‘Bop’ breaks out

Salem’s Stephens back with his buddies, has big game in Rams’ fifth straight win; includes boys and girls basketball, wrestling, swimming, track and bowling results

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

SALEM – Marshall Stephens is back playing with his basketing buddies again and he couldn’t be happier.

Stephens enjoyed his best game on the court since returning to Salem Thursday night, and it helped the Rams win their fifth in a row, 61-46 over Glassboro. He scored a career-high 13 points, grabbed 10 rebounds and blocked two shots.

The 6-6 senior post, who took the nickname “Bop” from a character on Barney & Friends and has carried it since his freshman year, scored in 11 games for the Rams’ varsity as a sophomore, but moved to New York the next year and didn’t play basketball because it just didn’t feel right with all his basketball buddies back in Salem. 

The coaches at Evander High School in the Bronx were after him every day to play for them. He missed it not playing and thought about it every day, but he stuck to his guns.

“Everything there was just out of place; it just didn’t feel like home,” he said. “It just didn’t feel right playing with these guys. I can play practice with y’all, I can play with you trying to get better, but as far as being on the team (he wasn’t feeling it). 

“And I knew I was coming back. I’ll just wait until I come back. I was like if I come back to Salem I want to be the best I can for that program. That’s where I see myself playing and I can see myself graduating from.”

Rams coach Anthony Farmer, needing post following Antwuan Rogers’ early departure to play Division I football at Temple, welcomed Stephens back to the court when he returned and the player has been steadily getting comfortable with the game again. He had 10 points and eight rebounds in his first game back against Woodstown, which happened to be coach Anthony Farmer’s 100th career coaching win.

The game Thursday was his first since the opener scoring in double figures and his second in a row with 10 or more rebounds.

“I can say I have gotten comfortable to the point where a game could be starting and I won’t even be nervous; I’ll be excited,” he said. “I’m definitely getting there. The excitement is definitely coming back. I’m just hoping I can keep that momentum going.”

If he does, people will need to start getting his name right. In other media he’s called “Marshall Stevenson.” His name has neither a “son” nor a “v” in it. It’s S-T-E-P-H-E-N-S. You’re welcome.

He looked comfortable enough against the Bulldogs, scoring 10 points in the first quarter as the Rams opened an 18-8 lead. 

“I just wanted to make my coaches proud because they told me be strong off the jump,” Stephens said. “Before the game they said we can get our seventh win and go on a championship run. I’ve got to be more physical on the back end. I’ve got guys looking at me and looking up to me, so I’ve gotta step up.”

Deshaan Williams had 10 points and eight rebounds for the Rams (7-1). Tymear Lecator had 17 points, five rebounds and seven assists. Fatah Paige, a transfer from McKean (Del.), had nine points, eight rebounds and a pair of assists in his Salem debut.

GLASSBORO (2-6): Alex Adeleye 3 6-6 12, Will Goggans 2 0-0 4, Xavier Sabb 4 7-10 17, Maurice Davis 1 3-10 5, Cam Parker-Akins 1 0-0 2, Derreck Robinson 1 0-0 2, Jack O’Connell 0 0-0 0, Lorenz Jones 0 0-0 0, Others 2 0-2 4. Totals 14 16-28 46.
SALEM (7-1): Xavier McGriff 1 0-0 3, Neziah Spence 1 0-0 3, Tymear Lecator 7 0-0 17, Deshaan Williams 3 4-8 10, BJ Robbins 0 2-2 2, Harlem Parsons 1 0-1 2, Marshall Stephens 6 1-1 13, Cole Sayers 0 0-0 0, Kaden Robinson 0 0-2 2, Barnes 1 0-0 2, Santiago 0 0-0 0, Jovanni Rios 9 0-0 0, Fatah Paige 4 1-2. Totals 24 8-16 61.

Glassboro	9	12	12	13-	46
Salem	18	12	12	19-	61

Photo credit: Amo Alleyne

WOODSTOWN 56, WILDWOOD 40: Blake Bialecki and Eli Caesar each hit three 3-pointers and combined for 30 points as the Wolverines won for the seventh time in their last eight games. Bialecki scored 17 points to move within 142 of 1,000 for his career.

WILDWOOD (2-4): Nolan Mawhinney 5 0-0 13, Owen Bannon 1 0-0 3, Gianni Troiano 1 1-2 3, Jordan Dozier 4 0-0 8, Eric Jordan 2 1-2 5, Vinny Sweeney 1 0-0 2, Michael Sciarra 2 0-0 6. Totals 16 2-4 40.
WOODSTOWN (7-3): Eli Caesar 5 0-2 13, Lucas Fulmer 1 0-0 2, Alejandro Vazquez 2 1-2 6, Andrew White 3 2-4 6, Blake Bialecki 6 2-2 17, Frank Hoerst 1 0-0 2, Josh King 3 2-4 8. Totals 21 7-14 56.

Wildwood	4	10	14	12-	40
Woodstown	5	14	19	18-	56

PITMAN 51, PENNS GROVE 43: Roman Gipson hit four 3-pointers and led Penns Grove with 18 points. Joey Zubert led a balanced Pitman scoring attack with 10 points. Lucas Razze had nine points, seven assists and five steals.

PENNS GROVE (5-4): Roman Gipson 7 0-0 18, Haneef Frisby 3 1-2 7, Will Roy 4 0-0 8, Geonni Conrad 1 1-2 4, Luis Colon 0 2-4 2, Zane Thomas 1 2-4 4. Totals 16 6-12 43.
PITMAN (4-6): Lucas Razze 2 4-6 8, Parker DeChristipher 3 1-2 9, Joey Zubert 2 4-4 10, Jay Craig 3 2-4 8, Jake Bowen-Ashwin 1 3-4 6, Micah Frost 3 1-2 9. Totals 14 15-22 51.

Penns Grove (5-4)	14	8	7	14-	43
Pitman (4-6)	10	13	12	16-	51

SCHALICK 60, SALEM TECH 43: Schalick 3-4, Salem Tech 1-6

1000-Point Watch

PLAYER	TODAY	TOTAL
Blake Bialecki, Woodstown	17 vs. Wildwood	858
Tymear Lecator, Salem	17 vs. Glassboro	737

GIRLS BASKETBALL
SCHALICK 48, SALEM TECH 27: Nevaeh Robinson scored 19 points and Willow Davis had 14 as the Cougars got back on the winning track after having its three-game season-opening winning streak snapped last time out. Robinson scored 12 points in the second half. Davis hit three 3-pointers

SALEM TECH (2-5): Rachel Reed 1 0-0 2, Shelby Liber 2 0-0 5, Shelby Drummond 5 0-2 11, Amora Delaine 4 0-0 8, Rylee Doerr 0 1-1 1, Tiara Bazemore 0 0-0 0, Evening Amedee 0 0-0 0, Lydon 0 0-0 0. Totals. 12 1-3 27.
SCHALICK (4-1): Ava Scurry 3 0-0 6 Cali Fisler 2 1-3 5, Nevaeh Robinson 9 1-2 19, Willow Davis 5 1-4 14, Olivia Vanacker 0 0-0 0, Jaclynn Jarmon 2 0-0 4, Vicky Basich 0 0-0 0, Emmalyn Weir 0 0-0 0, Emma O’Neill 0 0-0 0, Bailey Wentz 0 0-0 0. Totals 21 3-9 48.

Salem Tech	5	5	9	8-	27
Schalick	15	9	13	11-	48

Woodstown	4	14	10	9-	37
Wildwood	20	15	12	16-	63

WRESTLING
PAULSBORO 42, PENNSVILLE 32
106: Brett Land (PV) tech fall over Ethan Nguyen, 16-0 (2:33)
113: Ben Pacheco (PB) tech fall over Erick Davalos, 26-11 (5:15)
120: Will Cruz (PB) pinned John Sassi, 0:35
126: Antonio Chila (PB) tech fall over Mehki Dicks, 17-2 (5:07)
132: Maximos Efelis (PV) tech fall over Patrick Zold, 21=5 (5:22)
138: Chris Baker (PV) pinned Logan Shipman, 1:30
144: Ben Price (PB) maj. dec. Nathaniel Mason, 16-4
150: Julian Sosa (PB) pinned Travis Hagan, 4:38
157: Gabe Supernavage (PV) tech fall over Grayson Lane, 21-3 (3:10)
165: Robbie McDade (PV) tech fall over Anthony Muniz, 17-1 (5:29)
175: Josias Torres (PB) pinned Juan Velasquez Hernandez, 2:58
190: Frank Damminger (PB) pinned Cristian Blyler, 1:11
215: Jason Yandach (PB) maj. dec. Hunter Coulbourn, 12-1
285: Trevor Waddington (PV) won by forfeit

SWIMMING
Woodstown 120, Highland 41
Cumberland 105, Schalick 65

INDOOR TRACK
(At The Bubble, Toms River)
(Salem County Top 6 finishes)
BOYS
Pole vault: 3. Salvatore Longo, Schalick 11-6
GIRLS
High jump: 2. Kallie Morrison, Pennsville 4-10

BOWLING
LINDENWOLD 4, SALEM TECH 0: Jean Pierre Pozo rolled Salem Tech’s high game (214) and series (563). Lindenwold’s Connor Piotrowski bowled the high game of the match (233).