Category: BASKETBALL

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.




Goal oriented

Penns Grove’s Horace marching towards 1,000 career points on the way to a deep run in the playoffs

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

PENNS GROVE – Meely Horace really wants 1,000 points. And she really wants a championship banner.

There’s no reason those two items have to be mutually exclusive.

The Penns Grove senior guard moved a little closer to that personal goal and helped her team gain a lot of power points for the other when she went for 22 points to earn Player of the Game honors in the Red Devils’ 63-27 rout of Group IV Bridgeton in the only girls game of this year’s Red Devil Classic.

She now has 747 career points after two games this season. At her current pace – 19 points a game – she’s reach the milestone sometime late next month.

Just how much does she want it? She has 1K written on one of her pairs of shoes. She figures averaging five points a quarter should do the trick.

“I want to get to my 1K, my 1,000 points,” she said. “I want to break the record for them. It’s been a while since somebody hit 1K. I want to do that before I leave.”

There’s banner hanging high on the gym wall containing the names of the six 1,000-point scorers in Penns Grove girls basketball history, The last name went up in 2018 (Natrice Reed, 1,065).

There’s a piece of tape covering the next line on the banner. No one will say what the tape is covering, but it’s presumed that’s where Horace’s name will go when she hits the number.

“She’s going to get her 1,000 points and we want her to get that,” Red Devils coach Jennifer Denby said. “This is why we’re trying to coach her so she can become a better player mentally and physically on the court. 

“It is reachable. She most definitely is going to get her thousand, but she wants to win a championship. This is why we’re doing all this work now.”

Denby knows a little about scoring points as the all-time leading scorer in the Rowan women’s basketball program. She’s personally placed four of the six names on the banner during her tenure.

Meely’s mental toughness was put to the test early in the game. The Bulldogs held her scoreless in the first quarter and she admitted her game was “all over the place” in the early going. But as the game went on she fixed her mistakes, became a defender and turned it into offense to help her team.

Even as she struggled to get on track, the Red Devils were building a 13-2 lead in the first quarter. In the second quarter she hit a couple 3s and Penns Grove extended the lead to 13 at halftime. She scored 13 points in the second half.

“Meely did struggle in the first half,” Denby agreed. “We pulled her off and talked to her and she got back in there and did her defense assignment, and she played offense. So, she deserves that reward that she got.”

And a bigger reward is yet to come.

PENNS GROVE 63, BRIDGETON 27
BRIDGETON (0-2) – Diara McGriff 0 0-0 0, Karina Perez 0 0-0 0, Alyanna Ridgeway 0 0-0 0, Kahmya Johnson 0 0-0 0, Adelina Wilks 3 11-12 17, Madison Garner 0 0-0 0, Kimona Notice 1 0-0 2, Imara James 4 0-2 8, Jayla Bowman 0 0-0 0, Tatiyanna Crawford 0 0-2 0. Totals 8 11-16 27.
PENNS GROVE (2-0) – Syanna Robbins 0 0-0 0, Brianna Robbins 5 1-7 12, RaNiyah Wilson 7 0-0 17, Arianna Dowe 1 0-0 2, Amani Taylor 1 0-0 3, Semijah Hines 1 0-0 2, Meely Horace 8 3-6 22, Zoey Caesar 1 2-2 4, JaNiyah Cummings 0 1-2 1, Jamira Lewis 0 0-2 0, Ruiande Delva 0 0-0 0, Totals 24 7-19 63.

Bridgeton21564  –27
Penns Grove13171716 –63
3-point goals: Bridgeton 0, Penns Grove 8 (B. Robbins, Wilson 3, Taylor, Horace 3). Total fouls: Bridgeton 19, Penns Grove 13.

Man with a plan

Pennsville’s boys follow a plan to combat Clayton, Schalick wins first season opener since 2015, Penns Grove challenged by strong competition

FRIDAY BOYS SCORES
Pennsville 80, Clayton 66
Pitman 69, Penns Grove 41
Schalick 65, Salem Tech 43

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

PENNSVILLE – Clayton came into David Salberg Gym Friday night having scored 96 points the night before and the reputation for firing 3-pointers at will. That made the Clippers a dangerous opening-night opponent for anyone.

But Pennsville coach Joe Mecholsky had a plan – guard the 3, rebound and play tight man defense.

It proved to be the winning formula as the Eagles clipped their visitors 80-66, missing by just one point the score the coach had predicted before the game.

“We knew coming in that their game is to shoot the 3 and give us the 2,” Mecholsky said. “We tried to be very diligent guarding the 3-point shot. At one point to start the fourth quarter I told the boys let them drive, give up the 2. They want to shoot the 3 to get back in this game.

“That’s just their system. When it’s working that’s a much tighter game. When the system doesn’t work we ended up with a favorable outcome. They’ve got a South Jersey title with that system, his kids love playing that system, but I think tonight it just came down to we were the better team.”

Clayton came out firing – and missing. The Clippers missed their first 11 shots from the field – most of them 3s – and Pennsville ran out to a 12-2 lead despite not being very sharp themselves. The Clippers, 9-of-30 from behind the arc in their opener at Pennsauken Tech, were 1-for-10 from behind the arc in the first quarter against the Eagles, 4-for-18 in the half and 10-for-38 for the game..

Instead of going into the locker room at halftime to discuss strategy, the Clippers spent the entire halftime on the floor putting up shots. They shot a better percentage in the second half, but never got closer than eight points and that was early in the third quarter.

The more they missed, the more the Eagles rebounded. Danny Saulin, a 6-foot-7 senior starting in his final season opener, pulled down 14 rebounds to go with 17 points, many off putbacks. 

“We have a saying – long shot, long rebound,” Saulin said. “When you’re jacking it up from 3 you just have to know you have to back up and get ready to box out and jump up for the ball. For them not playing so much in the paint it made it easier for us to score 2-pointers, made it easier for the whole team to score.”

Saulin wasn’t the only one clearing the boards. Peyton O’Brien, who spelled Saulin off the bench, grabbed 13 rebounds. The Eagles had 49 rebounds in the game. 

“He was so noticeable out there,” Mecholsky said. “When Danny comes out and Peyton can control the boards like that, that’s a big relief as a coach. Not only can he grab the boards, he starts the transition. He can turn and go.”

“I just try to contribute the best I can,” O’Brien said. “It feels good just to know I contributed some way to the win.”

The Clippers hit their only 3 of the first quarter with 2:13 left and it touched off a flurry that got them to 12-11 with a chance to tie. They missed the free throw on a potential three-point play, Saulin made a bucket on the other end and that started a 14-0 Pennsville run across two quarters that put the Eagles safely back in front for good.

“It’s an old cliché,” Mecholsky said, “the better team should win the game and tonight we were the better team.”

In most areas they were. One that left Mecholsky wiping his brow was the 24 turnovers charged to his team.

“We were incredibly lucky tonight that they didn’t shoot well; let’s be honest,” he said. “I didn’t see what Clayton shot from the field but we had 20-plus turnovers. How many games do you win when you turn the ball over 20 times? To have 24 turnovers you just start shaking your head and say all right we got one tonight.”

PENNSVILLE 80, CLAYTON 66
CLAYTON (1-1) – Dillon Jones 3 1-2 8, Princeton Sackor 5 1-1 14, Nazir Davis  1 0-0 2, John Carter 1 0-0 3, Khamari Farley 7 0-0 17, Demetris Williams 4 0-0 8, Jon Cox 0 0-2 0, Cristan Scott 0 0-2 0, A’Shaud Hine-Pope  3 0-1 6, Nasir Carter 3 0-0 8, Jayden Prince 0 0-0 0. Totals 27 2-8 66.
PENNSVILLE (1-0) – Mason O’Brien 1 0-0 3, Luke Wood 10 2-4 24, Cohen Petrutz 5 0-0 11, Chase Burchfield 7 0-1 14, Peyton O’Brien 2 0-0 4, Jayden Thomas 3 0-2 7, Malik Rehmer 0 0-0 0, Daniel Saulin 8 1-1 17. Totals 36 3-8 80.

Clayton 11181522 –66
Pennsville19192220 –80
3-point goals: Clayton 10 (Jones, Sackor 3, J. Carter, Farley 3, N. Carter 2); Pennsville 5 (Wood 2, M. O’Brien, Petrutz, Thomas). Total fouls: Clayton 10, Pennsville 16.

SCHALICK 65, SALEM TECH 43: The Cougars won only three games a year ago, but got their new season off to a rousing start – 25-4 in the first quarter and 39-11 at halftime – and won their season opener for the first time since 2015.

Reggie Allen led the way with 17 points. Daniel Lis had 12 and Ryan Johnson had 10. Junior Nylan Sutton added five points for the Cougars, and had one of the night’s biggest highlights when he threw down the first dunk of his career in the fourth quarter. 

“I think it is meaningful for our program overall,” Schalick coach James Turner said. “It’s nice to finally open up the season with a win and for these guys to carry that same winning mentality from one season to the next, which was what our goal was, and they did a good job today.”

The Cougars got off to what Turner called “a great start.” Their press forced several turnovers that led to some transition baskets and they held the Chargers without a field goal in the first quarter.

“The game plan going in was to put pressure on them and try to get up early,” Turner said. “We tried our best to keep them from getting set in their offense.”

The Cougars didn’t secure their first win last season until after the first of the year. It’s the earlier they’ve gotten a win since beating Collingswood at home on Dec. 15, 2018 – Turner’s second game as their coach. 

The last time they opened a season with a win, they beat Clearview 57-42 in 2015 and went on to go 22-8. They’ve won 22 games the previous five seasons combined.

“I think it was just a little bit of a relief, to say OK we got that first win out of the way, we got that first game out of the way,” Turner said. “I’d just say it was a feeling of relief because of what we’ve gone through the last few years.”

Salem Tech’s Antoine Robinson led all scorers with 19 points.

SCHALICK 65, SALEM TECH 43
SALEM TECH (0-1) – Antoine Robinson 5 8-11 19, Chase Wills 3 2-4 9, Josh Muntz 1 0-0 3, Tyler Zampino 1 0-0 3, Haneef Frisby 3 0-0 6, Joseph Hayes 0 1-4 1, Gio Holmes 0 0-0 0, Daviontae Russell 1 0-0 2, Chase Ayers 0 0-0 0. Totals 14 11-19 43.
SCHALICK (1-0) – Reggie Allen 6 2-6 17, Daniel Lis 5 1-3 12, Sherrod Jones 1 0-0 2, Justin Iacona 0 0-0 0, Nylan Sutton 2 1-4 5, Nasir Sutton 3 2-9 8, Ryan Johnson 4 2-2 10, Jordan Johnson 2 1-2 5, Jake Siedlecki 2 0-0 4, Jase Volovar 1 0-1 2. Totals 26 9-27 65.

Salem Tech472012 –43
Schalick2514818 –65
3-point goals: Salem Tech 4 (Robinson, Wills, Muntz, Zampino); Schalick 4 (Alllen 3, Lis).
Fouled out: Frisby, J. Johnson, Siedlecki. Total fouls: Salem Tech 21, Schalick 21.

PITMAN 69, PENNS GROVE 41: Some days you play well and some days you learn well. Red Devils coach Damian Ware hopes his team is learning to see what takes to play at a high level because they’ve seen those teams that do twice since practice began.

The Red Devils got their second dose of it Friday and the Panthers put their skill and experience together to show them how the other half lives.

“For our guys the difference in the game was the intensity of the game,” Ware said. “It was actually a good learning lesson and that’s why I told the guys. I said now you see what it looks like to be a contender. If you want to be a contender this is the level you have to play to.”

They got a taste of it last week when they played Egg Harbor Twp., but that was a scrimmage so when they came up short in that one it was no harm, no foul. Friday night’s game counted in the standings.

Penns Grove was in it early and only trailed 15-12 after the first quarter, but then Pitman’s Elijah Crispin and Michael Fisicaro started hearing up and the Panthers started pulling away. Crispin hit three 3s from NBA range and the lead started to grow. It was 16 at halftime, 25 after three quarters.

Crispin led all scorers with 17 points. Fisicaro had 15. Crispin hit three 3s, Fisicaro hit four. Meanwhile, Penns Grove was 0-for-16 from behind the arc.

Roman Gipson led the Red Devils with 13 points off the bench and he may have earned himself a promotion.

“He’s the first sub off the bench, he’s our sixth man, which actually might change,” Ware said. “I might put him in the starting lineup, we’ll see.

“In two of the three scrimmages he came off the bench and did some work there. I’m trying to give guys a little bit of rope to see what they do, but when these young guys come up ,you can’t deny them. You’ve got to let them play.”

The first chance for that possibility is Saturday when they play Lindenwold in the nightcap of their own Red Devil Classic. Pitman opens the event against Burlington City at 11 a.m., followed by Salem and Woodbury. Both Penns Grove teams play in the evening session.

PITMAN 69, PENNS GROVE 41
PITMAN (1-0) – Porter Kostiuk 5-3-13, Stephen Devanney 4-1-10, Hudson Rue 4-0-8, Elijah Crispin 6-2-17, Chris Wyllie 2-0-4, Michael Fisicaro 6-1-15, Greg Petersen 1-0-2, Jake Epting 0-0-0, Trey Tinges 0-0-0. Totals 27-7-69. 
PENNS GROVE (0-1) – Roman Gipson 5-3-13, Camren Thompson 0-1-0, Giomar Conrad 2-8-12, Mehki Ballard 1-0-2, Willie Slocum 1-2-4, Brandin Robbins 2-0-4, KaRon Ceaser 2-0-4, Luis Colon 0-1-1. Totals 13-15-41.

Pitman15182113 –69
Penns Grove1251212 –41
3-point goals: Pitman 8 (Devanney, Crispin 3, Fisicaro 4); Penns Grove 0.