Category: BASKETBALL

Emotional night

Pennsville senior gets back in the game on Senior Night, Bass has big game, Wood moves closer to 1,000; includes all the scores and highlights from Thursday night’s Salem County high school basketball games

GIRLS GAMESBOYS GAMES
Pennsville 60, Schalick 21Schalick 73, Pennsville 57
Glassboro 33, Penns Grove 31Penns Grove 58, Glassboro 54
Clayton 76, Salem 22Salem 102, Clayton 66
Woodstown 63, Overbrook 7Overbrook 74, Woodstown 55
Wildwood 71, Salem Tech 15Wildwood 85, Salem Tech 31

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

PENNSVILLE – It’s days like these that make Senior Nights something special.

MACALINO

When Pennsville’s Anikka Macalino tore the ACL in her left knee in the opening minutes of last year’s holiday tournament game against Buena, she didn’t expect to play basketball ever again. If she ever had a chance of coming back at all, she hoped it would be for Senior Night.

Well, not only did she play on Senior Night Thursday, she started (as is customary) and scored the first points of the game in the Eagles’ 60-21 victory over Schalick.

“It meant a lot because I haven’t played in about a year,” Macalino said. “I played JV earlier and my knee just gave up on me. I went into the room and started to cry, but I refused to give up on basketball so I came out and tried again.

“It’s a good feeling scoring the first points of the game.”

And it wasn’t some gift basket to make a player who’d been out all season feel good, either. The Eagles won the opening tip, got it to Macolino and she attacked the basket for a layup. She hit a deep 3-pointer in the third quarter as well.

“To see them go out there and be successful on their night is really kind of cool,” Eagles coach Steve Merritt said. 

The game was quietly billed as the night Marley Wood would go over 1,000 career points, but Taylor Bass stole the show.

Bass stood out in the left corner all night and drained a career-best six 3-pointers on the way to a career-high 29 points. The junior hadn’t hit more than three 3s in any game previously in her career, but she was 6-for-7 from beyond the arc against the Cougars.

“I’ve never shot like that before in my life,” she said. “You have those days where you hit them and other days when you don’t. Today was one of those days they went in. I had all those open shots so I took them.”

Wood needed 20 points coming into the game to become the second Pennsville player to reach the 1,000-point mark this season, but had only 12 – and got most of those late. It’s all set up for her to get it Friday when the Eagles host Millville in a game the Thunderbolts agreed to move to Pennsville just for the occasion.

She’s “really excited” about the prospect of joining her sister and brother in the Eagles’ 1,000-Point Club, but it didn’t really hurt her feelings not to get it Thursday.

She said she’d rather do it Friday when more friends, family and especially her AAU teammates and coaches “who are the reason I’m going to score 1,000” could be on hand to witness it. And she didn’t want to steal any thunder from the four seniors who were being honored on their special day.

That mindset was evident early on when she came down on a 2-on-1 break with a clear path to the basket, but she passed to Bass who converted the layup just the same. She had seven assists in the game.

Wood had only five points through the first three quarters, but heated up with all seven of Pennsville’s points in the fourth to get the target down to a manageable number.

“I was getting a little nervous because I only had like five points in all three quarters,” she said. “I wanted to be able to know that I was going to get it tomorrow so I was trying to get at least double digits today so I could have an easier time of it.”

PENNSVILLE 60, SCHALICK 21
SCHALICK (4-13): Navaeh Robinson 3 0-0 8, Willow Davis 0 0-0 0, Carly Vicente 0 0-0 0, Abby Willoughby 1 0-0 2, Cali Fisler 0 0-0 0, Emily Miller 1 0-0 2, Olivia Vanacker 3 1-2 7, Emma O’Neil 0 0-2 0, Ava Scurry 1 0-0 2, Olivia Lunemann 0 0-0 0. Totals 9 1-4 21.
PENNSVILLE (14-6): Taylor Bass 10 3-5 29, Marley Wood 3 6-7 12, Nora Ausland 2 0-0 5, Sofia Belitsas 1 0-0 2, Anikka Macalino 2 0-2 5, Izzy Saulin 1 0-0 2, Calli Ausland 0 0-0 0, Kylie Harris 0 0-0 0, Jaida Burns 2 1-4 5. Ashlyn Fredo 0 0-0 0. Totals 21 10-18 60

Schalick6078-21
Pennsville2116167-60
3-point goals: Schalick 2 (Robinson 2); Pennsville 8 (Bass 6, N. Ausland, Macalino). Rebounds: Schalick 23 (Robinson 6, Scurry 5); Pennsville 31 (Bass 7, N. Ausland 7). Total fouls: Schalick 10, Pennsville 6.

WOODSTOWN 63, OVERBROOK 7: Talia Battavio and Megan Donelson, who’ve been running neck-and-neck in their race up Woodstown’s all-time scoring list, both went over the 1,500-point mark and the Woodstown defense pitched a shutout through the first half.

Battavio scored 13 points to run her career total to 1,510. Donelson scored 15 to reach 1,501. Tori Smith, Woodstown’s all-time leading girls scorer, has 1,566 total points.

The Wolverines opened a 44-0 halftime lead.

WOODSTOWN (14-5): Talia Battavio 3 5-6 13, Megan Donelson 5 1-2 15, Gianna Maiorini 1 0-0 2, Lauren Hengel 2 0-0 5, Kyia Leyman 2 1-4 5, Emma Perry 1 0-0 2, Ryann Foote 4 1-2 12, Kendall Young 2 0-0 5, Jala Thomas 1 0-0 2, Talia Guardascione 1 0-0 2, Lizzy Daly 0 0-0 0, Kailyn Kennedy 0 0-0 0, Ava White 0 0-0 0, Mia Waterman 0 0-0 0, Brynley Egret 0 0-0 0. Totals 22 8-14 63.
OVERBROOK (5-16): Gianna Simon 1 0-0 3, Jael Pressley 0 1-6 1, Rosetta Loibman 0 0-0 0, Lelani Knight 0 1-2 1, Kayla Reynolds 1 0-0 2, Leslies Rosario 0 0-0 0, Ahiani White 0 0-0 0, Kiya Townsend 0 0-0 0, Isabella Sepulveda 0 0-0 0, Lily LaFountain 0 0-0 0, Talia Wiggins 0 0-0 0, Taija Wiggins 0 0-0 0. Totals 2 2-8 7.

Woodstown1826145-63
Overbrook0052-7
3-point goals: Woodstown 11 (Battavio 2, Donelson 4, Hengel, Foote 3, Young); Overbrook 1 (Simon).

GLASSBORO 33, PENNS GROVE 31: Kimora Miles gave the Bulldogs the lead for good with 3:30 to play on a length of the floor layup after fighting through traffic on the other end of the floor. Kezia Brackett extended the lead with three free throws, the last with 14.6 seconds left to make it 33-29.

Penns Grove’s RaNiyah Wilson, the game’s leading scorer, went to the line for three shots with 1.8 seconds left. She made the first two to make it a two-point game, then missed the third on purpose with hopes of a quick put-back, but Glassboro was there to secure the rebound as time expired.

GLASSBORO (9-10): Sanaa Thomas 5 0-0 13, Grace Moore 0 0-0 0, Kezia Brackett 5 6-14 16, Kimora Miles 0 0-0 0, Sianna Wedderburn 2 0-0 4, Lily Czubas 0 0-2 0. Totals 12 6-16 33.
PENNS GROVE (9-9): RaNiyah Wilson 6 3-8 19, Brianna Robbins 1 1-2 3, JaNiyah Cummings 1 3-6 5, Syanna Robbins 1 0-0 3, Mikayla Washington 0 1-2 1. Totals 9 8-18 31.

Glassboro 49128-33
Penns Grove11794-31
3-point goals: Glassboro 3 (Thomas 3); Penns Grove 5 (Wilson 4, S. Robbins). Rebounds: Glassboro 31 (Wedderburn 10, Miles 7, Thomas 7).

WILDWOOD 71, SALEM TECH 15: Macie McCracken had 23 points and nine rebounds to lead the Warriors. She also had four assists and three steals. Rebecca Benichou had 11 points and five assists. Rylee Doerr had 11 rebounds for the Chargers.

WILDWOOD (14-4): Macie McCracken 9 2-2 23, Angela Wilber 1 0-0 3, Rebecca Benichou 4 1-1 11, Cydnee Kilian 0 0-0 0, Kiana D’Antuono 1 2-2 5, Addison Troiano 2 0-0 4, Laila Fathi 3 0-0 6, Lily Atkinson 2 0-2 5, Sarah Djellal 1 0-0 2, Ellasyn Morey 0 2-4 2, Julia Ennis 4 0-0 8, Emma Contreras 1 0-0 2, Antoinette Cooper 0 0-0 0, Janet Gonzalez 0 0-0 0, Mollie Farrell 0 0-2 0. Totals 28 7-13 71.
SALEM TECH (2-17): Kaylin Beardsley 1 1-2 3, Lavae Scott 1 0-0 2, Demajae White 1 0-0 2, Amora Detaine 1 0-0 2, Evening Amedee 1 0-0 2, Rylee Doerr 2 0-0 4, Payton Fitzpatrick 0 0-0 0. Totals 7 1-2 15.

Wildwood13212017-71
Salem Tech 4245-15
3-point goals: Wildwood 8 (McCracken 3, Wilber, Benichou 2, D’Antuono, Atkinson). Rebounds: Wildwood 27 (McCracken 9); Salem Tech 20 (Doerr 11).

CLAYTON 76, SALEM 22: Rainelle Blocker had 26 points and Ava Delaney 17 to lead the Clippers (13-5).

Boys games

SALEM 102, CLAYTON 66: You know when you schedule a game against Clayton you can figure on a lot of points behind scored.

Xavier McGriff scored a career-high 23 points, Salem placed four scorers in double figures, and broke 100 for the first time since the 2020 South Jersey Group I tournament. The Rams beat Clayton 100-75 that day.

Antwuan Rogers had a double-double with 14 points and 14 rebounds. Deshaan Williams had 14 points and six boards.

CLAYTON (9-11): Princeton Sackor 3 2-5 8, Nazir Davis 4 0-0 8, Demetris Williams 6 1-4 13, James Fritz 7 0-1 18, Jackson Venuto 3 2-2 10, Nasir Carter 4 0-0 9. Totals 27 5-12 66.
SALEM (9-10): Xavier McGriff 9 0-0 23, Deshaan Williams 7 2-2 17, Neziah Spence 5 2-2 14, Kyaire Parsons 3 2-2 8, Antwan Rogers 7 0-0 14, Harlen Parsons 2 0-0 6, Joe Tunis 2 1-2 5, Azhone Burden 3 0-0 6, Giovani Talavera 0 0-0 0, Donovan Weathers 2 0-0 4, KaiSiere Muhammad 2 0-0 4, Tamir Lusby 2 0-0 5. Totals 44 7-8 102.

Clayton 1542821-66
Salem22332422-102
3-point goals: Clayton 7 (Fritz 4, Venuto 2, Carter); Salem 13 (McGriff 4, Williams, Spence 2, K. Parsons 3, H. Parsons 2, Lusby). Rebounds: Salem 58 (Weathers 9, Burden 10, Rogers 14).

PENNS GROVE 58, GLASSBORO 54: B.J. Robbins hit the last of his three 3-pointers from the top of the key with 2:00 left to give Penns Grove a 56-52 lead and the Red Devils held on. Robbins finished with 14 points. Glassboro’s Xavier Sabb led all scorers with 20.

GLASSBORO (7-12): Xavier Sabb 9-2-20, Davon Barr 3-0-6, Aiden Harris 3-0-6, Kenny Smith 5-3-14, Marley Crowl 3-2-8. Totals 23-7-54.
PENNS GROVE (10-9): B.J. Robbins 5-1-14, Roman Gipson 4-5-13, Antoine Robinson 1-2-4, Jameel Horace 7-1-15, Will Roy 0-0-0, Luis Colon 1-0-2, Jeremy Costacamps 1-0-2, Karon Caesar 4-0-8. Totals 23-9-58.

Glassboro17111412-54
Penns Grove14151611-58
3-point goals: Glassboro 1 (Smith); Penns Grove 3 (Robbins 3).

SCHALICK 73, PENNSVILLE 57: Reggie Allen torched Pennsville for the second time this season, going for 26 points. The senior set his career high with 27 against the Eagles in mid-January. Nylan Sutton (14) and Zaeshawn Mills (11) also scored in double figures for the Cougars. Jovanni Rios led Pennsville with 25 points. Mason O’Brien had 18.

PENNSVILLE (2-18): Cole Johnston 1 3-3 6, Logan Hill 0 1-2 1, Mason O’Brien 7 1-2 18, Jovanni Rios 9 7-7 25, C.J. McDevitt 1 0-0 2, Danny Knight 2 0-0 5. Totals 20 12-14 57,
SCHALICK (6-15): Reggie Allen 11 1-1 26, Nylan Sutton 7 0-0 14, Zaeshawn Mills 5 1-3 11, Jamari Whitley 2 0-0 4, Sherrod Jones 3 1-2 7, Jase Volovar 2 2-2 7, Kenneth Bartee 2 0-0 4. Totals 32 5-8 73.

Pennsville15111318-57
Schalick21241117-73
3-point goals: Pennsville 5 (Johnston, O’Brien 3, Knight); Schalick 4 (Allen 3, Volovar)

WILDWOOD 85, SALEM TECH 31: Brian Cunniff hit 11-of-14 free throws to highlight a 26-point game to help the Warriors snap a four-game losing streak.
SALEM TECH (0-19): Larry Pompper 12, Ayden Myers 7, Chase Pompper 4, Joseph Hayes 4, Aiden Bobo 4.
WILDWOOD (6-12): Brian Cunniff 25, Nolan Mawhinney 14, Jeff Knight 9, Jordan Dozier 8, Vinny Sweeney 5, Daniel Benichou 5, Trevor Troiano 7, Era Jordan 4, R.J. Blanda 3, Justice Santiago 2, Sammy Santiago 3, Jack Fullerton 2.

Salem Tech113314-31
Wildwood18311719-85
3-point goals: Wildwood 2 (Mawhinney 2).

OVERBROOK 74, WOODSTOWN 55: Lamar Little scored 34 points, Zair Green had 23 and together they helped turn back Woodstown scorers in double figures. Little’s night was powered by seven 3-pointers.

OVERBROOK (18-2): Lamar Little 12 3-3 34, Zair Green 6 9-11 23, Bilal Robinson 1 0-0 3, JR Stanley 2 0-0 4, Elvin Santiago 1 1-2 3, Xavier Wright 2 0-0 4, Jaden St. John 1 0-0 2, Jayden Wilkerson 0 0-0 0. Totals 25 13-16 74.
WOODSTOWN (12-6): Eli Caesar 1 0-0 2, Garrett Leyman 1 1-2 4, Rocco String 4 8-12 16, Blake Bialecki 5 1-3 12, Alejandro Vazquez 5 1-1 14, M.J. Hall 5 0-1 11. Totals 21 3-16 55.

3-point goals: Overbrook (Little 7, Green 2, Robinson, Stanely); Woodstown 6 (Leyman, Bialecki, Vazquez 3, Hall).

SALEM COUNTY ALL-TIME
SCORING LIST (GIRLS)		TODAYPOINTS
Katie Kline, Pennsville (2004) 2110
Amanda Young, St. James
(1995)		 1762
Sharias Hill, Penns Grove (2009) 1661
Brittany Smith, Salem (2007)1623
Tia Furbush, Schalick (2021) 1574
Tori Smick, Woodstown (2013) 1566
Talia Battavio, Woodstown13 vs. Overbrook1510
Megan Donelson, Woodstown15 vs. Overbrook1501
1000-POINT WATCH  
Nora Ausland, Pennsville (Salem 462/Pennsville 593)5 vs. Schalick1055
RaNiyah Wilson, Penns Grove (Kingsway 251/PG 810)19 vs. Glassboro1061
Marley Wood, Pennsville12 vs. Schalick992

One giant leap

Salem CC women reduce their magic number for making the Region XIX playoffs to one after upsetting RCSJ-Gloucester; Laurence hits 5 treys 

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

CARNEYS POINT – Salem CC women’s basketball coach Brian Marsh has preached to his team the way to work its way into the group of more established programs in the region is one small step at a time.

Well, the Mighty Oaks took a giant leap Thursday night, upsetting RCSJ-Gloucester 66-61 to keep their playoff hopes alive.

The Mighty Oaks (11-10) reduced their magic number to qualify for the Region XIX tournament to one after scoring one of the biggest wins since the rebirth of the program last year. They have to finish .500 or better to make the playoffs and have three games left to secure one more win.

The earliest they can clinch a spot is Tuesday at Mercer County CC, weather permitting. With heavy snow predicted for the region, officials from both schools will meet Monday to plot a course of action.

“They’re three good teams,” Marsh said. “We’ve got to go on the road to Mercer, at Lackawanna, which is never an easy trip, and then we’re home against Montco, which is Sophomore Day, so you never know how that’s going to play out because you’ve got emotions, a lot of family in town.

“That’s why today was huge. Because it gives us a chance.”

Guard Kathryn Laurence, for one, likes their chances.

“It’s not done yet,  but the chances are really high of us making the playoffs, for sure,” she said.

Laurence was one of the ringleaders in an overall effort that got Thursday’s upset done. She and Nyaijah Jackson led the Mighty Oaks with 17 and 18 points, respectively.

Jackson hit several free throws down the stretch to keep the Roadrunners (19-4) at arm’s length. Laurence went 5-for-7 from behind the 3-point arc and is now has 95 treys for her SCC career.

“It was a good game for me,” Laurence said. “I’ve been on and off (with her shooting), but whenever I don’t think about the stats and I kind of put myself into the game I don’t worry about how many shots I make or miss and just play what the team needs me to do.

“I did feel good before (the game) and I was like I’m going to do whatever it takes for us to beat this team.”

The Mighty Oaks trailed by three at halftime, but outscored the Roadrunners, in the second half 34-26. They shot 57 percent from the floor in the third quarter.

Former Woodstown post Shannon Pierman was one of two Roadrunners with double-doubles. She had 17 points and 17 rebounds. Jermyra Bethea had a game-high 19 points and 11 boards.

“This was really big; it was just the girls fighting,” Marsh said. “They played hard. Their bigs were really hurting us down low and they’re making some shots, but we kept it in there. We were trading punches in the middle of the ring, throwing everything we can at them, but we got some timely turnovers and we pulled it out.

“This is a game last year we lost by 50; we played horrendous. That’s a big win because if you think about the three teams we kind of match up against in South Jersey, we beat Cumberland and lost to Camden and Gloucester. This year we beat all three of them. It’s little steps like that, taking steps up that mountain to get us where this program wants to be.

“Coming back from a bad loss last year and getting the win this year is just showing the growth of this team and this program. We want to be able to win these type games and that’s exactly what we’ve done this year and now we just have to get to the point where we can beat some of the upper echelon in our own division.”

One step at a time.

SALEM CC 66, RCSJ-GLOUCESTER 61
RCSJ-GLOUCESTER (19-4) – Atinuke Bamgbose 0-6 0-0 0, Anna DiPiero 2-16 0-0 5, Jenna Georgette 5-15 0-0 10, Jermyra Bethea 8-15 3-8 19, Shannon Pierman 6-8 5-5 17, Miya Villari 2-3 1-2 5, Emma Buttocovia 0-4 0-0 0, Alexis Carroway 2-2 0-0 5, Vienna Gantz 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 25-70 9-15 61.
SALEM CC (11-10) – Nyaijah Jackson 6-14 6-11 18, Caroline Zullo 4-11 0-0 9, Maggie St. Clair 1-4 0-0 2, Kathryn Laurence 6-10 0-0 17, Jakayla Jenkins 4-9 2-2 11, RayNescia King 0-2 0-0 0, Dani Gustin 1-1 0-0 2, Akira Chambers 2-7 1-2 5, Alex Hopkins 1-2 0-0 2. Totals 25-60 9-15 66

RCSJ-Gloucester18171313-61
Salem CC19131618-66
3-point goals: Gloucester 2-19 (Bamgbose 0-2, DiPiero 1-12, Georgette 0-4, Carroway 1-1); Salem 7-19 (Jackson 0-2, Zullo 1-3, St. Clair 0-1, Laurence 5-7, Jenkins 1-4, King 0-1, Chambers 0-1). Rebounds: Gloucester (Pierman 17, Bethea 11); Salem 36 (Zullo 8, Chambers 7, Jenkins 6). Technical fouls: Salem (admin). Fouled out: Pierman. Total fouls: Gloucester 16, Salem 14.

Region XIX standings

DIVISION II WOMENREGALL
Union14-023-0
Harcum11-319-5
Lackawanna10-415-6
Raritan Valley8-414-9
Mercer8-614-6
Middlesex4-89-12
Salem CC4-1011-10
Essex2-124-13
Morris0-00-0
Delaware Tech0-140-20

THURSDAY’S GAMES
Salem 66, RCSJ-Gloucester 61
Northampton at Passaic, ppd.
Harcum 109, Baltimore City CC 19
Lehigh Carbon at Manor
Sussex at Montgomery, cancelled
Raritan Valley at Essex
Camden 76, RCSJ-Cumberland 28
Bucks at Mercer
Atlantic Cape 65, Ocean 42
Brookdale 58, Philadelphia 55
Montgomery (Md.) at Middlesex, cancelled

SATURDAY’S GAMES
Passaic at RCSJ-Gloucester
Montgomery at Bergen
Philadelphia at Lehigh Carbon
Orange County at Essex
Ocean at RCSJ-Cumberland
Middlesex at Brookdale
Atlantic Cape at Northampton
Delaware Tech at Howard CC

.

Another milestone

Mighty Oaks set modern-era program record for most wins in a season after thrashing RCSJ-Gloucester for No. 19

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

CARNEYS POINT – The Salem CC basketball team checked off another box in their historic first full season under coach Mike Green Thursday night when it throttled RCSJ-Gloucester 94-65 for its 19th win of the season.

The win total eclipsed the 18-win benchmark established by the 2021-22 team for most wins since the school brought back the program in 2019.

The playoff-bound Mighty Oaks (19-7) will go after win No. 20 at Harrisburg Area, a team they beaten each of the last two years and put 110 on last season.

“I think we should have been at 19 a couple weeks ago; we gave a couple away,” Green said. “We’ve got more work to do, man. I think we’ve got three more games guaranteed, trying to pick up another game. 

“That’s where we’re supposed to be, around that 20, 23, 24, 25. The league is tough this year, man. The region is tough this year. We’re right there with the top guys.”

As their last scheduled regular-season home game, it was Sophomore Night and the seven sophs who played combined for 60 points, 24 rebounds, 11 assists and five blocked shots.

“I’m going to have to get out on the recruiting trail,” Green said. “I didn’t realize we were losing eight people. there were eight of them. I’ve got to go out and get some players. I’ve got to get on it.”

Sophomores Akeem Taylor and Tyrese Fortune, both first-year SCC players, led the charge against the Roadrunners with 18 and 17 points, respectively. Fortune, who has been on a tear of late, also had nine rebounds. Taylor had five rebounds, four assists and three blocks. Eleven of 12 Mighty Oaks who got in the game scored.

Freshman Xavier Brewington had nine assists and freshman Jyheim Spencer had another double-double (11 points, 10 rebounds).

The Mighty Oaks scored the last eight points of the first half to take control, then buried the Roadrunners in the second half 56-33. Their bench outscored the Roadrunners 52-18, 30-4 in the second half. 

“We just tried to give everybody a chance in the first half,” Green said. “To see what you got because somedays you got it and somedays you don’t. We feel our way out in the first half and see what’s going then we do the second half and give the guys another chance.

“Our bench played better (in the second half). We had five bench points against Montco, so our bench was a lot better. That was good.”

Something else that’s good has been the way Fortune has turned it up. He’s in the midst of his best run of the season, a response to Green telling him to “let it fly.” Over the last three games the Wilmington University transfer is averaging 22 points. He was averaging 9.5 in the 20 previous games.

“I’m telling you, coach just has so much confidence, I just had to get it out of me,” Fortune said. “I struggled in the first half of the season, but it’s coming to an end. It’s all about how you finish.”

“He’s who I thought he was going to be,” Green said. “He’s come along from where I thought he was supposed to be at the beginning of the year and I’m happy for him. He’s putting it together now.”

SALEM CC 94, RCSJ-GLOUCESTER 65
GLOUCESTER (11-14) – Kassius Willis 7-17 4-6 19, Hajir Davis 1-7 2-4 4, Fred Orock 5-7 2-7 12, Chris Racobaldo 2-8 4-6 8, Denial Mendez 1-7 1-2 4, Ace Lassiter 5-12 0-0 13, Aiden Cranmer 1-4 0-0 3, Amara Sacko 1-2 0-0 2, Alan Corporan 0-0 0-0 0, Jonathan Guzman 0-0 0-2 0. Totals 23-64 13-27 65.
SALEM CC (19-7) – A.J. Jones 3-7 2-4 8, Tyrese Fortune 6-13 3-3 17, Tivon Woolford 1-7 0-0 3, Josh Ramos 4-8 0-0 11, Tajee Jordan 1-2 1-2 3, Dontarius Jones 1-1 1-1 3, Tamir Powell 6-10 0-1 14, Xavier Brewington 2-8 0-0 4, Rodney Shelton 0-0 0-0 0, Akeem Taylor 7-15 3-3 18, Stefan Phillips 1-2 0-0 2, Jyheim Spencer 5-8 1-1 11. Totals 37-81 11-15 94.

RCSJ-Gloucester 3233-65
Salem CC3856-94
3-point goals: Gloucester 6-19 (Willis 1-4, Davis 0-1, Racobaldo 0-4, Mendez 1-1, Lassiter 3-5, Cranmer 1-3, Sacko 0-1); Salem CC 9-30 (A. Jones 0-2l Fortune 2-6, Woolford 1-5, Ramos 3-7, Powell 2-5, Brewington 0-3, Taylor 1-2). Rebounds: Gloucester 41 (Racobaldo 8, Willis 8); Salem CC 47 (Spencer 10, Fortune 9). Total fouls: Gloucester 14, Salem CC 17.

Region XIX standings

Here are the men’s and women’s Region XIX basketball standings; games through Feb. 6

MEN’S DIVISION III
(x-based on percentage)		REGIONALL
Union14-0 (1.000)18-3
Montgomery14-1 (.933)18-3
Philadelphia14-3 (.824)18-6
Camden13-3 (.813)16-9
Northampton11-4 (.733)19-4
Salem11-5 (.688)19-7
Brookdale11-6 (.647)16-7
Atlantic Cape10-6 (.625)13-11
Ocean8-6 (.571)13-7
RCSJ-Gloucester8-8 (.500)10-15
Passaic7-8 (.467)11-12
Lehigh Carbon6-11 (.353)6-16
Sussex5-10 (.333)7-17
Luzerne4-11 (.267)6-13
Harrisburg Area4-11 (.267)5-17
Delaware County4-12 (.250)6-16
Thaddeus Stevens3-14 (.176)4-17
Bergen2-15 (.118)3-19
RCSJ-Cumberland0-15 (.000)0-23

THURSDAY’S GAMES
Salem 94, RCSJ-Gloucester 65
Sussex at Union, ppd.
Frederick 90, Delaware Tech 78
Harrisburg Area at Luzerne, ppd.
Passaic 84, Thaddeus Stevens 79
Harcum 114, Baltimore City CC 66
Lehigh Carbon at Manor College
Raritan Valley at Essex
Northampton 69, Montgomery 54
Ocean 99, Atlantic Cape 88
Prestige Prep at Morris
Camden 91, RCSJ-Cumberland 49

SATURDAY’S GAMES
Salem at Harrisburg Area
Camden at Union
Harcum at CCBC Dundalk
Lackawanna at Rockland CC
Passaic at RCSJ-Gloucester
Sussex at Delaware County
Orange County CC at Essex
Philadelphia at Lehigh Carbon
Ocean at RCSJ-Cumberland
Atlantic Cape at Northampton
Luzerne at Brookdale
Delaware Tech at Howard CC

Back in control

Woodstown girls regain the lead in Diamond Division after turning back Pennsville, Battavio, Donelson closing in on 1,500 points, Eagles’ Wood nearing 1,000

TUESDAY’S GAMES
Woodstown 59, Pennsville 47
Glassboro 52, Schalick 22
Clayton 66, Salem Tech 12
Penns Grove 64, Overbrook 19
Pitman at Salem

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

PENNSVILLE – The Woodstown girls basketball team hasn’t had a five-year stranglehold on the TCC Diamond Division by folding under the pressure of a challenge.

The Wolverines faced the sternest late-season challenge to their diamond dynasty Tuesday night, but they never flinched and turned back upstart Pennsville 59-47.

The teams entered the game tied for the Diamond Division lead. Had the Wolverines fallen, it not only would have ended their 34-game Salem County winning streak, it may also have ended their run of four straight division titles.

Now, they’ve won 35 straight against in-county opponents and are on the verge of a fifth straight Diamond Division crown having only the two weakest teams left to play on their divisional schedule.

“At the beginning of the season we set a list of goals and obviously one of those goals was to win the division,” said Woodstown coach Matt Smart, the newest gatekeeper of the dynasty. “It’s something we will never take for granted, especially with this group of girls.

“They come out in games like today, they had a different look on their face. You could tell that we had three days off and they kind of got re-energized, refocused. Basketball is a long season and I think those three days off helped us a lot and you could tell the girls were extremely focused. When we play together like that, we’re just phenomenal.”

The Wolverines trailed only once in the game, at 7-5. From there they went on a 13-2 run to the end of the quarter, capped by Ryann Foote’s bucket at the buzzer, to take control. Foote only regained her eligibility in January after transferring from Salem – where she played for current Pennsville coach Steve Merritt as a freshman – and has brought additional quality to an already stacked line-up.

She had her Woodstown best eight points in the game and pulled down seven rebounds. She called getting the win against a former teammate and coach “put the cherry on top” of the day.

“I was excited because we really needed a win,” Foote said. “We obviously knew we really had to show up and do good, but we didn’t really let that get in our heads. We just knew we had to play our game and work as a team and a family to get it done.”

The Wolverines were led by Talia Battavio (18) and Megan Donelson (13). Battavio hit four 3-pointers and moved within three points of 1,500 for her career. Donelson needs 14 to reach that milestone.

Meanwhile, a big part of the Wolverines’ success came from eliminating one of the Eagles’ three main scorers. Taylor Bass had 18 points and Marley Wood had 15 (to move within 20 points of 1,000), to basically play Battavio and Donelson to a scoring stalemate, but the Wolverines held 1,000-point scorer Nora Ausland scoreless for the second time this season and got modest contributions from their supporting cast..

The Eagles won the last time Ausland was shut out, but that wasn’t the case this time.

“Just watching film on them from our previous game we kind of made a few adjustments and I’ll be honest Meg Donelson came up to me on Monday and said I want to try to guard her,” Smart said. “Whenever Meg comes up to me like that and she has a look on her that’s like we’re doing this (it’s happening).

“She is a phenomenal defender. She always has the hardest assignment every game. She has to output us for offense and stop the girl on defense and she’s always up for the challenge.”

Had Pennsville won the game, the Eagles would have been in good position to win a division title for the first time since 1988. They’d have held a one-game lead on Woodstown with division games left with only Penns Grove and Schalick.

It’s unlikely the Wolverines will lose one of their two remaining division games that would have given the Eagles the chance to climb back into a share for the title. 

“I told them 18 games ago, when I pointed that out to you it would have been nice (to get), but I didn’t realize how good you could be,” Merritt said. “I discovered. I learned. Today was a big step. We were there. Nobody expected us to be there, but here we are. I’m proud of them. Of course, I’m disappointed, but I’m proud of them. We hung in there.”

WOODSTOWN 59, PENNSVILLE 47
WOODSTOWN (13-5): Talia Battavio 5 4-4 18, Megan Donelson 5 1-2 13, Gianna Maiorini 0 0-0 0, Lauren Hengel 3 0-0 6, Kyia Leyman 3 1-1 7, Emma Perry 0 0-0 0, Ryann Foote 3 1-3 8, Kendall Young 3 0-0 7. Totals 22 7-10 59.
PENNSVILLE (13-6): Taylor Bass 8 0-0 18, Marley Wood 6 1-3 15, Nora Ausland 0 0-0 0, Addie Johnston 2 2-2 8, Izzy Saulin 1 0-0 2, Jaida Burns 1 2-3 4. Totals 18 5-8 47.

Woodstown1882013-59
Pennsville981515-47
3-point goals: Woodstown 8 (Battavio 4, Donelson 2, Foote, Young); Pennsville 6 (Johnston 2, Wood 2, Bass 2). Rebounds: Woodstown 39 (Leyman 8, Donelson 9, Maiorini 10, Foote 7). Total fouls: Woodstown 10, Pennsville 10. Officials: Lahm, Mathis, Cooper.

GLASSBORO 52, SCHALICK 22
GLASSBORO (8-10): Sanaa Thomas 1 0-2 2, Grace Moore 6 0-0 12, Kezia Brackett 9 2-6 22, Kimora Miles 2 1-2 6, Sianna Wedderburn 3 0-0 6, Lily Czubas 2 0-0 4. Totals 23 3-10 52.
SCHALICK (4-12): Abby Willoughby 1 0-0 3, Cali Fisler 3 4-7 10, Navaeh Robinson 2 0-0 5, Olivia Vanacker 1 0-2 2, Willow Davis 1 0-0 2. Totals 8 4-9 22.

Glassboro14131015-52
Schalick80113-22
3-point goals: Glassboro 3 (Brackett 2, Miles); Schalick 2 (Willoughby, Robinson). Rebounds: Glassboro 39 (Brackett 8, Czubas 11).

CLAYTON 66, SALEM TECH 12

Salem Tech (2-16)5205-12
Clayton (12-5)22181412-66

3-point goals: GCIT 7 (Duer 3, Sheehan, Giannone, Clement 2); Salem Tech 2 (Beardsley 2). Rebounds: GCIT 24 (Duer 4); Salem Tech 23 (White 7, Beardsley 9).

SALEM COUNTY ALL-TIME
SCORING LIST (GIRLS)		TODAYPOINTS
Katie Kline, Pennsville (2004) 2110
Amanda Young, St. James
(1995)		 1762
Sharias Hill, Penns Grove (2009) 1661
Brittany Smith, Salem (2007)1623
Tia Furbush, Schalick (2021) 1574
Tori Smick, Woodstown (2013) 1566
Talia Battavio, Woodstown18 vs. Pennsville1497
Megan Donelson, Woodstown13 vs. Pennsville1486
1000-POINT WATCH  
Nora Ausland, Pennsville (Salem 462/Pennsville 588)0 vs. Woodstown1050
RaNiyah Wilson, Penns Grove (Kingsway 251/PG 791)19 vs. Overbrook1042
Marley Wood, Pennsville15 vs. Woodstown980

Seeing the future

Woodstown’s White has breakout game at Pennsville, includes scores and stats from Tuesday’s high school boys basketball games involving teams from Salem County

TUESDAY’S GAMES
Pitman 61, Salem 58
Woodstown 68, Pennsville 30
Overbrook 58, Penns Grove 43
Glassboro 72, Schalick 45
Clayton 126, Salem Tech 62

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

PENNSVILLE – Woodstown coach Ramon Roots’ focus was clearly on the present Tuesday night, but he also got a pretty good glimpse of the future.

The Wolverines had their way with Pennsville in a 68-30 win. It was the kind of game that gave them a chance to do a lot of things, play a lot of different people.

Impressed by his play in a weekend loss to Bridgeton last time out, Roots gave Andrew White his most appreciable minutes of the season and the freshman didn’t disappoint.

White scored a career-high nine points, grabbed four rebounds and blocked a shot.

“At the beginning of the year, like at practice and stuff, you would see glimpses of what he can be,” Roots said. “He’s going to be a big piece of the program in the future. He just got kind of lost in the rotation a little bit, but he’s always been that type of player.

“Then in the Bridgeton game I just happened to try something. He only had like a 2-3 minute stint, but in the first couple possessions he got back-to-back rebounds and he got a putback. I’ve just been impressed at what he’s been doing in practice and the JV level. He’s been working his way up and he’s going to keep on adding minutes.”

White did most of his damage in the second half. He scored eight points in a 32-point third quarter that left the Wolverines with a 37-point lead.

“This means a lot,” he said. “It shows on the varsity level that I can do it.”

As White spoke one of his teammates draped the Wolverine medallion indicative of the game’s MVP around his neck.

“This means everything,” he said. “I worked my butt off to get the chain.”

The big third quarter was the Wolverines’ first 30-point quarter of the season and more than doubled their point production for the game. They opened the half with four straight 3-pointers, two by Alejandro Vazquez and one each from Garrett Leyman and Eli Caesar. The Wolverines hit seven in the game.

Six different players scored in the third quarter, nine players scored in the game.

“Our tempo in the first half was slow,” Roots said. “I was telling the guys before the game let’s pass the ball inside. I think they thought I meant be passive. I was explaining we had 12, 12 and then we had 30. We had more (points) there than in the first half combined.”

Among the other future leanings Roots worked into the game was getting White and fellow freshman Branden Hall on the floor at the same time and giving junior Blake Bialecki extended minutes at point guard. Hall had four points in the third quarter. Bialecki didn’t score in the game, but he dished at least a half-dozen assists in the first half, four in the first quarter.

WOODSTOWN 68, PENNSVILLE 30
WOODSTOWN (12-5): Eli Caesar 3 0-0 7, John McGindley 0 0-0 0, Blake Bialecki 0 0-0 0, Alejandro Vazquez 4 0-0 11, Josh King 1 0-2 2, Garrett Leyman 3 0-1 7, Anthony Bokolas 0 0-0 0, Andrew White 4 1-2 9, Sid Leavy 1 0-0 2, Rocco String 7 0-0 14, Lucas Fulmer 0 0-0 0, Brayden Hall 4 0-0 7, Connor Miller 3 0-0 7. Totals 30 1-5 68.
PENNSVILLE (2-17): Perry Meranti 0 0-0 0, Jovanni Rios 6 2-7 14, Cole Johnston 0 0-0 0, Mason O’Brien 2 0-0 5, C.J. McDevitt 1 2-3 4, Danny Knight 0 0-0 0, Shilon Jefferson 1 0-0 2, Logan Hitt 0 0-0 0, Arturus Frantzy 1 0-0 2, Jacob Miller 0 0-0 0, Griffin Hern 1 0-0 3, Gavin Spears 0 0-0 0
Noah Owen 0 0-0 0, J.P. Laughrey 0 0-0 0. Totals 12 4-10 30.

Woodstown12123212-68
Pennsville74811-30
3-point goals: Woodstown 7 (Caesar, Vazquez 3, Leyman, Hall, Miller); Pennsville 2 (O’Brien, Hern).
Rebounds: Woodstown 37 (String 11, Ceasar 6, Leyman 5). Total fouls: Woodstown 11, Pennsville 11. Officials: Lahm, Mathis, Cooper.

PITMAN 61, SALEM 58
SALEM (8-10): Xavier McGriff 2 0-0 6, Neziah Spence 6 0-0 14, Tymear Lecator 8 1-3 19, Deshaan Williams 5 4-4 14, Antwan Rogers 1 0-0 2, Joe Tunis 0 1-2 1, Azhone Burden 1 0-0 2, Donovan Weathers 0 0-0 0. Totals 23 6-9 58.
PITMAN (13-3): Hudson Rue 1 0-0 2, Elijah Crispin 8 8-11 27, Greg Peterson 3 0-0 8, Michael Fisicaro 5 1-2 14, Aidan Stranahan 4 2-2 10. Totals 21 13-15 61.

Salem1172416-58
Pitman19151314-61
3-point goals: Salem 6 (McGriff 2, Spence 2, Lecator 2); Pitman 8 (Crispin 3, Peterson 2, Fisicaro 3). Rebounds: Salem 41 (Lecator 10, Williams 7, Burden 7; Pitman 26 (Rue 10, Stranahan 8)

OVERBROOK 58, PENNS GROVE 43
OVERBROOK (17-2): Lamar Little 3-0-8, Xavier Wright 4-0-8, Zair Green 6-0-12, Elvin Santiago 1-0-2, Bilal Robinson 9-0-20, J.R. Stanley 2-0-5, Jayden Wilkerson 1-0-2, Jaden St. John 0-1-1. Totals 26-1-58.
PENNS GROVE (9-9): Will Roy 1-0-3, B.J. Robbins 0-0-0, Roman Gipson 5-7-17, Karon Ceaser 2-2-6, Antoine Robinson 0-0-0, Jameel Horace 8-1-17, Luis Colon 0-0-0, Jeremy Costacamps 0 0-0 0. Totals 16-10-43.

Overbrook10181713-58
Penns Grove1013128-43
3-point goals: Overbrook 5 (Little 2, Robinson 2, Stanley); Penns Grove 1 (Roy).

GLASSBORO 72, SCHALICK 45
SCHALICK (5-15): Reggie Allen 4 8-8 17, Nylan Sutton 3 2-6 8, Sherrod Jones 4 2-3 10, Jamari Whitley 2 0-0 5, Jase Volovar 2 0-0 5. Totals 15 12-17 45.
GLASSBORO (7-11): William Goggans 2, Xavier Sabb 24, Tashean Thomas 9, Davon Barr 2, Alex Adeleye 1, Kenny Smith 22, Aiden Harris 10, Marley Crowl 2. No other details reported.

Schalick166914-45
Glassboro14162319-72
3-point goals: Schalick 3 (Allen, Whitley, Volovar); Glassboro NA.

CLAYTON 126, SALEM TECH 62
CLAYTON (9-10): Princeton Sackor 9 4-5 22, Nazir Davis 9 0-0 23, Demetris Williams 8 0-0 17, Josiel Figueroa 3 0-0 6, James Fritz 6 0-2 14, Jackson Venuto 6 1-2 15, Nasir Carter 3 1-1 7, Mason Gable 3 0-0 9, Rodney Robinson 2 1-1 5, Justin Delaney 0 1-3 1, Trevor Rehm 1 0-0 3, King Mosley 1 2-2 4. Totals 51 10-16 126.
SALEM TECH (0-18): Chase Pompper 6 0-0 12, Ayden Myers 2 0-0 4, Joseph Hayes 7 1-2 15, Sam Battiato 3 0-0 6, Larry Pompper 2 0-0 4, Logan Pace 2 0-0 4, Chase Ayars 8 0-0 16. Totals 30 1-2 61.

Clayton33283728-126
Salem Tech13151618-62
3-point goals: 14 (Davis 5, Williams, Fritz 2, Venuto 2, Gable 3, Rehm).

Un-fortune-ate

Salem CC falls to No. 5 Montco as potential game-winning 3 is blocked in closing seconds

By Riverview Sports News

BLUE BELL, Pa. – The Salem CC basketball team came within a whisker of upsetting a nationally ranked region team for the second time this season, but in the end had its potential game-winning shot batted away.

The Mighty Oaks lost to No. 5 Montgomery County CC 74-72 Tuesday night and had the potential game-winning shot in their hands. The Mustangs (18-2) blocked Tyrese Fortune’s potential game-winner with 1.4 seconds left to deny Salem’s upset bid and extend their own winning streak to 12 games.

“We fought,” Salem coach Mike Green said. “The Montco coach celebrated as if they won the championship; that doesn’t sit right with me. I guess he forgot they’re the defending champs and ranked No. 5. We will see them again.”

The Mighty Oaks (18-7) played catch-up most of the game. They were down seven with 1:51 to play, but Akeem Taylor dropped in three straight layups between a couple Montco free throws to bring them within 73-70 with 31.9 seconds to left.

Xavier Brewington’s layup of a Taylor pass with 8.8 seconds left made it a one-point game. Salem fouled on the inbounds play and Montco’s Baasil Saunders hit the second of two free throws to set up the final play.

Taylor brought the ball up the floor for the Mighty Oaks and got it to Fortune on the right side of the arc with time running out. Emfinger slipped between Taylor and Saunders to block Fortune’s shot.

With a little better spacing, it might have been different.

Fortune raised his hands after falling to the floor seeking a foul, but there was no call and the clock ran out.

The Mighty Oaks, who received votes in the national JUCO Division III poll for the second time in three weeks, played the top four D-3 teams in Region 19 over their last six games. Green was hoping to gain a split of the gauntlet, but instead went 1-3 while winning the two easier games in between.

Region XIX standings

Here are the men’s and women’s Region XIX basketball standings; games through Feb. 4

MEN’S DIVISION III
(x-based on percentage)		REGION
ALL
Union13-0 (1.000)17-3
Montgomery14-1 (.933)18-2
Philadelphia14-2 (.875)18-5
Camden13-3 (.813)15-9
Northampton11-4 (.733)18-4
Salem11-5 (.688)18-7
Brookdale11-6 (.647)16-7
Atlantic Cape10-6 (.625)13-10
Ocean8-6 (.571)12-7
RCSJ-Gloucester8-8 (.500)10-14
Passaic6-8 (.429)10-12
Lehigh Carbon6-11 (.353)6-16
Sussex5-10 (.333)7-17
Delaware County5-11 (.313)7-15
Harrisburg Area4-11 (.267)5-17
Luzerne3-12 (.200)5-14
Thaddeus Stevens3-13 (.188)4-16
Bergen2-15 (.118)3-19
RCSJ-Cumberland0-15 (.000)0-22

TUESDAY’S GAMES
Montgomery 74, Salem 72
Union at Philadelphia
Brooksdale 75, Passaic 64
Ocean 95, Bergen 89
Camden 81, Luzerne 63
Northampton 80, RCSJ-Gloucester 68
Lehigh Carbon 71, Thaddeus Stevens 70 
Raritan Valley 87, Middlesex 70
Atlantic Cape 71, Delaware County 70
Lackawanna 102, Mercer 97

THURSDAY’S GAMES
RCSJ-Gloucester at Salem
Sussex at Union
Frederick at Delaware Tech
Harrisburg Area at Luzerne
Thaddeus Stevens at Passaic
Baltimore City CC at Harcum
Lehigh Carbon at Manor College
Raritan Valley at Essex
Montgomery at Northampton
Atlantic Cape at Ocean
Prestige Prep at Morris
Camden at RCSJ-Cumberland

DIVISION II WOMENREGALL
Union13-022-0
Harcum11-318-5
Lackawanna10-415-6
Raritan Valley8-414-9
Mercer7-614-6
Middlesex4-89-12
Salem CC4-1010-10
Essex2-114-13
Morris0-00-0
Delaware Tech0-130-19

TUESDAY’S GAMES
Raritan Valley at Middlesex, ppd.
Montgomery 65, Camden 47
Ocean 62, Bergen 50
Sussex 76, Lehigh Carbon 66
Harcum 84, Essex 56
Brookdale 75, Passaic 51
RCSJ-Gloucester 88, Northampton 49
Bucks 60, RCSJ-Cumberland 25
Lackawanna 73, Mercer 66
Delaware Tech at Union

THURSDAY’S GAMES
RCSJ-Gloucester at Salem
Northampton at Passaic
Baltimore City CC at Harcum
Lehigh Carbon at Manor
Sussex at Montgomery
Raritan Valley at Essex
Camden at RCSJ-Cumberland
Bucks at Mercer
Atlantic Cape at Ocean
Philadelphia at Brookdale
Montgomery (Md.) at Middlesex

One that got away

Pennsville boys lose big early lead, fall to Buena on Senior Night, girls stage big rally in fourth to get past West Deptford; Costacamps makes most of first start for Penns Grove, and more

GIRLS GAMESBOYS GAMES
Haddon Twp. 61, Penns Grove 36Penns Grove 76, Riverside 48
Pennsville 58, West Deptford 51Buena 57, Pennsville 49
Schalick 37, Buena 21
GCIT 52, Salem Tech 22

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

PENNSVILLE – Senior Night started with such promise for the Pennsville basketball team, on the court and on the scoreboard. But in the end a winnable night turned into a game that got away.

The Eagles raced out to a 15-point lead on Buena early in the second quarter, but they couldn’t hold it. A lack of rebounding and a series of turnovers down the stretch conspired to send them to a 57-49 loss.

“Sometimes you get grapes and sometimes you get raisins,” Pennsville coach Joe Mecholsky said. “Tonight we got the raisins. Tomorrow we’ll look to have grapes.”

The teams played a triple-overtime game in their first meeting, but the Eagles (2-16) came out Monday determined not to do that again. They held the Chiefs (6-12) to two points in the first quarter and led 17-2 two minutes into the second. But then Josue Cuadrado got going for Buena and the Chiefs cut their deficit in half by halftime.

“That’s a dagger,” Mecholsky said of the early lead. “17-2, you want to go ahead and put that game away when you can; credit to Buena, they stuck with it, and offensively we shut down again. 17-2, everybody thought it was a good night, let’s blow these guys out, we lost our brains. Young teams will lose their brains sometimes.”

Cuadrado’s run in the second quarter just set the stage for Jaevon Alexander in the second half. Alexander scored 22 of his 25 points in the half and made the biggest plays down the stretch.

His 3-pointer with 5:06 left in the third quarter tied the game at 26 and moments later Cuadrado’s three-point play gave the Chiefs the lead for good.

Buena led 48-46 with one minute to play, then Pennsville committed four straight turnovers off which the Chiefs scored seven points to decide the game. Alexander had three steals in the stretch. The first one he sent Cuadrado off on a layup, the last two he took in himself. Pennsville had eight turnovers in the fourth quarter.

“We got beat by the better team,” Mecholsky said. “When the chips were down we folded. None of us collectively played well tonight. I didn’t coach well, the players didn’t play well and everybody collectively in the Pennsville basketball program has to get better for each other.”

The loss spoiled a 25-point game by Pennsville’s Jovanni Rios. He had eight in the first quarter to get the Eagles going.

The game got off the chain at the end. Moments after Cuadrado beat the buzzer with a final layup, one of the referees tossed his whistle to his officiating partners at midcourt and squared up on a Pennsville assistant. The game video from above the floor clearly shows the official taking a boxer’s stance.

The other two officials moved their partner away from situation and towards the officials’ dressing area with Mecholsky chasing behind. Pennsville police and game security stepped on the floor to restore order and PMHS athletics director Jamy Thomas directed the gym to be cleared.

There appeared to be some additional activity outside the gym, but it had dispersed by the time security still inside rushed out to the scene.

BUENA 57, PENNSVILLE 49
BUENA (6-12): Elwood Taylor 0 0-0 0, Josue Cuadrado 9 3-5 21, Carlo Spreng 1 0-0 2, Troy Gregory 0 2-6 2, Jaevon Alexander 9 3-5 25, Shamel Rivera 2 3-5 7, Ricky Bessix 0 0-0 0. Totals 21 11-21 57.
PENNSVILLE (2-16): Danny Knight 1 0-0 3, Mason O’Brien 3 0-0 8, Cole Johnston 0 0-0 0, Shiloh Jefferson 1 1-2 4, Jovanni Rios 9 6-9 25, Perry Meranti 2 0-0 4, Logan Hitt 1 0-0 3, C.J. McDevitt 1 0-0 2, Arturus Franzy 0 0-0 0, 30 Owen Noah 0 0-0 0. Totals 18 7-11 49.

Buena2152119-57
Pennsville1410817-49
3-point goals: Buena 4 (Alexander 4); Pennsville 6 (Knight, O’Brien 2, Jefferson, Rios, Hitt). Rebounds: Pennsville 20 (Meranti 5, Rios 5).

PENNS GROVE 76, RIVERSIDE 48: Red Devils coach Damian Ware gave Jeremy Costacamps his first varsity start and the sophomore made the most of the opportunity.

Costacamps drew the start because the Red Devils were down in the post and he responded with 10 points.

“He’d gotten into a car accident and hurt his knee, so he’s been out a couple weeks,” Ware said. “He just came back last week and looked really good so I said let’s throw him in the starting lineup, let’s give him a chance.

“He did what he’s supposed to do. He did what I expected him to do, actually.”

Costacamps had been making his bones on the JV team, but played in one varsity game before Monday night. He scored four points in a January game against Pennsville shortly before the accident. Ware already has decided the sophomore would start again Tuesday against Overbrook.

“You play well, you play, you keep playing well, you play more,” Ware said. “It’s all about opportunities and maximizing your opportunities, and he did that tonight.”

Eleven players scored for the Red Devils (9-8). Roman Gipson led the way with 13 points. Karon Ceaser had 10 and Luis Colon tied his career high with nine.

RIVERSIDE (2-17): Isaiah Ali-Lewis 2-0-5, Cameron Brown 8-1-18, Shane Stoney 2-0-4, Andrew Weaver 2-0-6, Dan Ventura 1-0-2, Jeremiah Boston 2-0-6, Justin Porter 2-0-5, Brett Grinnam 0-2-2. Totals 19-3-48.
PENNS GROVE (9-8): B.J. Robbins 2-1-6, Roman Gipson 5-1-13, Karon Ceaser 3-2-10, Antoine Robinson 0-1-0, Jameel Horace 3-2-8, Will Roy 3-0-7, Geonni Conrad 1-0-3, Luis Colon 4-1-9, Caleb Fowler 2-0-4, Mishawn Brantley 2-1-5, Jeremy Costacamps 4-2-10. Totals 29-11-76.

Riverside612822-48
Penns Grove11242021-76
3-point goals: Riverside 7 (Ali-Lewis, Brown, Weaver 2, Boston 2, Porter); Penns Grove 7 (Robbins, Gipson 2, Ceaser 2, Roy, Conrad).

Girls games

PENNSVILLE 58, WEST DEPTFORD 51: A steady and successful march to the foul line and a switch on defense midway through the fourth quarter powered the Eagles to their second straight win in the tuneup for their TCC Diamond Division showdown with Woodstown.

The Eagles (13-5) went 13-of-14 from the line and switched to a man defense to power a 25-9 fourth-quarter uprising that won them the game.

Pennsville trailed by nine entering the fourth quarter. Marley Wood went 7-for-7 from the line and scored 13 points in the quarter. Nora Ausland went 6-for-7 and had eight in the frame.

“They had a lead and I could see that West Deptford’s coach wanted to hold the ball; naturally, we couldn’t allow that,” Pennsville coach Steve Merritt said. “I handed out assignments and told them to personal responsibility if their player got the ball or scored. To their credit, they stepped up.”

Wood led all scorers with 23 points and moved to within 35 of 1,000 for her career. Ausland, who went over 1,000 last week, finished with 13. Taylor Bass had 12 with two 3-pointers.

A win over the Wolverines Tuesday night would give the Eagles a split of their season series and a one-game lead in the division race.

PENNSVILLE (13-5): Taylor Bass 5 0-0 12, Marley Wood 6 11-15 23, Addie Johnston 2 0-0 4, Izzy Saulin 2 0-0 4, Calli Ausland 0 2-2 2, Sofia Belitsas 0 0-0 0, Nora Ausland 2 8-9 13. Totals 17 21-26 58.
WEST DEPTFORD (7-12): Julia Barger 1 0-0 2, Juana Abdelhamid 1 3-4 5, Reyanna Jamison 2 3-4 8, Alyssa Taylor 2 0-0 4, Carleen Connelly 5 1-2 12, Deanna Lawrence 4 4-6 12, Addison Fronza 3 0-0 8. Totals 18 11-16 51.

Pennsville11121025-58
West Deptford1114179-51
3-point goals: Pennsville 3 (Bass 2, N. Ausland); West Deptford 4 (Jamison, Connelly, Fronza 2). Fouled out: N. Ausland, Fronza. Total fouls: Pennsville 13, West Deptford 20.

SCHALICK 37, BUENA 21: The Cougars took control of the game with a 14-4 second quarter and got more separation with an 11-2 third. The win snapped a four-game losing streak.

“We challenged the girls to be more aggressive scoring inside and they did a nice job,” Schalick coach John Whalen said. “Likewise, defensively we were aggressive and very disciplined when we decided to press in the middle two quarters.”

Freshman Navaeh Robinson led the Cougars (4-11) with nine points.

SCHALICK (4-11): Abby Willoughby 5, Cali Fisler 3, Ava Scurry 6, Olivia Vanacker 3, Navaeh Robinson 9, Willow Davis 5, Olivia Lunemann 4, Carly Vicente 2.
BUENA (1-15): Mya Nicole 11, Jones Jiavonni 2, Leylani Muniz 2, Kayla Lafferty 2, Athena Bradley 2, Isabella Adkins 2.

Schalick814114-37
Buena64212-21

HADDON TWP. 61, PENNS GROVE 36
PENNS GROVE (8-8): Syanna Robbins 3 0-0 9, Brianna Robbins 2 0-0 4, RaNiyah Wilson 4 2-2 10, Keziah Patterson 2 2-2 6, JaNiyah Cummings 14 5-8 36.
HADDON TWP. (17-3): Kiersten Callahan 9 0-0 18, Samantha Farnham 0 0-0 0, Sammy Martin 1 0-0 3, Arianna Turkot 1 0-0 2, Maeve Sheenan 1 0-0 2, Reagan Maher 0 0-0 0, Madi Kamulda 4 3-4 11, Abby Weideman 4 1-2 11, Kaitlyn Martin 0 0-0 0, Alli Kamulda 3 3-6 11, Emory Shaw 0 2-2 2. Totals 23 9-14 61.

Penns Grove771111-36
Haddon Twp.14201116-61
3-point goals: Penns Grove 3 (S. Robbins 3); Haddon Twp. 8 (Callahan 3, Martin, Weideman 2, Kamulda 2).

GCIT 52, SALEM TECH 22
GLOUCESTER TECH (11-4): Maggie Duer 5 0-0 13, Gina Sheehan 3 0-0 7, Savanna Shute 1 0-0 2, Leanne Riddick 2 0-0 4, Reis Hartman 2 0-0 4, Ingrid Giannone 1 1-2 4, Addison Tinges 1 0-0 2, Grace Popoff 1 0-0 2, N. Woods 1 0-0 2, Averie Clement 5 0-0 12. Totals 22 1-2 52.
SALEM TECH (2-15): Demajae White 3 2-2 8, Kaylin Beardsley 4 0-0 10, Amora Elaine 1 0-0 2, Rachel Reed 1 0-0 2, Lavae Scott 0 0-0 0, Tiara Bazemore 0 0-0 0. Totals 9 2-2 22.

GCIT2214115-52
Salem Tech22711-22
3-point goals: GCIT 7 (Duer 3, Sheehan, Giannone, Clement 2); Salem Tech 2 (Beardsley 2). Rebounds: GCIT 24 (Duer 4); Salem Tech 23 (White 7, Beardsley 9).
SALEM COUNTY ALL-TIME
SCORING LIST (GIRLS)		TODAYPOINTS
Katie Kline, Pennsville (2004) 2110
Amanda Young, St. James
(1995)		 1762
Sharias Hill, Penns Grove (2009) 1661
Brittany Smith, Salem (2007)1623
Tia Furbush, Schalick (2021) 1574
Tori Smick, Woodstown (2013) 1566
Talia Battavio, WoodstownDNP1479
Megan Donelson, WoodstownDNP1473
1000-POINT WATCH  
Nora Ausland, Pennsville (Salem 462/Pennsville 588)13 vs. West Deptford1050
RaNiyah Wilson, Penns Grove (Kingsway 251/PG 772)10 vs. Haddon Twp.1023
Marley Wood, Pennsville23 vs. West Deptford965

This week’s schedule

Here is this week’s Salem County sports schedule for the week of Feb. 3-8

FEB. 3
GIRLS BASKETBALL
GCIT at Salem Tech
Pennsville at West Deptford
Penns Grove at Haddon Twp., 4:15 p.m.
Schalick at Buena
BOYS BASKETBALL
Buena at Pennsville
Riverside at Penns Grove, 6:30 p.m.
TRACK
Pennsville, Salem at Ocean Breeze Complex, Staten Island
BOWLING
Salem vs. Hammonton at DiDonato Bowling Center

FEB. 4
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Glassboro at Schalick
Woodstown at Pennsville, 7 p.m.
Penns Grove at Overbrook
Pitman at Salem
Salem Tech at Clayton
BOYS BASKETBALL
Clayton at Salem Tech
Overbrook at Penns Grove
Salem at Pitman
Schalick at Glassboro
Woodstown at Pennsville
MENS COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Salem CC at Montgomery County (Pa.) CC, 7 p.m.

FEB. 5
WRESTLING
Pennsville at Gateway
Penns Grove at Clearview
Salem at Gloucester Catholic
BOWLING
Salem, Salem Tech in TCC Showcase at 30 Strikes

FEB. 6
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Glassboro at Penns Grove, 4 p.m.
Salem at Clayton
Schalick at Pennsville
Wildwood at Salem Tech
Woodstown at Overbrook
BOYS BASKETBALL
Clayton at Salem
Overbrook at Woodstown
Pennsville at Schalick
Glassboro at Penns Grove
Salem Tech at Wildwood
BOWLING
Salem vs. Salem Tech at Wood Lanes
SWIMMING
NJSIAA Sectionals at GCIT
WRESTLING
Woodstown, Williamstown at Hammonton
Pennsauken at Schalick
MENS COLLEGE BASKETBALL
RCSJ-Gloucester at Salem CC, 7 p.m.
WOMENS COLLEGE BASKETBALL
RCSJ-Gloucester at Salem CC, 5 p.m.

FEB. 7
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Buena at Salem
Pennsville at Millville
WRESTLING
Gloucester Catholic at Penns Grove
Salem at Winslow
BOWLING
NJSIAA Playoffs

FEB. 8
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Cumberland at Schalick, 11:30 a.m.
BOYS BASKETBALL
Pennsville at West Deptford, 11:30 a.m.
Woodstown at Cherokee, 11:30 p.m.
Absegami at Salem, noon
WRESTLING
Burlington City, Egg Harbor Twp., St. Joe (Hamm.) at Pennsville
Salem, Woodstown, Williamstown at Hammonton
MENS COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Salem CC at Harrisburg Area CC, noon

Really good show

Saturday basketball: Pennsville’s girls win in overtime, Schalick’s boys snap losing streak, includes all the day’s games involving Salem County teams

GIRLS GAMESBOYS GAMES
Pennsville 46, Camden Catholic 45 (OT)Schalick 73, Buena 31
Gateway 26, Schalick 21Oakcrest 78, Pennsville 52
Bridgeton 63, Woodstown 51
Deptford 63, Penns Grove 60

By Riverview Sports News

PENNSVILLE – After a disappointing game against a top team the night before, Pennsville coach Steve Merritt challenged his team to put on a good show Saturday in what he expected to be a similarly tough game against Camden Catholic.

The Eagles gave their coach almost everything he asked for and it resulted in a 46-45 overtime victory.

“They never quit, they played really good defense and were active,” Merritt said. “I was really pleased with the way we played today.

“I told them before the game when I got this job and started working with you I was really happy with the effort and desire to win and for the most part I was happy with it. Yesterday I was little disappointed; let’s go out and put on a good show and they did.”

Playing with 1,000-point scorer Nora Ausland (fouled out) and Jaida Burns (injured) on the bench down the stretch in regulation and all of overtime, the Eagles outscored the Irish 4-3 in the extra session.

All the points in overtime came from the free throw line.

Marley Wood put Pennsville ahead 45-44 with 29 seconds left when she made one of two. The Irish rebounded the shot she missed and tried to hold the ball for a last shot, but the Eagles tied it up with 8.7 seconds and took possession.

Wood was fouled again and this time missed both shots. Edore Pela drve through several Pennsville hands on her way to the basket and put up a short shot for the win that rattled around the rim and didn’t fall.

Pennsville took a seven-point lead into the fourth quarter, but the Irish rallied to force overtime. The Eagles had a chance to win in regulation. Taylor Bass got a steal with two seconds left and raced towards the basket, but her potential game-winning shot rimmed out as the horn blew.

Bass was Pennsville’s leading scorer with 15 points. Ausland had 14 points, 11 in the second quarter to get the Eagles back in the game.

Pela led all scorers with 22 points. She had 11 in the Irish’ fourth-quarter comeback.

PENNSVILLE 46, CAMDEN CATHOLIC 45 (OT)
CAMDEN CATHOLIC (10-6) – Kayla Dunn 4 0-0 10, Caroline Brennan 0 0-4 0, Edore Pell 7 4-8 22, Maddie Brennan 2 0-0 4, Alexa vonHohenstein 1 1-2 3, Khloe Bowman 0 3-4 3, Ayana Jackson 0 0-0 0, Ashanty Alacron 1 0-0 3, Finley Green 0 0-0 0. Totals 15 8-16 45.
PENNSVILLE (12-5) – Taylor Bass 3 7-7 15, Marley Wood 0 5-10 5, Nora Ausland 4 3-4 14, Addie Johnston 3 1-2 7, Jaida Burns 2 1-2 5, Izzy Saulin 0 0-0 0, Sofia Belitsas 0 0-0 0. Totals 12 17-25 46.

Camden Catholic (10-6)1096173-45
Pennsville (12-5)41711104-46
3-point goals: Camden Catholic 7 (Dunn 2, Pell 4, Alacron); Pennsville 3 (Bass 2, Ausland). Rebounds: Pennsville 35 (Bass 9, Burns 9, Ausland 8). Fouled out: C. Brennan, vonHohenstein, Ausland. Total fouls: Camden Catholic 23, Pennsville 17.

GATEWAY 26, SCHALICK 21
GATEWAY (7-11) – Jayda Catoe 0 0-0 0, Peyton Cutler 3 4-10 10, Maggie Eliasen 0 0-0 0, Layla DeMaise 1 2-4 4, Sarai Gary 1 4-6 6, Lexi Kirwin 2 1-2 6. Totals 7 11-22 26.
SCHALICK (3-11) – Abigail Willoughby 2 0-0 4, Cali Fisler 2 1-5 5, Ava Scurry 3 1-2 7, Navaeh Robinson 1 1-2 3, Willow Davis 0 2-5 2. Totals 8 5-14 21.

Gateway6758-26
Schalick3882-21
3-point goals: Gateway 1 (Kirwin). Rebounds: Gateway 31 (Cutler 12)
SALEM COUNTY ALL-TIME
SCORING LIST (GIRLS)		TODAYPOINTS
Katie Kline, Pennsville (2004) 2110
Amanda Young, St. James
(1995)		 1762
Sharias Hill, Penns Grove (2009) 1661
Brittany Smith, Salem (2007)1623
Tia Furbush, Schalick (2021) 1574
Tori Smick, Woodstown (2013) 1566
Talia Battavio, WoodstownDNP1479
Megan Donelson, WoodstownDNP1473
1000-POINT WATCH  
Nora Ausland, Pennsville (Salem 462/Pennsville 560)14 vs. Camden Catholic1036
RaNiyah Wilson, Penns Grove (Kingsway 251/PG 762)DNP1013
Marley Wood, Pennsville 5 vs. Camden Catholic943

Career games by Volovar,
Sutton boost Schalick

CENTERTON – Jase Volovar has been missing his shot lately and wondered where it had gone. It came back to him Saturday and he had a feeling it would.

He and Nylan Sutton both enjoyed career days in Schalick’s 73-31 rout of Buena that snapped a seven-game losing streak.

Volovar tied his career-high with three 3-pointers on the way to a career-high 20 points. Sutton, a senior forward, hit 11 buckets and scored a career-high 24 points.

“It was about going out and coming out as a team and bouncing back from a couple losses,” Volovar said. “Getting back in the rhythm of winning coming up for this game (at Glassboro) Tuesday.

“I thought today we really came together as a team and were moving the ball extremely well, which really helped us get in the rhythm, helped me open up a lot.”

It started quickly for the Cougars’ junior guard. He missed his first 3, but came back down and hit one, then right away got a steal and layup off the press and was on his way to something special. He hit two more 3s before halftime and had 16 points at the break.

“I had been missing my shot,” he said. “Warming up I said my shot was going to be pretty good today. I was hitting from deep, all over the court, every area.”

He credited the increased shooting in practice with helping him get back on track.

Justin Iacona was also feeling it. He hit three 3s, too, and finished with 11 points. 

SCHALICK 73, BUENA 31
BUENA (5-12) – Troy Gregory 3 0-0 6, Jayden Rivera 0 0-2 0, Richie Wilson 1 0-0 2, Tyler Weightman 1 2-2 5, Shamel Rivera-Collazo 7 4-8 18. Totals 12 6-12 31.
SCHALICK (5-14) – Jase Volovar 8 1-3 20, Nylan Sutton 11 2-5 24, Sherrod Jones 1 0-0 2, Jamari Whitley 1 0-4 2, Kenneth Bartee 4 0-0 8, Justin Iacona 4 0-0 11, Nicholas Ashwell 1 0-0 2, Ryan Horner 1 0-0 2, Kade Macom 1 0-0 2. Totals 32 3-12 73.
3-point goals: Buena 1 (Weightman); Schalick 6 (Volovar 3, Iacona 3).

BRIDGETON 63, WOODSTOWN 51: It was all Jameel Purnell and Tavon Chandler for Bridgeton in a tight first half, but the Bulldogs got more players involved in the second half and pulled away.

Purnell scored 34 points in the game and Chandler had 16 to almost outscore the Wolverines on their own, and they combined for all their team’s points in the first half as they built a 25-22 halftime lead. 

The Wolverines stayed within reach, but, coach Ramon Roots said, just “didn’t make enough winning plays” to get over the top. 

Blake Bialecki hit four 3-pointers and led Woodstown with 14 points. Alejandro Vazquez had 12 and Rocco String had 11. 

WOODSTOWN (11-5) – Eli Caesar 1 0-0 2, Blake Bialecki 5 0-1 14, Alejandro Vazquez 4 2-2 12, M.J. Hall 1 1-2 3, Garrett Leyman 1 1-2 4, Rocco String 4 3-4 11, Brayden Hall 1 0-0 3. Totals
BRIDGETON (8-12) – Leroy Ortiz Rodriguez 2 0-0 4, Joel Francisco Lopez 2 0-0 4, Kyion Gray 1 0-0 3, Stephen Little 0 0-0 0, Jameel Purnell 14 1-2 34, Jahzeer Thompson 0 0-0 0, Geraldo Gonzalez 0 0-0 0, Tavon Chandler 6 2-4 16, Jerrell Burks 1 0-0 2. Totals 26 3-6 64.

Woodstown10121712-51
Bridgeton7182018-63
3-point goals: Woodstown 8 (Bialecki 4, Vazquez 2, Leyman, B. Hall); Bridgeton 8 (Gray, Purnell 5, Chandlor 2). Rebounds: Bridgeton 41 (Purnell 14). Fouled out: Ortiz. Total fouls: Woodstown 15, Bridgeton 14.

OAKCREST 78, PENNSVILLE 52: Maison Webster hit nine 3-pointers to fuel a 30-point game and Tyree Montford scored 23 for Oakcrest. Mason O’Brien led Pennsville with 13.

OAKCREST (7-10) – Adriece Diggs 3-0-6, Levar Price 1-3-6, Zicri Forest 2-0-4, Maison Webster 10-2-30, Nyree Montford 11-1-23, Jayden Collins 2-0-5, Prince Palmer 2-0-4. Totals 31-6-78.
PENNSVILLE (2-15) – Perry Meranti 4-1-9, Cole Johnston 3-0-9, Jovanni Rios 1-1-3, Mason O’Brien 5-2-13, C.J. McDevitt 1-0-2, Daniel Knight 0-2-6, Logan Hitt 0-3-3, Jacob Miller 1-1-4, J.P. Laughrey 1-0-3. Totals 18-8-52.

Oakcrest8152628-78
Pennsville1161619-52
3-point goals: Oakcrest 11 (Price, Webster 9, Collins); Pennsville 8 (Johnston 3, O’Brien, Knight 2, Miller, Laughrey). Rebounds: Pennsville 24 (Meranti 6, Rios 6).

DEPTFORD 63, PENNS GROVE 60: Deptford’s Alonzo Hernandez made it a three-point game with two free throws with 10.2 seconds left and Penns Grove missed a pair of 3-pointers in the closing seconds. Penns Grove’s Karon Ceaser put back his miss to get the Red Devils within 61-60. 

DEPTFORD (11-5) – Jordan Williams 10-0-21, Kenny Cockrell 4-1-9, Luke Vilary 2-0-4, Brian Orio 1-02-4, Ayden Copestick 7-3-21, Alonzo Hernandez 1-2-4. Totals 25-8-63.
PENNS GROVE (8-8) – B.J. Robbins 7-5-22, Roman Gipson 2-3-8, Karon Ceaser 9-2-22, Antoine Robinson 1-0-2, Jameel Horace 2-0-4, Will Roy 0-2-2. Totals 21-12-60.

Deptford14102215-63
Penns Grove19161015-60
3-point goals: Deptford 5 (Williams, Copestick 4); Penns Grove 6 (Robbins 3, Gipson, Ceaser 2).

Getting the message

Mighty Oaks respond to coach’s time out to run away from Luzerne, match 2020-21 team for most wins in a season since program return; third quarter dooms Salem CC women on the road

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

CARNEYS POINT – Mike Green had seen enough to know he had seen too much. Luzerne had just taken the early lead, the Salem CC basketball team had just committed back-to-back turnovers and Green knew if something didn’t change soon his Mighty Oaks would fall into a trap they might not be able to escape from.

He did what any coach seeing his team on the edge would do. He called a time out to propagate a change.

Message received. The Mighty Oaks scored the next 10 straight points as part of a bigger 24-4 run that sent them off and running to a 112-67 win.

“It looked like weren’t ready to play, man,” Green said. “It was like they stayed up all night and I just let them know they (Luzerne) traveled about two and half, three hours; we’re at home. You guys act like you don’t want to play.

“This is an opportunity. Some guys aren’t going to have that opportunity on Tuesday. Take advantage of all the opportunities you get. I just let them know this ain’t no sleep game. You’ve got to come out and play, they’re basketball players. The guys picked up on that and we got rolling.”

The Mighty Oaks (18-6) broke 100 for the fourth time this season despite missing three starters to illness and injury, including leading scorer Akeem Taylor (ankle), whose status is uncertain for Tuesday’s important region game at Montgomery CC. With the win, they now have matched the 2020-21 team (18-10) for the winningest season since bringing back the program.

The Mighty Oaks got points from everywhere, with five players scoring in double figures. Josh Ramos and Tyrese Fortune led the way with 24 points apiece. A.J. Jones had 20, Jyheim Spencer had 18 and another double-double, and Stefan Phillips, pressed into his second career start in Taylor’s absence, had 11 points, nine rebounds and seven assists.

“Everybody getting involved is always good,” Phillips said. “That’s what you want. You don’t want one person to shine. You want the whole team to shine.”

It didn’t start easy. Luzerne’s Sedrick Beasley picked Fortune’s pocket and turned it into a layup with 12:55 left in the first half to give the Trailblazers (5-13) a 10-9 lead. Jones got called for an offensive foul on the next possession and that was enough for Green to call his fateful pause.

When the Mighty Oaks returned to the floor they ripped off the next 10 points to take the lead for good. The Trailblazers tried to stop the surge with a time out, but it only delayed the inevitable. Salem returned to the floor and ran off another eight in a row. They scored on eight straight possessions in the three-minute spree.

“Coach said get it together, they shouldn’t be in the game with us,” said Fortune, who hit a 2 and 3 in the middle of the first flurry. “I started off talking on defense and we started getting turnovers and advancing the ball up and scoring the ball every time we got downcourt.”

The points flowed so freely even Spencer hit a 3-pointer. It was his first in a scholastic or collegiate game since his senior year in high school – in 2020. He did hit one, he said, in the Philly Brotherly Love Pro-Am Summer League this past summer, but he was 0-for-3 from behind the arc in non-scrimmages for the Mighty Oaks before hitting early in the second half..

“All season I said I was going to take one, but I hadn’t hit one yet,” he said. “We were warming up and I was making the shot, so they basically told me if you’re making the shot you might as well shoot it in the game. I shot it in the game and I made it.”

“I don’t think it’s like a Bigfoot sighting,” Green said. “The kid has skills. He’s just unlocking a lot of different things. That’s one of the things we work on, getting him to unlock it and getting more confident. He’s got that shot and he’s gonna take it. He’s encouraged to take it.”

No one has to encourage Ramos to take the 3, but it’s encouraging when he hits them. He hit six 3s against the Trailblazers, three in each half. It was the most he’s had in a game since pumping in nine against RCSJ-Cumberland in mid-January and had hit only 16 in the nine games since before Saturday.

“It’s just getting back in my rhythm,” he said. “That’s the biggest thing, just being confident in my shot. I feel like I wasn’t too confident in my shot but I feel like now, today, I was beginning to get my shot up and get a feel for it.”

Everybody who had a big game was breaking out of something.

Jones had four 20-point games last year, but had scored only 25 points in his previous six games since his last double-figure outing. He was 7-for-9 from the field against the Trailblazers and 6-of-9 from the line. He also had five rebounds, five assists and three steals.

“We’re trying to get a championship, so I’m just here to give what the team needs,” he said. “Whether it’s defense, scoring, rebounding or assists, it doesn’t matter. Whatever the coach asks, that’s what you do. We’ve got plenty of guys who can do scoring and other things. I just do what the team needs.”

Phillips didn’t learn he was starting until right before the team came out for the opening tip. His only other start came in the second game with Williamson Trades Jan. 23, but he’s played in 19 games. He hardly missed a shot around the basket early in the season and he didn’t miss Saturday, going 4-for-4 from the field and 3-for-3 from the line.

“I was excited,” he said. “It took me back to how it felt back in high school. I just wanted to get back in the win column, that’s what charged me up. Coming back from a loss to be able to dominate the way we did was enough for me to be charged up.”

“He’s gonna be a rally good player next year,” Green predicted. “He’s good now, he’s going to be really good next year when he’s featured.”

Fortune had his career high. He had an eight-game stretch in the middle of the season in which he was averaging 12.8 a game, but he had only 37 points in the five games before Saturday.

“It all started off with practice, coach said just let it fly,” Fortune said. “He’s been telling me this all season, but I just had to get it out because the first part of the season I was in a struggle. I think it was just me rushing lot. Today I was patient, I got my team involved and everything just came to me, so I took advantage of it.”

SALEM CC 112, LUZERNE COUNTY 67
LUZERNE COUNTY CC (5-13) – Vagiba Donzo 0-1 1-2 1, Sedrick Beasley 6-11 2-4 15, Mackeenan Morgan 2-9 0-2 6, Vincent Garrett 3-20 2-4 8, Kaprie Cottle 2-6 2-2 8, Melvin Egbeto 2-4 2-3 7, William Preston 0-2 0-0 0, Al-Quron Michel 1-5 0-0 2, Tyler Collins 4-8 5-5 14, Ryan Probeyahn 3-4 0-0 6. Totals 23-70 14-22 67.
SALEM CC (18-6) – Dontarius Jones 0-9 2-2 2, Tyrese Fortune 7-13 6-6 24, Josh Ramos 9-19 0-0 24, Stefan Phillips 4-4 3-3 11, Jyheim Spencer 7-11 3-5 18, A.J. Jones 7-9 6-9 20, Rodney Shelton 3-7 0-0 6, Tajee Jordan 2-3 3-4 7. Totals 39-75 23-29 112.

Luzerne3037-67
Salem CC4963-112
3-point goals: Luzerne 7-21 (Beasley 1-1, Morgan 2-6, Garrett 0-2, Cottle 2-4, Egbeto 1=2, Preston 0-1, Michel 0-1, Collins 1-3, Probeyahn 0-1); Salem 11-31 (D. Jones 0-6, Fortune 4-9, Ramos 6-13, Spencer 1-1, A. Jones 0-2). Rebounds: Luzerne 34 (Garrett 7, Beasley 6, Cottle 6); Salem 53 (Spencer 11, Shelton 10, Phillips 11). Technical fouls: Luzerne coach Strothers  Fouled out: Jordan. Total fouls: Luzerne 20, Salem 17.

Women’s game

BRANCHBURG – The Salem CC women held their own with Raritan Valley in the first half, but danger signs were looming.

Sophia Larsen made a steal and layup right before the buzzer to give the Lions a seven-point halftime lead, then they pulled away in the third quarter to hand the Mighty Oaks a 75-54 setback that increases the pressure on Salem’s hopes for a Region XIX playoff berth.

The Mighty Oaks fell to 10-10 and must win two of their remaining four games to extend their season.

The Lions (14-9) outscored Salem 23-8 in the third quarter. Ona Riopedre led four Raritan Valley scorers in double figures with 27 points. Larsen finished with 11.

Salem CC (10-10)1714617-54
Raritan Valley (14-9)19192314-75

Region XIX standings

Here are the men’s and women’s Region XIX basketball standings; games through Jan. 23

MEN’S DIVISION III
(x-based on percentage)		REGION
ALL
Union13-0 (1.000)17-3
Montgomery12-1 (.923)16-2
Philadelphia14-2 (.875)18-5
Camden12-3 (.800)14-9
Salem CC11-4 (.733)18-6
Northampton10-4 (.714)17-4
Brookdale11-6 (.647)15-7
Atlantic Cape9-6 (.600)12-10
Ocean7-6 (.538)11-7
RCSJ-Gloucester8-7 (.533)10-13
Passaic6-8 (.429)10-11
Delaware County6-10 (.375)7-14
Sussex5-10 (.333)7-17
Lehigh Carbon5-11 (.313)5-16
Harrisburg Area4-11 (.267)5-17
Thaddeus Stevens3-11 (.214)4-14
Luzerne3-12 (.200)5-13
Bergen2-14 (.125)3-18
RCSJ-Cumberland0-15 (.000)0-22

SATURDAY’S GAMES
Salem 112, Luzerne 67
Harrisburg Area 83, Passaic 71
Camden 89, Bergen 56
Ocean 93, Sussex 83
Essex 102, Mercer 92
Thaddeus Stevens at Montgomery
Delaware Tech at Harcum
Delaware County 85, Lehigh Carbon 80
Philadelphia 102, RCSJ-Cumberland 52
Chesapeake 83, Morris 73
Winchester 104, Raritan Valley 93
Lackawanna 88, Middlesex 65
Atlantic Cape 66, RCSJ-Gloucester 62

TUESDAY’S GAMES
Salem at Montgomery
Union at Philadelphia
Brooksdale at Passaic
Bergen at Ocean
Camden at Luzerne
Northampton at RCSJ-Gloucester
Lehigh Carbon at Thaddeus Stevens
Raritan Valley at Middlesex
Atlantic Cape at Delaware County
Mercer at Lackawanna

DIVISION II WOMENREGALL
Union13-022-0
Harcum9-316-5
Lackawanna9-414-6
Raritan Valley8-414-9
Mercer7-514-5
Middlesex4-89-12
Salem CC4-1010-10
Essex2-104-12
Morris0-00-0
Delaware Tech0-120-18

SATURDAY’S GAMES
Raritan Valley 75, Salem CC 54
Sussex 70, Ocean 44
Montgomery 74, Northampton 67
Camden 61, Bergen 40
Lehigh Carbon at Delaware County, canceled
Delaware Tech at Harcum
Montgomery 76, RCSJ-Cumberland 37
Mercer 79, Essex 65
RCSJ-Cumberland at Philadelphia
Middlesex at Lackawanna, ppd
Union 89, CCBC Essex 70
RCSJ-Gloucester 66, Atlantic Cape 45

TUESDAY’S GAMES
Raritan Valley at Middlesex
Camden at Montgomery
Bergen at Ocean
Essex at Harcum
Brookdale at Passaic
Northampton at RCSJ-Gloucester
RCSJ-Cumberland at Bucks
Mercer at Lackawanna
Delaware Tech at Union