Category: BASKETBALL

So close, so far

Salem CC women fall in final bid to make region playoffs, take No. 14 Montgomery County deep into the fourth quarter but run out of gas

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

CARNEYS POINT — Brian Marsh had never seen his Salem CC women’s basketball team in a do-or-die situation before and frankly he was a little nervous about how it would handle it.

The Mighty Oaks had to beat nationally ranked Montgomery County in Tuesday’s Sophomore Night season finale to qualify for the Region XIX Division II playoffs. There was no two ways around it: Win and you’re in with a .500 record, lose and the season’s over. There was no tomorrow.

Would the moment be too big for a program in only its second year back on the floor or would the team that already exceeded last year’s production cast the pressure aside and deliver in a big moment.

It didn’t start off so well, but the moment wasn’t too big for the Mighty Oaks. They gave themselves a chance in the second half — some might even say had the Mustangs on the run – but they just didn’t have enough at the end and suffered a 55-43 defeat that brought their season to a close.

“We had a lot of things work against us, but I thought we played really well in the second half energy wise, we just didn’t make shots,” Marsh said. “I was worried it was going to be too big a moment, but I don’t really think that happened. I just thought we didn’t make shots, and that happens.”

Actually, the Mighty Oaks came within three minutes and eight seconds of making the region playoffs for the first time in 20 years. They trailed by only four with 3:08 to play and five with 2:36 left, but didn’t score the rest of the game.

They were hurt on the boards in the first half and didn’t shoot well the whole game. They were outrebounded badly by the 14th-ranked Mustangs (22-2) in the first half, but thanks to a halftime adjustment held their own on the boards in the second half.

What really hurt them was going 2-for-22 from 3-point range, 0-for-14 in the second half.

It was their worst night from behind the arc at home since bringing the program back last year and third overall, behind only a 2-for-23 in a mid-January win at Anne Arundel this year and a 2-for-26 last Feb. in a dreadful loss at RCSJ-Gloucester.

“I’ve got to give them credit,” Marsh said. “They did some things, they did just enough to win or found the right people and were making free throws at the end. I thought we played our hearts out. At some point you’ve gotta make shots and we didn’t.”

The Mighty Oaks wanted to jump out quickly to control the pace but fell behind by 11 in the first quarter. They kept the deficit from getting any larger in the half by holding the Mustangs to just nine points in the second quarter. 

It was a five-point game with 3:42 left in the third quarter, but five straight empty possessions led to seven Montco points and the deficit was back up to 12. The Mighty Oaks cut it to four for the first time with 7:08 to go on a pair of Alexa Hopkins free throws and twice more later after layups by Nyaijah Jackson and Maggie St. Clair, but they never could get closer.

In addition to the better rebounding, the Mighty Oaks had 12 steals in the second half and forced the Mustangs into 19 turnovers. 

“I realized after the first half we needed to step it up,” sophomore Caroline Zullo said. “In the second half I think we all kind of realized, especially the sophomores, that this might be our last game so we had to step it up. We tried our best, we just came up short.”

Zullo hit a free throw with 2:36 to play to make it 48-43, but that would be the Mighty Oaks’ final point of the season as they didn’t score again and the Mustangs pulled away with seven free throws over the final two minutes.

Jackson led the Mighty Oaks with 16 points and was their only scorer in double figures. St. Clair had nine points, six rebounds and five steals in her final JUCO game. The Mustangs had two scorers in double figures and three players with 10 or more rebounds. 

GATHERING ACORNS: The Mighty Oaks started their five sophomores on Sophomore Night. For Hopkins, it was her first start since Jan. 7 against Camden … With Salem failing to qualify, the Region XIX Division II women’s playoffs are expected to be a six-team affair … The win was Monaco’s 18th in a row … Salem guard Kathryn Laurence scored her 500th career point in the first half. St. Clair scored her 500th point in the Lackawanna game.

MONTGOMERY COUNTY CC 55, SALEM CC 43
MONTCO (22-2) — Azjiona Golston 7-15 3-6 19, Tieisha Walker 2-10 3-6 7, Rachel Dunn 4-14 0-1 8, Alana Decker 1-3 0-0 2, Molly Butler 5-7 2-2 12, Kyla Taylor 0-2 0-2 0, Koumba Samassa 3-9 0-0 6, Sanaa Gulled 0-1 1-2 1. Totals 22-61 9-19 55.
SALEM CC (11-13) — Caroline Zullo 1-6 1-4 3, Maggie St. Clair 4-19 0-2 9, Kathryn Laurence 2-13 1-2 5, Jakayla Jenkins 0-5 0-0 0, Alexa Hopkins 2-4 2-2 7, RayNescia King 0-2 0-0 0, Nyaijah Jackson 8-16 0-2 16, Dani Gustin 1-1 0-1 2, Akira Chambers 0-1 1-2 1. Totals 18-67 5-15 43.

Montgomery2291113-55
Salem CC1191211-43
3-point goals: Montco 2-9 (Golston 2-6, Dunn 0-1, Decker 0-1, Taylor 0-1); Salem 2-22 (Zullo 0-1, St. Clair 1-6, Laurence 0-9, Hopkins 1-3, King 0-2, Jackson 0-1). Rebounds: Montco 56 (Butler 16, Dunn 12, Samassa 11); Salem 32 (Zullo 8, Jenkins 8). Technical fouls: Salem (admin). Fouled out: Samassa, Zullo. Total fouls: Montco 16, Salem 17.

Tourney pairings

Here are the South Jersey Group I basketball tournament pairings; Woodstown, Penns Grove set up to host doubleheaders, Pennsville girls get home game, Schalick girls, Salem boys open on road

GIRLS
Feb. 26 Games
(16) Schalick at (1) Haddon Twp.
(9) Glassboro at (8) Penns Grove
(12) Cape May Tech at (5) Audubon
(13) Gateway at (4) Woodstown
(14) Riverside at (3) Wildwood
(11) Woodbury at (6) Pennsville
(10) Burlington City at (7) Clayton
(15) New Egypt at (2) Palmyra
March 1 Games
Schalick-Haddon Twp. vs. Glassboro-Penns Grove
Cape May Tech-Audubon vs. Gateway-Woodstown
Riverside-Wildwood vs. Woodbury-Pennsville
Burlington City-Clayton vs. New Egypt-Palmyra

BOYS
Feb. 26 Games
(16) Wildwood at (1) Pitman
(9) Burlington City at (8) Penns Grove
(12) Glassboro at (5) Woodbury
(13) Paulsboro at (4) Audubon
(14) Clayton at (3) Haddon Twp.
(11) Salem at (6) Palmyra
(10) New Egypt at (7) Woodstown
(15) Maple Shade at (2) KIPP Cooper Norcross
March 1 Games
Wildwood-Pitman vs. Burlington City-Penns Grove
Glassboro-Woodbury vs. Paulsboro-Audubon
Clayton-Haddon Twp. vs. Salem-Palmyra
New Egypt-Woodstown vs. Maple Shade-KIPP Cooper Norcross

21 and counting

Mighty Oaks open second half in big way, pull away from Sussex to close regular season with a victory; finish sixth in region standings, await playoffs

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

NEWTON – There was still six minutes left in halftime and the Salem CC basketball team was out there on the floor getting up shots. Usually, the Mighty Oaks would still be in the dressing room making plans for the second half, but this time coach Mike Green had said his peace and there was nothing more to do there.

The Mighty Oaks rolled out the ball rack and spent the rest of the break in the layup line. They were a different team in the second half because of it.

If the first five minutes of a half set the tone for the way a team will play, the Mighty Oaks couldn’t have started better. They opened the second half on an 18-2 tear to pull away from a tie game and went on to beat Sussex CC 89-64 Monday to complete the winningest regular season since the revival of the program.

“I needed to say some things and when you’re not playing up to your level nobody has much to say so it was quick,” Green explained. “You’re gonna hear what I’ve got to say, now get your butts out there and warm up.

“They were a lot tougher in the second half. The first half I think we kind of got pushed around. We just challenged them. We’re not the same team on the road that we are at home. Our next game will be on the road so if you come out like this against any of the teams in the playoffs you’re going to have a hard time getting back in the game and your season is gonna be cut short.”

With Camden’s win over Ocean Monday, the Mighty Oaks (21-7, 13-5) will finish sixth in the Region XIX Division III standings and likely be the sixth seed to face projected No. 3 CC of Philadelphia in the region tournament. They will learn their official seed, first-round opponent and the site of their opening-round game following Wednesday’s region seeding meeting.

Because the region receives two direct bids to the JUCO national tournament, the region will incorporate two separate brackets to produce two champions. Three Region XIX teams were included in the most recent Division III Top 15 and two others, including the Mighty Oaks, received votes for consideration.

“I don’t know who we’ll play, but we’ll be ready,” Green said. “I don’t know what we look like to other people. I feel like we should be a tough draw for anybody. I don’t know if the league feels that way, but it really doesn’t matter now, the games are here.

“We’ll be ready regardless who it is. I already started that. Weeks ago. All three teams we could possibly play, I’ve got them down. And for the next round. I’ve already started.”

Akeem Taylor led the Mighty Oaks with 25 points and nine rebounds. Xavier Brewington (16), Tyrese Fortune (14) and Tamir Powell (10) also scored in double figures. Jyheim Spencer grabbed 11 rebounds and A.J. Jones had six assists.

The teams played to a 33-33 tie in the first half with Taylor hitting a layup to beat the buzzer. Four minutes into the second half the Mighty Oaks had a 16-point lead.

Brewington and Taylor opened the second-half run with back-to-back 3-pointers. Fortune closed it out with eight straight points. Spencer had the other four points.

“We’re going to find somebody who’s going to play how I want them to play,” Green said. “I gave the guys who started the game another opportunity and they showed up.”

Moments after the Skylanders hit a pair of free throws to make it 51-37, Taylor answered with a putback, but limped towards the sideline with an apparent ankle injury and collapsed behind the Salem bench. He made his way to the training room, then returned to the floor about five minutes later and immediately hit a putback and one to give the Mighty Oaks a 65-48 lead.

The Salem CC women play for their Region XIX Division II playoff lives in their regular-season finale at home Tuesday night.

Salem CC3356-89
Sussex3331-64

PROJECTED REGION XIX SEEDS
1-Union, 2-Montgomery, 3-Philadelphia, 4-Northampton, 5-Camden, 6-Salem, 7-Brookdale, 8-Ocean, 9-Atlantic Cape, 10-RCSJ Gloucester

This week’s schedule

Here is the Salem County sports schedule for the week of Feb. 17-23

FEB. 17
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Salem CC at Sussex CC, 5 p.m.

FEB. 18
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Tri-County Conference Tournament
Flight A
(8) Timber Creek at (1) Gloucester Catholic
(5) GCIT at (4) Wildwood, 4 p.m.
(6) Clearview at (3) Woodstown
(7) Pennsville at (2) Washington Twp.
Flight B
(8) Cumberland at (1) Williamstown
(5) Glassboro at (4) Triton, 4 p.m.
(6) Kingsway at (3) Penns Grove, 4 p.m.
(7) Delsea at (2) Clayton, 5 p.m.
Flight C
(5) Salem at (4) Schalick, 4 p.m.
(6) Salem Tech at (3) Overbrook, 4:30 p.m.
(7) Highland at (2) Pitman
BOYS BASKETBALL
Tri-County Conference Tournament
Flight A
(8) Deptford Twp. at (1) Overbrook, 6 p.m.
(5) Delsea at (4) Pitman
(6) Woodstown at (3) Timber Creek, 5 p.m.
(7) Penns Grove at (2) Kingsway, 5 p.m.
Flight B
(8) Salem at (1) Clearview
(5) Gloucester Catholic at (4) Triton, 6 p.m.
(6) Glassboro at (3) Williamstown, 4 p.m.
(7) Highland at (2) Washington Twp.
Flight C
(5) Cumberland at (4) Schalick
(6) Pennsville at (3) Wildwood 
(7) Salem Tech at (2) GCIT, 4 p.m.
WOMENS COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Montgomery County  (Pa.) CC at Salem CC, 5 p.m.

FEB. 19
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Penns Grove at Cherry Hill West, 4 p.m.
BOYS BOWLING
South Jersey Group I Semifinals
Salem vs. Clayton at Bolero Bowl
Maple Shade at Camden Catholic

FEB. 20
GIRLS BASKETBALL
TCC Tournament
Flight A
Timber Creek-Gloucester Catholic vs. GCIT-Wildwood
Clearview-Woodstown vs. Pennsville-Washington Twp.
Flight B
Cumberland-Williamstown vs. Glassboro-Triton
Kingsway-Penns Grove vs. Delsea-Clayton
Flight C
Salem-Schalick at Deptford Twp.
Salem Tech-Overbrook vs. Highland-Pitman

BOYS BASKETBALL
TCC Tournament
Flight A
Deptford Twp.-Overbrook vs. Delsea-Pitman
Woodstown-Timber Creek vs. Penns Grove-Kingsway
Flight B
Salem-Clearview vs. Gloucester Catholic-Triton
Glassboro-Williamstown vs. Highland-Washington Twp.
Flight C
Cumberland-Schalick at Clayton
Pennsville-Wildwood vs. Salem Tech-GCIT

FEB. 21
WRESTLING
District Tournaments
Penns Grove, Salem in District 32, RCSJ-Gloucester
Pennsville, Schalick, Woodstown in District 30, Delsea
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Genesee CC at Salem CC (2), 2 p.m.

FEB. 22
GIRLS BASKETBALL
TCC Tournament A, B, C Championships
BOYS BASKETBALL
TCC Tournament A, B, C Championships

FEB. 23
TRACK
NJSIAA Group Championships, Bennett Center, Toms River

Power pairings

Here are the projected South Jersey Group I high school basketball tournament pairings based purely on power points standings; other factors may impact the official bracket

BOYS
No. 16 Wildwood at No. 1 Pitman
No. 9 Burlington City at No. 8 Penns Grove
No. 12 Glassboro at No. 5 Woodbury
No. 13 Paulsboro at No. 4 Audubon

No. 14 Clayton at No. 3 Haddon Twp.
No. 11 Salem at No. 6 Palmyra
No. 10 New Egypt at No. 7 Woodstown
No. 15 Maple Shade at No. 2 KIPP Cooper

GIRLS
No. 16 New Egypt at No. 1 Haddon Twp. 
No. 9 Glassboro at No. 8 Penns Grove
No. 12 Cape May Tech at No. 5 Audubon
No. 13 Gateway at No. 4 Woodstown

No. 14 Riverside at No. 3 Wildwood
No. 11 Woodbury at No. 6 Pennsville
No. 10 Burlington City at No. 7 Clayton
No. 15 Pitman at No. 2 Palmyra

One last shot

The Salem CC women’s region playoff hopes rest with the season finale after road loss to Lackawanna

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

SCRANTON, Pa. — If the Salem CC women’s basketball team wants to play in the region playoffs for the first time in 20 years, it will have to win its final game of the regular season. There will be no scoreboard watching, except the one in Dupont Fieldhouse. It’ll all be on them.

Salem CC sophomore Kathryn Laurence flashes a sign to note the 100 career 3-pointers she’s hit for the Mighty Oaks.

The Mighty Oaks lost their final road game of the regular season Saturday, 72-57 at Lackawanna. It left them one game under .500 for the season and needing to beat Division III No. 15 Montgomery County CC Tuesday in a game already steeped with Sophomore Night emotion to qualify for the Region XIX playoffs.

They last time they had a .500 or better record that would have gotten them in the playoffs was 2005-06 (14-14).

“Nothing has been easy with this team this year so why would this last game be any different?” Mighty Oaks coach Brian Marsh said. “It all comes down to one game on Sophomore Day and it won’t be handed to us. We have to go get it.

“I have faith this team will do what is necessary and come away with the win in their last home game of the year.”

The Mighty Oaks got off to a slow start against the Falcons (16-6) and couldn’t recover. They shot just 3-of-16 from the floor in the first quarter and 7-of-29 in the first half and trailed by 15 at the break. Lackawanna scored 28 points in the paint and 19 points off Salem turnovers.

“We played hard and our energy was great, but our execution was poor,” Marsh said. “We missed a lot of layups.”

Two Salem CC players reached personal milestones in the game. Maggie St. Clair led the Mighty Oaks with 15 points and went over 500 points for her JUCO career. Kathryn Laurence hit two 3-pointers among her eight points to reach 100 treys for her career. She needs three points for 500.

“Very proud of Kathryn, who in my opinion is the best shooter in program history,” Marsh said. “Maggie is a dynamic scorer, so I expect her to score for us regardless of the opponent.”

LACKAWANNA 72, SALEM CC 56
SALEM CC (11-12): RayNescia King 0-0 0-0 0, Nyaijah Jackson 5-11 4-7 14, Caroline Zullo 3-10 0-0 6, Maggie St. Clair 4-22 6-7 15, Jakayla Jenkins 1-7 0-0 2, Kathryn Laurence 3-12 0-0 8, Dani Gustin 0-3 3-4 3, Akira Chambers 2-2 3-4 7, Alexa Hopkins 1-2 0-0 2. Totals 19-69 16-22 57.
LACKAWANNA (16-6): Eternity Aiken 4-5 3-4 11, Semi Young 0-4 3-4 3, Diamond Wilson 0-6 0-2 0, Sophia Suma 0-0 2-2 2, Salote Franklin 6-11 2-2 15, Desiree White 5-14 3-6 15, Jayla South 4-14 2-2 10, Saraiah Franklin 4-8 3-6 12, Kalea Ferguson 1-6 0-0 2, Anna Crocker 1-3 0-0 2. Totals 25-71 18-28 72.

Salem CC9131421-57
Lackawanna17201124-72
3-point goals: Salem CC 3-19 (Zullo 0-1, St. Clair 1-9, Jenkins 0-1, Laurence 2-8); Lackawanna 4-26 (Young 0-2, Wilson 0-5, Sal. Franklin 1-2, White 2-6, South 0-4, Sar. Franklin 1-4, Ferguson 0-3). Rebounds: Salem CC 46 (Jackson 12, Zullo 8); Lackawanna 55 (Franklin 15, Sal. Franklin 9). Fouled out: Sar. Franklin. Total fouls: Salem CC 20, Lackawanna 21.


Boys big night

Salem takes an intense win from Penns Grove; Hall, Leevy have career nights for Woodstown; Jones’ last-second FTs lifts Schalick to victory

THURSDAY’S GAMES
Salem 68, Penns Grove 50
Woodstown 78, Salem Tech 27
Schalick 46, Pennsauken Tech 45

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

PENNS GROVE – Under a different set of circumstances and math, this would have been a milestone night for Anthony Farmer. Instead, the Salem High basketball coach would have to be content to take the win and keep marching towards a good draw in the South Jersey playoffs.

Farmer’s Rams took down Penns Grove Thursday night 68-50 in an intense game that reminded the sellout crowd of the Salem-Penns Grove battles of old. There were five technical fouls called.

It would have been Farmer’s 100th career coaching win “on the floor,” but an NJSIAA ruling on an ineligible player in January stripped the team and him of four early-season victories leaving the coach at 96.

“That would have been special,” Farmer said. “That would have been nice.”

Once he reaches the milestone, he’ll join a unique club of basketball luminaries with 100 coaching wins, 1,000 career points in high school (St. Augustine) and 1,000 career points in college (Rutgers).

Salem sophomore guard Neziah Spence returned to his old school and torched his former team for a game-high 18 points with three assists, three steals and a blocked shot. He scored 28 points with eight 3-pointers for the Red Devils all last year as a freshman.

“That usually goes two ways,” Farmer said. “Young kid. Sophomore. Left there and went back and had a big night. Normally (they don’t), trying too hard, trying to press, trying to do too much. He really let the game come to him and had a big night. You could see how hard he was playing it really meant something to him.”

Two other times this year it went the other way for Rams players facing their former schools. Darrelle Johnson went scoreless in six minutes against Millville at the Boardwalk Classic and Tymear Lecator was under the weather when the Rams played Winslow earlier this week and had just four points.

Spence wasn’t the only Ram to have a big game against the Red Devils. Antwuan Rogers had 14 points and 15 rebounds; Johnson had 12 points, five rebounds and five assists; and Deshaan Williams had six points and 10 boards.

“We played really well; I thought it was an overall team effort,” Farmer said. “Everybody just maximized their potential and played their role to the best of their ability and when we do that we’re tough. We got a little something from everybody. It was fun to watch and good to see.”

Karon Ceaser and Jameel Horace led Penns Grove with 14 points apiece.

SALEM 68, PENNS GROVE 50
SALEM (11-12): Donovan Weathers 1 0-0 2, Xavier McGriff 2 0-0 4, Neziah Spence 6 3-6 18, Tymear Lecator 1 0-2 3, Deshaan Williams 3 0-2 6, Darrelle Johnson 5 2-2 12, Antwaun Rogets 7 1-1 15, Joe Tunis 3 0-0 6, Azhone Burden 1 0-0 2. Totals 29 6-13 68.
PENNS GROVE (11-11): B.J. Robbins 1 4-6 7, Roman Gipson 2 1-2 6, Karon Ceaser 6 0-0 14, Antoine Robinson 1 2-2 4, Jameel Horace 6 2-2 14, Haneef Frisby 1 0-0 2, Luis Colon 0 0-0 0, Will Roy 1 1-1 3, Carson Pearsall 0 0-0 0. Totals 18 10-13 50.

Salem7171925-68
Penns Grove1191218-50
3-point goals: Salem 4 (Spence 3, Lecator); Penns Grove 4 (Robbins, Gipson, Ceaser 2). Technical fouls: Robbins, Ceaser, Lecator 2, Johnson. Fouled out: Robinson, Lecator. Total fouls: Salem 16, Penns Grove 19.

WOODSTOWN 78, SALEM TECH 27: M.J. Hall and Sid Leevy both had career nights as the Wolverines won their second straight and kept the Chargers winless. Hall hit career-high numbers for the second game in a row, this time going for 31 points. Leevy doubled his season production with a career-high 12 points.

“M.J. played great, Sid played great, too; I gave him the (MVP) chain,” Wolverines coach Ramon Roots said. “Sid has been a senior who didn’t play that much this year, but helped his teammates get better every day and never complained about minutes or hard work.

“He’s a great team-first guy. He doesn’t say too much but comes to partake ready to work every day. I rewarded him tonight. He played the whole game.”

The Wolverines’ 14 wins for first-year coach Roots this season are the most in a Woodstown boys season since a 23-5 year in 2019-20.

SALEM TECH (0-20): Larry Pompper 4 0-0 9, Chase Pompper 3 0-0 6, Ayden Myers 1 1-2 3, Joseph Hayes 1 4-6 7, Logan Pace 1 0-0 2. Totals 10 5-8 27.
WOODSTOWN (14-8): Trey Markward 1 0-0 2, John Hood-McGinley 2 0-0 4, Garrett Leyman 1 1-1 3, Sid Leevi 5 1-4 12, Rocco String 7 0-0 15, Andrew White 1 0-0 2, Josh King 1 0-0 2, M.J. Hall 11 6-7 31, Jalen Markward 2 3-3 7. Totals 31 11-14 78.

Salem Tech241110-27
Woodstown23191719-78
3-point goals: Salem Tech 2 (L. Pompper, Hayes); Woodstown 5 (Leevy, String, Hall 3).

SCHALICK 46, PENNSAUKEN TECH 45: Sherrod Jones was fouled on a putback as time expired and made both free throws to give the Cougars the victory.

Jones picked up his fourth foul in the first half and sat until Jamari Whitley fouled out in the fourth quarter. The Cougars drew up a play to get Reggie Allen the last shot. The senior got a good look at it, but missed, but Jones followed it and was fouled.

The free throws he made to win it were his only points of the game. Allen led all scorers with 18 points. Nylan Sutton had 17.

SCHALICK (7-17): Reggie Allen 6 6-7 18, Nylan Sutton 7 3-6 17, Jamari Whitley 1 0-0 2, Sherrod Jones 0 2-3 2, Jase Volovar 0 0-0 0, Kenneth Bartee 2 1-1 5, Zaeshawn Mills 0 0-0 0, Justin Iacona 1 0-0 2. Totals 17 12-17 46.
PENNSAUKEN TECH (12-12): Tyrone Baker 2 3-4 9, Omar Spencer 6 5-7 17, Chris Graham 1 2-2 4, Xavier Melendez 0 0-0 0, James Stout 3 0-0 8, N. Zayas 3 1-2 7, Malachi Kiyaga 0 0-0 0, Felix Santos 0 0-0 0, Alex Davis-Reyes 0 0-0 0. Totals 16 11-15 45.

Schalick171397-46
Pennsauken Tech614169-45
3-point goals: Pennsauken Tech 2 (Stout 2). Technical fouls: Baker. Fouled out: Whitley. Total fouls: Schalick 16, Pennsauken Tech 16.



Big-league experience

Pennsville girls get a feel for the NBA on the Sixers’ floor at Wells Fargo Center, includes scores and highlights from Tuesday night’s Salem County basketball schedule

GIRLS GAMESBOYS GAMES
Clayton 56, Pennsville 38 (WFC)Penns Grove 70, Pennsville 37
Woodstown 68, Schalick 15Woodstown 65, Schalick 39
Salem 63, Gloucester Cath. 51

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

PHILADELPHIA – All the times Nora Ausland would watch the 76ers play, whether it be one of the rare times in person or on TV, she always thought the NBA 3-point line was way out there.

Then she actually got on the floor and saw it from a player’s perspective and her suspicions were confirmed. The line was way, way out there.

But that didn’t keep her or her Pennsville teammates from trying their hand at shooting from out there. The Eagles made seven 3s from the NBA line Tuesday afternoon, with Ausland and Taylor Bass each hitting three, in a 57-38 loss to Clayton in the Wells Fargo Center that was more about the experience than the result.

“I just wanted to hit some NBA 3s and I did do it,” Ausland said. “I’m impressed because it’s really far.

“I always thought it looked far. When I was walking down on to the floor I’m like it’s not really that far, and then my first shot completely air-balled it; it was pretty far. It makes my perception really off, so I was glad I was able to make a few.”

Ausland wasn’t the only one drawn by the NBA 3-point line. Marley Wood also kept an eye on the arc. She only took a few shots from out there during the game, but finally hit one in the fourth quarter to cross that off her basketball bucket list.

“Being able to shoot from the NBA 3-point line was something really cool, being able to score from there,” she said. “It bounced off the rim a couple times and then went in, but it felt really cool to be able to make it from there.”

“I thought it was a great opportunity for them to have that experience,” Pennsville coach Steve Merritt said. “I’m really happy for them.”

Ausland had hit 37 3s this season, 77 in her two seasons at Pennsville and 139 in her career from the high school line, but when you get the chance to shoot on an NBA floor, that line is a challenge no one could resist. The extra four feet from the NBA line, when the shots started going in, made her feel a little like Caitlin Clark, a little like Steph Curry.

Shooting into the abyss that would be filled with fans watching the Sixers lose to Toronto later that evening, many of the Eagles’ shots from behind the arc during warmups hit nothing but … air. Undeterred, Ausland hit three of the next five attempts – all from the wing. She also made a layup and finished with 11 points.

“I got the hang of it,” she said. “Just being able to make those shots is what I’ll remember.”

That’s what Merritt was hoping they’d all remember, the experience of the day. All 11 Eagles who made the trip got in the game and can say they held court in an NBA arena. And they all got shots up. 

“That was the whole thing,” he said. “Prior to the start of the game I called them all together, they were trying to acclimated to the depth perception, so I said, ‘Look, you know how I feel about competition and my desire to win – I don’t like not winning — but today, when are we ever going to get an opportunity to play basketball on an NBA court, when am I going to get a chance to coach on an NBA court, we’re just here to have some fun.

“Our position in the division is set. As far as the tournaments are concerned, that’s already locked, too. So, there’s nothing to be gained by winning this game so let’s just go out and have fun. Go out and enjoy yourself.”

It was a quick game and had to be. The teams had an hour to play while workers set up for the NBA game that followed and they didn’t have all the customary amenities that come with a regular game. It may have been a rushed experience, but one they wouldn’t trade for anything.

“It was really cool,” Ausland said. “Just thinking about the fact that all these famous players like Kobe (Bryant), people I looked up to, were playing on the same court I just played on was really cool.”

CLAYTON 56, PENNSVILLE 38
CLAYTON (16-7): India Bryant 4 0-3 9, Deondria Simon 7 2-2 17, Rosa Pereira 0 0-0 0, Ava Delaney 4 1-4 9, Janice Blair 0 2-2 2, Rainelle Blocker 7 5-6 19, India Williams 0 0-0 0, Lenita Bessex 0 0-0 0. Totals 22 10-17 56.
PENNSVILLE (14-6): Taylor Bass 5 2-2 15, Marley Wood 2 0-0 5, Nora Ausland 4 0-0 11, Izzy Saulin 0 1-2 1, Jaida Burns 2 0-0 4, Sofia Belitsas 0 0-0 0, Ashlyn Fredo 0 0-0 0, Calli Ausland 0 0-0 0, Kylie Weist 0 0-0 0, Kylie Harris 1 0-0 2, Tatiana DePina 0 0-0 0. Totals 14 3-4 38.

Clayton 1215821-56
Pennsville7111010-38
3-point goals: Clayton 2 (Bryant, Simon); Pennsville 7 (Bass 3, Wood, Ausland 3). Total fouls: Clayton 5, Pennsville 6.
Pennsville’s Nora Ausland (10) and Jaida Burns (15) come across the center logo during the Eagles’ game with Clayton in the Wells Fargo Center. Top photo, Taylor Bass goes up for the opening tip to get the once-in-a-lifetime adventure started. (Submitted photos)

WOODSTOWN 68, SCHALICK 15
WOODSTOWN (15-5): Talia Battavio 7 1-1 18, Megan Donelson 4 2-2 13, Gianna Maiorini 2 0-0 4, Lauren Hengel 5 3-4 15, Kyia Leyman 2 0-0 4, Kendall Young 2 0-0 4, Jala Thomas 1 0-0 2, Lizzy Daly 0 1-2 1, Kailyn Kennedy 1 0-0 2, Ava White 1 0-0 3, Brynley Egret 2 0-0 4. Totals 27 7-9 68.
SCHALICK (4-16): Abby Willoughby 0 2-2 2, Olivia Vanacker 1 0-0 2, Navaeh Robinson 2 3-4 8, Cali Fisler 0 1-2 1, Willow Davis 1 0-0 2. Totals 4 6-8 15.

Woodstown21221510-68
Schalick2445-15
3-point goals: Woodstown 9 (Battavio 3, Donelson 3, Hengel 2, White); Schalick 1 (Robinson)

Boys games

PENNS GROVE 70, PENNSVILLE 37
PENNSVILLE (2-21): Aiden Alleyne 3-0-7, Mason O’Brien 3-2-10, Cole Johnston 3-0-8, Daniel Knight 1-0-2, Logan Hitt 1-0-2, J.P. Laughrey 1-0-3, Gavin Spears 2-0-4. Totals 14-2-36.
PENNS GROVE (11-10): B.J. Robbins 1-0-2, Roman Gipson 1-1-3, Karon Ceaser 3-1-7, Antoine Robinson 2-0-5, Jameel Horace 5-2-13, Will Roy 2-2-6, Luis Colon 1-0-2, Caleb Fowler 3-0-8, Mishawn Brantley 2-1-5, Jeremy Costacamps 3-1-7, Geonni Conrad 3-0-7, Carson Pearsall 1-1-3. Totals 27-9-68.

Pennsville 91468-37
Penns Grove17231414-70
3-point goals: Pennsville 6 (Alleyne, O’Brien 2, Johnston 2, Laughrey); Penns Grove 5 (Robinson, Horace, Fowler 2, Conrad).

WOODSTOWN 65, SCHALICK 39
SCHALICK (6-17): Reggie Allen 5 1-4 11, Nylan Sutton 6 0-5 12, Jase Volovar 2 0-0 6, Jamari Whitley 0 3-4 3, Sherrod Jones 2 1-1 5, Justin Iacona 1 0-0 2. Totals 16 5-14 39.
WOODSTOWN (13-8): Lucas Fulmer 2 0-0 4, Elijah Caesar 1 0-0 2, John Hood-McGinley 2 0-0 5, Garrett Leyman 1 1-1 3, Andrew White 2 0-0 4, Sid Leevi 1 2-3 4, Rocco String 6 2-3 14, Blake Bialecki 2 0-0 5, Trey Markward 0 1-2 1, Alejandro Vazquez 2 0-0 4, M.J. Hall 6 5-7 19. Totals 25 11-16 65.

Schalick581115-39
Woodstown21191015-65
3-point goals: Schalick 2 (Volovar 2); Woodstown 4 (Hall 2, Bialecki, Hood-McGinley).

SALEM 63, GLOUCESTER CATHOLIC 51
SALEM (10-14): Xavier McGriff 2 1-2 9, Neziah Spence 5 6-6 18, Tymear Lecator 1 2-4 4, Deshaan Williams 2 11-14 15, Darrelle Johnson 2 1-2 5, Antwan Rogers 4 0-2 8, Joe Tunis 1 1-2 3, Azhone Burden 0 1-2 1. Totals 18 23-34 63.
GLOUCESTER (9-13): Carlos Mendez 6 1-1 15, Jack Mustaro 7 1-1 19, Gary Connelly 0 3-4 3, Ben Cook 1 0-0 2, Danny Zellner 1 1-2 3, Ehthan Dugue 2 2-2 6, Kimani Pyram 1 0-0 3. Totals 18 8-11 51.

Salem17131023-63
Gloucester Cath.1519116-51
3-point goals: Salem 4 (McGriff 2, Spence 4); Gloucester Cath. 7 (Mendez 2, Mustaro 4, Pyram). Rebounds: Gloucester Cath. 20 (Cook 7)

Down to the wire

Salem CC women give maximum effort in an overtime loss to Mercer that leaves their playoff hopes with little room for error

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

WEST WINDSOR, N.J. — The Salem CC women’s basketball team is cutting it close.

The Mighty Oaks played Tuesday night with an energy like their playoffs lives depended on it — and it did — but in the end fell to Mercer County CC 85-75 in overtime.

The Mighty Oaks are 11-11 now and must finish .500 or better to qualify for the Region XIX Division II playoffs. With Tuesday night’s loss, they now must win one of their final two games against two of the better teams in the region to make the cut.

Those two games are Saturday at Lackawanna, the current No. 3 team in Region XIX Division II and at home Feb. 18 against 15th-ranked Region XIX Division III leader Montgomery County CC on what’s sure to be an emotional Sophomore Night.

“It’s not going to get any easier,” Salem coach Brian Marsh said. “That’s why the RCSJ-Gloucester was so huge because that’s a game you had to have to give yourself a chance.

“We still have a chance. I’ve been saying this the whole year: Everything we want is still in front of us. We just have to go get one. This would have been really nice to get. If we continue to play this hard and with this much intensity we’re going to get one of those last two.”

The teams played to a 67-all tie through regulation. The Vikings had the last shot. Jhava Wilson drove the baseline in the closing seconds, but a layup from underneath and clock ran out.

Mercer scored the first 10 points in overtime to take control. Xana Garcia made a layup off the opening tip and Lia Sekhniashvili buried back-to-back 3s at the end of the run to make it 77-67 with 2:14 left. Kathryn Laurence’s 98th career 3-pointer finally got Salem on the board, but then the Vikings closed it out by going 8-for-10 from the free throw line over the final two minutes.

The Mighty Oaks were 3-for-11 from the field in overtime after shooting 52 percent in regulation. Mercer was 3-for-3.

“They were just making shots,” Marsh said. “I don’t think it was anything we didn’t do. I just think it’s something Mercer did. They started making shots they weren’t typically making.”

The Vikings (16-6) used a similar run at the end of the second quarter to take an eight-point halftime lead. The Mighty Oaks were up 27-23 with three minutes left in the quarter, then Mercer’s Zaakirah Edwards went on a personal 12-2 tear with a pair of 3-pointers to give her team the lead.

The Mighty Oaks climbed back in it by outscoring their hosts 16-6 in the third quarter. Maggie St. Clair had eight of her career-high 27 points in the third quarter and 23 in the second half and overtime.

Nyaijah Jackson (12), Laurence (13) and Akira Chambers (11) also scored in double figures for the Mighty Oaks. St. Clair (492) and Laurence (489) are both closing in on 500 career points at Salem.

“I thought the effort and intensity were fantastic,” Marsh said. “I thought our energy was excellent and I thought our big-time players really came to play.

“I think Maggie had a fantastic game. Ny had a great game. Kathryn was hitting her 3s. JaKayla (Jenkins) played really well, Caroline’s sick and she played so much minutes. I just thought it was a really incredible effort. We gave them everything they could handle.”

MERCER COUNTY CC 85, SALEM CC 75 (OT)
SALEM CC (16-6) – RaNescia King 0-1 2-2 2, Ny Jackson 4-7 4-4 12, Caroline Zullo 1-7 1-2 3, Maggie St. Clair 12-18 1-2 27, Dani Gustin 1-1 0-0 2, Kathryn Laurence 5-12 0-0 13, JaKayla Jenkins 2-8 0-0 5, Akira Chambers 4-7 3-3 11, Alexa Hopkins 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 29-61 11-13 75
MERCER (11-11) – Jhava Wilson 5-17 8-12 18, Zaakirah Edwards 6-19 2-4 16, Valerie Rivas 2-6 0-0 5, Carla Cencerrero 4-7 0-0 8, Jayla Jones 2-10 6-6 10, Lia Sekhniashvili 4-11 0-0 11, Xana Garcia 5-12 6-6 17. Totals 28-82 22-28 85.

Salem CC161516208-75
Mercer County CC142562218-85
3-point goals: Salem 9-19 (Zullo 0-1, St. Clair 2-4, Laurence 3-9, Jenkins 1-5); Mercer 7-24 (Wilson 0-1, Edwards 2-6, Rivas 1-4, Jones 0-1, Sekhniashvili 3-7, Garcia 1-5). Rebounds: Salem 52 (Jackson 10, Laurence 8, Zullo 8); Mercer 38 (Wilson 8). Fouled out: Jackson, St. Clair, Edwards. Total fouls: Salem 24, Mercer 15. Officials: Hope, Crawford, Coleman.

Region XIX standings

DIVISION II WOMENREGALL
Union15-024-0
Harcum11-319-5
Lackawanna10-415-6
Raritan Valley8-514-10
Mercer8-616-6
Middlesex4-811-12
Salem CC4-1011-11
Essex2-125-13
Morris0-00-0
Delaware Tech0-140-20

TUESDAY’S GAMES
Mercer 85, Salem 75 (OT)
Northampton 91, Lehigh Carbon 49
Union 101, Raritan Valley 37
Philadelphia at RCSJ-Cumberland, canceled
RCSJ-Gloucester 74, Atlantic Cape 49
Middlesex 73, Bronx CC 34

THURSDAY’S GAMES
Atlantic Cape at Passaic
Delaware Tech at Middlesex
Montgomery at RCSJ-Gloucester
Lehigh Carbon at Bergen
Bucks at Camden
Ocean at Brookdale
Raritan Valley at Essex
Monroe Univ. at Union

SATURDAY’S GAMES
Salem at Lackawanna
Ocean at Camden
Passaic at Philadelphia
Union at Harcum
RCSJ-Cumberland at Sussex
Lehigh Carbon at RCSJ-Gloucester
Raritan Valley at Middlesex
Chesapeake at Middlesex
Bryant & Stratton (NY) at Raritan Valley

Monday basketball

Pennsville girls edge Penns Grove to set modern-era team win mark, heads to Wells Fargo Center Tuesday

GIRLS GAMESBOYS GAMES
Pennsville 55, Penns Grove 49Pitman 68, Penns Grove 38
Winslow 58, Schalick 31Winslow 61, Salem 40
Salem at LEAPMastery Charter 59, Woodstown 54
Wildwood 68, Schalick 58
Triton 63, Pennsville 25

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

PENNSVILLE – The Pennsville girls basketball team gathered on the floor for a picture after receiving instructions for Tuesday’s trip to the Wells Fargo Center. They just thought it was another opportunity to take a team picture, but little did they know at the time it was a whole lot more.

It was a picture for posterity.

When the Eagles dispatched Penns Grove 55-49 they became the program’s winningest team in recent memory.

The Eagles had been stuck on 15 wins three times in the last previous five years, but Monday’s win was their 16th of the season in coach Steve Merritt’s first season with the team. (Their winningest teams went 23-3 in 1986-87.)

“I’m not going to take all that credit,” said Merritt, who came out of coaching retirement to take the program. “The ingredients were there. I just helped direct it.

“I am blessed with a group of people who really want to work and want to win and want to play. If it weren’t for the personnel, it’s tough to do that.”

The Big Three in that personnel – Taylor Bass and 1,000-point scorers Nora Ausland and Marley Wood – combined for 48 points. Ausland hit three 3-pointers and had a game-high 23, her first 20-point game since going for a season-high 29 against Overbrook Jan. 28. She had scored 53 points with an oh-for in the six games in between.

She hit two 3s in the first quarter and was off and running.

“Once I start making my shots I have more confidence in myself,” Ausland said. “The previous games, if I keep missing and missing I get in my head. I’m glad I got out of it today because we really needed it. We had a tough team today.”

The Eagles (16-6) never shook the Red Devils (9-10). Every time Pennsville pulled out to a lead, Brianna Robbins was there to bring Penns Grove back.

Robbins led the Red Devils with 16 points. She hit three of her four 3-pointers in the third quarter when the teams traded the lead on 10 straight possessions.

The game was tied at 41 with 6:05 left when Merritt called time to avoid a turnover. During the break he implored his charges to make Penns Grove work the ball to 40 seconds. The Eagles came out of that break and scored the next six points, with each of their Big Three getting a bucket, and never trailed again.

The trip is a go

With winter weather looming and a winter storm watch kicking in while they play, the Pennsville girls’ basketball game with Clayton at the Wells Fargo Center Tuesday is still on. 

The Eagles’ plan is to play their game in the NBA arena, spend some quality time together at a nearby Dave & Busters, then head back to watch the Sixers play Toronto. The team bus will return to Pennsville after the D&B dinner with those going to the Sixers game carpooling back.

“We are definitely going to go,” Pennsville athletics director Jamy Thomas said Monday.

It’ll be a quick game. The Sixers give the teams an hour on the floor to get their 2:50 p.m. game in while crews set up for the main event later that night.

The Schalick boys beat the Clippers at the Wells Fargo Center last year 42-35. Those who stayed for the NBA game saw Joel Embiid go for 70 points against the Spurs.

“I’m really excited,” Eagles junior guard Marley Wood said. “It should be a pretty fun night. I’d prefer to get a dub. Hopefully we get it.”

PENNSVILLE 55, PENNS GROVE 49
PENNS GROVE (9-10) – Syanna Robbins 0 0-0 0, Brianna Robbins 6 0-0 16, NyAsia Numan 1 0-0 2, RaNiyah Wilson 4 3-4 13, Keziah Patterson 3 0-0 9, Mikayla Washington 1 0-0 2, JaNiyah Cummings 2 3-4 7. Totals 17 6-8 49.
PENNSVILLE (16-6) – Taylor Bass 6 2-5 15, Marley Wood 3 4-4 10, Izzy Saulin 1 0-0 2, Nora Ausland 9 2-4 23, Ashlyn Fredo 0 0-0 0, Sofia Belitsas 1 0-0 3, Jaida Burns 0 2-2 2. Totals 20 10-15 55.

Penns Grove 3191710-49
Pennsville12131515-55
3-point goals: Penns Grove 9 (B. Robbins 4, Wilson 2, Patterson 3); Pennsville 5 (Bass, Ausland 3, Belitsas). Rebounds: Penns Grove 26 (Washington 8, Wilson 6); Pennsville 34 (Bass 6, Wood 6, Burns 11). Fouled out: Cummings. Total fouls: Penns Grove 14, Pennsville 8.

Boys games

PITMAN 68, PENNS GROVE 38: It’s never helpful when you’re missing a lot of shots, but missing against one of the top teams in the section is a recipe for disaster.

The combination of the ball refusing to go in the basket and 26 points from Pitman’s Elijah Crispin did the Red Devils in.

A 3-pointer play by Karon Ceaser and a 3-pointer by Roman Gipson got the Red Devils within two midway through the second quarter and then they went cold. Pitman scored the last 12 points of the half to take control of the game.

PITMAN (15-4): Hudson Rue 5-2-12, Elijah Crispin 8-9-26, Greg Peterson 1-0-3, Michael Fisicaro 3-1-9, Aidan Stranahan 5-1-11, Jake Bowen 1-0-2, Joey Zubert 2-0-5. Totals 25-13-68.
PENNS GROVE (10-10): B.J. Robbins 3-0-8, Roman Gipson 3-1-9, Karon Ceaser 2-1-6, Antoine Robinson 1-2-4, Will Roy 1-1-3, Luis Colon 1-0-2, Jeremy Costacamps 1-0-2, Carson Pearsall 0-4-4. Totals 12-9-38.

Pitman 15152018-68
Penns Grove1061210-38
3-point goals: Pitman 6 (Crispin, Petersen, Fisicaro 2, Stranahan, Zubert); Penns Grove 5 (Robbins 2, Gipson 2, Ceaser).

MASTERY CHARTER 59, WOODSTOWN 54
WOODSTOWN (12-8): Elijah Caesar 2 0-0 5, Blake Bialecki 5 1-4 15, Alejandro Vazquez 3 1-1 10, M.J. Hall 4 1-2 9, Garrett Leyman 3 0-0 6, Rocco String 3 3-4 9. Totals 20 6-11 54.
MASTERY CHARTER (14-8): Zy’Air Kendrick 2 0-0 5, Dontae Garrett 1 1-2 3, Jahvi Anderson 2 2-2 6, Dixson Dowayee 1 0-0 2, Damien James 7 8-11 23, Ezequiel Cosme 6 1-3 14, Jo’Shawn Jackson 2 0-0 6, Tahjon Mattocks 0 0-0 0. Totals 21 12-18 59.

Woodstown12131316-54
Mastery Charter19131512-59
3-point goals: Woodstown 8 (Caesar, Bialecki 4, Vazquez 3); Mastery Charter 5 (Kendrick, James, Cosme, Jackson 2). Rebounds: Mastery Charter 20 (Cosme 7). Fouled out: Caesar, M. Hall. Total fouls: Woodstown 18, Mastery Charter 7.

WILDWOOD 68, SCHALICK 58: Reggie Allen scored a career-high 31 points and attacked the basket well enough to get to the free throw line, where he went 17-for-19. But his individual effort wasn’t enough to offset three double-figure scorers from Wildwood and Brian Cunniff’s 38 points.

“Reggie’s quick and was able to use his speed to create separation,” Cougars coach James Turner said. “Once he got in the lane he knew how to draw contact and get to the line. He played with a lot of confidence and poise.

“The two of them attacking all night made it a good game. Reggie did a great job staying in attack mode and credit to Cunniff, he finished well at the rim.”

Allen hadn’t taken more than eight free throws in a game in his career before Monday night. He was 9-for-9 at the line in his previous two games. He raised his season scoring average to 15.14 points per game to close the gap on county scoring leader Tymear Lecator of Salem, but remains second in the county.

SCHALICK (6-16): Reggie Allen 6 17-19 31, Jamari Whitley 2 2-2 8, Kenneth Bartee 2 0-0 5, Jase Volovar 2 0-0 4, Nylan Sutton 4 0-0 8, Sherrod Jones 1 2-2 4. Totals 17 19-23 58.
WILDWOOD (7-13): Eric Jordan 2 1-4 5, Nolan Mawhinney 5 0-0 11, Trevor Troiano 3 3-4 10, R.J. Blanda 0 0-0 0, Jordan Dozier 0 0-0 0, Gianni Troiano 2 0-0 4, Brian Cunniff 13 12-14 38. Totals 25 16-22 68.

Schalick12171910-58
Wildwood21141716-68
3-point goals: Schalick 5 (Allen 2, Whitley 2, Bartee); Wildwood 2 (Mawhinney, T. Troiano). Rebounds: Schalick 15, Wildwood 37 (Mawhinney 12, Jordan 9, Cunniff 7).

TRITON 63, PENNSVILLE 25: Talen Walsh hit six of Triton’s 12 3-pointers and finished with 18 points.

PENNSVILLE (2-20): C.J. McDevitt 2 2-2 6, Mason O’Brien 1 0-0 3, Logan Hitt 1 0-0 3, Cole Johnston 2 0-0 6, Daniel Knight 1 0-0 2, Aiden Alleye 1 0-0 2, Perry Meranti 1 1-2 3. Totals 9 3-4 25.
TRITON (9-12): Yandel Santos 2 0-0 5, Talen Walsh 6 0-0 18, Michael Severo 1 0-0 3, Scott Case 3 0-0 7, Joel Almirez 3 0-1 8, David Jones 2 0-0 6, Marcelino Guerrero 1 0-0 2, Metzgerdy Lamy 4 0-0 8, Jaylen Morris 2 0-0 4. Totals 24 0-1 61.

Pennsville5389-25
Triton2217186-63
3-point goals: Pennsville 4 (O’Brien, Johnston 2, Hitt); Triton 12 (Santos, Walsh 6, Revero, Case, Alvarez, Jones 2).

WINSLOW 61, SALEM 40: Marcus Upton scored 27 points and the Eagles used a 23-8 fourth quarter to put the Rams away.

A pair of free throws by Neziah Spence got the Rams to within nine with 5:11 to play, but the Rams didn’t score again until Harlem Parsons’ 3-pointer with 20.9 seconds left. It was the Rams’ only 3-pointer of the game.

The game marked a homecoming of sorts for Salem’s Tymear Lecator. The sophomore guard transferred from Window after his eighth-grade year. He has been fighting through illness the past few games and was held to four points. Deshaan Williams led the Rams with 15 points and 10 rebounds.

SALEM (9-12): Azhone Burden 1 1-2 3, Harlem Parsons 1 0-0 3, Tymear Lecator 2 0-0 4, Joe Tunis 2 1-2 5, Deshaan Williams 4 7-9 15, Antwan Rogers 1 1-2 3, Xavier McGriff 0 0-0 0, Donovan Weathers 0 0-0 0, Neziah Spence 2 5-6 9, Cole Sayers 0 0-0 0, Darrell Johnson 0 0-0 0, Marshall Stevens 0 0-0 0. Totals 13 15-21 40.
WINSLOW (13-8): Marcus Upton 10 5-7 27, Jayden Driver 4 1-1 11, NyQir Helton 2 2-2 6, Josiah Johnson 1 0-0 2, Kevin Satchell 3 0-0 6, Marcus White 0 2-2 2, Tyree Henry 2 3-4 7. Totals 22 13-16 61.
Salem109138-40
Winslow1514923-61
3-point goals: Salem 1 (H. Parsons); Winslow 4 (Upton 2, Driver 2); Rebounds: Salem 49 (Williams 10, Tunis 7).