Category: BASKETBALL

New number, new focus

Salem sophomore Lecator sports new number, leads Rams to win in Red Devil Classic; host Penns Grove falls to Paulsboro

RED DEVIL CLASSIC
BOYS GAMES
Lindenwold 57, Glassboro 51
Salem 66, Woodbury 45
Paulsboro 50, Penns Grove 45

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

PENNS GROVE – There was something distinctly different about Tymear Lecator when the Salem High sophomore went out for pre-game warmups before Saturday’s season opener in the Red Devil Classic.

The most obvious was he had a different number, gladly surrendering the No. 11 he wore when he burst on the scene last year for his long-time favorite No. 3. In more subtle terms, he has a new role now that the Rams aren’t as experienced as they were a year ago.

But what hasn’t changed in his aggressive drive to succeed. He got off to a solid start, scoring 16 points, grabbing four rebounds and dishing 10 assists as the Rams ran past Woodbury 66-45 on Penns Grove’s new multi-colored floor in Rudy Baric Gym.

“Last year (when he transferred from Winslow) I wanted 3, but a senior had it (Jabez Dejesus) so I just had to wait my turn,” Lecator said. “I wore 3 my whole life, coming up playing football, basketball, everything. It’s just been a childhood number. I just stuck with it my whole life.”

Expect to see that number a lot this season. Last year surrounded by senior scorers he was pretty much a straight point guard who could light it up in his own right. He had seven games of at least 15 points and at least two games with six or more assists.

But this year he knows that role will change as he’s penciled in to fill the shoes of graduated 1,000-point scorer Anthony Farmer, the son of the head coach and now at Rutgers-Newark.

“Now I have to be a leader,” he said. “I don’t have seniors to depend on, so now I have to lead, step it up as a young kid, so my approach definitely has changed.”

“We don’t have the two seniors he had last year, Anthony and Jabez, so a lot of leadership responsibility is on him,” head coach Anthony Farmer said. “It’s growing pains with him right now. He’s trying to learn. We’re on him hard to hold him accountable because he’s a real special player.”

The Rams got a lot of strong efforts in their season opener. Antwaun Rogers had 12 points and 10 rebounds, Desean Williams had nine points and 10 boards, and Donnie Williams had six points, five rebounds and two assists.

“I was really happy with the effort and the energy that was displayed,” Farmer said. “We shared the ball (and) stuck to the gameplan with discipline. I’m proud of them. I’m proud of where we are right now.”

Lecator’s old number didn’t fall far from the family tree. Lecator’s cousin Darrelle Johnson, a transfer from Millville, now has the 11 and he had his own moment in the game.

Johnson threw down his first varsity dunk in the final minute against the Herd. He had two chances at it. The first came with about 30 seconds left. He stole the ball near midcourt and raced in alone on the goal ready to bring the crowd to its feet with a monster jam. But he went for it too soon and the ball loudly banged off the goal.

He got a second chance a few seconds later in a veritable instant replay, midcourt steal and all. Only this time he didn’t miss. The dunk gave him 11 points for the game.

“The first one I flicked my wrist too early,” Johnson said. “I was disappointed, but I looked at the scoreboard and saw I had 30 more seconds.”

“I knew he was going to make it up,” Lecator said. “I just was waiting for it.”

Farmer was happy to see it.

“He’s an explosive athlete,” the Rams coach said. “He came here to showcase what we can do. I’m happy for Derrell. Hope this is a boost of confidence.”

SALEM 66, WOODBURY 45
SALEM (1-0) – Tymear Lecator 4 7-8 16, Darrelle Johnson 5 0-0 11, Deshawn Williams 4 1-6 9, Antwaun Rogers 5 0-0 10, Neziah Spence 1 2-2 5, Kyaire Person 0 0-0 0, Donovan Weathers 3 0-0 6, Xavier McGriff 2 0-0 4, Cole Sayers 0 0-0 0, Harlem Parson 1 0-0 3, Others 0 2-4 2. Totals 25 12-20 66.
WOODBURY (0-1) – Dev Williams 4 2-5 10, Jajuan Soloman 6 0-2 12, Kev Williams 0 0-0 0, C.J. Hood 0 0-0 0, Jaden Farmer 2 2-2 6, R.J. Heigler 4 2-6 10, Omar Johnson 0 0-0 0, Thomas Lewis 1 0-0 2, Curt Stokes 2 0-0 5. Totals 19 6-15 45.

Woodbury1191212-45
Salem17181615-66

3-point goals: Woodbury 1 (Stokes); Salem 4 (Spence, Lecator, Johnson, Parson). Technical fouls: Rogers. Total fouls: Woodbury 15, Salem 14.

Paulsboro 50, Penns Grove 45

If you’re going to watch Penns Grove play this season you’re going to need a couple things, like a seat belt or a neck brace.

One thing was evident in Saturday’s season opener: The Red Devils are going to play at break-neck speed and those who can’t keep up will find themselves behind in a heartbeat.

Sometimes they played a little too fast for their own good Saturday, but it’s the style that suits them. Early in the game it served them well, but in the second quarter they lost control of the throttle and the game started to get away from them. 

“That’s part of the game,” Penns Grove coach Damien Ware said. “We go 100 percent and our last (minutes) we’ve got to slow it down to 75. If we learn how to do that and get under control …

“One of the things on the board for our keys to victory is attack under control. We got out of control today and were moving a little bit too fast. That’s just a result of guys having that first time being in this situation. We’ll get better as the year goes on.”

The fast pace served the Red Devils well early and they jumped out to an 11-3 lead in the first quarter, but their turnovers and missed shots mounted in the second and third quarters. They trailed by nine at halftime and 11 after three quarters, but kicked it back into gear in the fourth quarter to give themselves a chance.

Jameel Horace scored six points in a minute to get the Red Devils within one with 2:30 to play, but they got going a little fast for their own good again and couldn’t get the lead. It was a four-point game with 1:22 left when Karon Ceaser made steals on back-to-back possessions to give them a chance but the Red Devils couldn’t convert either and Paulsboro closed it out with a couple free throws.

“We have a solid team; I think we can be a pretty good team this year,” Ware said. “Now, we’re young. We’re very inexperienced. We have guys who really haven’t played at the varsity level  and meaningful minutes like that so this was a good game to get a little barometer and feel what it feels like at that level

“If we just make our layups and free throws we win that game by 15 points. I’m not sure what the numbers looks like but I know we missed at least 10 to 15 free throws (and) we missed at least 10 layups.”

Horace finished with 10 points. He had eight points and four rebounds in the fourth quarter. Antwon Robinson and B.J. Robbins also had 10 points apiece. Ceaser had five points and eight steals. 

Malakhai McKenzie led Paulsboro with 18 points, 10 rebounds and five steals. Eric Scott didn’t score, but he grabbed 11 rebounds and blocked three shots.

PAULSBORO 50, PENNS GROVE 45
PAULSBORO (1-0) – Eric Scott 0 0-2 0, Ty Hodges 4 2-4 11, Malakhai McKenzie 5 4-8 16, Dayvon Kgrsey 3 1-4 7, Stephen Lane 3 0-0 7, Jamal Robinson 1 0-0 2, Aaron Scott 1 0-0 2, Jeremiah Carr 1 3-4 5, Ameel Harrington 0 0-0 0. Totals 18 10-22 50.
PENNS GROVE (0-1) – B.J. Robbins 4 1-2 10, Roman Gipson 1 1-2 3, Karon Ceaser 2 1-4 5, Antwon Robinson 4 1-2 10, Haneef Frisbee 0 1-4 1, Zane Thomas 2 1-2 5, Gianni Conrad 0 0-0 0, Jameel Horace 5 0-0 10, William Roy 0 1-4 1, Luis Colon 0 0-0 0. Totals 18 7-20 45.

Paulsboro3221510-50
Penns Grove1151416-45

3-point goals: Paulsboro 4 (Hodges, McKenzie 2, Lane); Penns Grove 2 (Robbins, Robinson). Fouled out: Scott, Hodges, Frisbee. Total fouls: Paulsboro 20, Penns Grove 22.

The line kings

Taylor, Phillips hit six straight free throws in final minute to help Salem CC men hold off Williamson Trades and give coach as many wins this season as he had all last year after taking over program

By Riverview Sports News

MEDIA, Pa. – Free throws can make all the difference in a basketball game. Don’t the Salem CC men’s team know it.

The Mighty Oaks learned the hard way against Camden CC how not making free throws down the stretch can cost you and have spent a lot of their time since addressing the issue.

On the road Thursday night, they experienced just how rewarding making those late foul shots can be. Freshmen Stefan Phillips and Shyheed Taylor hit six straight free throws in the final 52 seconds  and were a combined 13-for-13 in the game as the Mighty Oaks held off Williamson College of the Trades 74-66.

“That was big,” said Salem coach Mike Green, who now has won as many games this season as he did last year after taking the team midseason. “Free throws are always big and sometimes kids don’t focus much on it, but it’s been a main focus of ours since we lost that game to Camden.

“When you lose some games like that, man, guys tend to lock in. It’s either going to help you or kill you. Some of the guys still have jitters from it, so we can’t have you in until you get confident. You ain’t confident in it, how can we (be). We’re going to get the ball in Stef’s hands, get the ball in Shyheed’s hands, get the ball in Xavier (Brewington’s) hands, guys who can make free throws.”

Taylor, a 71-percent free throw shooter, hit the first two in the final minute after the Mechanics pulled to within 70-64. Phillips made the last four after being reinserted into the game with 37 seconds left.

Phillips, an 89-percent free throw shooter on the season (seventh nationally), was 8-for-8 in the game. Taylor was 5-for-5. Neither played in Tuesday night’s loss at Ocean for disciplinary reasons.

“Just getting the ball in the right people’s hands, getting the ball in the most fresh people’s hands,” Green said. “We knew who was fresh and who wasn’t and who to get the ball to when the game’s only the line.

“(Phillips) was hitting them well for us so we had to get the ball in his hands. He’s too young to understand the pressure of it, so he’s just going up there and knocking them down.”

The Mighty Oaks were 20-of-29 from the line in their overtime loss at Camden County College on Nov. 26, but missed several in key situations down the stretch that prevented them from winning. They have gone 55-for-78 In the four games since (70.5 percent). They were 16-of-19 Thursday, raising their season average to .696, currently 15th in JUCO Division III.

“The games we lost it hasn’t been good,” Green said. “It’s something we drill, something we take a lot more serious. After the kids dropped a game because of it they’re a lot more locked in.

In the three games the Mighty Oaks (9-3) lost they are shooting just 65 percent from the line (40-of-62).

The Mighty Oaks led wire-to-wire, taking control with a 10-2 run right out of the gate. All three of their leading scorers – Josh Ramos, Phillips and Taylor – had 12 points apiece and all three came off the bench. 

Four of the Mechanics’ five starters scored in double figures, led by Robert Whiley’s 22. Their only starter who didn’t score in double figures, A’Jaad White, pulled down 16 rebounds.

“They was watching some of the film of our last game,” Green said of the fast start. “We started last game down 10-0. It was moreso getting those guys to see what they’re doing. Rather me yelling it and trying to tell them that, it’s good to see it. I think I’ve got to do that a little bit more with this group.”

The Mighty Oaks lost another player to injury in the game. Guard Julien Jones, who has been a steadying influence of late, went out with a knee injury, the extent of which wasn’t immediately known.

SALEM CC (9-3) – Xavier Brewington 3-11 1-1 8, Tivon Woolford 1-5 0-0 3, Rodney Shelton 3-3 0-0 6, Dontarius Jones 2-5 1-1 5, Julien Jones 1-1 0-0 2, Josh Ramos 4-8 0-1 12, Stefan Phillips 2-2 8-8 12, Shyheed Taylor 3-5 5-5 12, Tyrone Tolson 3-6 0-0 7, A.J. Jones 2-3 1-2 5, Tyrese Fortune 1-8 0-1 2. Totals 25-57 16-19 74.
WILLIAMSON TRADES (9-6) – Ronald Johnson 6-9 0-1 13, AJaad White 2-6 2-2 6, Robert Whiley 7-19 7-9 22, Semaj Cherry 6-14 1-1 23, Liam Rardin 3-11 5-6 12, Nadir Ali 0-0 0-0 0, Jordan Draine 0-5 0-0 0. Totals 24-64 15-19 66.

Salem CC3242-74
Williamson Trades2244-66

3-point goals: Salem 8-23 (Brewington 1-6, Woolford 1-3, Ramos 4-7, Taylor 1-1, Tolson 1-3, Fortune 0-3); Williamson 3-15 (Johnson 1-1, Whiley 1-9, Rardin 1-4, Draine 0-1). Rebounds: Salem 32 (Shelton 6, Fortune 5); Williamson 46 (White 16). Fouled out: Johnson, White. Total fouls: Salem 17, Williamson 18.

Tough opener

Mistakes plague a young Salem Tech boys team in season-opening loss to Mastery Charter; Pompper provides a highlight with 16 points in first varsity start

By Riverview Sports News

WOODSTOWN – A lot has happened on both sides since Salem Tech beat Mastery Charter in their last game of the season last year.

Mastery changed coaches and brought in some new players. Salem Tech got younger.

The teams met in the first regular season game of the season Thursday night and the visitors from Camden ran away with a 90-34 victory.

“We’re a young team; I’ve got one guy with varsity experience (Joseph Hayes),” Chargers coach Bryan Riley said. “Just way too many turnovers, just throwing the ball away, bad passes, trying to force those passes all the way down court.”

And the Warriors turned those mistakes into transition baskets. It was 22-4 after the first quarter and margin continued to grow.

Thirteen players scored for the Warriors. Ezequeil Cosme led all scorers with 26 points, but Damien James (13) was their only other scorer in double figures.

The teams made plans to play right after last year’s regular-season finale. Mastery’s coach at the time said he liked the gym, he liked the ride over, he wanted to play here next season. They made it a date not long thereafter, but the Warriors changed coaches in the interim and when the Chargers sought to make it a scrimmage, Mastery’s new regime wanted to keep it as a game.

Larry Pompper, a JV player last year, made his first varsity start and led the Chargers with 16 points. He had 10 in the first half.

“Everything he had in the tank he just left it on that floor,” Riley said. “You could tell he wants it. Everything he’s got he’s just giving it to you. The score was lopsided from the beginning and he just never backed down, offensively, defensively, just everything he had. He had a good game.”

CAMDEN MASTERY CHARTER (1-0) – ZyAir Kendricks 2 0-0 4, Dontae Garrett 2 0-0 4, Damien James 5 2-2 13, Ezequeil Cosme 11 0-1 26, JoShawn Johnson 2 0-0 4, Kuane Best 1 0-0 2, Emanuel Bonilla 2 0-0 4, Rowan Davis 1 0-0 3, Tahjon Mattocks 2 0-0 4, Jahvi Anderson 2 0-0 4, Hector Cortes 3 1-1 7, Donovan Anderson 3 0-0 7, Dixson Dowayee 4 0-2 8. Totals 40 3-6 90.
SALEM TECH (0-1) – Daviontae Russell 1 1-2 3, Ayden Myers 0 0-0 0, Joseph Hayes 2 0-0 6, Sam Battiato 0 0-0 0, Larry Pompper 6 4-5 16, Raphael Busch 3 0-0 6, C. Brown 0 0-0 0, Alex Thomas 1 0-0 3. Totals 13 5-7 34.

Mastery Charter22212225-90
Salem Tech414313-34

3-point goals: Mastery 7 (James, Cosme 4, Davis, Anderson); Salem Tech 3 (Hayes 2, Thomas). Total fouls: Mastery 8, Salem Tech 10.

Slide stopped

Salem CC women start fast against Bucks County CC, snap four-game losing streak in big way, get back to .500

By Riverview Sports News

CARNEYS POINT – The Salem CC women’s basketball team lost a game off the schedule earlier in the week, but it turned out to be a blessing in disguise.

LAURENCE
Team-high 16 points

Not having a game gave the Mighty Oaks three good days to get things back on track and Thursday night they responded by routing Bucks County CC 73-38 to snap a four-game losing streak and get back to .500 for the season.

“It got us a chance to refocus and have a couple good practices,” Salem coach Brian Marsh said. “Instead of one day to prepare for Bucks, we had three days.

“When you’re coming off a tough loss and a four-game losing streak it took a couple days to get that off us and extra two days helped.”

The Mighty Oaks (4-4) were supposed to play at CC of Morris Tuesday night, but Morris canceled due to a lack of players. In addition to some intense practices, they played a starters-vs-subs intrasquad game Tuesday and the reserves really got after it. It carried over to Thursday with the Salem non-starters outscoring Bucks’ bench, 24-6.

“The last couple practices we’ve been pushing them really hard and we’ve had some really good practices,” Marsh said. “This week I was focusing on intensity instead of energy, I thought that was a better word.

“Not just intensity of how fast you’re moving but moving the ball, passing the ball, rebounding, playing defense. I thought we came out really well in the first quarter.”

Salem started fast, shooting 58 percent from the floor (60 percent from 3-point range) and opening a 25-6 first quarter lead. They extended it to 41-12 at halftime.

After hitting a lull in the third quarter, they refocused in the fourth and outscored Bucks 22-6 to finish.

Kathryn Laurence hit four 3-pointers in the game and led three Salem scorers in double figures with 16 points. Pennsville’s Caroline Zullo made the most of her first start of the season, scoring a season-high 12 points on 5-of-10 shooting and collecting five steals. Maggie St. Clair had 10 points.

“I thought Caroline played well and has been giving us energy,” Marsh said. “We were just looking for those fast starts, trying to play fast and not get behind early. Play our game early is really what we tried to do against this team.

“Kathryn’s battling an ankle injury, but we’re just waiting for Kathryn to be Kathryn. Her shooting has been coming, you can see in practice it’s getting back to where she normally is. She’s just a great shooter and is really shooting it with confidence now. Before she was a little hesitant, but she’s been working on her shot and kind of forgetting about her ankle. She’s getting back to the Kathryn that we’re used to from last year.”

SALEM CC 73, BUCKS COUNTY CC 38
BUCKS COUNTY CC (2-4) – Jess Kepner 1-7 0-0 3, Caramia Delucia 1-9 2-2 5, Kalypso Braynen 2-6 0-0 4, Susan McKeever 1-3 1-2 3, Morgan Volz 6-26 5-6 17, Emily Gilmore 0-0 0-0 0, Lilyana Colon 3-10 0-0 7. Totals 14-61 8-10 38.
SALEM CC (4-4) – Nyajiah Jackson 4-9 1-2 9, Caroline Zullo 5-10 0-0 12, Maggie St. Clair 5-8 0-0 10, Kathryn Laurence 6-12 0-0 16, Jakayla Jenkins 1-3 0-0 2, RayNescia King 2-7 0-0 5, Geo Tjaden 2-5 0-0 6, Dani Gustin 1-1 0-0 2, Imara James 0-6 0-0 0, Akira Chambers 3-6 1-2 7, Alexa Hopkins 2-4 0-0 4. Totals 31-71 2-4 73.

Bucks Co. CC 66206-38
Salem CC25161022-73

3-point goals: Bucks 2-10 (Kepner 1-4, Delucia 1-1, Volz 0-4, Colon 0-1); Salem 9-21 (Zullo 2-4, St. Clair 0-1, Laurence 4-8, King 1-1, Tjaden 2-4, James 0-2, Hopkins 0-1). Rebounds: Bucks 42 (Volz 11, Delucia 9); Salem 37 (Chambers 6, Laurence 5). Total fouls: Bucks 9, Salem 12.

Shorthanded Salem CC falls

Ocean CC hits three FTs in final five seconds to cut down Mighty Oaks, 73-70

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

TOMS RIVER – Playing on the road is tough enough. Playing on the road with only half your complement of players makes it even tougher.

That’s the situation the Salem CC men’s basketball team found itself in Tuesday night. The Mighty Oaks were reduced to eight available players due to injuries and although they were in control of the game deep into the second half they fell at Ocean CC 73-70.

The Vikings (5-5) hit three free throws in the final five seconds to win it and avenge a seven-point loss in Carneys Point Nov. 19. The Mighty Oaks (8-3) led by 10 at halftime and by seven with 4:10 to play, but much like their overtime loss to Camden, they had too many turnovers and missed free throws down the stretch to secure the win.

“Most colleges only play with eight players anyway, so I don’t think that’s anything you should get applauded about,” Salem coach Mike Green said. “Most colleges only play eight players, nine players max.

“Eight people are enough to win with, for sure. It’s happening all over the nation.”

Salem’s Julien Jones hit a runner with 30 seconds left to tie the game at 70 and Green immediately called a time out to set up their final strategy, which was simply to stay in front of your man on defense.

Ocean’s Myles Marabuto hit two free throws with 5.5 seconds left to break the tie. With little time left on the clock, the Mighty Oaks hurried to get the ball up the court and get a shot, but Marabuto pressured them to step on the sideline before reaching midcourt. 

The Vikings inbounded, Kai Barckley was fouled with less than a second to go and made the first of his two free throws for the final margin. The Vikings were 18-of-21 from the free throw line in the game (Salem was 5-of-10). Barckley finished with 15 points off the bench.

“If you want to win this league, stay in front of guys,” Green said. “We couldn’t stay in front of a 5-10 guard with our 6-6 forward and it cost us.”

Rodney Shelton had a big game for the Mighty Oaks and not just because he was one of the biggest players on the floor. Playing extended minutes because his backup wasn’t available, Shelton responded with 16 points, 10 rebounds and six blocked shots.

Tyrese Fortune had 14 points and Xavier Brewington had 13 points, eight rebounds, four assists and three steals.

Wednesday is a big day on the Mighty Oaks’ injury front. Tamir Powell, a 6-3 freshman from Philadelphia who has spent all season in a boot, begins his rehab for an expected January return and sophomore captain Niame Scott undergoes surgery on the knee he fractured in Saturday’s win over Bergen.

Back in the game

Pennsville girls coach Merritt returns to the court after two-year hiatus, Hall of Fame coach ‘nervous’ for the return, but it felt ‘almost as if I never stopped’

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

PENNSVILLE – So, it wasn’t a “real” game in the sense it wouldn’t count against his already substantial coaching record. But the coaching was very real and the man doing it was loving every minute of being back at it.

Steve Merritt was back in the game, on the bench calling the shots for the first time in two years directing the Pennsville girls basketball team in a season-opening scrimmage with Millville under real game conditions.

The result wasn’t what the Eagles wanted – they lost 34-32, falling behind on a layup with 39 seconds to play – but there was a lot of learning on both sides.

The Hall of Fame coach looked comfortable, even if he was up half the night anticipating the 4 p.m. return. 

“Woke up at 2, couldn’t go back to sleep,” he said describing his day. “Woke up at 4, couldn’t go back to sleep. Woke up at 6, took the dog out for a run. Got here at 2 and sat in the parking lot.

“Just keyed up, ready to go. Just so excited about it. Nervous as hell, but looking forward to it. Once we got going I realized how much I had missed it. It was just a lot of fun.”

Merritt last coached the Salem girls in 2022. In 19 seasons with the Rams he went 257-220 with three South Jersey Group I girls basketball titles, back-to-back state runner-up finishes and four 20-win seasons. All told, he has won nearly 500 games across multiple sports.

Pennsville athletics director Jamy Thomas coaxed the 72-year-old out of retirement after Sam Trapp left for the AD’s job at Triton Regional in March. Merritt was approved by the Pennsville school board in July and the next month he was inducted into the Salem County Sports Hall of Fame.

“I think he’s a great coach and I think this season is going to go amazing,” junior guard Taylor Bass. “You come to practice and I’ve noticed that I haven’t really wanted to check my phone or check my watch to see what time I’m going to leave. I enjoy being here and I enjoy playing basketball.

“I’ve always enjoyed playing basketball, but for some reason this just feels more … fun.”

Pennsville girls coach Steve Merritt checks in with the scorekeepers prior to coaching his first game in two years Monday night. On the cover, Merritt makes a point during a first-quarter timeout.

Once Monday’s game started Merritt’s vision narrowed to the degree he lost all sense of his physical surroundings and focused solely on the action unfolding on the court.

Before the game he checked the two scorebooks like the basketball referee he used to be. When Millville scored its first basket of the game on an open layup on the low block he immediately called a time out. In the final minute of the first quarter he dictated a note to his assistant after a turnover led to another open layup that gave Millville the lead.

During the first JV quarter he wanted a timeout with the Eagles leading 11-3, but the refs didn’t hear him. The Eagles proceded to get a steal and a layup and he waved off the stoppage. In the fourth quarter he switched the players’ alignment on the foul line and they came away with the rebound.

“It felt almost as if I had never stopped,” Merritt said. “It almost seemed a continuation of where I was before.

“It was what I thought it would be. It was more than I hoped it would be. It was enlightening because I know what we have to work on.”

The Eagles played without senior Nora Ausland, who needs one more practice before she can play, and fell behind 23-20 at halftime. They were at their best in the third quarter when they outscored Millville 10-2 to carry a five-point lead into the fourth.

But things went south in the final eight minutes and they scored only two points in the quarter – Jaida Burns’ layup with 2:24 left that tied the game at 32. It stayed that way until Millville’s Jaylynn Jones drove an open right side to put Millville up 24-32 with 39 seconds left. Pennsville worked for the tying basket, but Marley Wood lost the dribble in traffic with 12.8 left and the Eagles never got another shot.

“I think fatigue set in and we panicked a bit,” Merritt said.

The Eagles have another scrimmage Thursday before Merritt’s return engagement gets going for “real” Dec. 18. They’re certainly not easing into it. The Eagles open their season against defending South Jersey champion Wildwood.

At least it’s at home.

Millville 34, Pennsville 32

Millville 111229-34
Pennsville911102-32

This week’s schedule

Here is the schedule for Salem County sports teams for the week of Dec. 9-14; events start at 4 p.m. unless noted, x-scrimmage

DEC. 9
GIRLS BASKETBALL
x-Gloucester City at Salem Tech
x-Millville at Pennsville
x-Pleasantville at Penns Grove
x-Salem at Paulsboro
x-Schalick at Oakcrest
BOYS BASKETBALL
x-Atlantic Tech at Salem
x-Cedar Creek at Schalick
x-Penns Grove at Lindenwold

DEC. 10
GIRLS BASKETBALL
x-Penns Grove, Winslow at Highland
x-Woodstown at Moorestown Friends
BOYS BASKETBALL
x-Moorestown Friends at Woodstown
BOWLING
Salem Tech vs. ACIT
MENS COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Salem CC at Ocean County, 5 p.m.
WOMENS COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Salem CC at CC of Morris, 5 p.m.

DEC. 11
GIRLS BASKETBALL
x-Paulsboro at Schalick
x-Schalick at Bridgeton
BOYS BASKETBALL
x-Salem at Hammonton
x-Schalick at Winslow
x-West Deptford at Salem Tech
BOWLING
Salem vs. West Deptford at Bolero Lanes

DEC. 12
GIRLS BASKETBALL
x-Cumberland at Pennsville
x-Schalick at Salem
BOYS BASKETBALL
Mastery Charter at Salem Tech, 5:15 p.m.
x-Pennsville at Cumberland
x-Penns Grove at Egg Harbor Twp., 5:30 p.m.
x-Lower Cape May at Schalick
x-Salem at Vineland
x-Woodstown at Gateway
SWIMMING
Schalick vs. Highland at GCIT, 4:45 p.m.
Salem vs. Pitman at GCIT, 5:45 p.m.
BOWLING
Salem vs. Gloucester City at Westbrook Lanes
Salem Tech vs. Clayton at Wood Lanes
MENS COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Salem CC at Williamson Trades, 7 p.m.
WOMENS COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Bucks County CC at Salem CC, 5 p.m.

DEC. 13
GIRLS BASKETBALL
x-Hammonton at Woodstown

DEC. 14
BOYS BASKETBALL
Red Devil Classic, Penns Grove
Glassboro vs. Lindenwold, 10:30 a.m.
Salem vs. Woodbury, 4:30 p.m.
Paulsboro at Penns Grove, 6:30 p.m.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Red Devil Classic, Penns Grove
Bridgeton at Penns Grove, 12:30 p.m.
Glassboro vs. Woodbury, 2:30 p.m.
WRESTLING
Schalick Holiday Tournament, 9 a.m.
Woodstown in Delaware Valley Tournament
MENS COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Brookdale CC at Salem CC, noon
WOMENS COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Salem CC at Lackawanna, noon

Playing for their captain

Salem CC men rally after scary injury to their captain, pull away from winless Bergen with big second half; Mighty Oaks women drop fourth straight in loss to Raritan Valley

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

CARNEYS POINT – Josh Ramos stood motionless out of the floor watching the medical professionals attend to teammate and captain Niame Scott in the foul lane in front of the Salem Community College bench. For the first time ever on a basketball court the Mighty Oaks sophomore guard felt helpless.

The entire gym went silent when Scott fell to the floor with a fractured right knee early in the second half of a Saturday game that was closer than the teams’ records said it should be. Play was delayed 22 minutes as trainers, team staff and eventually EMTs worked to stabilize the sophomore from Philadelphia and make him as comfortable as possible before taking him off the floor on a gurney and transporting him to a nearby hospital.

The home side wasn’t playing all that well before the mishap as winless Bergen was giving them all they could handle. But the Mighty Oaks’ mindset changed following the injury. They now had something – somebody – to play for.

They hit five 3-pointers in the first five minutes after play resumed and wound up scoring 61 points in the second half en route to a 97-68 victory.

“The whole thing was just to go out there and win the game for him,” Ramos said. “Mentally it definitely took a toll. We just had to turn it around. We just all knew we had to show up for him.” 

The Mighty Oaks (8-2) had just taken a 45-44 lead on A.J. Jones’ bucket. On Salem’s next trip down the court Scott missed a short shot looking to extend the lead, went in for the rebound, then fell to the floor in agony after his foot lodged against the foot of a Bergen player. He immediately clutched his right leg.

It was initially believed Scott had only dislocated the knee, serious enough but an injury that would have given him a chance to return this season. Tests later determined it to be fractured. 

It’s the latest in a growing number of injuries to hit the program. The Mighty Oaks already were missing four players with ankle/foot issues.

“It is a sad moment,” Ramos said. “He’s one of our main guys. It’s a big loss to our team.”

Scott was the team’s fourth-leading scorer (8.6 ppg) and second on the team in assists (21), but his presence provides a lot more than stats.

“He’s a big part of the team,” Mighty Oaks coach Mike Green said. “We have him doing a lot more than last year, we’ve asked him to play a lot harder, and he’s responded.”

Now as Scott recovers, Green said the team is “going to cover him with love, the greatest healer.”

Up to the point of the injury, it looked like the Mighty Oaks would have trouble scoring 75 points against the winless Bulldogs (0-10). They weren’t taking great shots in the first half and the ones they were taking they weren’t hitting. But Scott’s injury spurred them to action.

Ramos, who didn’t hit a shot in the first half, made four straight 3-pointers in the 19-2 barrage that followed the resumption. The Mighty Oaks shot 57 percent from the floor in the second half and were 8-of-16 from 3-point range. They were only 14-of-36 from the floor and 3-of-16 from 3 in the first half while falling behind 37-36 at halftime. They shot 17-of-28 after the injury to their captain.

“I knew with him going down it is a big loss, I had to step up personally,” Ramos said. “I knew I came out 0-for-4, 0-for-5 going into the half. I knew I had to step up, step into my role. We just got it going. You’ve just got to play harder, you’ve got to give it your all knowing that someone’s down and we came out with the win.”

The 61 points were the Mighty Oaks’ second largest one-half output this season, behind only the 62-point second half in the season opener against Delaware County that established their persona as a second-half team this year. 

Seven of the 10 Mighty Oaks who played in the game scored in double figures. Xavier Brewington (17 points, 10 rebounds) and Rodney Shelton (12/12) both had double doubles. A.J. Jones had 14 points, Ramos 12, Tyrone Tolson and Stefan Phillips 11 apiece and Tivon Woolford 10. Shelton and Ramos scored all their points in the second half.

“It’s more of what we preach: Next man up,” Green said. “The next person’s got to be ready to play. We play a lot of guys. It’s always going to be next man up.”

The game got off to a balky start with Green calling back-to-back timeouts in the first 45 seconds of the game. It wasn’t something he saw on the court that bothered him as much as it was something he wasn’t going to see.

The Mighty Oaks’ lost their Hudl connection for recording the game and player highlights. Green sprinted back to the locker room during the first full timeout to find a solution, then called a 30-second timeout when he returned to the bench, not to implant any strategy that should’ve gone in the first TO, but to make sure the fix was installed properly.

“I would have burned a couple more if it had taken longer,” Green said. “We can’t miss this. This is these kids’ livelihood. Whatever they do well, they need to have it documented (for recruiting purposes).

“Every second needs to be documented; it’s that serious. The line is that short, so we wanted to make sure the kids get everything they can.”

Salem CC guard Niame Scott brings the ball up court early in the second half against Bergen CC. A few minutes later, Scott suffered a serious knee injury and was transported to a local hospital, but the Mighty Oaks rallied behind their injured captain and pulled away. On the cover, Salem’s A.J. Jones (4) tries to dribble past Bergen’s Matthew Kelleher. (Photos by Phillip Chang)

Women’s game

RARITAN VALLEY CC 79, SALEM CC 63 – The Mighty Oaks women needed a win badly. They had lost their last three after opening the schedule with a three-game winning streak and were in danger of falling below .500 for the first time this season.

Coach Brian Marsh knew Saturday’s game with Raritan Valley was going to be a tight one and it was for three quarters. There were two bad stretches that them in.

The Mighty Oaks nearly recovered from the first one, but not from the second. In the span of about three minutes in the fourth quarter the Lions took a three-point lead to 15 and eventually handed Salem its fourth loss in a row.

The first bad stretch came in the final two minutes of second quarter when the Lions scored the last 12 points of the half after taking the lead for good with the 17th lead change of the game. 

That’s how tight it was early. Salem led after the first quarter 16-15 when RayNescia King beat the buzzer with a 3-pointer from just across midcourt and the teams traded the lead until the Lions went on their run.

“Those two probably eight minutes dictated the whole game,” Marsh said. “I let them know a game is 40 minutes, not 32 minutes, not 37 minutes. They have to focus for the full (40) minutes.

“They get down and then they work their butts off to get back in it and it’s like they don’t have the energy left to complete it.”

The Mighty Oaks were plagued by 28 turnovers (19 steals), off which the Lions scored 34 points. 

“We handled the press against (No. 4) Union much better than we did here, and that’s at home and it’s a bigger court,” Marsh said. “I think it’s a lack of focus at certain points. I’ve just got to do a better job of getting these girls to focus for 40 minutes. I really think that’s the big thing.”

Nyaijah Jackson led Salem with 14 points and seven rebounds. Akira Chambers had 10 points six boards.

Julia Fontanillo had a strong all-around game for Raritan Valley with 16 points, seven rebounds, seven assists and five steals. RV’s Sophia Larsen led all scorers with 18 points.

The Mighty Oaks won’t return to the floor until Thursday when they host Bucks County CC. They were supposed to play at CC of Morris Tuesday, but the Titans canceled due to a lack of players. Salem is looking to find a replacement game for later in the season.

Salem CC’s Akira Chambers (34) fights for position under the net against Raritan Valley. (Staff photo)

MEN’S BOX SCORE
Salem CC 97, Bergen CC 68
BERGEN CC (0-10) – Amire Walker 4-14 7-11 18, Demetrius Chavis 6-14 0-2 15, Matthew Kelleher 5-11 0-0 12, Louis Sosa 3-8 4-4 11, Jayden Opio 2-9 0-0 4, Daniel Fernandez 1-3 0-0 2, Evan Meberg 3-6 0-0 6. Totals 24-65 11-17 68.
SALEM CC (8-2) – Julien Jones 0-4 0-0 0, A.J. Jones 5-9 3-4 14, Tivon Woolford 4-8 0-0 10, Xavier Brewington 6-11 2-2 17, Rodney Shelton 6-10 0-2 12, Niame Scott 1-5 2-2 4, Josh Ramos 4-12 0-0 12, Tyrone Tolson 4-7 2-2 11, Shyheed Taylor 1-3 4-8 6, Stefan Phillips 4-4 3-4 11. Totals 35-73 16-24 97.

Bergen CC 3731-68
Salem CC3661-97

3-point goals: Bergen 9-34 (Walker 3-9, Chavis 3-8, Kelleher 2-8, Sosa 1-4, Opio 0-4, Meberg 0-1); Salem 11-32 (J. Jones 0-3, A. Jones 1-4, Woolford 2-2, Brewington 3-7, Scott 0-1, Ramos 4-11, Tolson 1-3, Taylor 0-1). Rebounds: Bergen 28 (Sosa 8, Opio 6); Salem 46 (Brewington 10, Shelton 12). Technical fouls: Salem coach Green. Total fouls: Berger 15, Salem 18.

WOMEN’S BOX SCORE
Raritan Valley CC 79, Salem CC 63
RARITAN VALLEY (5-4) – Sophia Larsen 4-14 9-11 18, Elizabeth May 2-10 0-0 6, Ona Riopedre 2-11 3-4 7, Telma Comba 3-9 3-5 9, Julia Fontanillo 7-14 2-4 16, Judith Vila 1-3 0-0 3, Paula Aguilera Ortega 0-1 4-4 4, Saionni Patrick 2-3 1-1 5, Madison Vitucci 4-4 1-1 11. Totals 25-69 23-30 79.
SALEM (3-4) – Nyaijah Jackson 4-7 6-8 14, Maggie St. Clair 2-10 0-0 5, Dani Gustin 1-2 0-0 2, Kathryn Laurence 4-8 0-0 8, Jakayla Jenkins 4-6 0-1 8, RayNescia King 2-5 0-0 5, Caroline Zullo 2-7 1-2 5, Akira Chambers 5-8 0-2 10, Alexa Hopkins 0-1 1-1 1. Totals 24-54 8-14 58.

Raritan Valley CC 15241525-79
Salem CC16122312-63

3-point goals: Raritan Valley 6-24 (Larsen 1-6, May 2-9, Riopedre 0-5, Fontanillo 0-1, Vila 1-1, Vitucci 2-2); Salem 2-7 (St. Clair 1-2, Laurence 0-2, Jenkins 0-1, King 1-1, Hopkins 0-1). Rebounds: Raritan Valley 37 (Riopedre 8, Comba 7, Fontanillo 7); Salem 39 (Jackson 7, St. Clair 6, Gustin 6, Jenkins 6, Chambers 6). Fouled out: Larsen, Gustin, Jenkins. Total fouls: Raritan Valley 18, Salem 22.            

Salem CC hits road

Women’s team has tough time at No. 4 Union, men get back on winning track at Thaddeus Stevens

By Riverview Sports News

CRANFORD – The Salem Community College women’s basketball team returned to the floor after an 11-day Thanksgiving break and faced one of the toughest games on its schedule.

The Mighty Oaks went into Union College’s small gym and lost to the fourth-ranked Owls 105-45.

It was the third time this year Union (9-0) had broken the 100-point mark and sixth time it scored at least 95. The Owls went into the game ranked fourth in JUCO Division II in scoring, fifth in rebounding and second in steals.

Two of Salem’s three losses have come to teams ranked in the D-II top 10.

Union’s Saran Camara led all scorers with 25 points. Akira Chambers led Salem (3-3) with 13 points. 

“I thought we played well in stretches in the first half,” Salem coach Brian Marsh said. “I played a quicker lineup to start the game and I think that helped.

“It took a little while to get settled. It’s a very difficult place to play against a very good team.”

The Mighty Oaks will look to snap their three-game losing streak Saturday at home against Raritan Valley CC.

Union 105, Salem CC 45

SALEM CC (3-3) – Nyaijah Jackson 2-5 1-2 6, Maggie St. Clair 3-15 1-1 7, Jakayla Jenkins 1-3 1-2 3, Gia Tjaden 3-8 0-0 8, Dani Gustin 1-2 0-0 2, Kathryn Laurence 1-4 0-0 2, Caroline Zullo 2-5 0-1 4, Akira Chambers 4-5 5-7 13, Raynesecia King 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 17-48 8-13 45.
UNION (9-0) – Yasmeen Brightwell 1-2 6-8 8, Destiny Bynum Johnson 3-9 2-2 9, Ore Ogunwolere 1-2 1-2 3, Hellary DeLosSantos 5-8 0-0 10, Harisa Mehmedovic 3-6 0-0 6, Jalayah Smith 2-5 4-5 8, Ayva Tillmon 1-5 0-0 2, Amiyah Fulton 3-7 0-0 8, Saran Camara 11-14 0-0 25, Pau Urena Rojas 2-4 0-0 4, Bella Edwards 0-1 2-4 2, Jaslin Walker 1-3 0-0 3, Cyniah Smith 1-3 0-0 2, Aniya Brown 0-1 2-2 2, Nyla Williams 2-5 0-0 5. Totals 36-75 17-23 105.

Salem CC 1013157-45
Union27232530-105

3-point goals: Salem 3-16 (Jackson 1-3, St. Clair 0-4, Jenkins 0-1, Tjaden 2-6, Laurence 0-1, Chambers 0-1); Union 7-32 (Brightwell 0-1, Bynum Johnson 1-7, Ogunwolere 0-1, J. Smith 0-1, Tillmon 0-2, Fulton 2-3, Camara 3-5, Urena Rojas 0-1, Edwards 0-1, Walker 1-3, C. Smith 0-2, Brown 0-1, Williams 0-3). Technical fouls: Marsh.. Fouled out: Salem 19, Union 17.

Men back in win column

LANCASTER – The Salem CC men hadn’t played since Nov. 26, but they beat Thaddeus Stevens Tech on the road to get back on the winning track.

“We hadn’t practiced but once (over the break), so we were a bit winded, but we fought,” Mighty Oaks coach Mike Green said.

Salem (7-2) returns to the court Saturday at home against Bergen CC.

This story will be updated.

Oaks cut down in OT

Salem CC men hit the road for first time this season, lose six-point lead late in regulation, then the game in overtime; updated with full box score

By Riverview Sports News

BLACKWOOD – The Salem CC men’s basketball team hit the road for the first time this season Tuesday night and did a lot of things right, but in the end lost to Camden County College 102-93 in overtime to end a four-game winning streak.

On the positive side, the Mighty Oaks (6-2) had one of their better shooting nights of the season – both from the field and behind the arc – had a six-point lead in the final 1:30 of regulation and had the shot they wanted at the end.

But in the end, they didn’t follow the game plan in overtime and missed too many free throws in crucial situations.

“I think we handled it fairly well, except for when we didn’t,” Oaks coach Mike Green said. “The guys shot it better, the ball moved some. I think had too big of a lapse when it’s time to win the game.”

The Oaks shot 30-of-72 from the floor and were a season-best 13-of-28 from 3-point range. They were 20-of-29 from the free throw line.

They placed four scorers in double figures. Xavier Brewington continued his hot streak, scoring a career-high 22 points along with seven rebounds and seven assists. He was 8-of-12 from the floor, 4-of-8 from 3-point range. The freshman from Dover is averaging 18.3 points, 6.8 rebounds and 4.5 assists over his last four games.. 

“Some other guys played well (too),” Green said, “but he’s pushing us in the right direction. He’s playing really good basketball right now.”

Tyrese Fortune had 16 points, Niame Scott 14 and Stefan Phillips 11. Josh Ramos had nine – all from 3-point range. Phillips was 7-of-8 from the free throw line and is now 21-of-23 there for the season. Fortune had eight rebounds and Phillips had six.

The game was tied at 87 with nine seconds left in regulation. Scott had a layup at the buzzer to win it, but the shot didn’t fall. In overtime it was all Camden (5-2).

“We didn’t follow the scouting report,” Green said. “The scouting report is simple for those guys. We didn’t follow it all game and it came back to bite us in the butt.”

The Oaks don’t play again until they visit Thaddeius Stevens on Dec. 3. After playing eight games in 17 days, Green is giving the players off from basketball through the weekend so they can focus on academics.

Camden CC 102, Salem CC 93 (OT)

SALEM CC (6-2) – Xavier Brewington 8-12 2-4 22, Tyrese Fortune 6-15 2-3 16, Niame Scott 4-10 4-6 14, Stefan Phillips 2-3 7-8 11, Josh Ramos 3-8 0-2 9, A.J. Jones 3-6 1-2 8, Tyrone Tolson 3-7 0-0 7, Rodney Shelton 1-7 2-2 6, Shyheed Taylor 0-1 2-2 2, Tivon Woolford 0-1 0-0 0, Julien Jones 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 30-72 20-29 93.
CAMDEN CC (5-2) – Tyson Shaw 4-10 5-8 13, Demere Hollingsworth 7-11 3-4 19, Mikey Campbell 7-12 0-0 14, Elijah Hightower 11-16 3-4 25, Jacquez Williams 3-5 3-3 11, Christian Barksdale 1-1 0-0 2, Noah Allen 2-3 0-0 4, Charlie LeBarre 0-0 0-0 0, Davit Geleshvilli 2-4 0-0 4, Cam Rembert 4-4 0-0 8, Titus Blalock 0-4 2-3 3, Matt Dicristo 0-3 0-0 0. Totals 41-73 16-22 102.

Salem CC 46416-93
Camden CC414615-102

3-point goals: Salem CC 13-28 (Brewington 4-8, Fortune 2-2, Scott 2-4, Ramos 3-8, A. Jones 1-2, Tolson 1-2, Woolford 0-1, J. Jones 0-1); Camden CC 4-12 (Hollingsworth 2-5, Williams 2-2, Gelashvilli 0-1, Blalock 0-4). Rebounds: Salem CC 32 (Brewington 7, Fortune 8); Camden CC 35 (Hollingsworth 8, Hightower 6. Technical fouls: Hightower. Fouled out: Fortune. Total fouls: Salem CC 16, Camden CC 23.