No. 1 Salem CC uses big second half to turn back challenge from No. 5 Northampton, makes it 20-0
By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News
BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Salem CC freshman Nasseem Wright has a unique way of describing the way the Mighty Oaks have been able to turn it on in the second half to win basketball games and become the No. 1 team in the nation this year.
Leaning against the locker room wall after another second half surge saved them he simply said, “After the rain and thunder, the sun comes out.”
The top-ranked Mighty Oaks were locked in an expected tight battle in the first half at Northampton Thursday night, but the sun shined brightly on them in the second half and propelled them to a 99-84 win over the fifth-ranked Spartans to overtake first place in the Region XIX Division III standings.
It was Salem’s 20th win of the season and 14th away from the Dupont Fieldhouse. The Mighty Oaks (20-0) are one of only seven undefeated teams in the JUCO basketball world and the only one in the Division III poll.
That second-half sun shined brightest on Wright and Jerrell Little. The Mighty Oaks’ two leading scorers had only four points combined in the first half. Wright had just one at halftime, but poured in 14 in the second half. Little had 11 in the half to finish with 14.
Seven Salem players scored in double figures, including all five starters. Saaid Lee, who didn’t mind saying the Mighty Oaks could go undefeated this year, led all scorers with 20 points.
The game was tied nine times and had 13 lead changes in the first half. The Mighty Oaks broke the final tie (39-39) with four free throws in the final 37 seconds to take a 43-39 lead into the break.
While the Mighty Oaks were waiting for their two top scorers to come around, Stefan Phillips, Nayeem Johnson and Idris Rines were keeping them in it in the first half.
This story will be updated.
SALEM CC 99, NORTHAMPTON 84
SALEM CC (20-0): Jarrell Little 4-14 5-5 14, Saaid Lee 6-12 7-8 20, Zyaire Gibson 3-5 1-4 10, Nasseem Wright 5-11 5-6 15, Stefan Phillips 5-8 1-2 13, Jahseir Sayles 1-5 0-0 3, Qua Smith 1-1 0-2 2, Nayeem Johnson 3-10 5-7 12, Idris Rines 3-6 3-3 10. Totals 31-72 27-35 99.
NORTHAMPTON (15-2): Terrence Cobb 2-13 3-3 7, Kevin Rucker 6-17 5-7 19, Jahad Marable 6-10 5-10 17, Mehki Shillingford 0-7 7-10 7, Aiden Brown 6-12 5-9 17, Sihaaj Johnson 0-1 1-2 1, Sebastian Fermin 2-3 0-0 6, Julian Bair 0-1 0-0 0, Anniel Pichardo 0-0 0-0 0, Ermil Fleurinvil 0-0 1-2 1, Lamaj Mapp 3-5 3-4 9. Totals 25-69 30-47 84.
| Salem CC | 43 | 56- | 99 |
| Northampton | 39 | 45- | 84 |
3-point goals: Salem CC 10-26 (Little 1-3, Lee 1-3, Gibson 3-5, Phillips 2-3, Sayles 1-5, Johnson 1-4, Rines 1-3); Northampton 4-19 (Cobb 0-6, Rucker 2-8, Marable 0-1, Johnson 0-1, Fermin 2-3). Rebounds: Salem CC 53 (Johnson 9, Lee 8, Wright 8); Northampton 46 (Marable 11, Brown 10). Technical fouls: Salem CC team (dunking in warmups), Lee. Fouled out: Phillips, Rines. Total fouls: Salem CC 29, Northampton 22.
Region XIX Standings
| DIVISION III | R19 | ALL | GSAC |
| SALEM CC (1) | 7-0 | 20-0 | 15-0 |
| Union (8) | 12-1 | 15-3 | 11-2 |
| Northampton (5) | 9-1 | 15-2 | |
| Brookdale | 13-2 | 13-5 | 8-3 |
| Camden | 7-2 | 10-6 | 6-5 |
| Ocean | 9-3 | 11-5 | 7-4 |
| Montgomery (9) | 6-2 | 9-3 | |
| Bergen | 10-7 | 10-10 | 3-9 |
| RCSJ-Cumberland | 6-7 | 7-10 | 6-7 |
| Atlantic Cape | 5-6 | 6-9 | 4-7 |
| Thaddeus Stevens | 3-7 | 6-10 | |
| Sussex | 4-10 | 7-13 | 4-9 |
| RCSJ-Gloucester | 4-11 | 6-15 | 1-11 |
| Passaic | 3-13 | 3-15 | 3-10 |
| Delaware County | 2-9 | 3-13 | |
| Luzerne | 1-7 | 4-13 | |
| Harrisburg Area | 1-7 | 2-13 | |
| Philadelphia | 1-8 | 6-8 |
Number in parenthesis is JUCO Division III national ranking
THURSDAY’S GAMES
Salem 99, Northampton 84
Sussex 79, Luzerne 77
Camden at Georgian Court JV
Union 80, Ocean 76
Brookdale 85, RCSJ-Gloucester 78
Thaddeus Stevens at Albright JV
Orange CC 87, Morris 83
Prince George’s at Harcum
Montgomery 98, RCSJ-Cumberland 59
Monroe 94, Raritan Valley 64
Bergen 95, Passaic 74
Rockland CC 101, Essex 73
Mercer 69, Westchester CC 62
Region XIX Women’s Standings
| DIVISION II | R19 | ALL | GSAC |
| Harcum (4) | 7-0 | 15-1 | |
| Union (11) | 8-1 | 16-2 | 6-0 |
| Mercer (17) | 6-2 | 12-3 | 3-1 |
| Essex | 6-3 | 11-4 | 5-2 |
| Delaware Tech | 4-4 | 6-11 | |
| Raritan Valley | 3-5 | 6-9 | 3-3 |
| Lackawanna | 2-6 | 2-10 | |
| SALEM CC | 1-5 | 2-11 | 0-3 |
| Middlesex | 1-6 | 6-13 | 0-4 |
| Morris | 0-6 | 0-6 | 0-3 |
Number in parenthesis is JUCO Division II national ranking
THURSDAY’S GAMES
Harcum at Salem, ppd.
Northampton 58, Camden 43
Passaic 74, Bergen 42
CCBC Essex 92, Raritan Valley 53
RCSJ-Gloucester 82, Brookdale 46
RCSJ-Cumberland at Montgomery
Atlantic Cape 66, Philadelphia 57
Essex at Rockland CC
Middlesex at Morris
Mercer 101, Westchester CC 27
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