiBartolo (M) dec. Caleb Jenkins, 4-0
132: Justin Mazur (M) dec. Jacob Potts, 3-1
138: Colin Bittle (S) tech fall over Archer Burns, 21-5 (3:58)
144: Daniel McKinnon (M) def. Michael Baisch, 12-8
150: Mason Hollywood (S) pinned Yehor Leusenko, 1:32
157: Ayden Jenkins (S) won by forfeit
165: Anthony Deaver (S) won by forfeit
175: Vincent Hoag (M) dec. Ricky Watt, 4-2
190: Evan Elliott (S) won by forfeit
215: James Cook (S) won by forfeit
285: Gerardo Felipe (S) won by forfeit

SALEM QUAD
HOLY SPIRIT 37, SALEM 36
120: Zachary Tortella (S) won by forfeit
126: Nathaniel Quinones-Perez (S) won by forfeit
132: Guilherme Quintanilha (S) pinned Seamus Crowder, 1:30
138: Carmine Lovallo (HS) pinned Christian VanTonder, 2:51
144: Anthony Lovallo (HS) pinned Joseph Goetaski, 1:51
150: Gavin Mensch (HS) pinned Zion Moore, 0:46
157: Patrick Voss (HS) won by forfeit
165: Mason Sproles (HS) won by forfeit
175: Austyn Franklin (S) won by forfeit
190: Kaleb Ewald (S) won by forfeit
215: Double forfeit
285: Abdur Jenkins (S) won by forfeit
106: Double forfeit
113: Ryan Eykyn (HS) won by forfeit
NOTE: Holy Spirit won the tiebreaker.

MANASQUAN 76, SALEM 3
126: Gustavo Ramirez Ortiz (M) pinned Nathaniel Quinones-Perez
132: Donovan Havard (M) pinned Guilherme Quintanilha
138: Padraig Tracey (M) won by forfeit
144: Jaden Sanders (M) pinned Joseph Goetaski
150: Ryan McNulty (M) tech fall over Christian VanTonder, 16-1
157: Torrin Tracey (M) tech fall over Zion Moore, 16-1
165: David Dawson (M) pinned Jordan Brown
175: Ryder Boyle (M) pinned Jaivion Sydnor
190: Abnel Roman Del-Rio (M) pinned Kaleb Ewald
215: Domenic Incolla (M) won by forfeit
285: Abdur Jenkins (S) dec. Ambrose Masons, 8-3
106: Myles Byrne (M) won by forfeit
113: Jack Thomas (M) won by forfeit
120: Liam Cavanagh (M) pinned Zachary Tortella

NORTHERN BURLINGTON 76, SALEM 6
132: Roco Giangeruso (NB) tech fall over Guilherme Quintanilha, 17-1 (2:08)
138: Kellan Bolos (NB) won by forfeit
144: Michael Mayhew (NB) won by forfeit
150: Julian Morgan (NB) won by forfeit
157: Nathan Hyman (NB) pinned Zyion Moore, 3:43
165: Nathanael Beteta-Perez (NB) pinned Jordan Brown, 5:17
175: Logan Berck (NB) pinned Jaivion Sydney, 1:33
190: Aadil Rehman (NB) pinned Kaleb Ewald, 0:53
215: Kody Phillips (NB) won by forfeit
285: Abdur Jenkins (S) won by forfeit
106: Maddox Millan (NB) won by forfeit
113: Niccolo Carnassale (NB) won by forfeit
120: Ryan Thatcher (NB) tech fall over Zachary Tortella, 17-0 (1:56)
126: Jason Marasco (NB) pinned Adrien Morales, 0:56

Indoor Track

PHILADELPHIA — Woodstown’s Karson Chew had a big day at the SJTCA Meet at the Ott Center Saturday.

Chew ran a leg on the winning 4×800 relay team that beat their best time in the building last year by three seconds and blasted his PR by eight seconds in winning the 1600.

“Overall pretty happy about how the day went,” he said. “The 1600 was a really good breath of fresh air. I haven’t had a PR in that event since last indoor season and I felt as though because I ran a 28 lap lap that I totally had more in the tank.”

Joining Chew on the first 4×8 of the indoor season were returnees Josh Crawford and Jake Marino and newcomer David Farrell.

“Overall everyone did pretty well in the first 4×8 of the season,” Chew said. “And although we still have some things to clean up, we’re well on our way for a great season in the relay.”

SJTCA MEET 8
OTT CENTER, PHILADELPHIA
(Top 6 finishes)

BOYS
1600: 1. Karson Chew, Woodstown 4:36.46
Distance medley: 2. Woodstown 10:56.71
4×800: 1. Woodstown 8:20.31
Long jump: 6. Davine Banks, Penns Grove 18-4.75

GIRLS
1600: 4. Abby Marino, Woodstown 5:31.70
High jump: 3. Kami Casiano, Woodstown 34-10
Triple jump: 3. Arianna Dowe, Penns Grove 32-0.75


Back to his old self

Saturday basketball roundup: Lecator getting back into form, just in time for Salem to make a run; Cherokee bombards Woodstown with 3s, and more

BOYS GAMES
Salem 51, St. Joseph 45
Cherokee 65, Woodstown 50
West Deptford 50, Salem Tech 27
Maple Shade 47, Pennsville 36 (OT)
GIRLS GAME
Cinnaminson 56, Woodstown 34

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

SALEM – When Tymear Lecator is at the top of his game Salem basketball coach Anthony Farmer is convinced he’s one of the better guards in South Jersey.

The junior hasn’t been quite up to his form of last season – and there are reasons for that – but Saturday he looked like the Lecator of old. Even he said it was the first time this year he felt like his old self.

Lecator exerted himself early, beating his season high in points by halftime. But he didn’t stop there. Even with foul trouble that kept him out most of the third quarter, he still had 19 points, six rebounds and four assists to lead the Rams past St. Joe’s of Hammonton 51-45.

“I definitely wanted to get back to what I was last year and I knew I was being short of myself and I was hurting the team so I tried to come back,” he said. “I’ve been in the gym consistently getting shots up so that definitely played a big part (in Saturday’s success). I was just ready to go today. I was amped up.”

He didn’t waste any time showing it. He scored the first basket of the game and had nine of the Rams’ 11 first-quarter points. Then he scored six in the 14-0 second-quarter run that gave the Rams an eight-point halftime lead.

That’s 15 points in the half. His best game this year before Saturday was 13 in the season opener against Woodstown.

It was only his third game this season scoring in double figures; he did it 19 times last year, including a triple-double against Clayton. But he also has been dealing with some things he didn’t face last year, either. He underwent off-season wrist surgery and missed most of the Pleasantville game after rolling his ankle.

“I was down on myself for a little bit but I knew I was going to bounce back,” he said. “I wasn’t too hard on myself because I knew what I’m capable of. I just knew I had to let the pieces come together and now I’m back.”

Farmer is glad to see him starting to come around.

“Hopefully this gets him going, he finds his groove,” Farmer said. “We need him to be at full tilt because if we’re going to be the team we need to be down the stretch to try to lock up the 1 seed in Group 1 we need him to be playing at his best.”

Lecator isn’t the only Rams player making his way back. Senior Marshall Stephens is back on the floor after not playing basketball last year in New York. 

Providing the Rams the post presence they need with Antwuan Rogers graduating early to join Temple football in the spring, Stephens went for eight points, eight rebounds and four blocked shots against the Wildcats. In six games this year he’s averaging five points, 6.5 rebounds and has 14 blocks. He’s had 26 rebounds and 10 blocks in his last three games.

“I’m still getting back to myself,” he said, “but I feel like when it’s the middle of the season, when stuff really starts to go down, I’ll be back in my element.”

SALEM 51, ST. JOSEPH (H) 45
ST. JOSEPH (4-3): Caden Banks 3 2-2 8, Zehkiy DeJesus 4 0-0 9, Ayden Santiago 0 0-0 0, Chris Hill 2 1-1 6, CJ Mitchell 0 0-0 0, Eddie Drummond 8 2-4 22. Totals 17 5-7 45.
SALEM (5-1): Marshall Stephens 4 0-0 8, Xavier McGriff 0 2-2 2, Neziah Spence 3 4-4 10, Tymear Lecator 8 2-3 19, BJ Robbins 3 0-0 6, Deshaan Williams 2 2-6 6, Kyvion Parsons 0 0-0 0, Harlem Parsons 0 0-0 0, Cole Sayers 0 0-0 0. Totals 20 10-15 51.

St. Joseph134199-45
Salem11141016-51
3-point goals: St. Joseph 6 (DeJesus, Hill, Drummond 4); Salem 1-16 (Lecator). Rebounds: Salem 27 (Williams 9). Fouled out: Stephens. Total fouls: St. Joseph 12, Salem 15.
Salem’s Marshall Stephens (30) stands his ground in the post, challenging anyone to come into his lane. Top photo, Tymear Lecator (3) doesn’t give St. Joe’s CJ Mitchell much room to work.

It’s raining 3s

WOODSTOWN — Cherokee’s Johnny Comito set up in the left corner for the first shot of the second half. He let it fly and it found the bottom of the net for yet another 3. 

Woodstown coach Ramon Roots just turned away and dropped his head. He’d seen this movie throughout the first half and it was starting all over again.

The Chiefs ended Woodstown’s five-game winning streak Saturday 65-50 under the weight of a season-high 11 3-pointers.

At halftime the Chiefs (6-1) had more points on 3s than the Wolverines (5-3) had points, a trend that carried until midway through the third quarter.

Cherokee’s previous season-high from behind the arc was seven, in the season opener against Cherry Hill West, but they hit six twice thereafter.

Louis Galasso had the hottest hand, hitting six 3s, tying his season high, on the way to 26 points. Tony Fuscia hit three.

“I knew they could get hot,” Roots said. “Everything was going in tonight for them. They shot the ball very well.”

The Chiefs led wire-to-wire. They hit the first two buckets of the game and never trailed. Every time Woodstown got close, they’d hit another 3.

“They shot very well,” Wolverines senior guard Eli Caesar said. “We could’ve contested their shots better, but they were hitting them. It’s kind of hard to defend it when they’re just hitting them. Even when you’re closing out they’re still making them.”

The Wolverines got into the act in the second half. They hit four 3s in the third quarter to keep up – but just to keep up. It helped them score 19 points in the quarter to stay within the seven they trailed by at halftime.

Caesar had three in the quarter and had a career-high six in the game to finish with a game- and career-high 28 points.

“I feel like we’re a good 3-point shooting team, we’re pretty confident shooters,” Caesar said. “I felt like I had to get us back in the game. They went on an 8-0 run to start the third quarter, so I knew we had to flip the switch.”

The Wolverines got within four on a 3-pointer by Alejandro Vazquez with 4:35 to play, but then Galasso hit another 3 and the Chiefs closed it out from the free throw line. In that final stretch Galasso hit two 3s and the Chiefs went 10-for-12 from the foul line.

“I know we have the ability to do that,” Roots said. “We’ve seen it, both of our losses, Woodbury and Salem, coming back in the game, but it’s all about putting ourselves in the hole. We’ve got to stop putting ourselves in the hole. If we weren’t in that hole, we wouldn’t have to come back.”

CHEROKEE 65, WOODSTOWN 50
CHEROKEE (6-1): Louis Galasso 9 2-2 26, John Comito 3 3-4 10, Tony Fuscia 3 3-4 12, Tom Cieslik 4 2-2 11, Chris Walters 2 0-0 4, Jeremiah Shields 1 0-0 2, Josh Shields 0 0-0 0. Totals 22 10-12 65.
WOODSTOWN (5-3): Eli Caesar 9 4-5 28, Blake Bialecki 3 3-3 10, Alejandro Vazquez 3 0-0 8, Josh King 0 0-0 0, Andrew White 2 0-1 4, Lucas Fulmer 0 0-0 0, Connor Miller 0 0-0 0. Totals 17 7-9 50.

Cherokee13111922-65
Woodstown1251914-50
3-point goals: Cherokee 11 (Galasso 6, Comito, Fuscia 3, Cieslik); Woodstown 9 (Caesar 6, Bialecki, Vazquez 2). Rebounds: Cherokee 24 (Je. Shields 6, Walters 6, Fuscia 5); Woodstown 15 (Caesar 6). Technical fouls: Walters. Fouled out: Caesar. Total fouls: Cherokee 8, Woodstown 12.

WEST DEPTFORD 50, SALEM TECH 27
SALEM TECH (1-3): Chase Pompper 1 2-2 4, Brody Kroll 2 0-2 4, Aiden Bobo 2 1-3 5, Keidyn Robinson 1 1-3 3, Larry Pompper 3 0-0 9, Sterling Lewis 1 0-0 2. Totals 10 4-10 27.
WEST DEPTFORD (2-5): Curtis Pearson 2 1-2 5, Kyle Eason 3 4-6 10, Aaron Benson 1 0-0 2, Carter Watson 5 0-0 11, Anthony Martello 2 2-2 7, Michael Garcia 1 2-3 4, Cameron Hoang 0 0-0 0, Michael Joseph 1 1-4 3, Zamir Davis 0 0-0 0, Talib Bogar 1 0-2 2, Cole Stanish 3 0-1 6. Totals 19 10-20 50.

Salem Tech56106-27
West Deptford1171418-50
3-point goals: Salem Tech 3 (L. Pompper 3); West Deptford 2 (Watson, Martello). Rebounds: West Deptford 36 (Joseph 7). Notes: Eason had four steals and three assists. The Eagles ended a four-game losing streak, while extending the Chargers’ slide to three.

MAPLE SHADE 47, PENNSVILLE 38

Maple Shade (2-8)11815310-47
Pennsville (1-6)984161-38
NOTES: Maple Shade’s Jayden Robinson had 15 points and 18 rebounds.

Girls game
A tough lesson

WOODSTOWN – The scoreboard showed a 22-point loss to an undefeated opponent every bit as good as their record indicated. But Woodstown girls coach Matt Smart believes in the long run the Wolverines will have done far better for themselves playing this game than beating an easier opponent by the same margin or more.

The Wolverines took one on the chin Saturday, losing to undefeated Cinnaminson 56-34, but in the immediate analysis of a game otherwise better left alone, Smart did find some positives for his team to take away that will serve them well down the road.

“That’s kind of been our theory all year,” Smart said. “We’ll play whoever, wherever, whenever. We always want to challenge the girls and we always want to try to continue to get better and better and better.

“Each game I’ve had to say let’s focus on us, let’s focus on us getting better. I don’t care what the scoreboard says, if we’re up by 30, if we’re down by 30, whatever, we just want to continue to focus on us getting better as a team and as a unit. The scoreboard doesn’t reflect a win today, but I think we truly got a lot better today.”

Smart said there were “a lot of things” the Wolverines did well. Among them were being more patient with the ball than they’ve been in past games, making smart decisions with the ball, looking for open players, spreading out the floor and keeping up their defensive intensity.

The Wolverines (4-3) actually came out of the first quarter with a lead. It was a one-point game early in the second quarter before the Pirates (7-0) started pulling away. The visitors used a 7-0 run to establish control, then ended the half with another seven-point run to take a 14-point halftime lead.

Gabby Harvey had eight of her 16 points in the second quarter and Shiloh Moore had seven of her game-high 17 there. Harvey hit her four 3-pointers across the second and third quarters. 

The Wolverines focused on getting the ball inside and didn’t have a 3-pointer in the game. Kyia Leyman was their leading scorer with 14 points.

CINNAMINSON 56, WOODSTOWN 34
CINNAMINSON (7-0): Shiloh Moore 7 3-5 17, Norah Quinn 2 0-4 4, Mia Pacetti 2 0-0 5, Gabby Harvey 6 0-0 16, Mia Szlenderowicz 2 1-2 5, Stevie Ormsby 1 0-0 2, Emily Reynolds 1 2-2 4, Chloe Fudala 1 1-2 3, Julia Latevnas 0 0-0 0, Jaci Cichonoski 0 0-0 0, Ella Repsher 0 0-0 0, Tyler Davis 0 0-0 0. Totals 22 7-15 56.
WOODSTOWN (4-3): Kyia Leyman 7 0-0 14, Kendall Young 4 0-2 8, Emma Perry 2 0-0 4, Talia Guardascione 1 2-2 4, Lauren Hengel 2 0-0 4, Mia Waterman 0 0-0 0, Ava White 0 0-0 0, Kaylin Kennedy 0 0-0 0, Gina Murray 0 0-0 0, Jaelyn McDonald 0 0-0 0, Autumn Paleschic 0 0-0 0. Totals 16 2-4 34.

Cinnaminson1024148-56
Woodstown12886-34
3-point goals: Cinnaminson 5 (Harvey 4, Pacetti). Rebounds: Cinnaminson 20
Woodstown 26 (Hengel 6, Waterman 6, Leyman 7). Total fouls: Cinnaminson 6, Woodstown 10.

1000-Point Watch

PLAYERTODAYTOTAL
Blake Bialecki, Woodstown10 vs. Cherokee824
Tymear Lecator, Salem19 vs. St. Joseph732
Taylor Bass, PennsvilleDNP992