Category: BASKETBALL

Future looks bright

Girls roundup: Sophomore-laden Schalick uses big second half to take down LEAP; Woodstown, Pennsville, Penns Grove all win with big second halves or fourth quarters

THURSDAY GIRLS SCORES
Salem County
Schalick 51, LEAP 28
Penns Grove 52, Cloucester Co. Christian 36
Pennsville 47, GCIT 35
Woodstown 57, Clearview 54

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

PITTSGROVE – John Whalen saw the future of Schalick girls basketball in the second half of Thursday night’s game and he had to admit it looked pretty good.

The Cougars have a young team, but they played like veterans on this night. They already led by five at halftime, but outscored LEAP Academy 33-15 in the second half to earn their first win of the season 51-28.

“That showed the potential this group has,” Whalen said. “They pretty much are all sophomores. They’re very young so I think that highlights the potential this team can have.”

Their 33 second-half points were more than the Cougars (1-2) had scored in their first two games of the season combined.

“The talk at halftime was just picking up some aggression and communication on defense and looking to get the ball inside on offense,” Whalen said. “We came out the second half and the girls did an excellent job jumping passing lanes, getting a lot of steals, some fast-break layups. We started to transition a lot more, get the ball up the floor, and find Ava (Scurry) and Cianna (Gaines) inside for some layups.”

Scully and Cali Fisler shared team scoring honors with 14 points each. Scully scored 10 of her points in the second half and Fisler had nine. Carly Vicente had 13.

“The future is bright,” Whalen said. “I think if the girls stick with it … the next couple years down the road could be where we are back to our competitive years where we have been in the past.”

SCHALICK 51, LEAP 28
SCHALICK (1-2) – Abigail Willoughby 3 0-0 6, Cali Fisler 3 4-8 14, Ava Scurry 7 0-6 14, Cianna Gaines 3 0-0 6, Victoria Basich 0 0-0 0, Carly Vincente 6 0-0 13, Katie Little 1 0-0 2, Madison Brown 0 0-0 0. Totals 23 4-14 51.
LEAP (0-3) – Ashriel Young 1 4-10 6, Wiliana Diaz 3 1-4 10, Mahogany Gardner 4 0-0 10, Jaleah Davis 1 0-0 2, Jayla Moormann 0 0-0 0. Totals 9 5-14 28.

Schalick8101617 –51
LEAP4978 –28
3-point goals: Schalick 1 (Vicente); LEAP (Diaz 3, Gardner 2). Total fouls: Schalick 12, LEAP 10.

WOODSTOWN 57, CLEARVIEW 54: Talia Battavio hit two free throws with less than five seconds left on the clock to seal the Wolverines’ second straight victory in a game that had more ups and downs than an elevator.

The Wolverines trailed by 10 at halftime, but opened the third quarter with a 16-0 run and took a nine-point lead into the fourth. The Pioneers rallied to tie the game at 50, but the Wolverines made the last push.

Leading scorers Battavio (26 points) and Megan Donelson (20) both hit field goals to move the Red Devils out front and then they hit three of four free throws to lock it down.

Shannon Pierman kept the ball alive with an offensive rebound on the missed free throw with five seconds left and the Wolverines up by a point. The ball got to Battavio, who was fouled and went to the line for the free throws that sealed the game.

WOODSTOWN 57, CLEARVIEW 54
CLEARVIEW (1-1) – Alexis Jones 2-2-8, Gianna Bauer 0-1-1, Brett Foster 1-2-4
Ana Pellecchia 10-0-25, Juliette Mirigliani 3-1-7, Alyson Carter 4-1-9. Totals 20-7-54
WOODSTOWN (2-1) – Talia Battavio 10-2-26, Megan Donelson 7-6-20, Alyssa Baber 1-2-4, Gianna Maiorini 0-2-2, Shannon Pierman 2-1-5, Lauren Hengel 0-0-0, Emma Perry 0-0-0. Totals 20-13-57.

Clearview1910622 –54
Woodstown1542513 – 57
3-point goals: Clearview 7 (Jones 2, Pellecchia 5); Woodstown 3 (Battavio 3).

PENNS GROVE 52, GLOUCESTER CHRISTIAN 36: The teams were locked in a tight battle for three quarters, but the Red Devils pulled away by outscoring the Conquerors 21-2 in the fourth quarter for their fourth straight win to remain undefeated.

The Red Devils got 45 points from their three big weapons. RaNiyah Wilson led the way with 17 points, Brianna Robbins had 16 and Meely Horace had 12 (all in the second half). They combined for 17 points in the fourth quarter.

PENNS GROVE 52, GLOUCESTER CO. CHRISTIAN 36
GLOUCESTER CO. CHR. (3-2) – Carolina Shreids 4 0-3 8, Maddey Ewin 2 0-0 4, Angela Karamisakis 4 4-6 14, Nira Mason 4 2-2 10, Hannah Gesin 0 0-0 0 Alanna Esposito 0 0-0 0. Totals 14 6-11 36.
PENNS GROVE (4-0) – RaNiyah Wilson 7 1-3 17, Meely Horace 4 4-6 12, Brianna Robbins 6 3-6 16, Amani Taylor 0 0-0 0Zoey Caesar 0 0-0 0, Syanna Robbins 0 0-0 0, JaNiyah Cummings 3 1-1 7. Totals 20 9-16 52.

Gloucester Co. Chr.811152 –36
Penns Grove11101021 –52
3-point goals: GCC 2 (Karamisakis 2); Penns Grove (Wilson 2, Robbins). Total fouls: GCC 9, Penns Grove 8

PENNSVILLE 47, GCIT 35: The Eagles got off to a fast start, then survived a scare in the third quarter before pulling away.

Nora Ausland led three Pennsville scorers in double figures with 17 points. Marley Wood had 15 and Bella Farina, scoring for the first time this season, had 10. Ausland had eight of her points in the fourth quarter.

PENNSVILLE 47, GCIT 35
PENNSVILLE (2-1) – Nora Ausland 6 4-4 17, Taylor Bass 1 1-1 3, Bella Farina 4 2-4 10, Kylie Harris 0 0-0 0, Anikka Macalino 0 0-0 0, Isabelle Saulin 1 0-0 2, Marley Wood 5 3-4 15. Totals 17 10-13 47.
GCIT (3-2) – Sophia Molinari 2 0-2 6, Maggie Duer 3 0-1 9, Leanne Riddick 4 1-2 10, Ava Friel 2 0-0 4, Savanna Shute 2 2-6 6, Reese Hartman 0 0-0 0, Gina Sheehan 0 0-0 0, Averie Clement 0 1-2 1, Sofia McKay 0 0-0 0. Totals 13 4-13 35.

Pennsville1112816 –47
CGIT441612 –35
3-point goals: Pennsville 3 (N. Ausland, Wood 2); GCIT 5 (Molinari 2, Duer 2, Riddick). Total fouls: Pennsville 13, GCIT 12.


Finding the right fit

Penns Grove has been shuffling lineups all season in hopes of finding the right combination; freshman’s defense sparks Pennsville’s fourth-quarter comeback, Woodstown wins, Schalick falls

THURSDAY’S BOYS SCORES
LEAP 52. Schalick 44
Penns Grove 69, Salem Tech 56
Pennsville 61, GCIT 52
Woodstown 59, Cumberland 24

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

WOODSTOWN – Damian Ware is still trying to get a handle on his young Penns Grove basketball team and that usually means a plethora of starting lineups before hitting on the one that sticks for the rest of the year.

Ware rolled out his fourth different starting lineup in as many games Thursday night and it produced the Red Devils’ second win of the season, 69-56 over Salem Tech.

“We’re just tooling around with stuff early in the season, plus giving guys an opportunity to play who really haven’t played that many minutes yet,” Ware said. “I’m figuring guys out. I’m figuring out who can play well with who. I’m figuring out whether we should play with two bigs or one big.

“It’s all experimental at this point in the season. It’s really an extended preseason of sorts. I just want to see what all my guys got. I got 14 guys on the team, so I want to see what all of them got in extended minutes, so that’s what we were all about today.”

Up to now, Ware has been starting any combination of four guards with one big. One game he started all guards. The lineup against Thursday featured two bigs for the first time and it gave the Red Devils a defensive bent against their hosts. They held the Chargers to 16 points in the first half while building a 34-16 halftime lead.

The same group started the second half.

The new starter in this mix was Jaden Sorrell, a 6-4 senior who “did a decent job” playing the 5 alongside 6-3 senior Willie Slocum. Sorrell scored four points — all in the second half — grabbed a couple rebounds and blocked a couple shots before fouling out in the fourth quarter. Slocum scored 11 points and grabbed nine rebounds.

“It was good because I had more opportunities because I was the 4,” Slocum said. “Other games I was the 5, so it was nice.

“We’ve just got to find the five toughest guys. To me, if I’m not playing that way, the next man up. If somebody else is not playing that way, next man up. We’ve got to five tough guys.”

As that search continues, Ware said it was “very possible” the Red Devils will start even another combination when they host Cherokee Saturday afternoon.

Salem Tech coach Bryan Riley expected to see Roman Gipson among their starters as he was when Riley saw them in the all-guard lineup in person last Saturday, but he didn’t sweat it. He still had to send his guys out there against whomever was on the floor.

The Chargers fell behind 55-30 after three quarters, but they brought it back in the fourth against the Red Devils’ young reserves. Haneef Frisby led the charge with 13 of his game-high 21 points.

“He and Antoine Robinson go back and forth,” Riley said. “We just played Gloucester Catholic, Antoine was the guy that game (16 points). The game before we played GCIT, Haneef was the guy (14). We played Schalick for opening day, Antoine was the guy (19). So, those two just go back and forth.

“I need them both on the same level and once we get that it’s going to be special.”

PENNS GROVE 69, SALEM TECH 56
PENNS GROVE (2-2) – Willie Slocum 4 3-6 11, Mehki Ballard 2 1-4 5, Khiry Higgs 0 0-0 0, Jaden Sorrell 2 0-0 4, Giomar Conrad 8 2-3 19, Mr Peterson 1 0-0 2, Roman Gipson 4 2-3 10, KaRon Ceaser 2 0-2 4, Will Roy 0 0-0 0, Neziah Spence 1 0-0 3, Cameron Thompson 3 0-0 6, Brandon Robbins 2 0-0 5, Luis Colon 0 0-0 0. Totals 29 8-18 69.
SALEM TECH (0-4) – Chase Wills 2 0-4 4, Haneef Frisby 7 7-9 21, Joseph Hayes 2 1-2 6, Daviontae Russell 2 1-2 5, Josh Muntz 2 3-6 7, Tyler Zampino 1 1-1 3, Antoine Robinson 3 0-0 7, Gio Holmes 1 1-2 3, Chase Ayars 0 0-0 0. Totals 20 14-26 56.

Penns Grove16182114 –69
Salem Tech971426 – 56
3-point goals: Penns Grove 3 (Conrad, Spence, Robbins); Salem Tech 2 (Hayes, Robinson). Fouled out: Sorrell. Total fouls: Penns Grove 25, Salem Tech 17. Officials: Woody, McGough.

PENNSVILLE 61, GCIT 52: If you’re occupying a seat on the Pennsville varsbench you’re expected to contribute when your name is called.

Eagles coach Joe Mecholsky called upon Mason O’Brien for a very specific task in the fourth quarter and the freshman delivered in a veteran way.

It was O’Brien’s job to put a wrench in GCIT scoring machine Mark Hallman as the “one” in the rare box-and-one the Eagles threw out there when nothing else seemed to work. O’Brien held Hallman scoreless the entire quarter and it helped the Eagles rally from five points down to snap a two-game losing streak.

“We put freshman Mason O’Brien on him and we said, ‘Son, you’ve got one job – lock him down,’” Mecholsky said. “He held the kid scoreless in the fourth quarter, let us get our feet and then we came down and executed on offense.

“I went with him because he’s fast afoot, he knows the game of basketball. He’s a freshman by grade … but he’s a little bit older than a freshman (in game sense), but we made it very simple for him. We said stay between (Hallman) and the ball and he was awesome.”

Hallman, who went for 30 against Salem Tech on Monday and was averaging 19.5 coming into the game, had 14 points with four 3-pointers over the first three quarters, but he got nothing in the fourth. Pennsville, meanwhile, outscored GCIT in the quarter 26-12 to beat the Group IV Cheetahs and gain a lot of valuable power points.

“(Mecholsky) told me to do one thing and not allow him to score a point,” O’Brien said. “I tried my best and I exactly did what he asked me to do.

“I just had to stay really close to him, had to follow him around. I tried my best not to let him get the ball. He didn’t do anything against me.”

O’Brien didn’t get a lot of playing time in the first half, but the Eagles were getting players in foul trouble and needed a fresh body. With Chase Burchfield out with a separated shoulder, O’Brien was the next man up.

“It felt great because I’m a freshman and people don’t think I’m that good or anything and I cone through and helped my team get a big win in the early-season going to Christmas break,” he said. “It felt amazing helping my team and my teammates out today.”

O’Brien’s older brother, Peyton, had a three-point play in the rally that extended the Eagles’ lead to five. They were his only points for the game, but he ripped down 14 rebounds. Jayden Thomas led the Eagles with a career-high 17 points, 10 coming in the fourth quarter.

Pennsville had been mired in a shooting slump during its two-game losing streak, but broke out in this one. The Eagles were 18-for-42 from the field (2-of-12 from 3-point range) and 23-for-31 from the foul line, a product of their attacking the rim.

PENNSVILLE 61, GCIT 52
GCIT (2-3) – Trent Phillips 4 3-4 11, Michael Stanwood 8 0-0 17, Mark Hallman 5 0-0 14, Charles Donaldson 1 0-2 2, Patrick Monaghan 1 0-0 2, Carl Schmidt 0 0-0 0, Ian Malgapo 2 0-0 6, Brady Johnson 0 0-0 0. Totals 21 3-6 52
PENNSVILLE (2-2) – Luke Wood 5-5-15, Cohen Petrutz 1-3-5, Peyton O’Brien 1-1-3, Daniel Saulin 2-3-7, Jayden Thomas 6-13-17, Malik Rehmer 1-7-9, Mason O’Brien 2-1-5. Totals 18 23-31 61.

GCIT9151612 –52
Pennsville1610926 –61
3-point goals: GCIT 7 (Hallman 4, Stanwood, Malgapo 2); Pennsville 2 (Thomas 2). Fouled out: Monaghan. Total fouls: GCIT 21, Pennsville 11.

WOODSTOWN 59, CUMBERLAND 24: Rocco String started fast, scoring eight in the first quarter and 10 in the first half, as the Wolverines built a 15-point halftime lead and added to it.

String, a 6-6 junior, was among three Wolverines to score in double figures and had his second double-double in as many games with 13 points and 10 rebounds. Blake Bialecki had 14 points, six rebounds, three assists and three steals and Max Webb had 10 points, seven boards and five assists.

WOODSTOWN 59, CUMBERLAND 24
WOODSTOWN (2-0) – Manny Ortega 0 0-0 0, Blake Bialecki 6 0-0 14, Alejandro Vasquez 1 0-0 2, M.J. Hall 3 0-0 9, Garrett Leyman 3 0-0 6, Anthony Bokolas 0 0-0 0, Lucas Fulmer 1 0-0 3, Max Webb 4 0-0 10, Rocco String 5 3-6 13, Zyaire Caesar 0 0-0 0, Elijah Caesar 1 0-0 2. Totals 24 3-6 59.
CUMBERLAND (0-2) – Kaleb Green 3 2-2 9, D.J. Mosley 3 0-0 6, Stephen Wilchensky 1 2-2 4, Jalen Stewart 0 0-0 0, Marcus Fortune 0 0-0 0, Deshaan Williams 0 2-2 2, Dumajze Cartwright 0 0-0 0, James Guaciaro 0 0-0 0, Khalif Dawkins 1 0-0 3, Kevin Fiorani 0 0-0 0, Kam Fiorani 0 0-0 0. Totals 8 6-6 24.

Woodstown1991318 –59
Cumberland6747 –  24
3-point goals: Woodstown 8 (Bialecki 2, Hall 3, Fulmer, Webb 2); Cumberland 2 (Green, Dawkins). Rebounds: Woodstown 48 (String 10, Leyman 8); Cumberland 28 (Stewart 7). Total fouls: Woodstown 12, Cumberland 11.
Woodstown’s Garrett Leyman (10) puts up a shot in the lane against the pressure of two GCIT defenders. (Photo by Ellen Sickler)

LEAP 52, SCHALICK 44: LEAP Academy hasn’t won many games in recent years, so any victory is reason to celebrate.

The Lancers won only two games last season, but they won their second game this season with their come-from-behind victory over the Cougars.

Schalick had an early lead in the game, but LEAP rallied and seized control in the second quarter. Xavion Ayala led LEAP with 22 points. Nylan and Nasir Simmons led Schalick with 12 points apiece.

LEAP 52, SCHALICK 44
LEAP (2-3) – Xavion Ayala 9 4-7 22, Gregory Shoultz 4 0-0 10, Angel Mieses 2 2-4 7, Jalen Thomas 1 0-0 2, Benjamin Noel 1 0-0 2, Terrell Hurst 4 1-1 9. Totals 21 7-12 52.
SCHALICK (1-2) – Reggie Allen 3 0-0 7, Daniel Lis 1 0-0 2, Nylan Sutton 4 4-10 12, Nasir Sutton 5 2-3 12, Ryan Johnson 1 2-4 4, Jordan Johnson 2 0-0 4, Jase Volovar 1 0-0 3. Totals 17 8-17 44.

LEAP10151116 –52
Schalick1191311 –44
3-point goals: LEAP 3 (Shoultz 2, Mieses); Schalick 2 (Allen, Volovar).


Cover photo: Salem Tech’s Haneef Frisby (2) guards Jaden Sorrell, the latest new starter in Penns Grove’s evolving starting five.

Salem loses heartbreaker

Salem opens big lead in first quarter, but Pitman rallies to claim a two-point win on a pair of Fisicaro free throws with 7.3 seconds left

WEDNESDAY’S BOYS SCORE
Pitman 64, Salem 62

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

SALEM – It was an early regular-season game on the eve of the winter solstice. A month from now as teams are jockeying for playoff positions people probably won’t even remember it.

But you can bet the Salem Rams won’t forget.

The Rams opened their Tri-County Classic Division schedule Wednesday night in a game as intense as any you’ll find in February and lost to Pitman 64-62 in a game that went down to the wire. Call it a Classic classic.

“As a team we’re obviously disappointed,” Rams senior Jabez DeJesus said. “We knew they were going to come in and punch us right back; they weren’t going to go without a fight.”

It was a game that had everything for the Rams (1-2) and had to have the Panthers (3-0) hurrying to the bus thinking they got away with one.

The Rams had control of the game early, were tied at halftime, rallied from nine down at the start of the fourth to tie the game after Pitman’s star player fouled out, and then lost it at the end.

Pitman’s Michael Fisicaro hit two free throws with 7.3 seconds left to break a 62-all tie. The Rams had two shots at the end to win it or tie it, but Xavier McGriff missed from the right side and Paul Weathers’ turnaround jumper from the foul line with the rebound and Pitman’s Sonny Myers in his face hit off the backboard as the buzzer sounded.

“I was just thinking I’ll make this shot for my team,” Weathers said. “It was really quick.”

Salem’s Paul Weathers (5) launches a last-second shot hoping to force overtime at the end of Wednesday night’s game with Pitman. The shot missed the mark and the Rams fell 64-62.

The Rams looked like they were going to run the Panthers out of the gym. They jumped out to a 17-2 lead in the first five and a half minutes and led 19-4 with sharp shooting and smothering defense, but then the game started to change.

Salem’s top players started getting in foul trouble, Pitman star Elijah Crispin, Steohen Devanney and Fisicaro started getting involved in the scoring and the Panthers outscored the Rams 46-25 on either side of halftime to take a 53-44 lead into the fourth quarter.

“We started off strong and once the second quarter came we kind of took our foot off the gas, we got too comfortable,” DeJesus said. “We knew they were coming for a run, but still we didn’t do anything defensively to stop it.”

The Rams have won the first quarter in all three of their games this season and the fourth quarter twice, including Wednesday, but it’s been a different story in the second and third. They’ve won only one of the six middle quarters they’ve played – the second quarter against Woodbury – and only that by two points.

“We just have to get better with the middle quarters,” Salem coach Anthony Farmer said. “We start off pretty hot and then we finish strong. We’ve just got to get the middle quarters. We’ve got to be able to fight through adversity whatever that may be out there.”

It was a 57-51 game with four minutes left when senior guard Anthony Farmer went on a personal tear and outscored the Panthers 11-5, tying the game three times in the final three minutes. Farmer scored 16 of his team-high 25 points in the fourth quarter. DeJesus had 14 (seven in the first quarter) and Weathers had 10 points and 12 boards.

Crispin led four Pitman scorers in double figures with 16 points. He also had eight rebounds and eight assists, but fouled out on an offensive foul at midcourt with 37 seconds left and the Panthers leading by 62-60. Devanney (13 points, 8 rebounds) followed him to the bench 12 seconds later.

So with two of the Panthers’ big weapons now out, the game seemed right for the Rams to get. Farmer tied it on two free throws with 25.4 to play. Fisicaro was fouled by McGriff with 7.3 seconds left and sank what proved to be the winning free throws. 

“This game right here is going to stay in my head because I’m disappointed we didn’t get the outcome we wanted,” DeJesus said. “But I’m happy that we have a chance to learn from our mistakes. We’ll see them again in the season. 

“We’re not going to let this hang into our heads. We’ve got a whole season left – all the way to the beginning of March.”

PITMAN 64, SALEM 62
PITMAN (3-0) – Peter Kostiuk 2 0-1 4, Stephen Devanney 6 0-0 13, Hudson Rue 0 0-0 0, Elijah Crispin 3 9-14 16, Trey Tinges 0 0-0 0, Chris Wylie 0 0-0 0, Michael Fisicaro 4 4-4 15, Sonny Myers 2 2-3 6, Greg Petersen 3 2-4 10. Totals 20 17-24 64.
SALEM (1-2) – Ramaji Bundy 2 1-2 6, Anthony Farmer 8 8-12 25, Jabez DeJesus 5 2-2 14, Paul Weathers 5 0-1 10, Xavier McGriff 0 0-0 0, Ty Lecator 2 3-5 7, Joe Tunis 0 0-0 0, Davontae Jackson 0 0-0 0. Totals 22 14-22 62.

Pitman7232311 – 64
Salem19111418 –62
TRI-COUNTY CLASSICOVERALLDIVISION
Gloucester Cath.3-01-0
Pitman3-01-0
Wildwood2-11-0
Salem1-20-1
Clayton1-30-1
Salem Tech0-30-1

Cover photo: Two of the premier guards in South Jersey, Salem’s Anthony Farmer (R) and Pitman’s Elijah Crispin, went head-to-head for the first time this season Wednesday night. Farmer brought his team back in the fourth quarter after it lost an early lead, but Crispin got the win.


First of many

Woodstown’s Straughn gets her first win as head coach as Wolverines race past Schalick; Pennsville, Penns Grove also score division wins

TUESDAY’S GIRLS SCORES
Gloucester Catholic 65, Salem Tech 14
Penns Grove 66, Glassboro 41
Pennsville 65, Overbrook 35
Woodstown 60, Schalick 18

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

WOODSTOWN – Kara Straughn and her dad, longtime Woodstown coach Dave Wildermuth, have spent a lot of time over the years just talking ball. Most of the time it’s been father to daughter, coach to player, head coach to assistant, but now they’ve got some common ground.

Wildermuth has won a mountain of games in various sports as a head coach and an assistant, but now when they talk about coaching legacies his daughter can speak with a similar frame of reference having experienced victory as a head coach.

Straughn won her first game as a head coach Tuesday night when she guided the Woodstown girls basketball team to an easy 60-18 victory over Schalick. 

“It’s over, I did it,” she said while gathering her things by the bench well after the gym had cleared. “I like that I did it at home. I grew up on this court, I played on this court, so it was nice to get my first win as a head coach on this court.”

And she did it with her former basketball coach, current Woodstown AD Joe Ursino, and about a dozen former players and teammates in the stands and her dad at her side.

Wildermuth has coached a number of sports in a variety of capacities at Woodstown for 21 years. Just as a head coach alone he won 50 games in four seasons as the boys basketball coach (2018-2022) and he’s working on 35 wins as the Wolverines head softball coach the last two years (42, if you count his year at Salem). 

There’s no telling how many games he’s won in various sports as the JV and freshmen coach. And Straughn has been around for most if not all of them.

“I grew up watching him coach, so it’s always been the goal to coach and then become half the coach that he was,” Straughn said. “He’s like, well, you’re gonna beat my record … and it’s only going to take you half as much time. That’s been like the joke: When you get to how many games that I won then we can talk.”.

Well, she’s only 49 away now and she’s gunning for it.

“I can do that,” she said. “I can chip away at that goal.”

The players were glad to have delivered the first one.

“I’m just very happy that she’s the coach and she truly wanted to be and I’m really happy to get a win under her,” junior Megan Donelson said. “I know she’s happy about it.”

First-year Woodstown girls basketball coach Kara Straughn makes in-game adjustments in the huddle as he dad and assistant coach Dave Wildermuth looks on from the side.

The Wolverines missed the first chance to give Straughn her first win Friday when they lost their season opener at Gloucester Catholic. They took the drama out of this one early. 

They scored on their first three possessions – two on  offensive rebounds – and opened a 16-0 lead in the first four minutes of the game. They scored the game’s first 22 points before Carley Vicente’s 3-pointer with 1:51 left in the quarter put Schalick on the board. It was 27-3 at the end of the quarter after Donelson hit a 3 at the buzzer.

Donelson had 11 points in the quarter and finished with 14 points, four assists and eight steals. Talia Battavio was their leading scorer with 15 points, three steals and four blocked shots. 

“Our main goal is to come out strong,” Battavio said. “Like what Wildo likes to say, the first four minutes is the most important part of the game, so I think we try to bring all we’ve got and get off to a good start.”

“I was proud of the fact we executed on offense,” Straughn said. “Friday night we couldn’t piece together enough, but tonight I said we really have to focus our offense and running the plays and moving the ball effectively and utilizing all five of us getting the ball in the post, not just relying on jump shots. They executed all the little things, I was really proud of them for that.”

There were a lot of other firsts in the game. It was Straughn’s first win over a Salem County opponent and extended the Wolverines’ winning streak against county opponents to 23 games. Sophomore Jala Thomas, who’d only scored one basket all last season, scored her first points of the year and raised her hands over her head as she raced back to her defensive position and sophomore Lizzy Daly and freshman Kendall Young both scored the first points of their varsity careers.

WOODSTOWN 60, SCHALICK 18
SCHALICK (0-2) – Abigail Willoughby 0 0-0 0, Cali Fisler 3 0-1 6, Ava Scurry 2 1-4 5, Cianna Gaines 0 0-0 0, Victoria Basich 0 0-0 0, Carley Vicente 2 0-0 5, Katie Little 1 0-0 2, Madison Brown 0 0-0 0, Danae Woodsacam 0 0-0 0. Totals 8 1-5 18.
WOODSTOWN (1-1) – Talia Battavio 7 0-0 15, Megan Donelson 6 0-0 15, Alyssa Baber 2 0-0 5, Gianna Mairoini 2 0-0 4, Shannon Pierman 3 0-2 6, Lauren Hengel 3 0-0 6, Emma Perry 2 0-0 4, Jala Thomas 1 0-0 2, Lizzy Daly 1 0-0 2, Brae DiGregorio 0 0-0 0, Kendall Young 1 0-0 2, Talia Guardascione 0 0-0 0. Totals 28 0-2 60.

Schalick3456 –18
Woodstown2791212 –60
3-point goals: Schalick 1 (Vicente); Woodstown 4 (Battavio, Donelson 2, Baber). Total fouls: Schalick 3, Woodstown 8.

PENNSVILLE 65, OVERBROOK 35: The Eagles bounced back from a rough season-opening loss on the road to play one of their best games of the season. They looked sharp in all areas and hit shots from long range.

Salem transfer Nora Ausland hit seven 3-pointers and scored 25 points. Marley Wood had three 3s and finished with 22.

“The girls shot the lights out tonight,” Pennsville coach Sam Trapp said. “The offense looked good, running plays a lot more smoothly and creating an offensive threat in the half court just by identifying open space, finding good cuts and lots of pick-and-roll.

“Defensively we had a lot of good stops and grabbed several rebounds, minimizing two or three possessions in one trip down the court. Without a doubt there’s still plenty of room for growth, but the girls really bounced back and played very well tonight.”

Wood tied her career-high with the fifth 20-point game of her career. She had 22 last year against Salem. The Eagles are 7-2 when Wood scorers 18 points or more.

Ausland’s seven 3s were a career high, topping the five she had in a game against Clayton as a freshman. The 25 points were the second-best of her career.

“After I made the first 3 and then the second I knew I was going to be on tonight,” said Ausland, who hit 61 3s in the two years she spent at Salem. “When I’m hitting my 3s, my coach and my team do a great job of getting me the ball and keeping me hot.”

PENNS GROVE 66: GLASSBORO 41: The Red Devils got off to a quick start and never let the visitors get back in the battle of early-season unbeatens.

Meely Horace and RaNiyah Wilson combined for 21 points in the first quarter as Penns Grove sprinted to a 26-9 lead. Horace finished with a team-high 24 points, giving her 771 for her career, and Wilson scored a career-high 23. Wilson’s previous best was 21 last December against Hammonton when she was playing at Kingsway.

Glassboro’s Tamia Smith led all scorers with 29 points.

PENNS GROVE 66, GLASSBORO 41
GLASSBORO (3-1) – Sanaa Thomas 1 5-8 7, Tamia Smith 12 5-14 29, Kimora Miles 1 0-2 2, Anye Davis 0 0-0 0, Sianna Wedderburn 1 0-0 2, Grace Moore 0 0-0 0, Jayde Darling 0 0-0 0, Samyra Lane 0 1-2 1, Naveah Cox-Clement 0 0-0 0. Totals 15 11-26 41.
PENNS GROVE (3-0) – RaNiyah Wilson 11 1-3 23, Meely Horace 10 1-2 24, Brianna Robbins 5 2-6 12, Amani Taylor 1 0-0 3, Rolande Delva 0 0-0 0, Syanna Robbins 0 0-0 0, Arianna Dowe 0 0-0 0, Zoey Caesar 1 0-0 2, Semijah Hines 0 0-0 0, Jamira Lewis 0 0-0 0, JaNiyah Cunnings 1 0-0 2. Totals 29 4-11 66.
Glassboro99716 – 41
Penns Grove26111019 –66
3-point goals: Glassboro 0; Penns Grove 4 (Horace 3, Taylor). Technical foul: Penns Grove coach. Total fouls: Glassboro 3, Penns Grove 13.

GLOUCESTER CATHOLIC 65, SALEM TECH 14: The Rams took control early, opening a 35-2 halftime lead, and had three scorers with as many or more points than Salem Tech scored in the game.

Julianna DiFebbo scored a game-high 15 points, while Jahzara Green and Talia Schumate had 14 apiece. Morgan VanDover was the Chargers’ leading scorer with six points on a pair of 3-pointers.

GLOUCESTER CATHOLIC 65, SALEM TECH 14
GLOUCESTER CATHOLIC (2-0) – Jahzara Green 6 2-2 14, Julianna DiFebbo 7 0-0 15, Talia Schumate 6 2-3 14, Katherine Lange 3 0-0 6, Jalyn Moore 2 0-0 4, Yazaniah Schumate 2 0-0 5, Maya Hutchinson 2 0-0 4, Ashlynn Eggers 1 0-0 2. Totals 29 4-5 64.
SALEM TECH (0-3) – Allyson Scioli 1 0-0 2, Demajae White 2 0-0 2, Morgan VanDover 2 0-0 6, Lavae Scott 1 0-0 2. Totals 6 0-0 14.

Gloucester Cath.16191614 –65
Salem Tech2066 –14
3-point goals: Gloucester Catholic 2 (DiFebbo, Schumate); Salem Tech 2 (VanDover 2). NOTE: Five make a team, but only players who scored are listed in available box score.




Tough Tuesday

Boys roundup: Woodstown opens its season with a win at Schalick, Pennsville, Penns Grove and Salem Tech all lose

TUESDAY’S BOYS SCORES
Glassboro 71, Penns Grove 32
Gloucester Catholic 85, Salem Tech 53
Overbrook 67, Pennsville 35
Woodstown 61, Schalick 27

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

PENNSVILLE – When you’re playing a team expected to be one of the best in Group II – even without its full complement of players that will make it even better later in the season – it takes a complete game to have a shot.

Pennsville played what coach Joe Mecholsky considered pretty good defense against Overbrook in its Diamond Division opener Tuesday night, but the Eagles were cold from the field for the second game in a row and fell 67-35.

“We played really good defense, we just couldn’t convert,” Mecholsky said. “Every time we did a (defensive) stand we’d go down and miss a basket. We made probably three D stands and then they’d make the fourth.

“It was 14-8 at the end of first quarter and we missed 10 shots, but we played great 2-3 (defense), we ran them off the 3-point line. They hit a 3 at the (halftime) buzzer or we hold them to 24 points in the first half; that’s something to hang your hat on. We did what we wanted to do, we were happy … we just couldn’t put the ball in the daggone basket.”

The Eagles (1-2) were just 13-for-55 from the field, 3-of-21 from 3-point range. They scored only four points in the second quarter. The Rams (3-0) eventually hit 11 3s and placed four scorers in double figures.

In its last two losses, Pennsville has shot 31-of-120 from the field, 7-of-46 from behind the arc. They hit five 3s in their season-opening victory over Clayton.

“A lot of balls were on the rim, in the rim, out of the rim; we’re just gonna say it was one of those nights,” Macholsky said. “I don’t count Saturday as part of our slump because it was off a back-to-back after running up and down with Clayton (the night before). Tonight, in our own gym, the ball just wouldn’t go in.”

Luke Wood led the Eagles with 11 points. Daniel Saulin had 10 points and 11 rebounds. Peyton O’Brien grabbed 10 boards. Overbrook’s Amare Kee led all scorers with 17 points.

OVERBROOK 67, PENNSVILLE 35
OVERBROOK (3-0) – Shaun Mills 4 1-1 10, Zair Green 5 1-3 12, Amare Kee 6 0-0 17, Lamar Little 5 0-0 14, Kevin Satchell 1 0-0 2, Xavier Wright 3 0-0 6, Elvin Santiago 1 0-0 2, Tory Scott 2 0-0 4. Totals 27 2-4 67.
PENNSVILLE (1-2) – Luke Wood  4 2-2 11, Peyton O’Brien 1 2-3 5, Daniel Saulin 4 2-6 10, Jayden Thomas 1 0-0 2, Malik Rehmer 1 0-0 2, Cohen Petrutz 2 0-0 5. Totals 13 6-11 35.

Overbrook14131723 –67
Pennsville84149 –35
3-point goals: Overbrook 11 (Mills, Green, Kee 5, Little 4); Pennsville 3 (Wood, O’Brien, Petrutz).
Total fouls: Overbrook 14, Pennsville 11.
Woodstown’s Max Webb brings the ball up the floor against Schalick’s Jordan Johnson (2) and Daniel Lis (23). (Photo by Ellen Sickler)

WOODSTOWN 61, SCHALICK 27: The Wolverines were the last team in Salem County to open their basketball season and they looked like a team that couldn’t wait to get on the court for real.

Rocco String had 13 points and 11 rebounds, the Wolverines (1-0) placed four scorers in double figures and held the Cougars (1-1) scoreless in the second quarter while opening a 25-7 halftime lead. Blake Bialecki, M.J. Hall and Max Webb each added 11 points to the effort and had all four of the Wolverines’ 3-pointers.

Woodstown’s defense collected 19 steals, with String and Garrett Leyman getting four apiece.

WOODSTOWN 61, SCHALICK 27
WOODSTOWN (1-0) – Blake Bialecki 3 3-5 11, Alejandro Vazquez 1 1-2 3, M.J. Hall 5 0-1 11, Garrett Leyman 3 2-3 8, Max Webb 4 2-4 11, Rocco String 6 1-1 13, Elijah Caesar 2 0-0 4. Totals 24 9-16 61. SCHALICK (1-1) – Reggie Allen 2 0-0 5, Daniel Lis 2 6-8 11, Nylan Sutton 0 1-2 1, Nasir Sutton 1 0-0 2, Jordan Johnson 2 0-0 4, Jase Volovar 1 0-0 3, Sherrod Jones 0 1-2 1. Totals 8 8-12 27.

Woodstown14111818 –61
Schalick701010 –27
3-point goals: Woodstown 4 (Bialecki 2, Hall, Webb); Schalick 3 (Allen, Lis, Volovar). Fouled out: Ny. Sutton. Total fouls: Woodstown 14, Schalick 20.

GLASSBORO 71, PENNS GROVE 32: Charles Graves (26) and Clinton Suggs (24) combined to outscore the Red Devils by themselves.

Graves and Suggs combined for 30 points in the first half. Michael Dougherty joined the fun with all four of his 3-pointers in the second quarter. It added up to a 44-16 Glassboro lead at the break.

GLASSBORO 71, PENNS GROVE 32
PENNS GROVE (1-2) – Roman Gipson 3 0-0 6, Camren Thompson 1 1-2 3, Giomar Conrad 3 1-4 8, Mehki Ballard 0 1-2 1, Khiry Higgs 2-0-0 4, Willie Slocum 2 0-0 4,  Karon Ceaser 1 0-2 4, Luis Colon 0 0-0 0, Mr Peterson 1 0-0 2, Brandon Robbins 0 0-0 0, Neziah Spence 0 0-0 0, Jaden Sorrell 0 0-0 0. Totals 14 3-10 32.
GLASSBORO (1-1) – Xavier Sabb 1 0-2 2, Charles Graves 10 5-5 26, Clinton Suggs 9 5-6 24, Michael Dougherty 4 0-0 12, Josh Buff 1 0-0 3, William Boggans 1 0-0 2, Ziaire Tate 1 0-0-2, Marley Crowl 0 0-0 0, Demier Towle 0 0-0 0. Totals 27 10-13 71.

Penns Grove8811 5 –32
Glassboro21231413 –71
3-point goals: Penns Grove 1 (Conrad); Glassboro 7 (Graves, Suggs, Dougherty 4, Buff). Total fouls: Penns Grove 14, Glassboro 14.

GLOUCESTER CATHOLIC 85, SALEM TECH 53: The Chargers hit 10 3-pointers in the game to keep up with Jack Mustaro’s game-high 30 points, but the Rams had too many other weapons.

Six players hit at last one 3 for the Chargers (0-3), with Josh Muntz hitting 3 on his way to a team-high 15 points.

The Chargers trailed by only two after the first quarter, then Mustaro really got going and erupted for 22 points over the next two quarters to help the Rams pull away. The junior guard is averaging 23 points a game this season.

GLOUCESTER CATHOLIC 85, SALEM TECH 53
SALEM TECH (0-3) – Josh Muntz 5 2-3 15, Chase Wills 3 0-0 7, Tyler Zampino 3 0-1 7, Haneef Frisby 3 0-0 8, Antoine Robinson 3 3-4 11, Chase Ayars 1 0-0 3, Daviontae Russell 1 0-0 2, Brown 0 0-0 0. Totals 19 5-8 53.
GLOUCESTER CATHOLIC (3-0) – Carlos Mendez 3 2-2 8, Jack Mustaro 12 3-6 30, Trey Battle 5 3-3 15, Billy Ginipro 3 0-0 6, Kyle Guldin 1 0-0 2, Ehthan Dugue 2 0-0 6, Nick Calzonetti 0 2-2 2, Brody Gates 1 2-2 4, Jack Punt 3 0-0 7, Pancoast 0 0-0 0, Kybron Ricks 1 2-2 4. Totals 31 14-17 85.

Salem Tech1813814 –53
Gloucester Cath.20212321 –85
3-point goals: Salem Tech 10 (Muntz 3, Wills, Zampino, Frisby 2, Robinson 2, Ayers); Gloucester Catholic 9 (Mustaro 5, Battle, Dugue 2, Pund). Fouled out: Frisby. Total fouls: Salem Tech 14, Gloucester Catholic 17. 

Cover photo: Woodstown’s Blake Bialecki fires up a shot from the top of the key in the Wolverines’ season opener against Schalick. (Photo by Ellen Sickler)



Monday roundup

Tough day for the four Salem County basketball teams in action Monday; also includes track and swimming report

MONDAY’S BASKETBALL SCORES
GIRLS
Pitman 45, Salem 36
GCIT 38, Salem Tech 12
BOYS
GCIT 75, Salem Tech 41
Wildwood Catholic 72, Salem 53

By Riverview Sports News

WOODSTOWN – Salem Tech focused on putting the wraps on GCIT’s Mark Hallman, but by the time the defense settled in, it was too late.

Hallman hit five 3-pointers and scored 23 of his 30 points in the first quarter as Gloucester Tech handled a Chargers team still trying to find itself, 72-53. The junior hit seven 3-pointers in the game. He is averaging 21.7 points with 14 3-pointers in the Cheetahs’ first three games.

“I prioritized our defense to slow him down, but by that time the lead was too big,” Chargers coach Bryan Riley said.

Haneef Frisby, playing point guard for the first time for injured Antoine Robinson, led Salem Tech with 14 points. Tyler Zampino had 10 points with all three of his team’s 3-pointers and Chase Wills had eight steals.

“We’re a young team trying to figure things out,” Riley said. “Last year we had Brandon Bermudez, who was our leading scorer, and him graduating we have to find our identity. Somebody’s got to step up and score.”

GCIT 75, SALEM TECH 41
GLOUCESTER TECH (2-1) – Trent Phillips 0 0-0 0, Michael Stanwood 5 3-4 13, Carl Schmidt 5 0-0 13, Mark Hallman 10 3-7 30, James Donahue 0 0-0 0, Patrick Monoghan 2 1-1 5, Brady Johnson 0 0-3 0, Gavin Shaneline 1 0-2 2, Amad Traeore 1 0-0 3, Ian Malgapo 3 0-0 9, Charles Donaldson 0 0-0 0. Totals 27 7-14 75.
SALEM TECH (0-2) – Chase Wills 3 0-1 6, Josh Muntz 2 1-1 5, Tyler Zampino 3 1-2 10, Haneef Frisby 5 4-8 14, Joseph Hayes 0 2-2 2, Gio Holmes 0 0-0 0, Daviontae Russell 0 0-4 0, Chase Ayars 2 0-1 4. Totals 15 8-19 41 

GCIT28171911 – 75
Salem Tech7141010 –41
3-point goals: GCIT 14 (Schmidt 3, Hallman 7, Traeore, Malgapo 3); Salem Tech 3 (Zampino 3). Fouled out: Monoghan. Total fouls: GCIT 16, Salem Tech 14.

Wildwood Catholic 72, Salem 53: Freshman Tymear Lecator had a breakout game leading three Salem scorers in double figures with three 3-pointers and a career-high 16 points, but Wildwood Catholic played hard, physical on the glass and steadily pulled away. Jabez DeJesus had 12 points and Paul Weathers 11 for the Rams.

“Going on the road is never easy,” Salem coach Anthony Farmer said. “We have to go back and watch film and figure out to to learn from it.”

Salem (1-1)14151410 –53
Wildwood Cath. (2-1)11232117 –72
3-point goals: Salem 8 (Bundy, Lecator 3, Weathers, Farmer 2, DeJesus).

GIRLS
Pitman 45, Salem 36: Miya Villari scored 20 points and grabbed nine rebounds to lead the Panthers. Ryann Foote led Salem with 11 points and nine rebounds. QwenNazha Johnson-Logan had nine points, eight boards and four blocked shots for the Rams.

PITMAN 45, SALEM 36
PITMAN (2-0) – Miya Villari 8 3-7 20, Angelina Lindner 3 6-8 12, Jessica Betz 1 0-0 2, Evelyn Wisley 2 1-5 5, Audrey Duffield 3 0-0 6. Totals 17 10-20 45.
SALEM (0-2) – QwenNazha Johnson-Logan 4 1-2 9, Ava Rodgerss 2 1-2 5, Marissa Bower 3 0-0 7, Ryann Foote 3 5-8 11, Ameriyona Hunter 1 2-2 4, Carlysia Pierce 0 0-0 0. Totals 13 9-14 36.

Pitman128198 –45
Salem710127 –36
3-point goals: Salem 1 (Bower); Pitman 1 (Villari).

Gloucester Tech 38, Salem Tech 12: Ava Friel scored 10 points and Sophia Molinari and Maggie Duer combined for 15 points on five 3-pointers to lead GCIT. 

GCIT 38, SALEM TECH 12
SALEM TECH (0-2) – Kaylin Beardsley 2 0-0 5, TiRonna McGaha 2 0-0 4, Morgan VanDover 1 0-0 2, Lavae Scott 1 0-0 2. Totals 6 0-0 12.
GCIT (3-0) – Sophia Molinari 3 0-0 9, Maggie Duer 2 0-0 6, Leanne Riddick 1 1-1 4, Ava Friel 5 0-0 10, Savanna Shute 2 1-1 5, Sofia McKay 1 0-0 2, Giannone 1 0-0 2. Totals 15 2-2 38.

Salem Tech2523 –12
GCIT137198 – 38
3-point goals: Salem Tech 1 (Beardsley); GCIT 6 (Molinari 3, Duer 2, Riddick).

Track

TOMS RIVER – Salem’s girls finished third in three relays (shuttle hurdle, sprint medley, 4×200) and finished tied for sixth in SJTCA’s third winter meet Monday. Dominique Lewis and Ryann Mulhorn finished fourth and sixth, respectively, in the girls shot put. Schalick was 11th.

Swimming

Woodstown 96, West Deptford 74: The Wolverines (2-0) won three individual events and all three relays. Thomas Boyles won the 50 free and swam legs on all three relays. Sabastian Smith won 100 back and 100 free and swam leadoff on the 200 medley and 400 free relays.

This week’s schedule

Here is the Salem County high school sports calendar for the week of Dec. 18-23

MONDAY
BASKETBALL
Girls
Penns Grove at Paulsboro, 4 p.m.
Pennsville at Kingsway, 5:30 p.m.
Pitman at Salem, 5:30 p.m.
Salem Tech at GCIT, 5:30 p.m.
Boys
GCIT at Salem Tech, 5:30 p.m.
Salem at Wildwood Catholic, 6 p.m.

WRESTLING
Millville at Schalick, 5 p.m.

INDOOR TRACK
Salem, Schalick in SJCTA Meet, Toms River

SWIMMING
Woodstown vs. West Deptford at Riverwinds, 3:30 p.m.

BOWLING
Salem vs. Lindenwold, Wood Lanes, 4 p.m.

TUESDAY
BASKETBALL
Girls
Glassboro at Penns Grove, 4 p.m.
Gloucester Cath. at Salem Tech, 5:30 p.m.
Pennsville at Overbrook, 5:30 p.m.
Schalick at Woodstown, 5:30 p.m.
Boys
Overbrook at Pennsville, 5:30 p.m.
Penns Grove at Glassboro, 5:30 p.m.
Woodstown at Schalick, 5:30 p.m.
Salem Tech at Gloucester Cath., 5:30 p.m.

BOWLING
Salem Tech at Gloucester City, 4 p.m.

WEDNESDAY
BASKETBALL
Pitman at Salem, 7 p.m.

WRESTLING
Schalick, Salem, Egg Harbor Twp. at Pennsville, 5 p.m.
Penns Grove at Clayton, 6 p.m.

WINTER TRACK
Penns Grove, Salem in Polar Bear Meet, Pennsville, 3:30 p.m.

BOWLING
Salem in Holiday Tournament, Laurel Lanes, 3:30 p.m.

THURSDAY
BASKETBALL
Girls
Schalick at LEAP, 4 p.m.
Clearview at Woodstown, 5:30 p.m.
Pennsville at Gloucester Tech, 5:30 p.m.
Salem Tech at Penns Grove, 4 p.m.
Boys
Gloucester Tech at Pennsville, 5:30 p.m.
LEAP at Schalick, 5:30 p.m.
Penns Grove at Salem Tech, 5:30 p.m.
Woodstown at Cumberland, 5:30 p.m.

SWIMMING
Schalick vs. Gloucester Cath. at GCIT, 4:45 p.m.
Salem vs. Triton Regional at GCIT, 7:15 p.m.

SATURDAY
BASKETBALL
Boys
Cherokee at Penns Grove, 1 p.m.

WRESTLING
Pennsville, Penns Grove, Schalick in Cumberland Duals
Woodstown, Seneca, St. Joseph at Mainland, 9 a.m.

INDOOR TRACK
Salem vs. TCC, Toms River, 9 a.m.

Getting it done

Penns Grove scores its first victory of the season with Conrad taking over in the final 40.6 seconds

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

PENNS GROVE – Former Arkansas basketball coach Nolan Richardson used to call it 40 minutes of hell when teams came to play his Razorbacks. Giomar Conrad reduced it to 40 seconds of hell unleashed on Lindenwold Saturday night.

The final game of the Red Devil Classic was a 32-minute battle of wills, for sure, but it was what happened in the final 40.6 seconds that made all the difference.

Conrad grabbed two big rebounds and calmly sank four straight free throws – all in the final 40.6 seconds – to help Penns Grove pull out its first victory of the season, 60-54.

The teams had been punching and counterpunching all game. The Red Devils (1-1) had an eight-point lead early in the fourth quarter, but not even that was safe. With less than a minute to go Lindenwold’s Tajamir Brown hit a 3 and it was a tied game.

Karon Ceaser broke the tie with 40.6 seconds left when he hit a layup from the underside of the basket and was fouled. The Lions falled time before the free throw to ice the freshman and make plans.

The Red Devils made plans as well.

“I told all my guards we had big Willie (Slocum) down there working his behind off but at the same time I need all the guards to crash and help out,” PG coach Damian Ware said. “We stressed that during that final time out that we need everybody to crash the boards. Crash, crash, crash.

“Everybody crashed the boards in that final 30 seconds because we knew if we just get one rebound we can finish the game out from the free throw line. That’s what we were really looking for at that point.”

No one took that message to heart more than Conrad. Ceaser missed the free throw, but Conrad raced in to get the rebound. He was fouled and with 29 seconds left made both free throws to extend the lead to 58-54.

The Lions (1-1) needed to make something happen quickly and Brown missed a 3-pointer. Conrad was there again to corral the rebounds and was fouled again with less than four seconds left. He made those two free throws to complete a 27-point night and the final margin.

“I just had to catch the ball, make sure I hold it, waste some time and when they fouled me make sure I made two free throws and the game was over after that,” Conrad said. “At the end of the game when it’s close like that I always go get the ball. I had to make sure we got it.”

PENNS GROVE 60, LINDENWOLD 54
LINDENWOLD (1-1) – Jaden Farmer 4 2-3 10, Becaye Drame 2 0-0 4, Jabril Simmons 3 2-2 8, C.J. Matthews 5 1-2 12, Tajamir Brown 5 0-0 12, Jermaine Hughes 1 0-0 3, Wes Cholopy 0 0-0 0, E. Hernandez 2 1-2 5. Totals 22 6-9 54.
PENNS GROVE (1-1) – Willie Slocum 1 0-0 2, Mekhi Ballard 0 0-0 0, Khiry Higgs 0 0-0 0, Jaden Sorrell 1 0-0 2, Mr. Peterson 1 0-2 2, Roman Gipson 3 1-2 7, Karon Ceaser 6 2-7 14, Brandon Robbins 2 0-0 6, Giomar Conrad 9 6-6 27. Totals 23 9-15 60.

Lindenwold16 161012 –54
Penns Grove14171316 – 60
3-point goals: Lindenwold 4 (Matthews, Brown 2, Hughes); Penns Grove 5 (Robbins 2, Conrad 3).
Fouled out: Farmer. Total fouls: Lindenwold 19, Penns Grove 14


What a start

Salem opens its season with an intense victory over Woodbury behind MVP Farmer, Bundy

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

PENNS GROVE – Anthony Farmer was the last one to get back to the locker room for the post-game meeting. His father, the coach, had already begun his remarks. When you’re the player of the game there are a lot of demands on your time.

FARMER

Farmer scored 19 points and was right in the middle of all the key moments in the game leading Salem to a 67-56 victory over defending Group I champion Woodbury in their season opener Saturday in the Red Devil Classic.

Before rejoining his teammates in their sanctuary, the senior guard had to negotiate a gauntlet of well-wishers and interviewers following the MVP trophy presentation. But it’s an experience he wouldn’t trade for the world.

“It’s a hassle, everybody asking questions, but I embrace that kind of stuff and that’s what I do it for,” he said. “I love the feeling, it’s a very good feeling and I hope to feel that plenty more times.”

Salem had several leads that seemed comfortable, but Woodbury rallied every time. The Rams never put the Herd away until the final two minutes.

It was a 10-point game early in the third quarter, but the Herd rallied behind some big shots by Jajuan Solomon and Troy Lindsey and eventually took a 42-41 lead on R.J. Heighler’s 3-pointer right before the horn.

The most important minute of the game came early in the fourth quarter and Farmer was right in the middle of it.

The Rams had regained the lead 45-41, but the way teams were making runs in the game that could change in an instant. Farmer went the length of the floor for a layup and then made a steal near midcourt and finished the play with a layup from underneath the basket.

When freshman Ty Lecator followed with a 3-pointer to cap an 11-0 run, Salem led by 10 once again. This time they didn’t let it go. The Herd got within five with two minutes left, but the Rams didn’t let them get any closer.

“I knew I had to make a play,” the guard said. “I’m one of the leaders on the team and they need me, they’re depending on me, and I felt like at that time I know I needed to make a play. Thank the man above I was able to do that.”

“That definitely was a big stretch for us; we needed to make plays,” Farmer the coach said. “That’s his job, he’s a senior, he’s been around. He’s a calm kid, he made the plays that needed to be made as a senior.”

Ramaji Bundy also played a big role. He banked home a 3 from the side-court logo at the end of the first quarter to put Salem up by six. He plunged in the dagger with a minute to go when he hit a 3 to put the Rams up eight.

“Bundy was special all night, man,” Farmer the coach said. “Just some of the plays down the stretch that maybe didn’t show up in the box score. He was huge, getting deflections, chasing balls around, just being active. That’s what he is for us.

“When he’s making shots and scoring for us that’s a bonus, but his energy and effort and leadership is really what we rely on.”

SALEM 67, WOODBURY 56
WOODBURY (0-2) – Troy Lindsey 6 0-0 15, Jajuan Solomon 4 2-7 10, Dorian Dunbar 3 4-6 11, Amara Sacko 1 1-4 4, Isaiah Dulaney 0 0-0 0, R.J. Heighler 7 1-6 16. Totals 21 8-20 56.
SALEM (1-0) – Ramaji Bundy 6 1-1 16, Anthony Farmer 7 4-6 19, Jabez DeJesus 3 1-2 9, Paul Weathers 6 4-4 16, Xavier McGriff 0 0-0 0, Ty Lecator 1 4-4 7, Antoine Rogers 0 0-0 0, Kyree Little 0 0-0 0, Joe Tunis 0 0-0 0. Totals 23 14-17 67.

Woodbury11151614 – 56
Salem1717726 –67
3-point goals: Woodbury 6 (Lindsey 3, Dunbar, Sacko, Heighler); Salem 7 (Bundy 3, Farmer, DeJesus 2, Lecator). Technical fouls: Lecator. Fouled out: Heighler. Total fouls: Woodbury 18, Salem 17.
Anthony Farmer (R) is congratulated by his teammates after winning Player of the Game honors for his effort against Woodbury.



Tough turnaround

After a strong opener, Pennsville goes out on the road less than 18 hours later and struggles

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

DEPTFORD – Now you know why major-league managers rest their everyday catchers the day off during an afternoon game that follows a night game. It’s all about getting the proper rest.

On the high school basketball floor Pennsville coach Joe Mecholsky calls it the “Clayton Effect,” a phenomenon tracked at some length and named by Clippers coach Frank Rago on what happens to teams who play early Saturday after a late night against the Clippers the night before.

It didn’t turn out too well for the Eagles Saturday. They were as cold as a mid-winter morning shooting the ball and lost to Deptford 76-50 after getting their season off to a big start the night before.

While the Eagles succeeded in cutting their turnovers in half from the night before, the rest of their game wasn’t as sharp. 

They shot 18-for-65 for the game – 14-for-40 from the field, 4-for-25 from 3-point range – and 10-for-22 from the free throw line. And they got in foul trouble early and 6-7 post Daniel Saulin, who gave them 17 points and 14 rebounds the night before, fouled out with seven minutes to go.

“We were in a very physical game today and we did not respond to it,” Mecholsky said. “They wore us down and grinded us out. It’s tough to play back-to-back with a noon start on Saturday.”

The Eagles trailed by eight at the half and went into the dressing room to talk about how they were going turn it around. It didn’t happen and Deptford steadily stretched its lead.

It didn’t help they lost one of their key pieces early in the second quarter. Chase Burchfield suffered a shoulder injury lunging for a loose ball and Mecholsky admitted it “took the air out of the balloon.”  The Eagles likely will be without their 3-point threat for at least the next two weeks.

DEPTFORD 76, PENNSVILLE 50
PENNSVILLE (1-1) – Luke Wood 3 4-4 12, Malik Rehmer 2 1-2 5, Jayden Thomas 5 2-7 13, Peyton O’Brien 5 0-0 11, Daniel Saulin 2 0-0 4, Chase Burchfield 0 0-0 0, Coen Petrutz 0 0-0 0, Mason O’Brien 1 2-2 4, Logan Hitt 0 1-2 1, Cole Johnston 0 0-2 0, Carlos Marandino 0 0-2 0. Totals 18 10-21 50
DEPTFORD  (2-0) – Bryce Dunn 3 0-0 6, Carter Cooper 5 1-4 11, Deiyon Rowland 4 0-0 11, Ayden Copestick 5 0-0 14, Brian Ono 5 2-4 15, Luke Vilary 0 0-0 0, Jordan Williams 1 0-0 2, Jayden Minter 0 0-0 0, Alonzo Hernandez 3 0-0 7, Grahem Karley 1 1-1 3, Joe Crawley 1 1-2 3, Sean Castello 0 0-0 0, Anais Usher 0 0-0 0, Kenny Cockerill 1 0-0 2. Totals 29 5-11 76.

Pennsville15141110 – 50
Deptford22151722 –76
3-point goals: Pennsville 4 (Wood 2, Thomas, P. O’Brien); Deptford 11 (Rowland 3, Copestick 4, Ono 3, Hernandez). Fouled out: Saulin. Total fouls: Pennsville 12, Deptford 20.