Tough way to start

Gloucester Catholic goes out fast against Woodstown to spoil Straughn’s coaching debut; Penns Grove pulls away from Clayton for county girls’ only win of the night

FRIDAY’S GIRLS SCORES
Glassboro 44, Salem 29
Gloucester Catholic 69, Woodstown 41
Penns Grove 47, Clayton 38
Pitman 52, Schalick 14
Wildwood 64, Pennsville 30
Overbrook at Salem Tech

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

GLOUCESTER CITY – The moment she saw it on the schedule Kara Straughn knew her first game as the Woodstown girls basketball coach was going to be a tough one.

Straughn made her head coaching debut Friday night and it didn’t go well as the Rams handed her and the Wolverines a 69-41 loss.

“I knew it was going to be a tough game even if it wasn’t my first game,” Straughn said. “I was still going to have the same amount of nerves just because of who they are. They’re a team, a program, a coach … you cannot not honor and respect them as a whole.

“I knew it was going to be a difficult game because of who they are and going up there adds a whole ‘nother level of anxiety. I knew off the bat it was going to be a difficult game and we just didn’t match up.”

The Rams took advantage of their size and placed four scorers in double figures. Jazhara Green led the way with 17 points. Talia Schumate had 15, Jalyn Moore 13 and Julianna DiFebbo 12.

Talia Battavio led Woodstown with five 3-pointers and 17 points, but their next two scorers – Megan Donelson and Shannon Pierman – had 12 apiece.

The Rams jumped out to a 21-11 lead in the first quarter and Woodstown just couldn’t put enough together to overcome the deficit.

“Matchup-wise it wasn’t there tonight,” Straughn said. “My girls played their hearts out, but we just couldn’t piece things together. We would get a couple stops and then we would throw the ball away sometimes. We just couldn’t put it all together.”

GLOUCESTER CATHOLIC 69, WOODSTOWN 41
WOODSTOWN (0-1) – Talia Battavio 5 2-2 17, Megan Donelson 4 3-4 12, Alyssa Baber 0 0-0 0, Gianna Maiorini 0 0-0 0, Shannon Pierman 5 2-2 12, Lauren Hengel 0 0-0 0, Jala Thomas 0 0-0 0, Lizzy Daly 0 0-0 0, Brae DiGregorio 0 0-0 0. Totals 14 7-8 41.
GLOUCESTER CATHOLIC (1-0) – Jahzara Green 7 3-3 17, Julianna DiFebbo 5 0-0 12, Talia Schumate 6 3-5 15, Katherine Lange 4 0-0 9, Jalyn Moore 5 2-2 13, Alyssa Elliott 1 0-0 3, Yazaniah Schumate 0 0-0 0, Maya Hutchinson 0 0-0 0. Totals 28 8-10 69.

Woodstown	11	14	12	4 –	41
Gloucester Cath.	21	17	19	12 –	69

3-point goals: Woodstown 6 (Battavio 5, Donelson); Gloucester Catholic 5 (DiFebbo 2, Lange, Moore, Elliott). Total points: Woodstown 8, Gloucester Catholic 10.

PENNS GROVE 47, CLAYTON 38: A veteran and a newcomer took over a close game in the fourth quarter and led the Red Devils to their opening-night victory

Jameelyonna Horace and transfer RaNiyah Wilson combined for 15 of their team’s 17 points in the fourth quarter as Penns Grove pulled away.

Horace knocked down two of her three 3-pointers and scored eight of her game-high 16 points in the fourth quarter. Wilson went 3-for-4 from the free throw line and scored seven of her 11 in the quarter.

The Red Devils held a 19-14 halftime lead, but the Clippers closed the margin to 30-29 entering the fourth quarter behind eight of Rainelle Blocker’s 13 points.

PENNS GROVE 47, CLAYTON 38
PENNS GROVE (1-0) – Jameelyonna Horace 6 1-2 16, Syanna Robbins 0 0-0 0, Brianna Robbins 5 0-0 10, Amani Taylor 0 0-7 0, Rolande Delva 0 0-0 0, RaNiyah Wilson 4 3-4 11, Arianna Dowe 1 0-0 3, Zoey Caesar 1 1-2 3, Semijah Hines 0 0-2 0, Jamira Lewis 0 0-0 0, JaNiyah Cummings 2 0-0 4. Totals 19 5-17 47.
CLAYTON (1-1) – Jordyn Jones 1 0-2 2, Rainelle Blocker 4 5-6 13, Rosalina Pereira 2 0-2 4, Janice Blair 0 0-0 0, Napria Loatman 0 0-0 0, Sophia Petsch 0 0-0 0, Deondria Simon 1 0-0 2, Ava Delaney 5 0-0 14, India Williams 0 0-0 0, LaNiya Carr-Archie 1 1-4 3. Totals 14 6-14 38.

Penns Grove	8	11	11	17 –	47
Clayton	11	3	15	9 –	38

3-point goals: Penns Grove 4 (Horace 3, Dowe); Clayton 4 (Delaney 4). Total fouls: Penns Grove 3, Clayton 7.

WILDWOOD 64, PENNSVILLE 30: After enduring a 90-minute bus ride to the game, the Eagles had trouble getting on track and fell behind 46-14 at halftime.

The Warriors took advantage of the friendly confines to hit eight 3-pointers in the first half to open up their big lead. Leading scorer Macie McCracken (22) and Rebecca Benichou (13) both hit three 3s in the half.

Nora Ausland led Pennsville with nine points. She had the Eagles’ five points in the first quarter.

“They played in the South Jersey Group I championship last year (against Woodstown) for a reason; (coach Teresa Cunniff) has always had a solid program,” Pennsville coach Sam Trapp said. “They are a very good shooting team and executed man defense well, which we struggled against. We had several open looks, but could not finish at the basket.

“We are still figuring out who we are and what our strengths are as a team. Hoping to have a better showing and boost our confidence next week.”

WILDWOOD 64, PENNSVILLE 30
PENNSVILLE (0-1) – Calli Ausland 0 0-0 0, Nora Ausland 3 1-2 9, Taylor Bass 3 1-1 7, Sofia Belitsas 0 0-0 0, Kylie Harris 0 0-0 0, Anikka Macalino 1 0-0 2, Malani McGee 0 0-0 0, Isabelle Saulin 1 2-4 4, Avery Watson 0 0-0 0, Marley Wood 2 4-6 8. Totals 10 8-14 30.
WILDWOOD (1-0) – Sophia Wilber 2 4-6 8, Angela Wilber 4 0-0 11, Macie McCracken 9 1-1 22, Kaliah Sumlin 3 1-1 7, Rebecca Benichou 5 0-0 13, Cydnee Silian 0 0-0 0, Ashley Nagle 1 0-0 3, Janet Gonzalez 0 0-0 0. Totals 24 6-8 64.

Pennsville	5	9	12	4 –	30
Wildwood	20	26	17	1 –	64

3-point goals: Pennsville 2 (N. Ausland 2); Wildwood 10 (A. Wilber 3, McCracken 3, Benichou 3, Nagle).Total fouls: Pennsville 7, Wildwood 11.

GLASSBORO 44, SALEM 29: Tamia Smith (17) and Kezia Brackett (15) combined to outscore the Rams (0-1) themselves. Ava Rodgerss led Salem with 11 points.

Fine tuned

Penns Grove boys ready for opener after running past Gloucester Christian in final scrimmage; PG girls come close to shutting out Pleasantville

TUESDAY SCRIMMAGE SCORES
Girls
Burlington Tech at Salem
Penns Grove 72, Pleasantville 2
Woodstown 77, at Kingsway 43
Boys
Penns Grove 73, Gloucester Christian 49

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

PENNS GROVE – It was their final scrimmage before a pretty good season opener. The hay is in the barn, so to speak, and Penns Grove coach Damian Ware said his team is ready to go.

The Red Devils went through their final tune-up of the preseason Tuesday and beat a Gloucester County Christian team with three regular-season games under its belt, 73-49. They open their season Friday against Pitman.

“It was the last dress rehearsal,” Ware said. “I saw what I needed to see. We’re tuned up.”

The scrimmage gave Ware one last chance to see a lot of combinations in game-like conditions without consequences to the record. There was a stretch when all the freshmen were on the floor. Another with all the seniors. The Red Devils gave the early minutes to the core group that will get the heaviest minutes during the season and won Monday’s scrimmage and it gave them a lead they never lost.

The Conquerors did pull within one late in the first quarter under a hail of 3-pointers, but then the Red Devils pulled back out and steadily pulled away. Shane Bradway did his best to keep the visitors in it – he led all scorers with 23 points – but Penns Grove was just too deep.

Giomar Conrad and Karon Ceaser led the Red Devils with 14 points apiece. Eleven of their 13 players who got in the game scored.

Freshman point guard Brandon Robbins didn’t score, but he gave them something more valuable from the position – the ability to run the offense, distribute the ball and not turn it over.

Ceaser made an immediate impact on the Red Devils’ football team in the fall as a freshman and Ware is hoping he has the same impact on the basketball floor. He had six points, a couple rebounds and a steal in the first five and a half minutes of the game after forced the Conquerors to take second timeout in less than a minute after his back-to-back buckets put Penns Grove up 13-5.

“He definitely will,” Ware said. “Ever since we started camp he’s shown me his ability to play, and it’s not even his natural skill, it’s his raw talent and athleticism, his quickness, his aggressiveness.

“He’s going to get 10-12 points a game just off run-out layups and steals and transition. I do expect him to make an immediate impact just as he did in football.”

The Red Devils open their season Friday against Pitman. The Panthers return to Penns Grove Saturday to open the Red Devil Classic, a four-game showcase that benefits the high school PTO.

The first session starts at 11 a.m. and features Pitman-Burlington City and Salem-Woodbury boys games. The 4:30 p.m. second session is a Penns Grove doubleheader with the girls playing Bridgeton and the boys playing Lindenwold.

PENNS GROVE 73, GLOUCESTER CHRISTIAN 49
GLOUCESTER CHRISTIAN – Sam Bishop 0 0-0 0, Ben Small 3 0-0 6, Brady Gesuh 4 0-1 10, David Dellarova 1 2-4 4, Andrew Field 0 0-0 0, Mike Perentozi 0 0-0 0, Shane Bradway 8 5-9 23, Jay Craig 0 0-0 0, Matt Pilla 1 4-7 6. Totals 17 11-21 49.
PENNS GROVE – Mekhi Ballard 3 1-1 9, Khiry Higgs 0 0-0 0, Giomar Conrad 5 2-3 14, Luis Colon 2 0-0 4, Will Roy 1 0-0 2, Karon Ceaser 6 2-4 14, Camren Thompson 1 2-2 4, Jaden Sorrell 2 0-0 4, Brandon Robbins 0 0-0 0, Roman Gipson 4 1-1 9, Willie Sutton 2 0-2 4, Mr. Peterson 2 0-0 4, Naizan Spence 2 0-0 5. Totals 30 8-13 73.

Gloucester Christian	14	11	10	14 –	49
Penns Grove	17	17	17	22 –	73

3-point goals: Gloucester Christian 4 (Gesuh 2, Bradway 2); Penns Grove 5 (Ballard 2, Conrad 2, Spence). Total fouls: Gloucester Christian 13, Penns Grove 18.

GIRLS

PENNS GROVE 72, PLEASANTVILLE 2: A first-quarter basket was the only thing that stood between the Red Devils and a shutout.

Jameelyonna Horace led Penns Grove with 20 points distributed across the three quarters of the scrimmage. Ariana Dowe scored all 16 of her points in the first quarter and Raniyah Wilson scored all 13 of hers in the second quarter. It was 55-2 at halftime.

Cover photo: Penns Grove freshman Karon Ceaser (12) making as big an impression on the basketball floor as he did on the football field in the fall.

The new girl

Pennsville’s Ausland makes a smooth transition to new team after transferring from Salem, could be Eagles’ final piece

MONDAY’S SCRIMMAGES
Girls
Pennsville 63, Palmyra 40
Penns Grove 30, Kingsway 30 (3Q)
Boys
Penns Grove 49, Kingsway 46
Woodstown 58, Maple Shade 29
Pennsville 50, Palmyra 46 (3Q)
Bridgeton 68, Schalick 40

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

PENNSVILLE – Nora Ausland had a lot of time to think about her future after a broken foot prematurely ended her sophomore season last year.

She wanted a basketball team capable of winning that would appreciate the skills she would bring to the table. Pennsville coach Sam Trapp wanted that one piece that would complete her team and make it a contender.

The two wants merged at the intersection of William Penn Avenue and South Broadway, right up the road from where Ausland used to play.

Ausland has merged seamlessly into the Pennsville program after transferring from Salem. On Monday she scored 27 points with five 3-pointers to lead the Eagles past Palmyra 63-40 for their first preseason victory.

“I’m glad it wasn’t difficult (to transition) because I was really scared to come here,” Ausland said. “I didn’t think people were going to accept me having this new girl, she’s going to take over, whatever. I was really scared people weren’t going to like me because I’m just coming in, taking over their stuff, but that’s not the case at all.

“It was really easy coming in here. Everybody was really accepting. I feel like I’ve known them since I was little. They all care for me and want me to do good and succeed, which I’m very thankful for. The first day of school I was just everywhere by myself, but then people were coming up to talk to me. Now I have a bunch of friends.”

The 5-foot-10 junior forward has made an immediate impact on the Eagles, who have designs on challenging Woodstown for the Tri-County Diamond Division title this year. She scored 17 points in her scrimmage debut against Millville and had nine the next time out against West Deptford.

Had Monday been a regular-season game, the 27 she scored against Palmyra would have been the second-best game of her high school career.

**Nora Ausland (L) has fit into the Pennsville girls basketball program nicely after transferring from Salem before her junior year.**

In two seasons at Salem she had 462 points, 61 3-pointers, 305 rebounds and 101 blocked shots. She had 179 points, 76 rebounds and 33 blocked shots when she broke a bone in her left ankle in late January. The Rams already were in the midst of a losing streak when she got hurt and they lost seven of their next eight without her.

The time away allowed Ausland to think long and hard about what she wanted from the game.

“I didn’t really have a good year because I broke my foot and the team wasn’t the best; they didn’t really give enough effort to care to win,” she said. “I was tired of that because I wanted to play, I want to win.

“I was just looking around at other schools, like what’s close, what’s easy for me to go to and also a good team. Last year they (Pennsville) got fourth seed out of the 16 (in South Jersey Group I) so OK it’s pretty good, it’s pretty easy to come here, so that’s what I did. I came here.”

Her arrival certainly was welcomed by Trapp. Ausland brings a dynamic the Eagles haven’t had since Ryane Wood, their last 1,000-point scorer who graduated in 2022.

She completes a lineup that returned three starters – senior Bella Farina, Taylor Bass and point guard Marley Wood – and includes elevated reserve Isabelle Saulin. Wood had 12 points on four 3-pointers against Palmyra.

“She just really incorporates a lot more offensive threat for us,” Trapp said. “We needed to be able to balance that responsibility between all five players and it helps with another player who can score.

“I like that she brings that competitiveness to practice because now it’s somebody that’ll push other girls and she can get pushed by other people, so I think it’s a real key component that is helping all the way around.”

PENNSVILLE 63, PALMYRA 40
PALMYRA – Cadence Anderson 8 0-0 20, Kylie Hines 0 0-0 0, Angie Sauls 2 0-0 4, Amanda Gilburn 1 0-0 2, Clara Cannouli 1 0-0 2, Cam DiMeo 2 0-0 4, Jada Colsee-Eli 1 2-3 4, Ava Sims 0 0-0 0, Anna Paszkiewicz 1 2-2 4. Totals 16 4-5 40.
PENNSVILLE – Nora Ausland 9 4-4 27, Taylor Bass 4 4-4 12, Sofia Belitsas 1 0-0 3, Bella Farina 1 2-2 4, Kylie Harris 0 0-0 0, Anikka Macalino 0 2-2 2, Isabelle Saulin 1 1-2 3, Avery Watson 0 0-0 0, Marley Wood 4 0-0 12. Totals 20 13-14 63.

Palmyra	13	10	7	10 –	40
Pennsville	22	13	15	13 –	63

3-point goals: Palmyra 4 (Anderson 4); Pennsville 10 (N. Ausland 5, Belitsas, Wood 4). Total fouls: Palmyra 13, Pennsville 4.

PENNS GROVE 30, KINGSWAY 30: Penns Grove’s Raniyah Wilson, the other dynamic transfer in the county this year, returned to her old stomping grounds and although she wasn’t as sharp as she might have been for the occasion scored 11 points as the varsities played to a tie in three quarters of action.

Wilson is in her first year with Penns Grove after transferring from Kingsway, where she would have been the Dragons’ top returning scorer and rebounder this season. She had six points in the first half as the Red Devils grabbed an 18-16 lead.

“We started her against her old team and I don’t think she had her best game at all,” Penns Grove coach Jennifer Denby said. “She was a little nervous. I wanted as a player, even as a coach, for her to come in and let them know how much they miss her and tonight just wasn’t her night.”

Jameelyonna Horace led Penns Grove with 12 points, including two 3-pointers. She had half of the Red Devils’ points at halftime.

Kingsway hit a 3-pointer at the end of the third quarter to force the tie.

“In the beginning of the game it was a struggle,” Denby said. “It’s hard to play with one person on the floor and everyone else’s mind is not there. Right now we’re still looking for chemistry.”

The Red Devils scrimmage again Tuesday and then open their season Friday against Clayton.

PENNS GROVE 30, KINGSWAY 30
PENNS GROVE – Raniyah Wilson 4 3-4 11, Jameelyonna Horace 5 0-1 12, Brianna Robbins 1 1-3 3, Zoey Caesar 2 0-0 4, Syanna Robbins 0 0-0 0, Jamira Lewis 0 0-0 0. Totals 12 4-8 30.
KINGSWAY – Ava Valente 2 2-2 7, Emily Leshik 0 0-0 0, Bella Archer 3 0-0 7, Olivia Myers 1 3-4 5, Paige Horton 1 0-0 2, Gabbi Bruno 4 1-2 9. Totals 11 6-8 30.

Penns Grove	7	11	12 –	30
Kingsway	13	3	14 –	30

3-point goals: Penns Grove 2 (Horace 2); Kingsway 2 (Valente, Archer). NOTE: Varsity played three quarters.

Boys

PENNS GROVE 49, KINGSWAY 46: After running through numerous combinations in the first three quarters, Penns Grove coach Damian Ware stuck with his Super Six in the fourth and they went on a 20-2 tear that carried the Red Devils to a come-from-behind victory.

The Red Devils jumped out 19-7 in the first quarter, but were outscored 37-10 over the next two quarters to fall behind 15. Ware got on his team before the fourth quarter began, subbed in his better athletes and off they went.

They started Mehki Ballard, Willie Slocum, Roman Gipson and freshmen KaRon Ceaser and Brandon Robbins and scored the first 10 points of the quarter. Giomar Conrad entered three minutes into the quarter and help the Red Devils close it out.

“We had a lot of good possessions in the third quarter, but a couple guys missed some layups; we make those layups it changes the third quarter,” Ware said. “In the fourth quarter I went with my main six guys. We just played our pressure defense and turned them over a lot with the main guys I feel are going to be the guys going forward.”

Conrad and Ballard led the Red Devils with 15 points apiece and combined for 13 points in the fourth quarter. Ballard, their best 3-point shooter a year ago (59 made), hit two of his three 3-pointers in the rally.

“I got on them in the third quarter and lit a little bit of a fire under them,” Ware said. “The fourth quarter they turned it up and played the type of defense I want to play. If we can bottle up what we did in the fourth quarter today, we’re going to be really good. It’s going to be tough to score on.”

PENNS GROVE 49, KINGSWAY 46
KINGSWAY – Dylan Lewis 1 0-2 2, Dasir Williams-Bey 3 0-0 6, Jaden Martin Cooper 2 0-0 4, Mikah Hart 4 2-3 11, Gregg Campbell 0 0-0 0, Maurice Tavares 3 2-2 10, Luca Kuzmick 2 0-0 6, Kai Tolley 0 0-0 0, Brady Shelton 0 0-0 0, Sean Steckler 0 0-0 0, Christian Conklin 1 2-2 4, Terrence Collier 2 0-0 4, Peter Frey 0 0-0 0. Totals 18 6-9 46.
PENNS GROVE – Roman Gipson 3 0-4 6, Camren Thompson 0 1-2 1, Giomar Conrad 6 1-2 15, Mekhi Ballard 6 0-0 15, Nizah Spence 0 0-0 0, Khiry Higgs 0 0-0 0, Willie Slocum 0 0-0 0, Brandon Robbins 0 0-0 0, Will Roy 0 0-0 0, Karon Ceaser 4 1-2 10, Luis Colon 1 0-0 2, Mr Peterson 0 0-2 0. Totals 20 3-12 49.

Kingsway	7	20	17	2 –	46
Penns Grove	19	4	6	20 –	49

3-point goals: Kingsway 4 (Hart, Tavares, Kuzmick 2); Penns Grove 6 (Conrad 2, Ballard 3, Ceaser). Total fouls: Kingsway 13, Penns Grove 9.

BRIDGETON 68, SCHALICK 40: Jameel Purnell led three Bridgeton scorers in double figures with 29 points and the Bulldogs were just too much for the Cougars on the glass.

Zikown Anderson (14) and Zamir Chance (10) also scored in double figures for the Bulldogs. Purnell and Anderson combined for 18 points in the first quarter. Nasir Sutton led Schalick with 10 points.

BRIDGETON 68, SCHALICK 40
SCHALICK – Nylan Sutton 3 0-2 6, Reggie Allen 2 1-2 7, Jake Siedlecki 1 0-0 2, Jordan Johnson 1 0-0 2, Dan Lis 1 4-5 6, Ryan Johnson 2 0-0 4, Nasir Sutton 4 0-2 10, Jase Volovar 1 0-0 3, Sharod Jones 0 0-0 0. Totals 15 5-11 40.
BRIDGETON – Kyion Gray 3 0-0 7, Zikwon Anderson 6 1-3 14, Zamir Chance 5 0-2 10, Azhone Burden 3 0-0 6, Jameel Purnell 12 4-6 29, Richard Mills 1 0-0 2, Martavian Brown 0 0-0 0, Raheem Jacobs 0 0-4 0. Totals 30 5-15 68.

Schalick	11	10	10	9 –	40
Bridgeton	20	17	16	15 –	68

3-point goals: Schalick 5 (Allen 2, Na. Sutton 2, Volovar); Bridgeton 3 (Gray, Anderson, Purnell). Total fouls: Schalick 7, Bridgeton 3.

PENNSVILLE 50, PALMYRA 46: Luke Wood poured in 17 points and drew several charges and the Eagles moved a step closer to their Opening Night lineup, beating flu-ridden Palmyra in a scrimmage reduced to three quarters.

With a limited time to get something accomplished, the Eagles got off to a slow start, but they picked up the pace in their final two quarters to squeeze out the win. Wood and Cohen Petrutz both hit 3-pointers in the third quarter when Pennsville finally took the lead.

“Everything is coming together,” Eagles coach Joe Mecholsky said. “We’re starting to get the hang of it. I think last week I said defense is always ahead of the offense and now, T-minus four days (to the opener), we’re rounding into form.”

PENNSVILLE 50, PALMYRA 46

Pennsville	12	21	17 –	50
Palmyra	19	15	12 –	46

NOTE: The teams played three quarters.

This week’s schedule

Regular season for basketball, wrestling gets underway for teams in Salem County for the week of Dec. 11-16; x-indicates scrimmages

MONDAY
BASKETBALL
Girls
x-Palmyra at Pennsville, 4 p.m.
x-Penns Grove at Kingsway, 4 p.m.
Boys
x-Kingsway at Penns Grove, 4 p.m.
x-Maple Shade at Woodstown, 4 p.m.
x-Pennsville at Palmyra, 4 p.m.
x-Schalick at Bridgeton, 4 p.m.

TUESDAY
BASKETBALL
Girls
x-Burlington Tech at Salem, 3:45 p.m.
x-Penns Grove at Pleasantville, 4 p.m.
x-Woodstown at Kingsway, 4 p.m.
Boys
x-Gloucester Christian at Penns Grove, 4 p.m.

SWIMMING
Schalick vs. Millville at YMCA of Vineland, 3 p.m.

INDOOR TRACK
Pennsville, Salem in SJTCA Meet, Toms River

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

WEDNESDAY
BOWLING
Salem Tech at Washington Twp., 4 p.m.

THURSDAY
WRESTLING
Palmyra at Pennsville, 5 p.m.

SWIMMING
Salem vs. Pitman at GCIT, 6 p.m.

BOWLING
Salem vs. Clayton, Bolero Lanes, 4 p.m.

FRIDAY
BASKETBALL
Girls
Glassboro at Salem, 5:30 p.m.
Overbrook at Salem Tech, 5:30 p.m.
Penns Grove at Clayton, 5:30 p.m.
Pennsville at Wildwood, 5:30 p.m.
Schalick at Pitman, 5:30 p.m.
Woodstown at Gloucester Catholic, 5:30 p.m.
Boys
Clayton at Pennsville, 5:30 p.m.
Pitman at Penns Grove, 5:30 p.m.
Salem Tech at Schalick, 5:30 p.m.

WRESTLING
Pennsville in Howdy Duncan Invitational at William Penn, 4:15 p.m.
Woodstown at West Deptford, 5 p.m.

SWIMMING
Schalick at Camden Co. Tech, 3:30 p.m.

SATURDAY
BASKETBALL
Girls
Audubon at Pennsville, noon
Red Devil Classic
Bridgeton at Penns Grove, 4:30 p.m.

Boys
Pennsville at Deptford, noon
Red Devil Classic
At Penns Grove
Pitman vs. Burlington City, 11 a.m.
Woodbury vs. Salem, 1 p.m.
Lindenwold at Penns Grove, 6:30 p.m.

WRESTLING
Pennsville in Howdy Duncan Invitational at William Penn, 10 a.m.
Penns Grove in Schalick Tournament (with Haddon Heights, Mainland, Oakcrest, Pt. Pleasant Beach, WW-P North, WW-P South)
Woodstown in Delaware Valley (Pa.) Tournament

INDOOR TRACK
Woodstown at Bennett Center, Toms River

Feels like a win

Woodstown’s boys come up short on the scoreboard, but everything about the scrimmage left the feeling of a win

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

WOODSTOWN – It’s a good thing preseason scrimmages aren’t about winning or losing – they’re about getting better – or Woodstown coach Phil Campbell might not have been as upbeat when Saturday’s exercise was over.

The Wolverines lost to Brandywine (Del.) both ways – on the scoreboard (55-49) and in the scorebook (47-46) – but Campbell considered the day a win because of what his team got out of it.

The difference in the results reflects the way game was scored. The scoreboard reflected the scoring system used to award points on free throws to reduce delays at the line while the scorebook indicated the points that actually went through the basket.

Regardless how it was counted, the Wolverines got more out of it than not.

“I was just telling them this was a great learning experience for us,” Campbell said. “We’ll see some teams that are similar – they’re fast, they’re athletic, they have a really good point guard – so it’s a good learning experience.

“I thought our offensive execution at times was fantastic. To be able to do that against a team that’s fast defensively, has long arms, and be able to compete really well with teams that are so athletic I think is a really good learning experience for us. I feel like (it’s) a win as far as we’re learning how to play our game and how our execution can affect other teams.”

**Brandywine big Shamar Samuel (R) making sure Woodstown’s Rocco String doesn’t get too far away.**

Campbell was quite familiar with the team Woodstown played. He used to be the Bulldogs’ head coach and their current head coach, Lorenzo Gales, was his assistant. Gales bragged on his point guard, Dadrien Howell in their conversation and Campbell believed it when he saw him.

Howell had 11 points in the scrimmage. Sincere Miller led all scorers with 16.

“He said No. 50 (Howell) had better court vision than anybody we ever had play for us (there), and now I agree after watching him,” Campbell said. “I was pretty amazed at some of the passing that he did. And he’s good getting to the rim.”

The Wolverines, meanwhile, came out with a hot hand and hit four 3-pointers among their first six baskets – two by Eli Caesar – and jumped out 16-5. Then Howell got involved and the Bulldogs rallied.

Alejandro Vazquez hit a couple 3s and the Wolverines went back up by nine, but the Bulldogs rallied again and wound up winning the first half.

Rocco String got the best of Brandywine big man Shamar Samuel and finished with eight points and 11 rebounds. Garrett Leyman gave the Wolverines seven points and seven boards and Blake Bialecki gave them his usual consistent effort at the point.

Defensively, they’re tweaking their approach and learning to be more aggressive in the half court. If there was any shortcoming it was handling the endgame, but if it were a regular-season game Campbell would have been a lot more strategic.

“I feel good about what we saw today,” Campbell said. “It was a good learning experience for us because our scrimmage against Gateway on Tuesday was a little sloppy.”

The Wolverines are back at it Monday against Maple Shade.

BRANDYWINE 47, WOODSTOWN 46
BRANDYWINE – Jahzier Penn 2 1-2 6, Crisdon Wright 1 2-2 4, Zion Charles 4 0-0 8, Sincere Miller 8 0-2 16, Mohamed Sankoh 0 0-0 0, Shamar Samuel 1 0-0 2, Dadrien Howell 5 1-3 11. Totals 21 4-9 47.
WOODSTOWN – Blake Bialecki 2 0-0 5, Alejandro Vazquez 3 0-0 8, M.J. Hall 1 0-0 3, Garrett Leyman 3 1-2 7, Max Webb 3 0-1 7, Rocco String 4 0-1 8, Zyaire Caesar 0 0-0 0, Eli Caesar 3 0-0 8, Anthony Bokolas 0 0-0 0. Totals 19 1-4 46.

Brandywine	11	15	12	9 –	47
Woodstown	18	12	10	6 –	46

3-point goals: Brandywine (Penn); Woodstown 7 (Bialecki, Vazquez 2, Hall, Webb, E. Caesar 2).

**Woodstown guard Max Webb drives to the basket in Saturday’s scrimmage against Brandywine. (Photo by Ellen Sickler)**

Back and ready

Baber back in Wolverines’ backcourt after missing junior season, comfort level growing with each game

FRIDAY’S SCRIMMAGES
Girls
Woodstown 55, Camden Tech 12
West Deptford 43, Pennsville 32
Boys
Salem def. Bridgeton

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

WOODSTOWN – In the overall scheme of a 33-point blowout in a preseason scrimmage it was a rather insignificant basket, but it sure meant a lot to Alyssa Baber.

When the Woodstown senior guard broke in on a 2-on-1 with Talia Battavio off the tip and scored the layup to open the second half scoring against Camden Tech, it wasn’t just another basket.

It was the first basket she has scored against somebody not wearing a Woodstown uniform in 21 months.

“She needed that confidence,” Wolverines coach Kara Straughn said. “She hasn’t played a full game or a natural game in years. She’s a good shooter. I think she just kind of needs a little confidence and kick start herself again.”

Baber missed her entire junior season following twice-delayed surgery on the ACL she tore in her right knee in one of her team’s last AAU games the May of her sophomore year.

The layup Friday was her first points in a game since a 3-pointer against Pennsville on March 3, 2022. You can look it up. (We did in the gym, and the result surprised her).

“I don’t remember that,” she said. “I didn’t get to shoot a lot my sophomore year, now I can have that feeling of what it’s like to make a basket and I’ve been wanting that. Unfortunately, at Gateway I didn’t get to make anything, but I was just happy being out there and today I made my shot and I was really happy.”

Baber was so excited to get back into it, she couldn’t wait to text Straughn to remind her she had been cleared by her doctors to start practicing. Straughn eased her back into the action in the first scrimmage at Gateway Tuesday playing her only two quarters, but she played all four quarters Friday against the Warriors.

She didn’t score in the first scrimmage or in the first half Friday. But she had two buckets in the third quarter against the Warriors, finished with four points, grabbed four rebounds, dealt three assists and collected five steals before retiring for the day with 2:56 left in the scrimmage.

“Recently I’ve been really anxious about the games so I have a lot of jitters,” she said. “But every time I play it just all comes back to me, even if I’d played two years ago. It just comes back to me and I just love being out here with all the girls again.”

Sitting out while her teammates played made for one of the hardest years of her life. She tried to put on a brave face, but admitted it was tough watching while others play while she couldn’t. Now that she’s back, she’s pushing hard to get back where she was before the injury as a facilitator.

Her return strengthens an already deep array of Woodstown guards and gives Straughn even more options on how to attack an opponent.

“It makes us that much harder to defend,” Straughn said. “Because now I have not just two phenomenal guards, I have three, and then I have two girls underneath who can score 8 to 10 to 12 points. You’re going to overplay Megan or Talia, I have Alyssa Baber who will score. You’re going to overplay my forwards, I have three girls over the top who can score. I have five who can play pretty much any position.”

But scoring isn’t Baber’s game. She’d rather do the things that gets her teammates involved.

The Wolverines won big (55-12) even without top returning scorer Megan Donelson, who didn’t play due to illness. Her absence gave sixth-man Lauren Hengel a chance to shine and she responded with 16 points, four rebounds and four steals.

Battavio led all scorers with 24 points, Shannon Pierman had nine points and eight rebounds, and Gia Maiorini grabbed 10 rebounds.

WOODSTOWN 55, CAMDEN TECH 12
CAMDEN TECH – Ryan Jones 1 1-1 3, Carlee Miller 0 0-0 0, Kiara Miller 1 0-0 3, Vianny Fernandez 2 0-0 4, Brena Stiles 0 0-0 0, Daniya Forrest 0 0-0 0, Erica Bennett 0 0-0 0, Jaelyn White 1 0-0 2. Totals 5 1-1 12.
WOODSTOWN – Talia Battavio 8 3-4 24, Alyssa Baber 2 0-0 4, Shannon Pierman 4 1-2 9, Gianna Maiorini 0 0-0 0, Lauren Hengel 6 3-4 16, Lizzy Daly 0 0-0 0, Brae DiGregorio 0 0-0 0, Jaia Thomas 0 0-0 0, Others 1 0-0 2. Totals 21 7-10 55.

Camden Tech	6	4	2	0 –	12
Woodstown	16	16	21	2 –	55

3-point goals: Camden Tech 1 (K. Miller); Woodstown 6 (Battavio 5, Hengel). Total fouls: Camden Tech 9, Woodstown 6.

WEST DEPTFORD 43, PENNSVILLE 32: The teams were locked in a tight battle in the first half, but West Deptford held the Eagles to one field goal in the third quarter and pulled away. Reyanna Jamison (12) and Alivia Arena (10) combined for 15 points in the second half for West Deptford.

Taylor Bass led Pennsville with 10 points. Marley Wood and Nora Ausland had nine each.

“We lost, but everything came together a lot better and I’m excited for Monday (when they host Palmyra),” Pennsville coach Sam Trapp said. “We’ve got to keep improving on defense, finding ways to create opportunities to finish and knowing our personnel.”

WEST DEPTFORD 43, PENNSVILLE 32
PENNSVILLE – Celli Ausland 0 0-0 0, Nora Ausland 3 2-4 9, Taylor Bass 4 2-2 10, Sofia Belitsas 0 0-0 0, Bella Farina 1 0-4 2, Kylie Harris 0 0-0 0, Anikka Macalino 0 0-0 0, Malani McGee 0 0-0 0, Isabelle Saulin 1 0-0 2, Avery Watson 0 0-0 0, Marley Wood 3 2-4 9. Totals 12 6-14 32.
WEST DEPTFORD – Janie Cross 2 2-6 6, Alivia Arrera 5 0-0 10, Jesce Diaz 1 0-0 3, Reyanna Jamison 5 1-3 12, Ciara Moss 1 0-2 2, Olivia Smith 0 2-2 2, DeaOnna Lawrence 3 0-0 6, Kallie Christy 0 0-0 0, Alyssa Taylor 1 0-0 2. Totals 18 5-13 43.

Pennsville	7	8	5	12 –	32
West Deptford	9	8	12	14 –	43

3-point goals: Pennsville 2 (M. Ausland, Wood); West Deptford 2 (Jamison, Diaz). Total fouls: Pennsville 8, West Deptford 16.

Boys

Salem went to Bridgeton for its final preseason scrimmage and came back with a win.

The biggest takeaway was the Rams being able to pull it back together after losing the lead. They led by six to eight points most of the game, fell behind 45-44 in the third quarter and then went on a run to pull away.

“That was good,” Rams coach Anthony Farmer said. “We have upperclassmen, so that’s my expectation. You have to stay poised. They’ve been around. I’m not looking for those guys to get rattled. We were sloppy at times, but later in the game we got it back together.”

Freshman Tymier Lecator showed poise beyond his years, hitting two big 3-pointers and taking two charges.

The Rams now start working towards their opener next Saturday against Woodbury in Penns Grove’s Red Devil Classic.

The floor is yours

Schalick boys basketball team getting the chance to play at Wells Fargo Center before Sixers’ game

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

PITTSGROVE – In any other year, a late January basketball game against a non-division opponent wouldn’t draw any special attention, but this isn’t any other game.

When Schalick and Clayton play Jan. 22, it won’t be just another Saturday afternoon matinee. The teams will play under the bright lights of the Wells Fargo Center as part of a high school tripleheader before the Sixers play San Antonio that evening.

“I remember Schalick used to do it even before I even went to Schalick High School, but they stopped doing it I remember when I got to high school, so I never got to experience it,” Cougars coach James Turner said. “Then they picked it up again, but the girls did it a couple times a handful of years ago.

“I’m just glad the kids are going to be able to have that opportunity to be there, be on the floor; hopefully they’ll have some time to take some pictures. They don’t give us a whole lot of time to do all that kind of stuff because it has to be in and out, but we’ll do the best we can to try to make it a memorable night for them.”

The Schalick girls played Clayton in the Wells Fargo Center back in 2016. The Clayton girls beat Overbrook there last season.

The Cougars plan to make a day of it. After playing the Clippers in the afternoon, they’ll head to Dave & Busters for a couple hours of dinner and team bonding, and then head back to watch the Sixers play.

Just the thought of playing on an NBA floor has the players excited. It’ll be a normal high school game with a five-minute halftime, but if the game is running long the fourth quarter will play with a running clock. As part of the deal the schools are required to sell 55 tickets at $35 each.

“Coming into the season we heard rumors of a surprise and we tried to get our coach to budge and tell us, but that didn’t work,” senior forward Jake Siedlecki said. “We ended up finding out a few weeks before the season and we are super excited.

“It’s going to be a really fun day, not only playing there, but watching the Sixers play at night also. It’s really a unique experience and it’s given our team a lot of excitement for this upcoming season.”

It was a no-brainer for Schalick athletics director Doug Volovar. He reached out to Clayton AD Dan Antonelli about the availability of the game and the Schalick board approved the Cougars’ participation in it in November. Officials broke the news to the team at the parents meeting Monday.

“I think it’s awesome,” Volovar said. “To me, as an athletics director, that’s what you’re supposed to do – try to provide opportunities out of the norm for your kids to enhance your programs. That just seems like it’d be a great opportunity as an athletics director to give your kids a chance to do something different, to being a part of something special.”

The Wells Fargo date isn’t the only special event on the Cougars’ radar. The football team is in the mix for a game in next season’s Battle at the Beach in Ocean City and Volovar has entertained the idea of playing a soccer game at the Philadelphia Union’s stadium if that opportunity resurfaces.

“We’ve done it before and I’m trying to do it again,” he said. “Our kids are good enough to play, why wouldn’t you want to give them an experience like that?”

No easy test

Penns Grove boys look for answers against one of Group IV’s best, girls enhance Fab Five with dynamic freshmen, transfer

THURSDAY SCRIMMAGES
Girls
Penns Grove 67, Paulsboro 15
Salem at Bridgeton
West Deptford at Schalick
Camden Co. Tech at Salem Tech
Boys
Clearview 61, Schalick 30
Egg Harbor Twp. 78, Penns Grove 34
Paulsboro 50, Pennsville 40
Salem Tech at Camden Co. Tech

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

PENNS GROVE – Even if he does have a young team and is still looking for a permanent point guard, Penns Grove coach Damian Ware will never pass up a chance to scrimmage a team like Egg Harbor Twp.

The Red Devils opened their scrimmage schedule against the reigning South Jersey Group IV champions and 2023 state runner-up and lost 78-34 in a game that got away in the fourth quarter, but there’s a reason they play every year in the preseason.

“We were supposed to have one under our belt before today and that was against a Group I school, it just didn’t work out,” Ware said. “We scrimmage Egg Harbor every year. We’ve been doing this for the last six years because they are that level we want to attain.

“It’s like I told the kids just now, that’s the level we want to get to, to the point where everything is moving like clockwork. One thing they didn’t do out there, they didn’t miss their layups. We missed a gag of layups. If we make at least 10 of the ones we missed the score’s not that bad, but we’ve got to make our layups and we’ve got to not turn the ball over.”

The Red Devils faced the juggernaut with three returning players who have any appreciable varsity experience – Mekhi Ballard, Gio Conrad and Willie Slocum – and at times had four freshmen on the floor at the same time. They fell behind in each of the first three quarters, but rallied to get within three in the first and second quarters and five in the third before the Eagles pulled away.

“It totally showed me that the guys I put in the game were fighting back,” Ware said. “They played better than Egg Harbor’s second unit; that’s when we came back into the game. Those guys came off the bench and showed me something.”

The fourth quarter it was all Egg Harbor. The Eagles scored the first 19 points of the fourth quarter behind a barrage of 3-pointers.

Jalen Bell hit four 3-pointers in the game and led all scorers with 21 points. Jake Karp (15), Jayden Dixon (12) and C.J. Ford III (10) also scored in double figures.

But fortunately for the Red Devils they won’t see that on a regular basis when they get back into Group I.

“In Group I, we’ll be right there,” Ware said. “We’ll be one of the top teams in Group I. Just from what I saw today, I know we have the potential to be one of the top teams in Group I.”

The Red Devils could solve their turnover troubles by finding a point guard. Khiry Higgs, a senior playing his first year of basketball, could turn into the guy, or it could be a freshman who’ll need to develop on the fly.

The brightest spot of the entire exercise for Penns Grove was the play of Roman Gipson. Mostly a JV player last year, the sophomore led the Red Devils in scoring Thursday night with 12 points. He was their only scorer in double figures.

“I left him out on the floor a lot because he was one of the guys who showed me he wasn’t scared,” Ware said. “I’m looking for guys who are going to be dogs right now. Guys who aren’t scared, guys who are going to play well and play hard, and he was one of the main guys as a sophomore.”

EGG HARBOR TWP. 78, PENNS GROVE 34
EGG HARBOR TWP. – Bradley Smith 2 1-5 5, Jalen Bell 8 1-2 21, Jake Karp 7 0-0 15, Jaydenn Reyes 2 0-0 5, Justin Moore 2 0-1 4, Jay Salsberry 2 0-0 6, Jayden Dixon 3 4-4 12, Jelson Deocampo 0 0-0 0, Dashawn Laboy 0 0-0 0, Nick Cruse 0 0-0 0, C.J. Ford III 4 1-1 10. Totals 30 7-13 78.
PENNS GROVE – Roman Gipson 4 3-4 12, Camren Thompson 0 0-0 0, Gio Conrad 2 0-0 4, Naizah Spence 0 0-0 0, Dameon Wilson 0 0-0 0, Khiry Higgs 3 1-4 7, Willie Slocum 2 0-3 4, Brandon Robbins 0 0-0 0, Will Roy 1 0-3 2, Karon Ceaser 0 1-2 1, Luis Colon 1 0-0 2, MR Peterson 0 0-0 0, Jaden Sorrell 0 1-2 1, Mekhi Ballard 1 0-0 2. Totals 13 6-18 33.

Egg Harbor Twp.	15	12	18	33 –	78
Penns Grove	12	5	9	7 –	33

3-point goals: Egg Harbor Twp. 11 (Bell 4, Karp, Reyes, Salsberry 2, Dixon 2, Ford); Penns Grove 1 (Gipson). Total fouls: Egg Harbor Twp. 20, Penns Grove 19.

PAULSBORO 50, PENNSVILLE 40: The Eagles moved a step closer to determining a starting five and rotation among their top seven players, but they’ve “still got to get it together” after dropping their second scrimmage of the preseason.

They did open an early lead for the second straight scrimmage, but were outscored 17-3 in the second quarter and played catch up the rest of the night.

Point guard Luke Wood returned to the floor after missing the first scrimmage and scored seven points in the first quarter, but had only two the rest of the game. Brooklyn-born transfer Jayden Thomas also had nine points. Payton O’Brien had eight.

“I was happy with our defense, which is always farther along than offense at this point,” Eagles coach Joe Mecholsky said. “Guys who had a rough start on Tuesday (against Triton) played much better.”

CLEARVIEW 61, SCHALICK 30: The Cougars haven’t won many games the past couple years, but they’re hoping the success and momentum of an historic football season can carry over to the hardwood.

The majority of players on the basketball roster were part of the football team’s undefeated run to the Central Jersey Group I championship game this fall and 19 wins over the last two seasons.

“You’ve got to have people who are used to winning, you’ve got to have people on the team who understand the culture of winning,” Cougars coach James Turner said. “When you understand your culture of winning it makes it easier to bring in that culture in the one program into the next.

“For the football program and before these last few years that culture wasn’t there, but thankfully we’ve had that culture in the fall sports all around, with all our fall sports, especially football, and we’re just hoping it finally can carry over into the winter programs as well.”

The key, of course, is picking up some wins early in the season to keep their spirits up and the momentum building. The Cougars have that chance as their first three regular-season games are against two teams that won only two games last year and a Woodstown team they claimed as one of their three wins.

But after being doubled up by the Pioneers Thursday Turner confesses they “have a lot of work to do.”

Nylan Sutton led the Cougars with 12 points. Reggie Allen had nine.

CLEARVIEW 61, SCHALICK 30
SCHALICK – Reggie Allen 4 1-2 9, Ryan Johnson 0 0-0 0, Jordan Johnson 2 0-0 4, Nylan Sutton 5 2-2 12, Nasir Sutton 2 0-0 4, Jake Siedlecki 0 0-0 0, Nyzier Wynder 0 0-0 0, Dan Lis 0 1-3 1, Jase Volovar 0 0-0 0. Totals 13 4-7 30.
CLEARVIEW – Luke Andres 1 2-4 5, Kaprice Stewart 7 2-4 17, Dalton Phalines 3 3-4 9, Michael Guy 3 0-0 6, JD Steidle 1 2-3 5, Jonah Turner 3 1-2 7, Jake Slotter 0 0-0 0, Trevor Durkin 0 0-0 0, Luke Zuba 4 0-0 9, George Kritikson 1 0-0 3, Russ Manel 0 0-0 0. Totals 23 10-17 61.

Schalick	16	14 –	30
Clearview	30	31 –	61

3-point goals: Clearview 5 (Anders, Stewart, Steidle, Zuba, Kritikson). Technical fouls: Ny. Sutton. Total fouls: Schalick 11, Clearview 8.

Girls

Not rebuilding, reloading

PENNS GROVE – It already returns a Fab Five that brought the team through the adversity of an ever-shrinking roster to the South Jersey semifinals, but add a dynamic freshman class that tasted victory as eighth-graders and a standout transfer with two years eligibility left and it’s easy to understand the optimism in the Penns Grove girls basketball program.

The Red Devils hit the court for their second scrimmage and crushed Paulsboro 67-15 for their first victory of the preseason.

The foundation of the team lies in the Fab Five starters who kept it together last year when it looked like their season was going to crumble around them. Coach Jennifer Denby brought in four fabulous freshmen who won a title as eighth-graders and welcomed Raniyah Wilson from Kingsway who would have been the Dragons’ top returning scorer and rebounder.

“I like the chemistry,” Denby said. “We have a lot of girls and different types of chemistry that we can put out on the floor.”

Every combination had a hand in the rout. Senior Jameelyonna Horace had 18 points, three 3-pointers and three rebounds. Among the newcomers, Wilson had eight points and seven rebounds, JaNiyah Cummings had 10 points and five boards, and Zoey Caesar had eight points and seven boards.

Overall, there was just a lot to like.

“I like the defense, I like them laughing and playing with each other and just out there having fun, and they’re coachable,” Denby said. “The five freshmen (she includes Wilson in the group because she’s a newcomer) we have are very coachable, which makes the coach’s job much easier.”

PENNS GROVE 67, PAULSBORO 15

Paulsboro	3	5	2	5 –	15
Penns Grove	14	20	18	15 –	67

Looking for more

Pennsville’s girls start slow in first scrimmage and lose, but outscore Millville over the last three quarters

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

MILLVILLE – The start may have been slow, but once it settled in, the Pennsville girls basketball team looked like the above average team coach Sam Trapp is looking for.

The Eagles lost their first scrimmage of the preseason 37-27 at Millville Wednesday, but after their slow start they outscored their hosts over the last three quarters.

“Overall, I was decently pleased with what we were able to do,” Trapp said. “Slow start because it’s the first game, we were nervous, hard to remember everything. About four minutes into the first quarter we started to settle in a little bit … then we cleaned some things up and had a big comeback. Overall, it wasn’t a bad first showing.”

The Eagles struggled in their 1-3-1 defense and fell behind 18-6, but then plugged in their man, held Millville to three points in the second quarter and won the second half.

Newcomer Nora Ausland, a 5-10 junior who led Salem in scoring each of the last two seasons, made her Pennsville debut after just six practices with her new team and led the Eagles with 17 points. She scored 12 in the second half, including two of her three 3-pointers.

She had 462 points, 61 3-pointers, 305 rebounds and 101 blocked shots in her two seasons with the Rams and will be a valuable addition to an Eagles lineup that returns three starters – senior Bella Farina, point guard Marley Wood and Taylor Bass. Isabelle Saulin moves into the starting five after holding a reserve role last year.

“We have a slogan for this year that’s ‘More than average,’” Trapp said. “I told the girls we can’t be doing average – average moves, average plays and average effort – to go and get big outcomes. It’s been 30-plus years since there’s been anything added to the banners and a lot of the girls want to add to the banner.

“Our goal is, of course, a division title and it very well could split that way this year. I think for the first time in my career I’m actually optimistic we could split with Woodstown. We haven’t split with them yet since I’ve been a head coach, so if we can split with them and collect wins with the rest of the division, then we would split the division title, which I would be OK with. That would be awesome for us.”

MILLVILLE 37, PENNSVILLE 27
PENNSVILLE (27) – Calli Ausland 0 0-0 0, Nora Ausland 7 0-0 17, Taylor Bass 1 0-0 2, Bella Farina 0 2-4 2, Anikka Macalino 0 0-0 0, Malani McGee 0 0-0 0, Isabelle Saulin 1 0-0 2, Avery Watson 0 0-0 0, Marley Wood 2 0-0 4. Totals 11 2-4 27.
MILLVILLE (37) – Brooke Jaslin 3 1-2 7, Brianee Edwards 7 0-3 15, Jaylynn Jones 0 0-0 0, Ayla Gomez 2 0-0 5, Aubree Joslin 2 0-0 5, Marissa Stevens 2 0-0 5. Totals 16 1-2 37.

Pennsville	6	2	10	9 –	27
Millville	18	3	8	8 –	37

3-point goals: Pennsville 3 (N. Ausland 3); Millville 4 (Edwards, Gomez, A. Joslin, Stevens). Total fouls: Pennsville 5, Millville 8.

Getting it started

Salem County basketball teams go into first scrimmages with high expectations; Woodstown girls win in new coach’s debut, Pennsville boys fall, but remain optimistic

TUESDAY SCRIMMAGES
Girls
Schalick at Cumberland Christian
Woodstown 61, Gateway 33
Haddon Twp. at Penns Grove
Boys
Gateway at Woodstown
Triton 72, Pennsville 50

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

PENNSVILLE – The Golden Years have arrived in the Pennsville basketball program.

That’s what coach Joe Mecholsky calls these next two seasons, the next 50 games or so for his core group that has been together as freshmen and sophomores and now will be together as juniors and seniors going forward.

The start of the Golden Years didn’t start too well as the Eagles dropped their first scrimmage of the season Tuesday 72-50 to Group III Triton, but even with the results of the day they remain optimistic for the road ahead.

For the Eagles it’s all about those eight Diamond Division games they play later in the year. They won more games last season (10) than they won in the previous 2 1/2 seasons combined and made the Group I playoffs for the first time since their last 10-win season (2016), but that’s just the start of their progression. Next on their list of firsts is winning a division title, winning a playoff game and whatever comes after that.

“This is my golden generation,” Mecholsky said. “They were six sophomores last year, they were six juniors now and then we’re going to be six seniors next year, so we’re really focusing on these next 50 games rewriting the ledger and see if we can’t (make some history).

“Nothing less than a division champions, a division championship and making a deep run in South Jersey Group I. That’s our focus, anything less than that is … well, let the season play out and see what anything less than that is. If we make a run, that’d be great, but we’ve got to hang and division banner up in this gym. We’ve got the guys to do it.”

The Eagles looked good in spurts Tuesday. They opened a quick lead behind Cohen Petrutz’ hot 3-point shooting and then, after falling behind under the weight of their substitution patterns, climbed back to within seven early in the fourth quarter.

“It felt like a 50-50 game,” Mecholsky said. “The score didn’t indicate that but when you’re making subs in a scrimmage we throw the score out and we look at our defensive intensity and our rebounding. We had a lot of guys huffin’ and puffin’ out there so we gotta still work on our conditioning, but it’s coming together.”

The Eagles should look sharper when Luke Wood gets back on the floor. The junior point guard, who likely will reach the 1,000-point milestone before the calendar turns over, missed the scrimmage, but should return when the Eagles scrimmage Paulsboro Thursday.

“It’ll definitely make us better,” Petrutz said. “He’s a (big) part of our team. Missing him hurts us a lot. When he’s back it’ll make us even better.”

Petrutz hit three 3s in the first quarter, had six in the game and finished with a game-high 22 points. “I’ve been waiting all day for this,” he said.

Chase Birchfield, another junior, gives the Eagles another 3-point threat. Six-seven Daniel Saulin gives them size inside and Brooklyn-born transfer Jayden Thomas, who got a longer look with Wood unavailable, gives them a dimension they haven’t in a while.

“We’re on our way up,” Mecholsky said. “Everything is leading towards those eight big division games we have.”

TRITON 72, PENNSVILLE 50
TRITON (72) – Leo Impoliazzo 8 0-0 18, Talen Walsh 3 6-6 14, Jayon Sanders-Cash 2 1-3 7, Major Tomco 0 0-2 0, Richie Kosma 2 0-0 6, Mike Campbell 0 0-0 0, Justice Avery 4 0-0 7, Yandel Santos 2 2-2 6, Kasir Baker 2 0-0 4, Josiah Grant 1 0-0 2. Totals 24 9-13 72
PENNSVILLE (50) – Cohen Petrutz 8 0-0 22, Chase Birchfield 2 0-0 5, Daniel Saulin 3 2-2 8, Peyton O’Brien 0 0-0 0, Malik Rehmer 0 0-0 0, Jayden Thomas 4 1-5 10, Carlo Merendino 0 0-0 0, Tyree Young 0 0-0 0, Mason O’Brien 1 0-0 2, Logan Hitt 1 0-0 3. Totals 20 3-7 50.

Triton	17	22	13	20 –	72
Pennsville	15	11	16	8 –	50

3-point goals: Triton 9 (Impoliazzo 2, Walsh 2, Sanders-Cash 2, Kosma 2, Avery); Pennsville 9 (Petrutz 6, Birchfield, Thomas, Hitt). Total fouls: Triton 7, Pennsville 5.

Girls

Good start for Straughn

WOODBURY HEIGHTS – Sure, it didn’t count in the standings, but it was new Woodstown coach Kara Straughn’s first game under real conditions and she admittedly was nervous.

Straughn inherited a veteran team that has high expectations and they were still getting to know each other, and in that there were unknowns. She sent them on the floor for the first time Tuesday and it couldn’t have gone better for all concerned.

The Wolverines jumped out to a big first-quarter lead, held their hosts without a field goal into the second quarter and put their top three returning scorers in double figures while routing Gateway 61-33.

“I was nervous,” Straughn said. “Just kind of like that anticipation of all right we practiced and practiced and practiced, now let’s see if we can execute in a real situation.

“Me being a first-time head coach we’ve got all these ‘did we do enough, did we go over this enough,’ all the little things.”

Straughn changed the defense in the transition, putting Talia Battavio and Megan Donelson at the top so they can get out and run, and it produced 16 steals in the game and a 27-2 first-quarter lead. Battavio had 13 of her 20 points in the first with Donelson scoring 10 of her game-high 25. Donelson had five steals in the game, while three other players each had three.

Shannon Pierman had 10 points, 12 rebounds and a blocked shot, sixth-man Lauren Hengel had five points and eight rebounds, and Alyssa Baber, back after missing last season following ACL surgery, didn’t score but had four rebounds in two quarters of varsity action.

“It makes me feel a little better and kind of got the ball rolling for them that hey we can do this,” Straughn said. “It was a good first kind-of-like introduction to a real life situation.”

WOODSTOWN 61, GATEWAY 33
WOODSTOWN (61) – Talia Battavio 8 3-4 20, Alyssa Baber 0 0-0 0, Megan Donelson 11 0-0 25, Shannon Pierman 5 0-0 10, Gianna Maiorini 0 1-2 1, Lauren Hengel 2 1-4 5, Brae DiGregorio 0 0-0 0. Totals 26 5-10 61.
GATEWAY (33) – Angelina Zagone 8 3-3 21, Bella Fini 4 4-5 12, Gabby Gasis 0 0-0 0, Tabby Bay 0 0-0 0, Sydney Hughes 0 0-0 0, Rachael Summers 0 0-0 0, Maggie Eliasen 0 0-0 0. Totals 12 7-8 33.

Woodstown	27	8	9	17 –	61
Gateway	2	7	16	8 –	33

3-point goals: Woodstown 4 (Battavio, Donelson 3); Gateway 2 (Zagone 2). Total fouls: Woodstown 4, Gateway 3.