Wilson, Siedlecki selected for the South squad of the Phil Simms North-South All-Star Football Classic in June; Woodstown’s Eichler revealed Friday
By Al Muskewitz Riverview Sports News
PITTSGROVE – Schalick football coach Mike Wilson is honored to be a part of the coaching staff for the South team in the Phil Simms North-South All-Star Classic, but what really has him excited is the chance to one more time coach one of his players.
Wilson and Cougars senior Jake Siedlecki have been selected for the game, scheduled for June 9 at Kean University. Wilson will serve as the team’s defensive coordinator and if he has anything to say about it, Siedlecki, a two-way standout during the regular season, will be on the defensive side with him.
“It’s an honor,” Wilson said. “The Phil Simms North-South Game has been around a long time. I’m actually more looking forward to coaching another game with Jake. I find that more special than anything.
“It’s an honor to be included in a prestigious game like that. It’s going to be a lot of fun. Like I told Jake today, we get to do one more game together, which I think is really cool.”
This will be Wilson’s first coaching experience in the game.
He guided the Cougars to one of their best seasons in school history in his fourth season with the program. They won their first 11 games, earned a No. 1 seed in the Central Jersey Group I playoffs and played for the sectional title. Siedlecki led the team in receiving (13-321-4) and interceptions (5).
“The game is going to be fun,” Siedlecki said. “To be coached one more time by my coach will be a great experience and I’m excited to meet some of the other players. It seems like a pretty cool weekend to be a part of, so I’m looking forward to it.”
On Friday, former Woodstown coach John Adams posted on his X page that Wolverines lineman Damien Eichler has been selected for the game. It isn’t known if any other Salem County coaches or players have been picked for the game. South squad executive committee met earlier this week to select its roster. Full rosters are expected to announced in mid-March.
SJ Group I girls: Pierman powers Woodstown past Penns Grove and into semifinals; Pennsville falls to top-seeded Woodbury in Trapp’s final game as coach; includes Tri-County Diamond, Classic all-stars
SOUTH JERSEY GROUP I GIRLS QUARTERFINALS Woodbury 68, Pennsville 34 Woodstown 43, Penns Grove 32 Audubon 43, Maple Shade 35 Wildwood 51, Glassboro 40 THURSDAY’S SEMIFINALS No. 4 Woodstown at No. 1 Woodbury, 4:30 p.m. No. 6 Audubon at No. 2 Wildwood
By Al Muskewitz Riverview Sports News
WOODSTOWN — Coaches and teammates describe Shannon Pierman’s demeanor in her every day comings and goings as sweet, quiet, stoic, reserved, nice. They’re always the dangerous ones.
Cross her on the basketball court and that all changes.
Like that thing that happens whenever the Hulk gets mad, get under Pierman’s skin and she switches into beast mode and people better get out of the way.
The Woodstown senior’s personality changed dramatically in the fourth quarter Tuesday and by all accounts on both sides of the scorer’s table she was the difference in her team taking down Penns Grove 43-32 in the South Jersey Group I girls quarterfinals.
“She’s quiet, mature, but, man, don’t mess with her,” Wolverines coach Kara Straughn said. “She is our leader. She’s a constant. She’s so mature, so stoic, just quiet, but, man, if you come at her or somebody she cares about, it’s like she’s ready to go, but calmly.
“She’s emotionally mature. She knows when to give and take. She gets overshadowed by the other two (1,000-point scorers Talia Battavio and Megan Donelson), but she is our foundation. She keeps us together.”
The Wolverines (20-6) advance to play at top-seeded Woodbury in the semifinals Thursday. It will be against a Thundering Herd team without their best player, as point guard Maya Braxton-Young was ejected for a flagrant foul in her team’s quarterfinal win over Pennsville and by rule will not play.
Pierman got angry, too, but her ire had its limits. She had all her points and a double-double in the fourth quarter alone, dominating a 16-0 run that gave the Wolverines control of the game. Perhaps most out of character, she bowed up and went nose-to-nose with Zoey Ceasar in the lane after being fouled by the Penns Grove post going after an offensive rebound.
There was nothing calm about the response when the Wolverines’ foundation got rocked to her core. It seemed egregious enough to bring a technical foul, but instead she received only a warning for taunting. What followed it was vintage Pierman.
She made both free throws to extend the Wolverines lead and then wrapped seven more points around a Lauren Hengel basket before the Lady Devils ended their drought on Meely Horace’s runner with 2:42 to play. By then, Woodstown was up 41-27.
The decisive run actually got started with Battavio’s go-ahead 3-pointer with 6:33 left in the game. It was the Wolverines’ only 3 of the game. The junior guard added a basket on the next possession and then it was basically all Pierman, all starting with the confrontation with Ceasar.
“For a second I let the anger get to me,” Pierman admitted. “I heard her saying some stuff to me. I let it get the best of me for a second, but then I started thinking it’s my last home game I’ve got to get it together.
“I’d like to think I’m nice, I’m reserved. Usually I’m very good at keeping my cool and I try to be a good, kind person. That’s kind of just out of nowhere. I’m trying to go up and I just hear talking in my ear and I get fouled and my emotions got the best of me.”
“Out of all five of (her players on the floor) she was the one I least expected (to erupt),” Straughn said. “Obviously you don’t want them to be unsportsmanlike, but I’m proud of her for standing up for herself and standing up for her team. They’re a family and they’re going to protect each other and protect themselves. But like I said she knows when to put it on and cool off.”
Pierman finished with 10 points and 17 rebounds. It was her 11th double-double of the season and tenth in her last 13 games.
The win gave the Wolverines a third-straight 20-win season and fourth in the last five years, It also extended long winning streaks against Tri-County Conference Diamond Division (32) and Salem County opponents (29).
Penns Grove, the No. 12 seed, came into the game primed to pull off an upset and had things going its way in the first half. The Lady Devils held the Wolverines to only four points through the first 13 minutes of the game and once they established the lead successfully took the air out of the ball further frustrating their hosts.
Woodstown eventually started taking chances against the ploy and drew even at 13 with less than a minute left in the half before RaNiyah Wilson scored the last two buckets of the half to send the Lady Devils into the locker room with a four-point halftime lead.
Wilson led Penns Grove with 10 points. Horace had nine and finished her career with 1,063 points. Caesar was force in the paint early in the game and scored seven of her nine points in the first quarter.
The lead changed hands four more times before Woodstown went on the run the decided the game.
“I’m very proud of the girls,” Penns Grove coach Jennifer Denby said. “I’m glad that they came to play and let them know that they can play with anybody.”
3-point goals: Penns Grove 1 (Horace); Woodstown 1 (Battavio). Rebounds: Woodstown 28 (Pierman 17). Total fouls: Penns Grove 16, Woodstown 19. Officials: Carolyn Jackson, Crystal Marshall, Chris Seher. 3-point goals: Penns Grove 1 (Horace); Woodstown 1 (Battavio). Rebounds: Woodstown 28 (Pierman 17). Total fouls: Penns Grove 16, Woodstown 19. Officials: Carolyn Jackson, Crystal Marshall, Chris Seher.
Pennsville girls basketball coach Sam Trapp greets her players leaving the floor for the last time with her at the helm. (Photo by Chris Watson)
Eagles fall in Trapp’s finale
WOODBURY – Sam Trapp knew it was going to be emotional when she made the emotional announcement to her team five weeks ago, but is anyone ever really prepared for when the last game finally comes?
The Pennsville girls basketball coach knew her final game was coming at some point in this South Jersey Group I playoff season and it arrived Tuesday night when the Eagles were eliminated by top-seeded Woodbury in the quarterfinals 68-34.
Next month, Trapp will be leaving the school where she has been head soccer and basketball coach the last three years to become the athletics director at Triton Regional.
“I have so many emotions right now,” she said. “It’s just hard to know this is the last time you’ll be courtside. You start coaching because you’re so passionate about what you do, you’re so excited about the sport, you have a love for the sport and you love to see these kids grow and develop.
“Through that you just want to see so many great accomplishments and milestone. Of course, every coach dreams of being on the big stage and winning the big game and putting the trophy over your head.
“I just thought back to all those moments of what we’ve accomplished and what I was hoping we’d accomplish. We fell short today, but that doesn’t take away from the things that I’ve done and the hard work that I’ve put in and just how proud I am of what we have accomplished. I didn’t want to overly focus on this was the end, but grateful for all that’s happened throughout it.”
The game was manageable for about a quarter and a half. The Eagles trailed by seven after the first quarter, but the Thundering Herd steadily stretched the lead. It did get testy in the second half when Herd standout Maya Braxton-Young was ejected for a flagrant elbow against Pennsville’s Nora Ausland, a foul that likely will have her suspended for Thursday’s semifinal game with Woodstown.
Braxton-Young finished with 17 points to lead three Herd scorers in double figures. Abby Bush (16) and Dasani Talley-Dorrman (13) combined for 15 points in the fourth quarter.
Ausland led Pennsville with 11 points and will go into next season needing 195 points for 1,000. Tri-County Diamond Division first-teamer Marley Wood had nine points and she’ll need 280 next season for the milestone.
Trapp never had a losing season in her three years with the basketball team. She was 15-11 each of her first two years and was hoping for better this season, but a series of midseason injuries limited this year’s team to 14-14. The Eagles were 8-5 after she told the team her plans on Jan. 26. Her last official function with the team is its awards night March 11.
“It didn’t shake out the way we had hoped and dreamed at the start of the season, but like I told the girls afterward we fought hard to get an 8-seed,” Trapp said. “We made that our goal so we could get a home playoff game; we did that. We got a win more than we did last season as far as the playoff run goes.
“They’re a great bunch of girls who have a lot of potential to be a solid program again next year if they stay healthy and keep working in the offseason. All you can really ask and hope for is that when it’s not going the way we hoped to turn it around and set new goals and keep working hard for those and I think we did just that.”
SJ Group I boys: Rams finally get past Glassboro, earn a spot in semifinals; Penns Grove gets out to fast start, but falls to top-seeded KIPP; also includes TCC Diamond, Classic all-star teams
SOUTH JERSEY GROUP I BOYS QUARTERFINALS KIPP Cooper Norcross 64, Penns Grove 59 Wildwood 49, Audubon 38 Salem 62, Glassboro 55 Pittman 47, Paulsboro 37 THURSDAY’S SEMIFINALS No. 4 Wildwood at No. 1 KIPP Cooper Norcross, 5:30 p.m. No. 3 Salem at No. 2 Pitman, 5:30 p.m.
By Al Muskewitz Riverview Sports News
SALEM – Anthony Farmer and the Salem Rams have been trying to beat Glassboro for nearly a decade now. They finally got the Bulldogs on the biggest stage.
Salem ended a seven-game losing streak to the Bulldogs Tuesday night with a 62-55 victory in the quarterfinals of the South Jersey Group I boys tournament. The Rams’ last win in the series was in the 2014-15 season opener. All of the previous eight games were in the regular season. The majority of the losses were by double-digits.
“Those guys have been a tough out,” Farmer said. “They’ve had our number. It was good to get the most important one.”
The Rams (18-8) didn’t have history on their mind when they took the floor Tuesday as much as doing what it took to get where they want to go. They took control of the game early, weathered a storm in the third quarter and held on through the fourth.
“You can’t change the past, so, honestly, we’ve got a one-track mind,” Farmer said. “We know what we’re trying to get to. This is about us and how we continue to come together and make the right plays at the right moment and be one step ahead. We at this time it’s survive and advance, so we’re preparing like everything is our last.”
The difference in the game was the play of Jabez DeJesus and Anthony Farmer. DeJesus scored a team’ high 21 points, grabbed nine rebounds and blocked a couple shots. Farmer, the coach’s son, scored 17 points. Ramaji Bundy added 10 points.
Both DeJesus and Farmer were confirmed as Tri-County Conference Classic Division first-team all-stars earlier in the day.
“Those guys are no secret,” Farmer said. “I think we have one of the top backcourts is South Jersey, no doubt. They’ve been consistent all year long. They’re the reason we’re the third seed and in the position we’re in. Those guys are seniors and they’ve just been doing what they’ve been doing.”
The win sets up a showdown with second-seeded Pitman in the semifinals Thursday night. The Panthers have gotten them twice this year, none more painful than the one in late December in which the Rams jumped out to a big early lead only to lose by two at the end.
“This is what high school basketball is about,” Farmer said. “This is why you play the game, why I coach the game. I coach the game for the kids, for them to have experiences like this that they’ll talk about forever.
“I want them to go seize the moment. Once again, it’s more about us and where we’re trying to go. Obviously they got us twice and we understand that as well. Once again, this one means the most.”
3-point goals: Glassboro 5 (Graves 3, Dougherty, Buff); Salem 4 (Farmer 2, P. Weathers, Lecator). Rebounds: Salem 30 (P. Weathers 10, DeJesus 9). Fouled out: Graves. Total fouls: Glassboro 21, Salem 16.
KIPP Academy 64, Penns Grove 59
CAMDEN – When Penns Grove coach Damian Ware saw Willie Slocum and Camren Thompson hit 3-pointers early in the game he had to think this just might just be the Red Devils’ night to pull an upset. But he also knew there was a lot of basketball to play.
Slocum and Thompson combined to hit just one 3-pointer this season – and Slocum hadn’t hit any – but there they were, playing in a game to extend their careers, each hitting one from beyond the arc to help the Red Devils forge an early 10-point lead.
The good fortune didn’t last, however. Karon Ceaser and Slocum both got in foul trouble that cost them valuable minutes in the first half and top-seeded KIPP Cooper Norcross Academy began its long march to the foul line that proved the difference in scuttling the Red Devils’ season.
“Going into the game I expected to win, so it was not a big surprise we were up,” Ware said. “We had an opportunity to win the game going into it, we had a chance and I felt good about it, but we just didn’t have enough to pull it out.”
The Titans (21-8) took 31 free throws in the game compared to only seven for a Red Devils team that likes to attack the basket. They made 16 with leading scorer Meleake Kelly (18 points) going 8-for-14 and Tahmir Dixton (15) going 5-for-10.
Slocum wound up hitting two 3s in the game and finished with 10 points. Roman Gipson was the Red Devils’ leading scorer with 16 points, while Giomar Conrad and Thompson had 13 apiece.
Battle at the Beach officials confirm second, third days of the event will be at Egg Harbor Twp. stadium; Schalick opens Friday schedule
By Al Muskewitz Riverview Sports News
The final two days of this year’s Battle at the Beach will be played at Egg Harbor Twp. High School, event director John Emel confirmed Monday.
The series traditionally is played in Ocean City’s Carey Stadium, but a scheduling conflict with the Philadelphia Catholic League at the venue on Labor Day Weekend forced BATB officials to seek another option.
It was previously announced the games would move to Atlantic City High School. A window opened for the Aug. 29 BATB games to be played back in Ocean City with the final two days remaining in Atlantic City.
But negotiations broke down with the alternate site and the BATB went searching again. Other schools reached out to host and there were discussions with Rowan University, Emel said, before it was ultimately decided on Egg Harbor’s stadium for the games of the 30th and 31st.
“We wanted to keep it close to the beach,” said Emel, the former head coach at Penns Grove moving to West Deptford this fall. “I’d like to get back in one location for all three days. We’re going to sit down after this event this year and if we have to move it … I want all three days in the same location.”
Schalick kicks off the Egg Harbor Friday lineup at 10 a.m. against Cedar Grove. The other games that day are Washington Twp.-Northern Highlands (1 p.m.), Montclair-Winslow Twp. (4 p.m.), Holy Spirit-Millville (7 p.m.). Organizers are still working out some details on Saturday’s schedule.
“We are super excited to keep the event down the Shore,” the West Jersey Football Coaches Association wrote on its X page. “Egg Harbor Twp. facilities are second to none. We want to thank everyone involved in making this happen.”
As organizers searched for a new site, Schalick coach Mike Wilson was holding out hope for a Friday morning game at Ocean City.
“In all honesty, we’re just thrilled to be a part of the showcase weekend,” Wilson said. “We’ll play anybody, anywhere. The organization does a great job, so I’m just thrilled to be a part of it.”
Here is this week’s sports schedules for teams in Salem County for the week of Feb. 25-March 2
Sunday
WRESTLING NJSIAA Girls Regionals, Pennsauken
Tuesday
BASKETBALL South Jersey Group I Tournament Girls No. 8 Pennsville at No. 1 Woodbury, 4:30 p.m. No. 12 Penns Grove at No. 4 Woodstown, 5:30 p.m. No. 6 Audubon at No. 3 Maple Shade, 5:30 p.m. No. 7 Glassboro at No. 2 Wildwood, 4 p.m. Boys No. 9 Penns Grove at No. 1 KIPP Cooper Norcross Academy, 5:15 p.m. No. 5 Audubon at No. 4 Wildwood, 6 p.m. No. 6 Glassboro at No. 3 Salem, 5 p.m. No. 10 Paulsboro at No. 2 Pitman, 5:30 p.m.
Thursday
BASKETBALL South Jersey Group I Tournament Girls Pennsville-Woodbury vs. Penns Grove-Woodstown Audubon-Maple Shade vs. Glassboro-Wildwood Boys Penns Grove-KIPP Cooper Norcross Academy vs. Audubon-Wildwood Glassboro-Salem vs. Paulsboro-Pitman WRESTLING NJSIAA State Championship, Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City
Friday
COLLEGE BASEBALL Ocean CC at Salem CC (Carneys Point Rec), 3 p.m. WRESTLING NJSIAA State Championship, Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City
Saturday
BASKETBALL Girls South Jersey Group I championship Boys South Jersey Group I championship WRESTLING NJSIAA State Championship, Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City COLLEGE BASEBALL Salem CC at Ocean CC (2), noon
Woodstown’s Vinciguerra wins Region 8 title at 215, Hyland also advances to state wrestling championship at 175
By Al Muskewitz Riverview Sports News
EGG HARBOR TWP. – His name literally means “win the war,’ and that’s exactly what Mateo Vinciguerra did Saturday in his most dominating tournament to date. There was nothing lost in translation.
The Woodstown sophomore pinned top-seeded Delsea junior Alex Grippo in 1:52 to win the 215-pound title in the NJSIAA Region 8 wrestling championships and punch his ticket to the state meet next week at Atlantic City’s Boardwalk Hall.
It avenged a close loss to Grippo in last week’s District 31 finals and allowed him to follow in older brother John’s footsteps as last year’s 215 region champion.
“It means a lot,” Vinciguerra said. “I put a lot of work and effort into this. Getting the rematch I always wanted, it was great, because I really thought I could win.
“I was ready. I was coming for him. He’s a great wrestler, but my preparation, I knew I was ready for this. I had the same mindset I always do. Wrestle who’s in front of me, it doesn’t matter who it is.”
Vinciguerra, the No. 2 seed in the bracket, actually punched his ticket to state with a 10-0 major decision over Ed Vincent of St. Augustine in the semifinals. He also scored a pair of pins in his first two matches. He now has 22 pins this season.
“Mateo’s always been a good wrestler,” Wolverines coach Adam Hyland said. “He’s a lifer in wrestling, he loves it, he does it all the time. It’s his main and only sport, so he puts a ton of time into it, goes to all the big tournaments. He’s always been talented and always been a winner at wrestling.”
Both finalists went into their match off major decisions. Vinciguerra took Grippo down with a single leg to get the lead. He got hit with a stall point on top but didn’t let it bother him and went in for the pin.
Sophomore teammate Greyson Hyland, the coach’s son, also advanced to states as the fourth qualifier in 175 as an 8 seed. He secured his spot with an overtime decision in the wrestle-backs after losing a 3-2 decision in the semifinals, then lost to Ocean City senior Nick Layton 8-7 in the third-place match.
He is the lowest seeded 175 wrestler from all eight regions to advance to Atlantic City.
It really was a good weekend for him. He handed Layton his first loss of the season in the second round. He got up on the top seed early in the bout and literally held on to an ankle with all his might through the final seconds after Layton made his final move. In the rematch he fell behind 5-0 and fought back to make it close.
”I’ve been working hard in the season, grinding, we had a real tough practice this week, so pushing through that and seeing the results pay off was really exciting, a lot of fun,” Hyland said. “Today was a lot of fun. The semifinal match was tough, but I just stayed focused. I thought even though I lost that I could still make it to states, so I had a good mindset going into the consolation semis.
“The expectation from everyone else was this dude (him) is probably going to go 0-2, maybe 1-2, just get killed by the 1 seed, but my expectations were really high. I trained hard every day in the practice room, so to get an opportunity like that we don’t waste them.”
Now that they’re in the states, Vinciguerra has his eye on a spot on the podium. For Hyland, “we’re just going to let it fly in Atlantic City and have some fun.”
Speaking of fun, Vinciguerra’s birthday is Championship Saturday.
NJSIAA REGION 8 WRESTLING TEAM SCORES: Delsea 193.5, Camden Catholic 184.5, Washington Twp. 116, Kingsway 112, St. Augustine 100, Lower Cape May 78, Ocean City 74, Highland/Triton 60.5, Williamstown 52, Woodstown 49, Absegami 48, Timber Creek 45, Hammonton 44, Gateway/Woodbury 42, Middle Twp. 24, Clayton/Glassboro 23, Eastern 22, Egg Harbor 16, Vineland 15, Buena 10, Clearview 10, Pennsville 7, Holy Spirit 6, Pennsauken 6, Pitman 6, Deptford 4, Cedar Creek 3, Schalick/Cumberland 2, Winslow 2.
THE ROAD TO STATE (2) MATEO VINCIGUERRA, 215, Woodstown R1: Pinned (15) Ryland Angel (Kingsway), 2:36 QF: Pinned (7) Xavier Velez (Highland), 1:08 SF: Major dec. over (3) Ed Vincent (St. Augustine), 10-0 Finals: Pinned (1) Alex Grippi (Delsea), 1:52
(8) GREYSON HYLAND, 175, Woodstown R1: Bye QF: Dec. (1) Nick Layton (Ocean City), 7-5 SF: Lost to (5) Brayden Wright (Absegami), 3-2 Consy SF: Dec. (11) Joseph Leone (Kingsway), SV 3-1 3P: Lost to (1) Nick Layton (Ocean City), 8-7 Brian Tortella contributed to this report. His reports on South Jersey sports can be found on X at @tortreports
Woodstown girls rout Overbrook to complete third straight sweep of Tri-County Diamond Division schedule
By Al Muskewitz Riverview Sports News
WOODSTOWN – If it’s going to take winning three straight Super Bowls before they anoint the Kansas City Chiefs as a dynasty, what would you call the Woodstown girls basketball team after three undefeated seasons within their division?
The Wolverines completed their third straight undefeated run through the Tri-County Conference Diamond Division Friday with a 76-18 rout of Overbrook.
They have gone 10-0, 10-0 and 8-0 in the division over the last three seasons, but the actual in-division winning streak is 30 going back to 2021 – 31 if you count a playoff win against division rival Penns Grove during the same stretch. Their last loss in the Diamond came at Glassboro (60-45) on Feb. 25, 2021.
With a win over Penns Grove in Tuesday’s quarterfinals of the South Jersey Group I tournament, they will have 20 wins for the third year in a row and fourth straight in years they had that many games to win.
“It proves it’s not just a year-to-year team, it’s the program,” first-year head coach Kara Straughn said. “It’s a testament to how good our program is, not just like one year we’re really good (and it drops off).
“We’ve been consistently good and it’s because we have girls who have grown up in this program and who are good leaders, so then the young girls are coming in and we’re continuing to win. They work their butts off, so they deserve to be 10-0 in the division.”
The Wolverines (19-6) were heavily favored and took control by scoring the first 10 points of the game and opening a 22-6 lead at the end of the first quarter.
The most impressive part of the quarter was Woodstown center Shannon Pierman collecting a double-double before it was over. She had eight of the game’s first 10 points and ended the quarter with 12 points and 11 rebounds. She finished with 20 and 14 for her ninth double-double of the season and eighth in her last 12 games.
“I do not think that’s ever happened before,” an astonished Pierman said. “I didn’t realize it, I wasn’t keeping track. I thought it led off to a good start so we could get momentum going and get a win out of it.”
The plan all along was to play the starters for a comfortable amount of time and then give the reserves the floor.
The starters came out for the final 1:15 of the first half and then for good with 2:36 left in the third quarter. In addition to Pierman, Megan Donelson had 16 points – extending her streak in double figures to 38 games – five rebounds, four assists and three blocked shots; Talia Battavio had nine points and Lauren Hengel had six points, nine rebounds and four assists.
The backups took advantage of their opportunity. Sophomore post Jala Thomas scored a career-high eight points. Sophomore Lizzy Daly (4/6) and freshman Kendall Young (5/4) both had career highs in points and rebounds, and Ava White scored her first varsity points. The reserves held the Lady Rams (9-17) scoreless the entire time they were on the floor.
“That’s what they’re going to have memories about,” Straughn said. “Oh, yeah, we beat Overbrook, but that Ava’s first points or Jala had her career high. Those girls who cheer for the first five get cheered on by them.
“That’s what builds programs That’s what builds the morale, That’s what builds the relationships. Those games where they’re not so fun statistically, but they’re fun as a team.”
No. 2 Panthers put five scorers in double figures to win South Jersey Group I tournament opener; Wood has 27 for Pennsville, Saulin goes out with double-double
By Nolan Dowell Special to Riverview Sports News
PITMAN – It was the classic 2-v-15 playoff game that brought together 1,000-point scorers on each side.
The underdog gave the favorite all it could handle for three quarters, but in the end second-seeded Pitman prevailed over Pennsville 80-60 in the first round of the South Jersey Group I basketball tournament Thursday and the two 1,000-point scorers – Pitman’s Elijah Crispin and Pennsville’s Luke Wood – put on a show they all came to see.
Crispin went for a triple-double – 27 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds. Wood finished with 27 points and six rebounds. Pitman had five scorers in double figures.
The first quarter started off slow with Wood striking first on a quick layup. But the Panthers were quick to strike back and opened a seven-point lead that wound up five by quarter’s end. Crispin started getting hot, making his first three shots.
“I played with his dad (former NBA player Joe Crispin), so I kind of know how he plays,” Pitman coach Ron Myers said. “He does a lot of things that make my life easy. When he’s on and he’s playing, making the right reads, he sees the floor so well, we’re a tough team.”
The Panthers led 39-29 at halftime, but the third quarter was a big one for Pennsville, as the Eagles (10-17) started off strong and cut the Pitman lead to three within two minutes of the new half. Wood started the Eagles’ comeback with a big steal and 3-pointer. He had three 3s in the quarter.
The Panthers called time and cut off Pennsville for the next three minutes while going on a 14-4 run that smothered a lot of the Eagles’ hopes.
“I was more proud of the boys being down three with five minutes to go in the third quarter,” Pennsville coach Joe Mecholsky said. “We thought we had a chance to really make things happen, but credit to Pitman, they made the open shots when they had to. They were the better team tonight and we wish them luck going forward.”
The Panthers (20-7) now host the Paulsboro in the second round Tuesday.
The fourth quarter wasn’t much different, with the Panthers answering any score the Eagles got. Pennsville fed senior center Daniel Saulin a couple of times before the final horn and he finished with 19 points, 13 rebounds and a blocked shot in his final high school game. It was his seventh double-double of the season. He averaged 21.1 points and 10 rebounds in the month of February.
“I’m just glad we made it to the playoffs, and like coach said, not everybody is gonna win,” Saulin said. “At least we ended on a high note, making the playoffs in back-to-back years to finish my career.”
Dowell is a senior at Pennsville Memorial High School with aspirations of going into sports media. This is his first piece for Riverview Sports News.
SOUTH JERSEY GROUP I BOYS TOURNAMENT NO. 2 PITMAN 80, NO. 15 PENNSVILLE 60 PENNSVILLE (10-17) – Luke Wood 10-19 1-2 27, Peyton O’Brien 1-4 0-0 2, Daniel Saulin 8-13 3-7 19, Mason O’Brien 2-3 0-0 4, Cohen Petrutz 1-4 0-2 2, Jayden Thomas 2-12 2-2 6. Totals 24-55 6-13 60. PITMAN (20-7) – Elijah Crispin 12-21 0-0 27, Michael Fisicaro 4-12 0-0 11, Sonny Myers 5-9 0-0 13, Stephen Devanney 5-9 0-0 13, Trey Tinges 1-4 0-0 3, Greg Petersen 0-1 0-0 0, Hudson Rue 0-2 0-0 0, Porter Kostiuk 6-8 1-1 13. Totals 33-66 1-1 80.
Penns Grove stands its ground to score mild upset in opening round of South Jersey Group I tournament; Salem pulls away from New Egypt, Wildwood shuts down Woodstown SOUTH JERSEY GROUP I TOURNAMENT THURSDAY’S GAMES No. 1 KIPP Cooper Norcross Academy 61, No. 16 Burlington City 40 No. 9 Penns Grove 54, No. 8 Woodbury 46 No. 5 Audubon 61, No. 12 LEAP Academy 44 No. 4 Wildwood 46, No. 13 Woodstown 25 No. 3 Salem 83, No. 14 New Egypt 52 No. 6 Glassboro 64, No. 11 Riverside 41 No. 10 Paulsboro 52, No. 7 Palmyra 46 No. 2 Pitman 80, No. 15 Pennsville 60 TUESDAY’S GAMES No. 9 Penns Grove at No. 1 KIPP Cooper Norcross Academy No. 5 Audubon at No. 4 Wildwood No. 6 Glassboro at No. 3 Salem No. 10 Paulsboro at No. 2 Pitman
By Al Muskewitz Riverview Sports News
WOODBURY – All season long Penns Grove coach Damian Ware has been asking his players to take some for the team and sacrifice their body for the greater good. He’s gotten the occasional taker, but with the season on the line Thursday night the Red Devils stood and delivered.
The ninth-seeded Red Devils took three charges in the second half that changed the game and propelled them to a 54-46 victory over eighth-seeded Woodbury in the opening round of the South Jersey Group I boys basketball tournament.
The Devils trailed by one at halftime, but Willie Slocum and Camren Thompson took charges in the third quarter and Giomar Conrad took one in the fourth and that, Ware said, set the tone for the rest of the game.
“I told the kids that was really the key to the game, taking charges on these guys, because they are driving team, they like to drive and most of them are going to put their head down and try to get to the basket,” Ware said. “Once you start taking charges teams are going to hesitate on that drive, they’re not going to drive it as aggressively.
“The only guy who has taken charges all season was Willie; he had about 12 of them. The next person had one or two. I’ve been trying to get them to do it all season and finally they stepped up and did it in the second half today when it counted.”
Conrad led the Red Devils (11-14) with 21 points, 11 in the second half. Mekhi Ballard had 13 on three 3-pointers and 4-for-4 second-half free throw shooting. The Devils outscored their hosts 17-9 in the fourth quarter to pull away from a tie game.
It was the third year in a row they’ve won a first-round playoff game and the sixth straight year they’ve won a first-round game when they were in it.
The win keeps them alive and on the road, to play top-seeded KIPP Cooper Norcross Academy in the second round Tuesday.
The Thundering Herd (14-14), coached by 2022-23 Penns Grove assistant Mark DiRugeris, had three scorers in double figures, led by Troy Lindsay’s 15 points.
3-point goals: Penns Grove 5 (Conrad 2, Ballard 3); Woodbury 3 (Heigler, Lindsay, Sacko). Technical fouls: Slocum. Fouled out: Slocum, Dunbar. Total fouls: Penns Grove 13, Woodbury 21.
SALEM 82, NEW EGYPT 52: This is the time of the year when a team’s seniors and top players are expected to step up and deliver.
New Egypt rallied in the third quarter to make it a two point game, but the Rams pulled away with a 31-point fourth quarter. Anthony Farmer had 11 of his game-high 29, including 5-for-5 from the foul line, in the fourth quarter. Paul Weathers and Jabez DeJesus combined for 11 in the quarter.
Weathers finished with another double-double, 18 points and 11 rebounds. DeJesus had nine points and seven rebounds. Tymear Lecator had eight points and eight assists.
“Any coach will tell you wins are hard to come by,” Salem coach Anthony Farmer said. “You never want to take them for granted; you can’t get complacent. That’s something that’s hard to teach young kids who think that because they look better on paper or the record may be better, but, man if you don’t bring it you can lose. We’re happy to get another win. Survive and advance.”
New Egypt
14
7
29
11 –
52
Salem
16
18
18
31 –
83
WILDWOOD 46, WOODSTOWN 25: The fourth-seeded Warriors held Woodstown scoreless in the second quarter and to only 15 points in the second half.
Jordan Fusik led Wildwood with 12 points. Brian Cunniff and Junior Hans added 11 each. Blake Bialecki led the Wolverines with 11 points.
Pennsville girls turn up defense in fourth quarter to keep their season going and their coach around a while longer
SOUTH JERSEY GROUP I TOURNAMENT THURSDAY’S GAMES No. 1 Woodbury 81, No. 16 Salem 26 No. 8 Pennsville 59, No. 9 Gateway 55 No. 12 Penns Grove 48, No. 5 Palmyra 37 No. 4 Woodstown 67, No. 13 Cape May Tech 28 No. 3 Maple Shade 32, No. 14 Pitman 18 No. 6 Audubon 44, No. 11 Clayton 30 No. 7 Glassboro 74, No. 10 Burlington City 28 No. 2 Wildwood 77, No. 15 Paulsboro 27 TUESDAY’S GAMES No. 8 Pennsville at No. 1 Woodbury No. 12 Penns Grove at No. 4 Woodstown No. 6 Audubon at No. 3 Maple Shade No. 7 Glassboro at No. 2 Wildwood
By Al Muskewitz Riverview Sports News
PENNSVILLE – Sam Trapp was waiting at the end of the line to give each one of her starters their special handshake like she always does during the pregame introductions. When she got to Bella Farina’s turn to come through, the Pennsville girls basketball coach raised her arms as if to place a crown on her senior center’s head.
Before Farina could get away, she whispered to her coach a comment that brought a tear to Trapp’s eye.
“This isn’t going to be the last time.”
When the game ended, the coach raced out to midcourt to embrace her senior and delivered a message of her own.
“We’re not done yet.”
The Trapp farewell tour extended for at least one more game Thursday night after the eighth-seeded Eagles rallied to beat Gateway 59-55 in the opening round of the South Jersey Group I tournament.
The win sends the Eagles (14-13) to top-seeded Woodbury for a quarterfinals matchup Tuesday. It also guarantees Trapp a .500 record in her final season with the Eagles. Late last month she announced she was stepping down at the end of the season to become to new athletics director at Triton Regional.
“I’m ecstatic,” Trapp said. “(Pennsville athletics director) Jamy (Thomas) and I have a little inside joke that he calls me ‘Doc Rivers’ because I didn’t make it out of the first round last year. I had to prove a point.
“But moreso I wanted to prove to these girls just how good they are. I think sometimes they can doubt themselves, get down on themselves, but they’re so much better than they even know they really truly are.
“They showed it. They played so well together tonight and they worked so hard together at the end and they found a way to win it. That’s what we continue to do. We found a way to win it and we continue to work together. I love it.”
The Eagles are 8-4 since Trapp revealed her plans to the players after their Jan. 26 game with Haddon Heights. The remaining time they have with their coach was very much on the players’ minds during the game. And for a while in the second half it looked as if their run together would end in Trapp’s final game on her home floor.
The Eagles trailed the Gators by nine late in the third quarter, but about that time Trapp implored her players to “pick it up on defense” and that suggestion was all it took to flip the switch.
They went to the half-court press at the start of the fourth quarter and it produced a 14-0 run that was part of a larger 18-3 spree that put them up six with 2:40 to play. The 14-0 run started with three straight steals – one by Taylor Bass and two by Farina – that were quickly converted into points.
There were five takeaway altogether in the spree, three missed shots and a held ball that went in Pennsville’s favor. Nora Ausland provided 10 of the points when they converted.
“I know she’s sad about it being her last home game and I just didn’t want it to add the pressure of being her last game ever here,” Ausland said. “That was definitely a factor in trying to win this game.“
“It’s always a good feeling knowing you go from kind of dead to so much energy and you get that comeback and that win,” Bass said. “I definitely think we deserved it.”
“I think we all played really hard today for her and our seniors,” Marley Wood said. “Bella’s a big part of our team and we didn’t want it to be her last game, either.”
The flurry might have gotten them the lead, but the Eagles still had work to do. The Gators got within two on Angie Zagone’s 3-pointer with 25 seconds left and then one on two Zagone free throws with 12.6 seconds left.
Wood hit the first of two free throws with 11.7 left. She missed the second and Pennsville lost the rebound out of bounds at 9.8. Gateway’s Bella Fini drove into traffic trying to get the tying basket and maybe a foul, but Bass knocked the ball away and was fouled when she collected it.
She hit two free throws with 2.5 seconds left to seal it.
“There was definitely a lot of feelings involved (going to the line),” Bass said. “We definitely wanted this win to carry on. We went out first round last year. We wanted to come back, prove that we’re better. We haven’t had the best season statistically because we lost all of our players, but tonight proved we’re better.”
Ausland (21) and Wood combined for 41 points to lead Pennsville’s offense. Bass had 11. Zagone led all scorers with 27 points to finish her career as the Gators’ second all-time leading scorer.
Pennsville’s Taylor Bass is about to corral a ball she knocked away in traffic and sink two free throws to seal her team’s South Jersey Group I tournament win over Gateway. On the cover, outgoing Eagles coach Sam Trapp hugs center Bella Farina after securing the victory to extend their season.
WOODSTOWN 67, CAPE MAY TECH 28: It took the Wolverines a quarter to shake off the rust of not playing for eight days, but once they settled in, they got back to playing in a manner to which they are accustomed. It was a four-point game after one quarter, then the home team steadily pulled away.
Cape May Tech came out in a triangle-and-two against Woodstown’s Talia Battavio and Megan Donelson, but as other teams have discovered throughout the season, the Wolverines have a lot of weapons at their disposal.
Battavio and Donelson once again were their leading scorers with 18 and 16, respectively, but the Wolverines got 13 from post Shannon Pierman and sophomore Lauren Hengel gave them a career-high 10 off the bench.
“We have solid players who step up when our leading scorers get taken out in the offense,” Woodstown coach Kara Straughn said.
Hengel has scored 16 points in her last two games after scoring 37 in her previous 21 games this season.
“She’s just put in a lot of work; she wants so badly to elevate her game,” Straughn said. “She’s going to be a good player and I think games like the last two are starting to give her a little more confidence. She plays well on both ends of the floor and she wants to be good, which helps a lot.”
The Wolverines (18-6) now host Penns Grove in a second-round game Tuesday, but first they’ll try to complete a third-straight undefeated TCC Diamond Division slate Friday against Overbrook.
PENNS GROVE 48, PALMYRA 37: The 5-12 games in the NCAA Tournament tend to produce the most upsets and it did in the South Jersey Group I girls tournament Thursday.
RaNiyah Wilson scored 30 points for the third time this season and led the 12th-seeded Lady Devils (14-9) to their seventh win in the last eight games and the only opening-round win among the bracket’s road teams.
Earlier this season, her first with the Lady Devils since transferring from Kingsway, Wilson went for 33 against Woodstown and 30 against Salem. She is averaging nearly 17 points a game.
Penns Grove now travels to Woodstown for its third meeting of the season with the Wolverines in Tuesday’s second round.
WOODBURY 81, SALEM 26: The Thundering Herd (17-10) flexed their muscle as the top seed and held Salem scoreless in the first quarter. Maya Braxton-Young led four Herd scorers in double figures with 23 points.
Ava Rodgers led Salem (8-16) with eight points and nine rebounds. Ryann Foote had six points, seven rebounds and six steals. Marjziah Bundy didn’t score, but had six rebounds and four blocked shots.
The Herd, which was 2-7 at one point this season, now hosts eighth-seeded Pennsville in Tuesday’s second round.
