Category: PENNS GROVE

Happy Hengel

Friday’s girls roundup: Woodstown junior comes to game in good mood, has career night as Wolverines get back on track

FRIDAY’S GAMES
Pennsville 57, Overbrook 20
Penns Grove 50, Schalick 14
Salem Tech 36, Camden Academy Charter 32
Wildwood 77, Salem 27
Woodstown 62, Glassboro 39

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

WOODSTOWN – Lauren Hengel came to the gym Friday in a good mood. That was a good sign for the Woodstown girls basketball team looking to get back on the winning track.

Hengel came into the game with confidence and it translated to a big game as she helped the Wolverines beat Glassboro 62-39 to snap a two-game losing streak.

The 5-8 junior scored a career-high 14 points on the strength of 5-for-7 shooting from the floor and a pair of 3-pointers. She also had two rebounds and two steals. She scored 10 points in the third quarter.

Hengel gave the Wolverines a trio of double-figure scorers for the first time this season, joining Talia Battavio (19) and Megan Donelson (15). Battavio and Donelson combined for seven of Woodstown’s 11 3-pointers in the game. Hengel had two. Donelson scored all of her points in the first half.

“Lauren was amazing today,” Woodstown coach Matt Smart said. “She came in today with a big smile on her face. She’s a big Notre Dame fan, so I think she just had a positive mindset (after watching the Irish beat Georgia in the Sugar Bowl to reach the CFP semifinals).

“We’ve always known that Lauren is a phenomenal basketball player. This whole season our big thing (with everyone except Battavio and Donelson) is confidence. They are phenomenal basketball players and a lot of times they’re open for great shots and they’re not confident to take it. Lauren today was confident with every single shot she took. She stepped into it. She made some big plays for us. She was fearless and smart at the same time, which really helped us.”

The Wolverines (5-2) came into the game having been swept in their appearance in the Haddon Twp. Holiday Tournament. They started out on a road towards three in a row Friday, falling behind the Bulldogs 9-2 in the first two minutes, but then Smart called the time out that turned their game around.

“We challenged the girls at practice this week to box out,” Smart said. “We were going for rebounds, but we weren’t finding a girl, being physical and boxing out. Glassboro at the beginning of the game kind of punched us in the mouth a little bit, we called time out and responded very well.

“Instead of just turning around looking for the ball off the back end of a shot, we were finding a girl, we were physical, we were letting the ball hit the ground one or two times and then attacking it. Basketball is a contact sport, a physical sport, so let’s find a girl, let’s box her out and then go attack that rebound. I think that set the tone for the whole game for us.”

With that mindset they climbed back in the game and eventually led 17-14 at quarter’s end. They stretched the lead to 14 at halftime and 23 after three quarters.

During the run, Battavio and Donelson hit a couple 3s, Kyia Leyman had a strong putback and Hengel had a bucket.

Somewhere in there was Smart’s favorite play of the game that summed up the approach to the day. Gianna Maiorini was battling under the boards and although she didn’t get this particular rebound she boxed out her man for a good five or six seconds which allowed a teammates to swoop in and secure the rebound.

The Wolverines grabbed 32 rebounds as a team. Eleven players had at least one, which was more than the number of players who scored points for them. Leyman and Donelson each had six boards. Maiorini had five.

The win extended Woodstown’s winning streak over TCC Diamond Division rivals to 34 in a row.

WOODSTOWN 62, GLASSBORO 39
GLASSBORO (2-4) – Sanaa Thomas 2 0-0 5, Tamia Smith 4 3-11 11, Kezia Brackett 5 4-10 15, Kimora Miles 0 1-2 1, Sianna Wedderburn 2 1-2 5, Grace Moore 1 0-0 2, NiJha Norzon Clark 0 0-0 0. Totals 14 9-25 39.
WOODSTOWN (5-2) – Talia Battavio 5-18 6-7 19, Megan Donelson 4-11 3-4 15, Gianna Maiorini 1-4 0-0 2, Kyia Leyman 1-1 0-0 2, Lauren Hengel 5-7 2-3 14, Emma Perry 1-3 0-0 2, Kendall Young 1-1 0-0 3, Jaia Thomas 0-0 0-0 0, Mia Waterman 0-2 0-0 0, Brynley Ecret 2-2 0-0 5, Kailyn Kennedy 0-0 0-0 0, Lizzy Daly 0-0 0-0 0, Talia Guardascione 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 20-50 11-14 62.

Glassboro 147612-39
Woodstown17181511-62
3-point goals: Glassboro 2 (Thomas, Brackett); Woodstown 11-28 (Battavio 3-11, Donelson 4-8, Hengel 2-4, Perry 0-1, Young 1-1, Waterman 0-2, Ecret 1-1). Rebounds: Woodstown 32 (Donelson 6, Leyman 6). Total fouls: Glassboro 12, Woodstown 18.

SALEM TECH 36, CAMDEN ACADEMY CHARTER 32: Shelby Drummond and Demajae White scored 11 points apiece and the Chargers (2-3) dominated the backboards to snap a three-game losing streak and double their win total of a year ago. 

According to the game’s statistical report, the Chargers cleared 76 rebounds. White had 24, Kaylin Beardsley 14 and Rylee Doerr had 12. Drummond had nine. The Chargers are now 2-3 for the season. They won once all last season.

SALEM TECH (2-3) – Shelby Liber 1 0-0 2, Hannah Dewitt 1 0-2 2, Lavae Scott 0 0-0 0, Demajae White 4 3-3 11, Shelby Drummond 4 0-0 11, Rylee Doerr 1 0-2 2, Kaylin Beardsley 2 2-2 8. Totals 13 5-9 36.
CAMDEN ACAD. (3-2) – Yomeidy DeLaRosa 3 2-8 8, Leslie Ramirez 1 0-0 2, Aishaara Davis Bonilla 2 0-3 4, Skylar Goods 1 0-0 2, Nyeema Torres 5 2-5 16. Totals 12 4-12 32.

Salem Tech107811-36
Camden Academy71294-32
3-point goals: Salem Tech 5 (Drummond 3, Beardsley 2); Camden Acad. 4 (Torres 4).

PENNSVILLE 57, OVERBROOK 20: Taylor Bass led three double-figure scorers with 19 points and Marley Wood had a double-double with 12 points and 10 assists as the Eagles (3-2) went over .500 for the first time in coach Steve Merritt’s tenure. Nora Ausland had 10 points, eight rebounds and four steals for the Eagles.

PENNSVILLE (3-2) – Taylor Bass 8 0-0 19, Marley Wood 5 0-0 12, Nora Ausland 5 0-0 10, Jaida Burns 3 1-2 7, Addison Johnston 0 1-1 1, Izzy Saulin 1 0-0 2, Sofia Belitas 0 0-0 0, Ashlyn Fredo 0 0-0 0, Calli Ausland 0 0-0 0, Kylie Harris 0 0-0 0. Totals 22 2-3 57.
OVERBROOK (1-6) – Gianna Simon 6 2-2 16, Rosetta Loebman 0 0-0 0, Lelani Knight 0 0-0 0, Ahlani Knight 0 0-0 0, Kayla Reynolds 0 0-0 0, Lily LaFountain 0 0-0 0, Talia Wiggins 1 1-2 4, Kiya Townsend 0 0-0 0. Totals 7 3-4 20.

Pennsville192486-57
Overbrook32411-20
3-point goals: Pennsville 5 (Bass 3, Wood 2); Overbrook 3 (Simon 2, Wiggins).

WILDWOOD 77, SALEM 27
WILDWOOD (6-0) – Macie McCracken 12 4-4 33, Angela Wilber 2 2-2 6, Rebecca Benichou 6 4-8 18, Cydnee Killian 1 0-0 2, Kiana D’Antuono 0 0-0 0, Addison Troiano 2 3-6 7, Sarah Djellal 0 1-2 1, Laila Fathi 1 2-2 5, Julia Ennis 1 0-0 2, Emma Contreras 0 0-0 0, Ellasyn Morey 0 0-0 0, Antoinette Cooper 1 0-0 2, Lily Atkinson 0 0-0 0, Mollie Farrell 0 1-2 1. Totals 26 17-26 77.
SALEM (0-5) – Carlysia Pierce 3 1-1 8, Nevaeh Hickman 2 0-0 4, Lyric Hayes 0 1-3 1, Zaniyah Frieson 2 0-0 4, Shyla Parsons 1 0-2 2, Timmiyah Simmons 2 0-0 6, Triscia Wilson 1 0-0 2. Totals 11 2-4 27. 

Wildwood26161619-77
Salem7929-27
3-point goals: Wildwood 8 (McCracken 5, Benichou 2, Fathi); Salem 3 (Pierce, Simmons 2). 

PENNS GROVE 50, SCHALICK 14
PENNS GROVE – RaNiyah Wilson 9 6-7 28, Brianna Robbins 2 2-4 6, Ialliyah Cummings 3 3-7 9, Keziah Patterson 3 0-0 6, Sianna Robbins 0 0-0 0, Mikayla Washington 0 1-2 1. Totals 17 12-20 50.
SCHALICK (1-3) – Abby Willoughby 0 0-0 0, Cali Fisler 0 0-0 0, Nevaeh Robinson 2 0-2 5, Ava Scurry 2 0-0 4, Willow Davis 0 0-0 0, Emily Miller 0 0-0 0, Olivia Lunemann 1 0-0 2, Carl Vicente 0 0-0 0, Olivia VanAcker 0 0-2 0, Vic Basich 0 1-2 1, Kyleigh Cutler 0 0-0 0, Emma O’Neill 1 0-0 2. Totals 6 1-6 14.

Penns Grove10121018-50
Schalick3704-14
3-point goals: Penns Grove (Wilson 4); Schalick 1 (Robinson). Total fouls: Penns Grove 10, Schalick 16.

Active scorers watch

SALEM COUNTY SCORING LISTPOINTS
Talia Battavio, Woodstown1332
Megan Donelson, Woodstown1295
1000-POINT WATCH
Nora Ausland, Pennsville
(Salem 462/Pennsville 413)		875
Marley Wood, Pennsville782
x-RaNiyah Wilson, Penns Grove
(Kingsway 251/Penns Grove 492)		743
Through games of Jan. 3; x-Does not include 12/27 game vs. Deptford

Total package

Friday boys roundup: Frisbee, Robinson getting comfortable in their new surroundings back home in Penns Grove; story will be updated

FRIDAY’S GAMES
Gloucester Catholic 85, Salem Tech 42
Overbrook 72, Pennsville 26
Penns Grove 69, Schalick 37
Salem 65, Wildwood 48
Woodstown 57, Glassboro 39

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

PENNS GROVE – Haneef Frisbee and Antoine Robinson looked into the future last year and knew they were going to play somewhere different this basketball season. They didn’t know quite where at the time, but they did know they were going to go there together.

Where one decided to go, the other one would, too. That’s just the way they roll. Ultimately, the two Salem Tech teammates decided there was no place like home. They came back to their roots in Penns Grove to give the Red Devils the benefit of their size and length.

It’s taken some time getting used to a new school, a new team, a new floor, but Friday night they were the most comfortable they’ve been in their new surroundings all season and helped the Red Devils rout Schalick 69-37 in Rudy Baric Gym.

Frisbee, a lean 6-2 junior forward, had nine points, 10 rebounds and a couple steals. Robinson, a thick 6-1 junior guard, had eight points and six rebounds. 

“We were definitely more comfortable than we have ever been,” Frisbee said.

Frisbee was hot early, scoring six of the Red Devils’ first eight points and grabbing five of his rebounds in the quarter. Robinson gave them a steadier game, spreading his production across all four quarters.

It’s not like they’re coming into a totally new environment. The two players are originally from Penns Grove and played there all the way through middle school. They went to Salem Tech for the academy there and naturally joined the basketball team.

Frisbee had 381 points, 292 rebounds and 77 blocked shots in 49 career games with the Chargers. Robinson had 365 points, 107 rebounds and 46 assists in 44 career games.

But two tough seasons in the win-loss column had them reassessing their choices and prospects for playing at the next level and they came – together – to Penns Grove to enroll in its Early College program.

“We came as a package,” Robinson said. “We thought about it hard, we even talked to our parents about it to bring them along and we made the decision to come to Penns Grove High School.”

“Twan’s basically my brother,” Frisbee said. “I put my trust in him wherever I go. Wherever I am I can always count on him to be there, like my right hand man. He’s not my brother, but I consider him like a brother.”

The bonus is the basketball team benefits from their size and length, elements that were missing with the graduation of last year’s class. 

In the five games they’ve played at Penns Grove, Robinson has 27 points, 20 rebounds, seven assists and 10 steals. Frisbee 31 points, 25 rebounds and six blocked shots.

Penns Grove coach Damian Ware didn’t know they were coming until Frisbee’s grandmother told him, but he knew of them. He had seen them play in middle school and, of course, when the Red Devils played Tech the last two years. The players already knew them from going to middle school together.

So with that familiarity, the transition was a little smoother than most. Now, it was a matter of getting them up to speed with the way the Red Devils play.

“As far as the play on the floor they have a lot to learn because they didn’t understand what we do here compared to what they did at their other school,” Ware said. “Haneef has played with great energy since Game 1, but he’s fouled out of three of our five games. Antoine’s thing is just understanding the speed of our game and how we play. Here, we move.

“That’s the thing with Antoine. When he picks up the pace of the game he’s going to be great. By the end of the season I guarantee he’ll be one of the studs in South Jersey, for sure.”

Penns Grove’s Roman Gipson led all scorers with 19 points. 

PENNS GROVE 69, SCHALICK 37
SCHALICK (1-6) – Reggie Allen 2 3-5 7, Nylan Sutton 0 0-0 0, Justin Iacona 2 0-0 5, Sherrod Jones 2 0-0 5, Jase Volovar 2 0-0 6, Sean Kelly 1 1-2 4, Jamari Whitley 1 3-5 6, Jacob Schalick 1 2-2 4, Guage Cramer 0 0-0 0, Nick Aswell 0 0-2 0, Ryan Horner 0 0-0 0, Kade Macom 0 0-0 0. Totals 11 9-16 37.
PENNS GROVE (2-3) – Karon Ceaser 2 2-4 7, Brandin Robbins 1 2-2 5, Will Roe 1 0-0 2, Jameel Horace 3 1-2 8, Luis Colon 1 0-0 2, Roman Gipson 8 3-6 19, Geonni Conrad 1 1-2 3, Antoine Robinson 4 2-2 10, Caleb Fowler 2 0-0 4, Haneef Frisbee 4 1-2 9, Mishawn Brantley 0 0-0 0. Totals 27 12-20 69.

Schalick 69715-37
Penns Grove1914279-69
3-point goals: Schalick 6 (Volovar 2, Iacono, Jones, Whitley, Kelly); Penns Grove 3 (Ceaser, Robbins, Horace). Rebounds: Schalick 16 (Sutton 8); Penns Grove 34 (Frisbee 10, Robinson 6, Gipson 6, Horace 6). Total fouls: Schalick 18, Penns Grove 13.

SALEM 65, WILDWOOD 48: Tymere Lecator scored 22 points and Deshaan Williams and Antwuan Rogers both had double-doubles to lead the Rams (6-1) to their third straight win. It’s their second three-game winning streak of the season.

Williams, a 6-2 sophomore transfer from Cumberland, had a career-high 20 points and 11 rebounds and got the game ball for his effort. He had 11 rebounds twice las a 5-11 freshman ast year for the Colts. 

Rogers had 10 points and 14 boards, his third double-double in seven games this season. Lecator had seven rebounds and seven assists to go with his points. Xavier McGriff had 10 points.

WOODSTOWN 57, GLASSBORO 39: Blake Bialecki scored 19 points, Rocco String 16 and Elijah Caesar added a career-high tying 11 as the Wolverines (3-2) won their third straight. Bialecki and String both had double-doubles with Bialecki grabbed 11 rebounds and String snaring a career-high 20. String also blocked seven shots.

WOODSTOWN (3-2) – Rocco String 7 2-6 16, Garrett Leyman 0 1-2 1, Blake Bialecki 7 2-2 19, M.J. Hall 2 0-0 4, Alejandro Vazquez 2 0-0 6, Eli Caesar 5 0-0 11. Totals 23 5-10 57.
GLASSBORO (1-5) – Xavier Sabb 5 4-8 16, Davon Barr 1 0-0 2, Maurice Davis 2 4-6 8, Kenny Smith 3 0-2 8, Tashean Thomas 2 0-0 4, Aiden Harris 0 0-0 0, Will Boggans 0 0-0 0, Marley Crowl 0 0-0 0. Totals 13 8-16 39.

Woodstown 2017911-57
Glassboro713613-39
3-point goals: Woodstown 6 (Bialecki 3, Vazquez 2, Caesar); Glassboro 5 (Sabb 3, Smith 2). Total fouls: Woodstown 14, Glassboro 12.

OVERBROOK 72, PENNSVILLE 26
OVERBROOK (5-2) – Zair Green 10, Xavier Wright 7, Lamar Little 14, Bilal Robinson 4, Elvin Santiago 4, J.R. Stanley 3, Jaden St. John 6, Rashon Jones 5, Jayden Wilkerson 4, Gavin Cajuste 3, Cody Harris 9, Jason Boyd 3.
PENNSVILLE (1-4) – Mason O’Brien 4-1-10, Jovanni Rios 3-1-7, Perry Meranti 0-0-0, Cole Johnston 0-0-0, Shiloh Jefferson 1-0-2, Daniel Knight 1-0-2, C.J. McDevitt 1-1-3, Jacob Miller 1-0-2. 

Overbrook 22241313-72
Pennsville9728-26
3-point goals: Pennsville 2 (O’Brien 2).

GLOUCESTER CATHOLIC 85, SALEM TECH 41
GLOUCESTER CATHOLIC (3-5) – Carlos Mendez 6 2-2 15, Jack Mustaro 10 7-7 31, Jack Pund 2 2-4 6, Danny Zellner 3 0-0 6, Ben Cook 3 0-4 6, Kybron Ricks 2 2-4 6, Zack Payne 0 0-0 0, Gary Connelly 1 0-0 2, Jordan Mendez 0 0-0 0, Kimani Pyram 1 2-2 5, C.J. Mitchell 3 0-0 6, Anthony Polidoro 1 0-0 2. Totals 32 15-23 85.
SALEM TECH (0-7) – Connor Dougan 5 3-4 15, Joseph Hayes 2 2-4 8, Larry Pompper 4 4-7 13, Logan Pace 0 0-4 0, Alex Thomas 3 0-1 6, Aiden Bobo 0 0-2 0. Totals 14 9-22 42.

Gloucester Catholic26171715-85
Salem Tech131586-42
3-point goals: Gloucester Catholic 6 (C. Mendez, Mustaro 4, Pyram); Salem Tech 5 (Dougan 2, Hayes 2, Pompper).

Salem County stats

Here are the Salem County high school basketball statistical leaders through Jan. 1, disclaimer: stats based on games inputted by schools to state reporting service

Boys

SCORING

PLAYER, SCHOOLGPFGFTPTSAVG
Tymear Lecator, Salem6382811819.7
Mason O’Brien, Pennsville414105914.8
Blake Bialecki, Woodstown417155814.5
Nylan Sutton, Schalick41875313.3
Jovanni Rios, Pennsville41264411.0
Rocco String, Woodstown41954310.8
Brandin Robbins, Penns Grove41554010.0
Reggie Allen, Schalick4114369.0
Antwuan Rogers, Salem6237538.8
Roman Gipson, Penns Grove4135358.8
Neziah Spence, Salem6205528.7
Karon Ceaser, Penns Grove4133328.0
Sherrod Jones, Schalick3102248.0
C.J. McDevitt, Pennsville335227.3
Joseph Hayes, Salem Tech593267.2
Deshaan Williams, Salem61414427.0
Xavier McGriff, Salem6173427.0

REBOUNDING

PLAYER, SCHOOLGPTOTAVG
Rocco String, Woodstown46115.3
Antwuan Rogers, Salem6569.3
Darrelle Johnson, Salem5326.4
Deshaan Williams, Salem6386.3
Haneef Frisbee, Penns Grove4256.3
Antoine Robinson, Penns Grove4205.0
Garrett Leyman, Woodstown4205.0
Jovanni Rios, Pennsville4205.0

3-POINT GOALS
14: Tymear Lecator, Salem
10: Neziah Spence, Salem
9: Blake Bialecki, Woodstown
8: Joseph Hayes, Salem Tech
6: Brayden Hall, Woodstown
5: Reggie Allen, Schalick; Xavier McGriff, Salem; Brandin Robbins, Penns Grove

BLOCKED SHOTS
25: Rocco String, Woodstown
6: Haneef Frisbee, Penns Grove
5: Deshaan Williams, Salem

ASSISTS
39: Tymear Lecator, Salem
17: Neziah Spencer, Salem
14: Alejandro Vazquez, Woodstown; Brandin Robbins, Penns Grove

STEALS
27: Karon Ceaser, Penns Grove
16: Tymear Lecator, Salem
12: Blake Bialecki, Woodstown; Brandin Robbins, Penns Grove
10: Xavier McGriff, Salem; Darrelle Johnson, Salem; Jovanni Rios, Pennsville; Antoine Robinson, Penns Grove

Girls

SCORING

PLAYERS, SCHOOLGPFGFTPTSAVG
RaNiyah Wilson, Penns Grove22144824.0
Talia Battavio, Woodstown6431711919.8
Megan Donelson, Woodstown636199916.5
Nora Ausland, Pennsville42265814.5
Marley Wood, Pennsville 41865012.5
Brianna Robbins, Penns Grove2932311.5
Naveah Robinson, Schalick31313311.0
Carlysia Pierce, Salem41674310.8
Taylor Bass, Pennsville4144358.8
Ava Scurry, Schalick3102227.3
JaNiyah Cummings, Penns Grove261136.5
Keziah Patterson, Penns Grove250136.5
Nevaeh Hickman, Salem4110256.3
Willow Davis, Schalick371196.3
Olivia Vanacker, Schalick260126.0
Shelby Drummond, Salem Tech371155.0

REBOUNDING

PLAYER, SCHOOLGPTOTAVG
Rylee Doerr, Salem Tech4358.8
Ava Scurry, Schalick3237.7
Olivia Vanacker, Schalick2157.5
Naveah Robinson, Schalick3227.3
Shelby Drummond, Salem Tech3217.0
JaNiyah Cummings, Penns Grove2136.5
Kyia Lehman, Woodstown6386.3
Cali Fisler, Schalick3186.0
Lauren Hengel, Woodstown6335.5
Megan Donelson, Woodstown6335.5
Abby Willoughby, Schalick3165.3
Jaida Burns, Pennsville4205.0
Marley Wood, Pennsville4205.0
RaNiyah Wilson, Penns Grove2105.0

3-POINT GOALS
16: Talia Battavio, Woodstown
8: Megan Donelson, Woodstown
6: Naveah Robinson, Schalick
4: Carlysia Pierce, Salem; Willow Davis, Schalick

BLOCKED SHOTS
7: Rylee Doerr, Salem Tech
6: Kyia Leyman, Woodstown
5: Cali Fisler, Schalick

ASSISTS
22: Megan Donelson, Woodstown
19: Marley Wood, Pennsville
16: Talia Battavio, Woodstown
11: Navaho Robinson, Schalick
10: Gianna Maiorini, Woodstown; Nora Ausland, Pennsville
8: Shelby Drummond, Salem Tech
7: Rylee Doerr, Salem Tech; Abby Willoughby, Schalick

STEALS
38: Megan Donelson, Woodstown
18: Lauren Hengel, Woodstown
16: Talia Battavio, Woodstown
15: Naveah Robinson, Schalick
13: Gianna Maiorini, Woodstown; Taylor Bass, Pennsville
10: Nora Ausland, Pennsville; Shelby Drummond, Salem Tech; Abby Willoughby, Schalick
7: Kaylin Beardsley, Salem Tech; Kendall Young, Woodstown; Ava Scurry, Schalick
6: Lizzy Daly, Woodstown; Emma Perry, Woodstown; Marley Wood, Pennsville

Salem County schedule

Here is the Salem County sports schedule for the remainder of this week and the first full week of the new year

JAN. 2
BOWLING
Salem vs. Lindenwold at 30 Strikes
Salem Tech vs. Gloucester City at Wood Lanes

JAN. 3
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Glassboro at Woodstown
Pennsville at Overbrook
Penns Grove at Schalick, 4 p.m.
Salem Tech at Camden Academy Charter
Wildwood at Salem
BOYS BASKETBALL
Gloucester Catholic at Salem Tech
Overbrook at Pennsville
Salem at Wildwood
Schalick at Penns Grove
Woodstown at Glassboro
WRESTLING
Penns Grove in Bohemia Manor (Md.) Tournament
Schalick at Egg Harbor Twp.
SWIMMING
Woodstown vs. Timber Creek at GCIT, 7 p.m.
Schalick vs. Glassboro at GCIT, 8:30 p.m.

JAN. 4
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Pennsville at Cumberland, 11:30 a.m.
BOYS BASKETBALL
Cumberland at Pennsville, 11:30 a.m.
Eastern at Penns Grove, 1 p.m.
WRESTLING
Pennsville at Hammonton Duals
Penns Grove, Paul VI, Willingboro at Audubon
Haddon Heights, Mainland, Overbrook at Schalick
Salem, Burlington City, St. Joe at Pitman
Woodstown in Collingswood Duals
INDOOR TRACK
Salem, Woodstown at Ott Center, Philadelphia

JAN. 5
WRESTLING
Schalick at Williamstown Tournament
Pennsville girls at Williamstown Tournament

JAN. 6
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Penns Grove at Haddon Twp., 7 p.m.
Pennsville at Woodstown, 7 p.m.
Schalick at Buena
BOYS BASKETBALL
Buena at Schalick
Camden Tech at Salem Tech
Pennsville at Woodstown
WRESTLING
Paul VI at Pennsville
SWIMMING
Schalick vs. West Deptford at River Winds
Woodstown vs. Lower Cape May

JAN. 7
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Clayton at Salem Tech
Overbrook at Penns Grove, 4 p.m.
Salem at Pitman
Schalick at Glassboro
BOYS BASKETBALL
Glassboro at Schalick
Penns Grove at Overbrook
Pitman at Salem
Salem Tech at Clayton
BOWLING
Salem vs. Kingsway at Wood Lanes
Salem Tech vs. Lindenwold
MENS COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Camden County at Salem CC, 7 p.m.
WOMENS COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Camden County at Salem CC, 5 p.m.

JAN. 8
WRESTLING
Gloucester Catholic at Schalick
Pennsville at Penns Grove
Salem at Cumberland
Woodstown at Deptford
SWIMMING
Salem at Lower Cape May
TRACK
Pennsville, Salem, Schalick at Bennett Center, Toms River

JAN. 9
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Glassboro at Salem
Penns Grove at Pitman, 4 p.m.
Schalick at Salem Tech
Triton at Pennsville
Wildwood at Woodstown
BOYS BASKETBALL
Pennsville at Gloucester Catholic
Pitman at Penns Grove
Salem at Glassboro
Salem Tech at Schalick
Woodstown at Wildwood
BOWLING
Salem Tech vs. Kingsway at Wood Lanes
SWIMMING
Schalick at Camden County Tech
Salem vs. Gloucester Catholic at GCIT, 8:30 p.m.
Woodstown vs. Highland at GCIT
TRACK
Penns Grove at Cherokee
WOMENS COLLEGE BASKETBALL
RCSJ-Cumberland at Salem CC, 5 p.m.

JAN. 10
BOYS BASKETBALL
LEAP at Salem
Pennsville at Clayton
WRESTLING
Collingswood at Schalick

JAN. 11
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Delsea at Woodstown, 11:30 a.m.
BOYS BASKETBALL
Woodstown at Camden Catholic, 11:30 a.m.
St. Joseph at Penns Grove, 1 p.m.
Schalick at Collingswood
WRESTLING
Pennsville, Oakcrest, Overbrook at Millville
Penns Grove at Deptford
Salem at Cherokee
Schalick, Cumberland, Timber Creek at Buena
Woodstown in Cinnaminson Duals
MENS COLLEGE BASKETBALL
RCSJ-Gloucester at Salem CC, noon
WOMENS COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Salem CC at Middlesex, noon

Hard learning

Red Devils don’t mind ‘playing up’ if it helps them get better in the long run

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

WILDWOOD – Penns Grove coach Damian Ware could have been all sulky and mad after the kind of loss his Red Devils took from St. Augustine Monday night in the Boardwalk Classic, but he wasn’t.

There’s a reason he brings his teams here to play teams the likes of the Hermits and if it takes absorbing a 62-32 or similar loss from time to time in the name of getting better, he’s willing to do that.

The Hermits had their way in so many aspects of the game in the Wildwood Convention Center, especially in the first half, but Ware took it for what it was worth. You can’t get better in the long run if you don’t see better along the way.

“That’s why we want to matchup against teams like this, so we see teams like this,” Ware said. “We won’t see teams like this is the division or in the conference or in Group 1. We always want to take this trip down here because we always match up with a better team at a different level, so it’s good for us to get that experience.

“I feel like we got what we wanted, we just didn’t make shots and when they got their shots they made them. That’s really our biggest thing, putting the ball in the basket, right now. Our defense is good enough. We give up 62 points to a St. Augustine team, that’s not too bad because they can easily drop 80 or 90 on somebody at any time.

“In the grand scheme of things this was a stepping stone and a teaching tool. We’ll take this film, we’ll break it down, we’ll watch it with the kids and we’ll show them where we need to improve and what we need to do to get better and then we’ll move on from there.”

When the Red Devils (1-3) look at the film again they’ll see St. Augustine controlled the game from the start. The Hermits scored the first 11 points of the game – the first eight by Rory Friel – led 23-3 midway through the second quarter and 29-10 at halftime.

Friel, a 6-5 senior, had 10 points and five rebounds in the first quarter and finished with 18 and eight in the game. Olumide Okebiorun, the Hermits’ other 6-5 starter, had eight points and six boards.

The Red Devils scored only six points in the first 14 and a half minutes of the game and they all came from Roman Gipson. The 6-0 junior got his team on the board with a 3-pointer from the right corner with 3:00 left in the first quarter, rolled in a layup with 3:49 left in the first half and added a free throw 30 seconds later.

That was the extent of it until Brandin Robbins hit a layup with 1:28 left in the half and Luis Colon hit two free throws 7.3 seconds before halftime.

“The main thing I’m telling them at halftime is we’re getting what we want, we got the shots we want, but one thing we’ve got to do is a better job of getting organized in our half-court,” Ware said. “That’s where we’re kind of learning and still growing and our youth is still not really there yet.

“In the full court we’re pretty good, but in the half court we’ve got to get better.”

They were much better in the second half. The Red Devils didn’t win the half, but they did score more points and played the Hermits even in the fourth quarter. KaRon Ceaser scored all seven of his points in the second half.

“I was happy with how we started in the third quarter and when we started playing downhill,” Ware said. “That’s what I’m trying to get these guys to do, play downhill, because we play side-to-side too much.

“That’s the main thing, getting these guys to understand how hard you actually have to play to win at a high level.”

ST. AUGUSTINE 62, PENNS GROVE 32
ST. AUGUSTINE (3-3) – Phillip Brunozzi 1 0-0 3, Jaleo Wakefield 1 4 0-0 9, D.J. Mosley 0 0-0 0, Brayson Thurber 1 0-0 2, Jaden Hollingshead 0 0-0 0, Rory Friel 8 2-3 18, Olumide Okebiorun 2 4-5 8, Nic Companaro 0 0-0 0, Luke Maransky 2 0-0 6, Joe Peacock 0 0-0 0, Aaron Jones 1 0-0 2, Jacob Plenn 1 0-0 2, C.J. Melillo 1 1-2 4, Johnny Godfrey 1 0-0 2, Kyle Helphenstine 2 0-0 4, Richie Cruz 1 0-0 2. Totals 25 7-10 62.
PENNS GROVE (1-3) – KaRon Ceaser 3 0-0 7, Brandin Robbins 1 0-0 2, William Roy 1 0-0 2, Jameel Horace 0 0-0 0, Luis Colon 0 3-4 3, Roman Gipson 3 1-2 8, Geonni Conrad 0 0-0 0, Antoine Robinson 0 0-0 0, Caleb Fowler 1 0-0 2, Davine Banks 0 4-4 4, Haneef Frisbee 2 0-1 4, Mishawn Bradley 0 0-0 0. Totals 11 8-11 32.

St. Augustine15141716-62
Penns Grove37616-32
3-point goals: St. Augustine 5 (Brunozzi, Wakefield, Maransky 2, Melillo); Penns Grove 2 (Ceaser, Gipson). Rebounds: St. Augustine 28 (Friel 8, Okebiorun 6); Penns Grove 18 (Frisbee 4). Total fouls: St. Augustine 11, Penns Grove 12.



Bialecki breaking out

Woodstown wins Warriors Holiday Classic in New Egypt, Bialecki named MVP; also includes wrestling highlights

SATURDAY’S BOYS GAMES
ACIT Holiday Tournament
Consolation: GCIT 59, Salem Tech 13
Championship: ACIT 59, Camden Tech 48

Warrior Holiday Classic
Consolation: Pinelands 56, Steinert 49
Championship: Woodstown 65, New Egypt 48

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

NEW EGYPT – A new coach often means big changes to the program he takes over and one of the biggest benefactors of the changes new Woodstown basketball coach Ramon Roots brought into his program has been Blake Bialecki.

Roots recognized Bialecki’s value to the team early in the transition and green-lighted the junior as the prime shooter in his offense.

Bialecki justified the faith his coach placed in him with another big game Saturday, scoring a game-high 17 points and winning MVP honors as the Wolverines beat host New Egypt 65-49 to win the Warriors Holiday Classic for the second year in a row.

“It’s really just my coaches have a ton of confidence in me and they just want me to shoot the ball,” Bialecki said. “Them having that confidence in me just makes me have more confidence in myself. They trust me to hit shots and now I’m starting to trust myself more to hit shots.”

It was the second game in a row Bialecki led the Wolverines (2-2) in scoring, this one coming on top of the 23-point game he enjoyed in the tournament opener against Pinelands. It reminded him of a similar two-game stretch he had last January when he went for 23 and 29 against Pennsville and Salem Tech. But he went scoreless the next game.

He scored just 11 points in this tournament last year, seven in the title game win over New Egypt.

“Last year I had the ball in my hand more, playing the point guard more, having to set up the plays and make plays, get the ball to other people,” he explained. “Now, Alejandro (Vazquez) and M.J. (Hall) are having the ball more and I’m off the ball more, and they’re drawing up more and more plays for me where last year I didn’t have certain plays drawn up just for me to get a shot off.

“It’s definitely more fun to score the ball. I’m definitely hoping to continue this stretch and just be score the whole year. Last year I was very inconsistent, up and down. I’m hoping that this year I’ll be more consistent scoring wise.”

The Wolverines hope so, too. Before breaking out this weekend, Bialecki had scored just 17 points in the Wolverines’ first two games, losses to Salem and Penns Grove. Roots knew he could give them more with the right amount of encouragement.

“After the 0-2 start I basically told Blake for us to get where we want to go you have to shoot the ball 15-plus times,” Roots said. “I want you taking five-plus 3s a game. There were a lot of times he would have a good catch-and-shoot opportunity and he was hesitant to take it.

“I told him I’m living and dying with you shooting the ball. You’re our best shooter. Overall you’re our best scorer,. We need you to shoot the ball. These last two games he has been really aggressive. 

“That was one of the reasons why I took this job. I knew his talent, I knew his skills, I knew what type player he could be, so I’m just trying to take his game to the next level. He has responded well.”

The Wolverines used a big second half to win their second game in a row. They trailed by four at halftime, then switched defenses and it led to them outscoring the Warriors 22-9 in the third quarter and 38-17 in the second half. 

M.J. Hall had three straight transition layups in the third quarter out of the 2-3 that keyed the comeback. Hall finished with 15 points, 11 in the second half. Rocco String had 13 points, nine in the second half, and threatened a triple-double (17 rebounds, six blocked shots). He’s averaging 15 rebounds a game and has had 22 blocks over his last three games.

“The first half we had mixed in man and then made some adjustments to just go 2-3 and I think that helped us defensively and offensively,” Roots said. “The 2-3 gave them a lot of problems and it benefitted us. We had a lot of ball movement, a lot of points in transition spotting up shooting, and we just played better basketball.

“A lot of people played well today.”

WARRIOR HOLIDAY CLASSIC
CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
WOODSTOWN (2-2) – Eli Caesar 3 1-1 7, Blake Bialecki 6 3-3 17, Alejandro Vazquez 2 2-2 8, M.J. Hall 5 4-5 15, Garrett Leyman 2 0-0 5, Rocco String 6 1-4 13, Braydon Hall 0 0-0 0. Totals 24 11-15 65.
NEW EGYPT (2-3) – Nolan Arnold 2 10-12 14, Clyde Ferris 5 3-6 15, Evan Goldburg 0 2-2 2, Cameron Cassandra 0 0-0 0, Caleb Kowaleski 0 0-0 0, Dylan Harper 0 0-0 0, Paul Kennedy 0 0-0 0, Ryan Reynolds 4 1-2 12, Tommy Merlucci 2 0-0 4, Lucas Burgos 1 0-0 2. Totals 14 16-22 48.

Woodstown10172216-65
New Egypt 131898-48
3-point goals: Woodstown 6 (Bialecki 2, Vazquez 2, Leyman, M. Hall); New Egypt 6 (Ferris 3, Reynolds 3). Rebounds: Woodstown 42 (String 17, Caesar 7). Fouled out: M. Hall, Merlucci. Total fouls: Woodstown 20, New Egypt 14.

ACIT CONSOLATION GAME
GCIT 59, SALEM TECH 13: Ian Malgapo filled the box score as GCIT snapped a two-game losing streak to get back over .500 for the season. He had 19 points, seven rebounds, six assists and five steals. Milan Suarez (11) and Patrick Monaghan (10) also scored in double figures for GCIT.

Salem Tech (0-6)3262-13
GCIT (3-2)3013106-59

SATURDAY’S GIRLS GAMES
Audubon Tournament
Consolation: Deptford 47, Cedar Creek 21
Championship: Audubon 43, Penns Grove 39

ACIT Holiday Tournament
Consolation: Atlantic Tech 55, Salem Tech 15
Championship: Camden Tech vs. GCIT

AUDUBON CHAMPIONSHIP
AUDUBON 43, PENNS GROVE 39: The Green Wave jumped out quickly and held off Penns Grove to win their holiday tournament and remain undefeated. Peyton Marrone scored 15 points and the Green Wave went 12-of-21 from the free throw line. Penns Grove’s RaNiyah Wilson led all scorers with 17 points. 

PENNS GROVE (2-2) – RaNiyah Wilson 7 2-3 17, Syanna Robbins 1 0-2 2, JaNiyah Cummings 0 1-2 1, Keziah Patterson 2 0-0 5, Mikayla Washington 1 0-0 2, Brianna Robbins 5 0-2 12. Totals 16 3-9 39.
AUDUBON (5-0) – Ashley Flynn 2 2-6 6, Peyton Marrone 5 5-7 15, Emma Speyerer 3 1-2 8, Giavanna Heller 1 4-6 6, Sophia Homa 3 0-0 6, Kylie Cannaday 1 0-0 2, Molly Sullivan 0 0-0 0. Totals 15 12-21 43.

Penns Grove78159-39
Audubon158137-43
3-point goals: Penns Grove 4 (Wilson, Patterson, B. Robbins 2); Audubon 1 (Speyerer).

ACIT CONSOLATION GAME
ATLANTIC TECH 55, SALEM TECH 15: ACIT closed out a dominating defensive performance by shutting out the Chargers in the fourth quarter. Shelby Drummond was Salem Tech’s leading scorer with eight points.

SALEM TECH (1-3) – Shelby Drummond 4 0-0 8, Shelby Liber 2 1-2 5, Lavae Scott 0 0-2 0, Payton Fitzpatrick 1 0-0 2. Totals 7 1-4 15.
ATLANTIC TECH (3-3) – Brianna Casiano 2 0-0 4, Zion Stewart 3 1-2 7, Alani White 5 1-4 11, Trinitee McKellar 3 0-1 6, Jadyn Clinkscale 1 0-0 2, Imani Muhammad 4 0-0 8, Lydia Long 2 0-0 4, Joslyen Gomez 4 0-0 8, Kim Pierre 1 1-1 3, Hannah Schmidt 1 0-0 2. Totals 26 3-8 55.

Salem Tech5820-15
Atlantic Tech1722106-55

Active scorers watch

SALEM COUNTY SCORING LISTPOINTS
Talia Battavio, Woodstown1296
Megan Donelson, Woodstown1263
1000-POINT WATCH
Nora Ausland, Pennsville
(Salem 462/Pennsville 403)		865
Marley Wood, Pennsville770
x-RaNiyah Wilson, Penns Grove
(Kingsway 251/Penns Grove 464)		715
x-Does not include 12/27 vs. Deptford

Wrestling

WOODSTOWN QUAD
LONG BRANCH 38, WOODSTOWN 36
106: Hunter Allen (Wo) pinned Sudhish Ransanahi, 1:06
113: Jordan Vieira (LB) pinned Luke Woronicak, 3:14
120: Carson Bradway (Wo) maj. dec. Dominic Lugo, 15-1
126: Walker Battavio (Wo) maj. dec. Alex Ramsanahi, 14-3
132: Travis Balback (Wo) maj. dec. Tristen Hepburn, 14-1
138: Matthew Munson (LB) tech fall Ryan Polk, 18-0 (3:01)
144: Pedro DeSouza (LB) won by forfeit
150: Javier Guzman (LB) pinned Angel Hernandez, 4:18
157: Brett Rowand (Wo) pinned Devon Smith, 1:11
165: Diego Mota (LB) dec. Colin Webb, 11-7
175: Greyson Hyland (Wo) pinned Evan Tracey, 2:00
190: Tornick Kajaia (LB) pinned Paul Banff, 3:13
215: Tyler Taylor (LB) pinned Bradley Snitcher, 3:48
285: Mateo Vinciguerra (Wo) pinned Nickolas Soria, 1:07

WOODSTOWN 49, AUDUBON 30
113: Rocco Monteferrante (A) pinned Luke Woronicak, 0:46
120: Carson Bradway (Wo) pinned Nicholas Sassany, 1:09
126: Travis Balback (Wo) tech fall R.J. Bauman, 18-2 (2:00)
132: Brayden Ervin (A) pinned Barry Coverly, 2:40
138: Ryan Polk (Wo) dec. Jimmy Moran, 8-4
144: James McSweeney (A) won by forfeit
150: Aydean Leahan (A) pinned Angel Hernandez, 3:28
157: Pedro Marte (A) won by forfeit
165: Brett Rowand (Wo) pinned Giovanni Patti, 1:32
175: Greyson Hyland (Wo) tech fall Gabriel McCracken, 20-5 (4:26)
190: Paul Banff (Wo) pinned David Borodziuk, 3:52
215: Bradley Snitcher (Wo) pinned Jonah Jordan, 0:38
285: Mateo Vinciguerra (Wo) won by forfeit
106: Hunter Allen (Wo) pinned Mason Knopka, 0:54

NORTHERN BURLINGTON 45, WOODSTOWN 35
120: Carson Bradway (Wo) pinned Jason Marasco, 5:55
126: Rocco Giangeruso (NB) pinned Walker Battavio, 0:54
132: Travis Balback (Wo) pinned Michael Mayhew, 1:52
138: Gavin Fowler (NB) pinned Ryan Polk, 1:03
144: Justin Marcello (NB) won by forfeit
150: Tret Villavon (NB) dec. Angel Hernandez, 9-6
157: Nathan Hyman (NB) pinned Thomas Lacy, 2:56
165: Hayden Joyce (NB) pinned Brett Rowand, 1:20
175: Greyson Hyland (Wo) pinned Griffin Goldmacher, 4:49
190: Bailey O’Malley (NB) pinned Paul Banff, 0:29
215: Sean Falcey (NB) pinned Bradley Snitcher, 5:23
285: Mateo Vinciguerra (Wo) won by forfeit
106: Hunter Allen (Wo) pinned Aiden Tranchitello, 2:18
113: Luke Woronicak (Wo) pinned Talen Zuzzio, 5:18

Working overtime

Pennsville, Penns Grove extended to multiple overtimes in losses, Woodstown gives Roots his first coaching win in OT

FRIDAY’S BOYS GAMES
Buena 72, Pennsville 70 (3 OT)

Marty Derer Showcase, Delsea
Delsea 53, Penns Grove 51 (2 OT)
Westampton Tech 50, Salem 45

West Deptford Holiday Tournament
At RiverWinds Community Center
Consolation: Lindenwold def. Schalick
Championship: Absegami 82, West Deptford 41

ACIT Holiday Tournament
Camden Tech 60, Salem Tech 14
Atlantic Tech 57, GCIT 38

Warrior Holiday Classic
At New Egypt
Woodstown 51, Pinelands 46 (OT)
New Egypt 48, Steinert 46

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

BUENA – There was so much to dissect from the game, Pennsville basketball coach Joe Mecholsky is going to need a day or two and a long session in the film room to get back to you on just what the heck happened.

The Eagles lost to Buena 72-70 in three overtimes Friday in a game that had as many moving parts as Mecholsky has ever been around. And he’s been in a triple overtime game before.

They were down 14 early in the fourth quarter and forced overtime. They were up five in each of the first two overtimes, but couldn’t close it out. They were down in the third overtime and got close before time ran out on them.

“I feel like we blew the game instead of we lost it,” Mecholsky said. “I think I stopped coaching offense at one point. We tried to take the air out of the ball and I think that really killed our offensive momentum, so I’ll go back and watch the game over again and see how I can get better.

“I’m not going to say my young players did or didn’t do anything. They’re a very young team and they did everything they were told today and I’ll just have to look at the film and see how I can get better in nailing down that win when we were up five in the second overtime.”

The Eagles were down 14 (38-24) with 6:30 left in regulation and put on a charge to force overtime. Mason O’Brien’s 3-point play with 34 seconds left tied it at 41. The Eagles had the final shot in regulation. Shiloh Jefferson’s initial shot hit off the rim and Jovanni Rios couldn’t get the tap to fall.

They had five-point leads in each of the first two overtimes, but never had the lead in the third.

They were up five with 2:35 left in the first overtime, but Buena’s Troy Gregory buried a 3-pointer at the buzzer to tie it at 49. It was the first trey Troy had made all season.

They were up five twice in the second overtime, with 2:43 and 2:20 left, but Buena got back-to-back left corner 3s from Nate Nieves and Carlo Spreng to take the lead, 57-56. Nieves finished with 12 points and Spreng had 10. Teammate Josue Cuadrado led all scorers with 23 points.

A free throw by David Knight with seven seconds left tied it at 59. Knight went to the line for two shots and the lead, but only hit one and it stayed that way despite the teams having three combined chances to get the game-winner. Knight came in off the bench as a substitute shooter after Logan Hitt was fouled hard after stealing the inbounds pass and had to leave the floor.

The Eagles got a chance to win it at the end when the Chiefs stepped on the line trying to put the ball in play. The Chiefs got the ball back when Pennsville turned it over and this time Knight stole the inbounds pass to end the session.

“I’ve been in some crazy basketball environments,” Pennsville sophomore guard C.J. McDevitt said, “but triple overtime? I’ve never been in a triple OT game, I’ll tell you that.”

“It was pretty crazy,” Chiefs coach James Bell said. “I just kept telling my kids to keep their minds straight and focus on what we need to do, play solid defense and hit the open shots when we have them. It was a crazy second half and three overtimes.”

Buena looked like it was finally going to put it away, leading by seven with 52 seconds left in the third overtime, pulling away with a 3-pointer by Nieves and three free throws by Cuadrado, but Pennsville battled back again. O’Brien hit a 3 to make it 70-66 with 28 seconds left and Knight and Jefferson wrapped putbacks around a pair of Buena free throws to make it 72-70 with eight seconds to go.

On the last play of the game the Eagles got the ball to O’Brien, who pushed a shot towards the basket at the buzzer that hit off the far iron. The Eagles were looking for a foul as O’Brien hit the deck, but there was no call and the game was over.

“I told my boys the outcome is the result of a thousand little things that happened in that game and that’s just the way it goes; we’ll learn from it,” Mecholsky said. “I’m disappointed we lost the game, but my boys didn’t disappointment me.”

O’Brien apologized to his coach for his play in the first three quarters, but he was a gamer in the fourth quarter and overtimes. He scored all 19 of his points after the third quarter, hitting three 3s and a three-point play in the fourth quarter comeback and seven points in the overtimes.

“The first three quarters were awful,” he said. “I didn’t know where I was. I was trying to find my game and they kept talking to me so I had to do something about it. I came out and matched their energy in the fourth quarter and overtimes.”

Rios added 14 points on his 17th birthday for Pennsville and McDevitt had 11. Both are career highs.

PENNSVILLE (1-3) – Danny Knight 3 2-6 9, Jovanni Rios 7 0-3 14, Mason O’Brien 7 1-1 19, Cole Johnston 1 2-2 4, Shiloh Jefferson 3 0-0 6, Perry Meranti 3 0-0 6, Logan Hitt 0 1-2 1, C.J. McDevitt 2 7-14 11. Totals 26 13-28 70.
BUENA (2-3) – Josue Cuadrado 6 10-12 23, Carlo Spreng 4 0-2 10, Nate Nieves 3 3-4 12, Troy Gregory 1 1-2 4, Jaevon Alexander 3 0-0 8, Jayden Rivera 0 0-0 0, Shamel Rivera 5 0-0 10, Richie Wilson 0 0-0 0, Ricky Bessix 2 1-6 5. Totals 24 15-26 72.

Pennsville9671981011-70
Buena513131081013-72

3-point goals: Pennsville 5 (Knight, O’Brien 4); Buena 9 (Cuadrado, Spreng 2, Nieves 3, Gregory, Alexander 2). Technical fouls: S. Rivera. Fouled out: S. Rivera, Alexander, Rios, McDevitt). Total fouls: Pennsville 22, Buena 25.

Pennsville’s Shiloh Jefferson (5) goes in for a potential game-winning layup at the end of regulation against Buena Friday. The bounced off the rim and the teams wound up playing three overtimes before Buena won 72-70.

DELSEA 53, PENNS GROVE 51: By Penns Grove coach Damian Ware’s best measure, his team had three chances to win the Marty Derer Showcase opener, but host Delsea kept coming up with clutch shots and eventually broke the Red Devils’ heart.

The Crusaders hit 3-pointers at the end of regulation and the first overtime to extend the game, then hit two free throws in the closing seconds of the second overtime to seal the victory. Jimmy Reardon hit the 3 at the end of regulation to force overtime, then Jelani Poles beat the buzzer with one at the end of the first extra period to keep it going and he hit two free throws with 3.4 seconds left to win it.

Poles finished with 12 points. Reardon had nine. Luke VanAuken had a huge game for Delsea with 19 points and 20 rebounds. Brandin Robbins and Roman Gipson had 15 points apiece for Penns Grove.

The Red Devils had a chance to take the lead in the second overtime, but missed two free throws. Moments later they fouled Poles and he hit his two free throws. The Red Devils rallied from eight down in regulation to take a three-point lead into the closing seconds before Reardon hit his 3. 

“We had a chance, we had three chances to win it – regulation, overtime and the second overtime,” Ware said. “That’s part of our growing pains. We’re young and we’re inexperienced so this is going to be a growing lesson for us. We’re going to be fine but this is just a lesson we had to learn of how to finish games.

“We did everything we were supposed to do, we made the plays, but down the stretch we just didn’t make the defensive plays and that’s kind of what we pride ourselves on. We’ve got to be better on defense at the end of the game and regulation and challenge shots better.”

PENNS GROVE (1-2) – Brandin Robbins 5 4-4 15, Roman Gipson 6 0-0 15, Karon Ceaser 2 1-2 6, Antoine Robinson 3 0-2 7, Haneef Frisbee 2 0-0 4, Jameel Horace 0 2-2 2, Luis Colon 1 0-0 2, William Roy 0 0-0 0, Geonni Conrad 0 0-0 0. Totals 19 7-10 51.
DELSEA (2-2) – Luke VanAuken 8 3-8 19, Jimmy Reardon 4 0-0 9, Jelani Poles 4 2-2 12, Blake Bottino 2 2-2 6, Jeadyn Greene 1 0-0 2, Dahmir Hart 1 0-0 2, Exodus DeJesus 1 0-0 3, Ryan Casiano 0 0-0 0, Mike Cunningham 0 0-0 0. Totals 21 7-12 53.

Penns Grove 12772032–51
Delsea1310111234-53

3-point goals: Penns Grove 6 (Robbins, Gipson 3, Ceaser, Robinson); Delsea 4 (Reardon, Poles 2, DeJesus). Rebounds: Delsea 37 (VanAuken 20).

WOODSTOWN 51, PINELANDS 46: Blake Bialecki hit a season-high five 3-pointers and scored 23 points as the Wolverines held off Pinelands in the Warrior Holiday Classic in overtime to give new coach Ramon Roots his first victory as a varsity head coach. 

“It’s exciting for me to get the first win in the standings, but I’m just really happy for the kids,” Roots said. “I’ve been waiting to get the win and knew it was going to come sooner or later. We definitely had a lot of chances in the Penns Grove game. It was good to see them believing that they actually can win and what it takes to win.”

The Wolverines (1-2) outscored Pinelands 9-4 in the extra session to win it. Garrett Leyman hit two free throws to put them up three and then Rocco String closed it out with a layup. String scored eight points and dominated the paint with 12 rebounds and nine blocked shots.

Woodstown led by eight in the second half, but Pinelands got back in it through a series of backdoor buckets. The Wildcats went up by three with two minutes to play, but Bialecki hit a 3 to retie the game.

Pinelands had a chance to retake the lead with 12 seconds left but missed two free throws. Bialecki had a shot to win it in regulation but his mid-range jumper went in and out.

“We were able to get a little breathing room, but it was close to the very end,” Roots said. “We just kept fighting. As you’ve seen the team never gives up. They’re always fighting through it.”

Bialecki’s 23 points matches the second-best game of his career. In addition to his outside shot, the junior also also got to the basket and went 6-of-8 from the free throw line. 

The Wolverines will play host New Egypt for the championship 3:30 p.m. Saturday.

Woodstown (1-2)1571289-51
Pinelands (2-2)1766134-46

WESTHAMPTON TECH 50, SALEM 45: West Tech used a big third quarter to take the lead and kept the Rams at arms length in the fourth quarter. Alexander Jeanty hit five 3-pointers and scored a game-high 22 points to lead the Panthers. Xavier McGriff led Salem with 14 points. Tymear Lecator filled the boxscore with 11 points, six assists and two steals.

WESTHAMPTON TECH (3-0) – Alexander Jeanty 8 1-1 22, Henry Hjoga 0 5-6 5, Dante Horace 1 0-2 2, Dalan Dickerson 2 1-2 6, Shakur Anderson 4 1-2 9, Damien Moragne 0 0-0 0, Jacob McCollum 2 0-0 4, Jevon Benjamin 0 0-0 0. Totals 17 8-13 50
SALEM (3-1) – Tymear Lecator 3 3-6 11, Antwan Rogers 3 0-2 6, Deshaan Williams 0 6-6 6, Xavier McGriff 5 1-1 14, Neziah Spencer 1 1-2 3, Donovan Weathers 0 0-0 0, Darrelle Johnson 1 0-0 2, Kyaire Parsons 0 0-0 0Harlem Parsons 0 0-0 0, Cole Sayers 0 0-0 0, Joe Tunis 1 0-0 3. Totals 14 11-17 45.

Westhampton Tech 148199-50
Salem1511109-45
3-point goals: West Tech 6 (Jeanty 5, Dickerson); Salem 6 (Lecator 2, McGriff 3, Tunis).

CAMDEN TECH 60, SALEM TECH 14: Salvatore Algeri scored 13 points and Shareef Cox had 10 to lead the Warriors in the ACIT Holiday Showcase. Salem Tech will play GCIT in the consolation game Saturday.

Camden Tech (2-2)1826511-60
Salem Tech (0-5)2615-14

Breaking the ‘curse’

Pennsville girls basketball has had a lot of bad luck on recent trips to Buena, but everything was rosy Friday

FRIDAY’S GIRLS GAMES
Regular season
Pennsville 69, Buena 20

Audubon Tournament
Penns Grove 41, Deptford 24
Audubon 59, Cedar Creek 21

ACIT Holiday Tournament
Camden Tech 40, Salem Tech 16
GCIT 49, Atlantic Tech 38

Haddon Twp. Tournament
Cherry Hill East 57, Woodstown 45
Haddon Twp. 46, Pennsauken 39

Boardwalk Classic
Wildwood Convention Center
Bridgeton 54, Salem 24

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

BUENA – The Pennsville girls basketball team didn’t want to go to Buena Friday morning any more than the man in the moon. Bad things happen when the Eagles go there. Last year, they got three players hurt in the game.

Their angst was almost to the point where they wanted to play the game in their own gym if they could. But when this one was over they were glad they made the trip and made it out alive. 

It was all good. The Eagles ran out to a 23-0 lead in the first quarter and hit a season-high 11 3-pointers in the game to bury the curse and the Chiefs, 69-20.

“I was a little nervous because every time we come to Buena something bad happens,” junior guard Marley Wood said. “We’ve had a lot of injuries here, but I think we broke our curse today.”

In the team’s trip to the Battle at Buena last year, Wood broke her foot, Annika Macalino tore her knee and Taylor Bass broke her finger and the Eagles spent the next couple weeks bringing up JV players to have enough players to remain competitive. 

But their misfortunes extended beyond the basketball court. Bass broke her collarbone in a soccer game here. And Wood has a vague recollection of something else happening to her as a freshman.

The Eagles didn’t get out of this one completely unscathed. Tatianna DePina banged her hand in the game, but at least everyone walked out under their own power this time.

“They warned me about that,” Eagles coach Steve Merritt said. “They didn’t want to come here. They were trying to talk me out of coming here. They were telling me to reschedule the game, make it a home game. Now, they’re saying we broke the curse.”
If the y play like they did Friday, they may think about scheduling games here every week.

It was 23-0 before Buena got to the board with a 3-pointer by Athena Bradley with 21 seconds left in the quarter. The Eagles hit 8 of 15 shots in the run while denying the Chiefs on 16 straight possessions with seven steals among their 12 turnovers.

“We were looking the way I want them to look all the time,” Merritt said. “I asked them what’s the definition of a perfect quarter defensively and they said zero. I said, well, you’ve got two quarters, see if you can’t do that. When they scored I saw a couple of them slump down like we didn’t get it. But they stepped up.”

After the Chiefs scored their first points, Wood answered with 3 right before the buzzer. Wood hit six 3s in the game – two in each of the first three quarters when the regulars played – and finished with 22 points. Nora Ausland hit four 3s, scored 12 points in the Eagles’ opening salvo, and led all scorers with 24 points. 

The six were the most she had hit in a game since nailing seven against Woodstown in January. She had only two this season before Friday. 

“This was the first game my shot has actually been good, so hopefully it carries on into the rest of the season,” she said. “I was a little bit worried, but I think I’m going to keep shooting more and working and getting better.”

The Eagles hit only one 3 in their last game against Washington Twp. The 11 they hit Friday were the most in a game since hitting 11 against Overbrook in the second game of the year last season. They hit 10 in their season opener against Wildwood this year.

Three of their first five buckets Friday were from behind the arc. In addition to the 11, they had at least seven other baskets that from far away looked like a 3 but were either on or just inside the line.

“We shot the ball pretty well at Glassboro (eight 3s),” Merritt said. “You go out and shoot well, look what happens, you win. And we’ve been working on it. Yesterday we worked on it extensively, not necessarily the 3s, but just shooting the ball under pressure of a clock.

“That was really nice to see. So much better than Washington Twp. where they were hitting the rim and going God knows where. Today they were falling in.”

PENNSVILLE 69, BUENA 20
PENNSVILLE (2-2) – Taylor Bass 0 2-2 2, Tatianna DePina 0 0-0 0, Marley Wood 7 2-3 22, Izzy Saulin 3 0-0 6, Nora Ausland 9 2-3 24, Ashlyn Fredo 1 0-0 2, Jaida Burns 1 0-2 2, Calli Ausland 1 0-2 2, Kylie Weist 0 0-0 0, Addison Johnston 4 0-0 9, Kylie Harris 0 0-0 0. Totals 26 6-12 69.
BUENA (0-3) – Kayla Lafferty 0 0-0 0, Athena Bradley 1 0-0 3, Mya Nicole 6 0-0 13, Jiavonni Jones 2 0-2 4, Leylani Muniz 0 0-0 0, Ava Cornew 0 0-0 0, Ariana Salazar 0 0-0 0, Isabella Atkins 0 0-0 0, Jayleen Benjamin 0 0-0 0. Totals 9 0-2 20.

Pennsville26121912– 69
Buena3944–20
3-point goals: Pennsville 11 (Wood 6, N. Ausland 4, Johnston); Buena 2 (Bradley, Nicole). Rebounds: Pennsville 39 (Burns 8, N. Ausland 7, Wood 6). Total fouls: Pennsville 6, Buena 9.

CHERRY HILL EAST 57, WOODSTOWN 45: Some days you play good and other days you learn good. The Wolverines are hoping to learn a lot from their first loss of the season.

After playing Cherry Hill East tough in the first quarter and grabbing the lead, they ran into a buzzsaw in the second quarter that changed the game. The Cougars nearly posted a shutout in the quarter, outscoring Woodstown 21-2 to open a 17-point halftime lead.

The Wolverines (4-1) made what coach Matt Smart called some “great” defensive adjustments at halftime and outscored the Cougars 28-23 in the second half, 22-14 in the third quarter.

“I was very proud of the way we battled until the very end,” Smart said. “Cherry Hill East was very well coached and very tough. They have a very talented group who can knock down shots. Unfortunately, they got the best of us today.

“It was a great test for us. Basketball is a long season and the girls are excited to work tomorrow to try and get better. After every game this year the girls haven’t been satisfied with our performance. We aren’t going to let this game define our season, but we are going to look at some things and figure out way we can improve.”

The Cougars held Woodstown’s two 1,200-point scorers, Megan Donelson and Talia Battavio, to 20 points combined. They held Donelson to nine, her first game in single digits since Jan. 24, 2023 (46 games).

Lauren Hengel was Woodstown’s leading scorer with a career-high 12 points. Kyia Leyman had eight points and eight rebounds.

CHERRY HILL EAST (3-1) – Jessie Atlas 2 0-0 5, Michelle Le 3 0-0 7, Erin Winslow 2 0-0 4, Dylan Kratchman 5 6-6 17, Darby Chhabria 6 10-12 24, Maya. Morgan 0 0-0 0, Maddie Leshinsky 0 0-0 0, Aliza Adler 0 0-0 0, Anabelle Sala 0 0-0 0. Totals 18 16-18 57.
WOODSTOWN (4-1) – Megan Donelson 3 2-2 9, Talia Battavio 4 1-4 11, Gianna Maiorini 2 1-2 5, Lauren Hengel 5 1-3 12, Kyia Leyman 4 0-3 8, Emma Perry 0 0-0 0, Kendall Young 0 0-0 0. Totals 18 5-14 45.

Cherry Hill East1321914-57
Woodstown152622-45
3-point goals: Cherry Hill East 5 (Atlas, Le, Kratchman, Chhabria 2); Woodstown 4 (Donelson, Battavio 2, Hengel). Rebounds: Woodstown 45 (Leyman 8). Fouled out: Donelson, Maiorini. Total fouls: Cherry Hill East 13, Woodstown 18.

BRIDGETON 54, SALEM 24: The Rams played Bridgeton tough for a quarter in the Wildwood Convention Center and actually held the lead, but the Bulldogs came to life in the second quarter and pulled away. Carlysia Pierce led Salem with 12 points. Bridgeton’s Sharena Parker led all scorers with 14.

BRIDGETON (4-1) – Amani Santiago 3 1-2 8, Ciani Money 1 2-6 4, Tyjhore Jamison 1 1-2 3, DeNia Dairsow 2 3-4 7, Ayianna Ridgeway 0 0-2 2, Anyse Maddrey 1 0-0 2Adelina Wilks 3 2-2 9, Sharena Parker 6 2-2 14, Kahmya Johnson 2 1-3 5, Alannie Ramos 1 0-0 2. Totals 20 12-23 54.
SALEM (0-4) – Shyla Parsons 0 0-2 0, Zaniyah Frieson 1 0-0 2, Nevaeh Hickman 2 0-0 5, Carlysia Pierce 4 4-8 12, Dakirah Gray 1 0-0 2, Raniyah Parsons-Smith 0 0-2 0, Madison Dixon 0 0-0 0, Amariah Frye 1 0-0 3, Jania Adams 0 0-0 0. Totals 9 4-12 24.

Bridgeton1114209–54
Salem12363–24
3-point goals: Bridgeton 2 (Santiago, Wilks); Salem 2 (Hickman, Frye).

CAMDEN TECH 40, SALEM TECH 16: Camden Tech couldn’t have gotten off to a better start in the ACIT Holiday Tournament. The Warriors held Salem Tech scoreless in the first quarter and rolled into the championship game. Camden’s Ryan Jones scored 19 points. All four Salem Tech scorers had four points apiece.

CAMDEN TECH (1-4) – Kiara Miller 4 0-0 9, Ryan Jones 8 2-4 19, Jaelyn White 2 0-2 4, Brenna Stiles 2 1-2 5, Ericka Bennett 1 1-2 3. Totals 17 4-10 40.
SALEM TECH (1-2) – Hannah Dewitt 2 0-0 4, Shelby Drummond 2 0-0 4, Shelby Liber 1 2-6 4, Rylee Doerr 2 0-0 4. Totals 7 2-6 16.

Camden Tech141286–40
Salem Tech0664–16
3-point goals: Camden Tech 2 (Miller, Jones). NOTE: It takes five to play. Only players listed were scorers.

SATURDAY’S SCHEDULE
Audubon Tournament
Consolation: Deptford vs. Cedar Creek, 12:30 p.m.
Championship: Penns Grove vs. Audubon, 3:30 p.m.

ACIT Holiday Tournament
Consolation: Salem Tech vs. Atlantic Tech
Championship: Camden Tech vs. GCIT

Haddon Twp. Tournament
Consolation: Woodstown vs. Pennsauken
Championship: Haddon Twp. vs. Cherry Hill East

Active scorers watch

SALEM COUNTY SCORING LISTPTS
Talia Battavio, Woodstown1296
Megan Donelson, Woodstown1263
1000-POINT WATCH
Nora Ausland, Pennsville (Salem 462/Pennsville 403)865
Marley Wood, Pennsville770
x-RaNiyah Wilson, Penns Grove (Kingsway 251/Penns Grove 447)698
x-Does not include Friday’s game

Finding their way

Rebuilding Pennsville takes a step forward near end of third quarter, pulls away from Salem Tech in Monday matinee; Battavio now third on Woodstown girls’ all-time scoring list as Wolverines rally to beat Holy Spirit

MONDAY BASKETBALL
BOYS GAME
Pennsville 54, Salem Tech 35
GIRLS GAMES
Washington Twp. 41, Pennsville 30
Boardwalk Classic, Wildwood
Woodstown 46, Holy Spirit 37

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

PENNSVILLE – Having a team that suddenly finds itself trying to find its way instead of having the road mapped out for it, Pennsville basketball coach Joe Mecholsky takes small pockets of growth where he can find them.

The Eagles aren’t quite the team Mecholsky expected to have when school started, so they’re going to be a work in progress for a while. That means there are some ups and there are going to be some downs. 

They played arguably their best three minutes of the young season late in the third quarter Monday and the stretch helped them put away Salem Tech 54-35 for their first win of the season.

“Apple trees don’t give you oranges,” Mecholsky said. “We are who we are. Success isn’t on the scoreboard. Success is how we approach each game, how we rebound, how we pass, how we pick each other when we’re down, how we communicate, how we handle adversity.

“We’ve got to build something now again. We’re back to rebuilding, so that’s fine, but it’s important that we learn the lessons this year and carry them back to next year. Rebuilding means to keep building up to something. As a coach I’ve left the gym the last three nights feeling that we got the most we could out of them. Couldn’t get any more juice out of the orange. We squeezed it every night.”

The Eagles were expected to have a veteran team coming back to challenge for a winning record and an elusive playoff win. But when the senior baseball players who made up a prime part of the lineup decided not to play to focus on their spring sport, it left the cagers with a roster of sophomores and juniors that’s learning as it goes.

They opened the season with a home loss to Wildwood and did some things better in a loss to Glassboro. They go on the road for the first time Dec. 27 at Buena.

“We’re really young,” said sophomore guard Mason O’Brien, their most experienced player with 29 varsity games under his belt. “It’s not about winning right now. It’s a lot about  building up and if we win games, we win games. No one expects us to win games right now, but hopefully in the next two years they do expect us to win.”

The light bulb moment Monday came when they were already winning by 14. From there they slid into a 1-3-1, three-quarters court trap and put the game away. It created a number of steals, which they turned into transition layups and by the end of the quarter the lead had grown to 47-24.

The trap created six turnovers in seven possessions, off which the Eagles scored 11 points. The emotional spark may have been the charge Cole Johnston drew, but the run started with Logan Hitt’s steal and three-point play. O’Brien scored three buckets, two off steals, and Shiloh Jefferson finished it off with a steal and scooping layup right before the buzzer.

The Eagles scored 20 points off the Chargers’ turnovers.

“We just wanted to put pressure on them,” Mecholsky said. “On tape it didn’t look like they could handle the ball under pressure. We were trying to find the right mix. We went man first and we dropped back, then we found the three-quarter court gave them some confusion and it let me use the one thing we do have and that’s athleticism in bunches.

“We’re the same team players 1 to 8. You can interchange anybody out, it’s just the name on the back of jersey (that’s different). We’re all 6-foot guards. When our big guy, Perry Meranti, goes 6-1 ¾, it’s about getting to the spot. We’ve got to hit on all cylinders to win. If we don’t hit on a cylinder one night then we don’t give ourselves the best chance to win.”

O’Brien led all scorers with 20 points, 10 in the third quarter and 12 in the second half. Jovanni Rios helped get them off to a good start with eight of his nine points in the first quarter.

“We’re not a finished product on Dec. 23,” Mecholsky said. “We going to look to be peaking end of January, beginning of February, hope to stay in the playoff mix. Every game is going to be competitive where we’ve got to find ourselves. We’ve got to show up and play. We’re a bunch of sophomores and juniors finding our way.”

Salem Tech is a team finding its way, too. The Chargers (0-4) lost two of their top returning players to the transfer portal and Penns Grove. Daviontae Russell and J.R. Reed had eight points apiece Monday.

PENNSVILLE 54, SALEM TECH 35
SALEM TECH (0-4) – Daviontae Russell 4 0-0 8, Alex Thomas 2 0-0 4, Joseph Hayes 2 0-0 5, Connor Dougan 0 0-0 0, Keidyn Robinson 0 0-0 0, Larry Pompper 2 0-0 4, Aiden Bobo 0 1-2 1, Raphael Busch 2 1-2 5, Charlie Brown 0 0-0 0, J.R. Reed 3 2-3 8. Totals 15 4-4-7 35.
PENNSVILLE (1-2) – C.J. McDevitt 2-4 2-3 6, Jovanni Rios 4-11 1-2 9, Cole Johnston 1-5 0-2 2, Mason O’Brien 9-16 2-2 20, Shiloh Jefferson 4-12 1-2 9, Danny Knight 0-4 0-0 0, Perry Meranti 1-1 0-0 2, Logan Hitt 1-4 1-1 3, Noah Owen 1-2 1-1 3, Jacob Miller 0-1 0-0 0, Griffin Hern 0-0 0-2 0, Gavin Spears 0-1 0-0 0, Jacob Farina 0-1 0-0 0, Brett Regner 0 0-0 0. Totals 23-62 8-15 54.

Salem Tech 87911-35
Pennsville1511217-54

3-point goals: Salem Tech 1 (Hayes). Rebounds: Salem Tech 31 (Russell 7); Pennsville 28 (Rios 7).
Total fouls: Salem Tech 20, Pennsville 17.

Woodstown girls overcome
adversity to remain unbeaten

WILDWOOD – Talia Battavio scored 19 points, including four 3-pointers, and helped Woodstown put together a strong second-half defensive effort that helped them turn back Holy Spirit 46-37 in a Boardwalk Classic showcase game in the Convention Center.

It’s the first time since 2021 the Wolverines (4-0) go into the Christmas break undefeated. They were 1-0 that season before the holiday. They were 2-0 before Christmas in 2015.

“It’s definitely a good feeling,” Wolverines coach Matt Smart said. “It was a tough Holy Spirit team today – they were physical, well coached, very skilled and talented – and it was nice to come out on top. It was nice to see the girls battle adversity for the first time all year really being down in the game.”

The Wolverines led by nine in the first quarter, but they didn’t value the ball in the second quarter and trailed by one at halftime. They were down by nine in the third quarter.

But they rallied to retake the lead by the end of the quarter and then outscored the Spartans 14-4 in the fourth to secure the victory. They held the Spartans to one field goal in the fourth.

“Our fourth quarter was very good defensively,” Smart said. “It starts with those two girls up top, Megan (Donelson) and Talia; they do a great job pressuring the ball, making the point guard make difficult passes. And then our wings tonight – Lauren Hengel, Emma Perry, Gianna Maiorini – they were awesome in communication. They knew where everybody was and closed out.

“And we had a force in the middle in that fourth quarter, Kyia Leyman. She stood tall. She stepped out of the paint to attack drivers, make them take difficult shots without fouling and then was a terrific rebounder. 

“They battled back and never got too down on themselves. It was great to see them battle through adversity. We knew it was a tough matchup, we knew things weren’t going to go like they had the last three games for us, but we stayed positive, stayed as a team.”

Donelson added 13 points for Woodstown, 11 in the second half. Sabrina Little led Holy Spirit (2-2) with 16 points. Lauren Cella had 11, including 7-of-10 from the free throw line.

Battavio is now seventh on the Salem County girls’ all-time scoring list (1285 points) and third in Woodstown girls’ history. Donelson is now fifth on Woodstown’s all-time list.

“That’s awesome,” Smart said. “My favorite part about those stats is those girls don’t care about those stats at all. I mentioned to them about the scoring record and they both said they don’t care about the scoring record, they’d rather win every game and not score a point. It’s very special to watch both of them play.”

WOODSTOWN 46, HOLY SPIRIT 37
HOLY SPIRIT (2-2) – Ava Catona 2 4-8 8, Lauren Cella 2 7-10 11, Sabrina Little 5 5-8 16, Kieran Brewster 0 0-0 0, Megan Kane 1 0-2 2, Taylor Murphy 0 0-0 0. Totals 10 16-28 37.
WOODSTOWN (4-0) – Talia Battavio 6 3-4 19, Kendall Young 1 0-0 2, Emma Perry 0 0-0 0, Lauren Hengel 2 0-0 4, Gianna Maiorini 2 0-0 4, Megan Donelson 6 0-0 13, Kyia Leyman 2 0-0 4. Totals 19 3-4 46.

Holy Spirit714124-37
Woodstown1641511-46

3-point goals: Holy Spirit 1 (Little); Woodstown 5 (Battavio 4, Donelson). Fouled out: Kane. Total fouls: Holy Spirit 9, Woodstown 19.

WASHINGTON TWP. 41, PENNSVILLE 30
PENNSVILLE (1-2) – Taylor Bass 3 0-0 6, Nora Ausland 4 1-3 10, Marley Wood 3 0-0 6, Jaida Burns 1 0-2 2, Ashlyn Fredo 1 0-0 2, Calli Ausland 1 0-0 2, Addison Johnston 0 0-0 0, Izzy Saulin 1 0-0 2, Sofia Belitsas 0 0-0 0, Kylie Harris 0 0-0 0. Totals 14 1-5 30.
WASHINGTON TWP. (3-0) – Brianna Rainey 2, Shyla McLean 9, Kate D’Ottaviano 16, Alaina LaMonica 12, Tessa Reilley 2.

Pennsville 104511-30
Washington Twp.991310-41

3-point goals: Pennsville 1 (N. Ausland)

Scoring watch

SALEM COUNTY ACTIVE LEADING SCORERSPTS
Talia Battavio, Woodstown1285
Megan Donelson, Woodstown1254
1000-POINT WATCH
Nora Ausland, Salem (462)/Pennsville (379)841
Marley Wood, Pennsville748
RaNiyah Wilson, Kingsway (251)/Penns Grove (447)698

Friday boys basketball

Penns Grove turns back several Woodstown rallies, wins a thriller; Salem remains unbeaten, Pennsville, Schalick fall

FRIDAY’S BOYS GAMES
Penns Grove 63, Woodstown 55
Salem 67, Salem Tech 27
Glassboro 65, Pennsville 51
Overbrook 75, Schalick 41

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

WOODSTOWN – Without an experienced senior who plays appreciative minutes, several new players to incorporate into its style of play and an otherwise athletic but young roster, the Penns Grove basketball team is “learning on the fly” this early portion of the season.

Last year with a senior-laden team it took a while to find the right combination and coach Damian Ware’s lineups changed virtually every game. What the Red Devils learned Friday night was how to handle business down the stretch in a close game of a high-intensity rivalry.

Penns Grove withstood several charges from Woodstown, including a stretch in which the Wolverines took a 10-point deficit in the fourth quarter down to two with a little more than two minutes to play, before finally putting them away 63-55 for its first win of the season.

“That’s just the maturation process of a team that’s learning how to play varsity basketball on the fly,” Ware said. “Only two of my guys have played varsity minutes so we’re learning on the fly. 

“We grew up a little bit tonight. What I learned (about his team) tonight is we can make some clutch plays down the stretch.”

The Red Devils (1-1) built leads in every quarter with fast starts on the restarts, but each time the Wolverines (0-2) came back.

Penns Grove scored the first seven points of the game, but it was tied 13-all at quarter’s end and was only 26-25 at halftime. The Red Devils opened the second half with a 13-2 run, but by the end of the third quarter led only 45-44.

They had a 10-point lead after Robbins’ flying follow with 6:02 to play, but Woodstown chipped away again and got it back to 56-54 with two minutes left when Blake Bialecki hit two technical free throws after Ware was teed up for being out on the floor all because the officials couldn’t/didn’t hear his frantic pleas for a time out. 

The tech got Woodstown with a bucket and it had a shot on the ensuing possession, but it also fired up the Red Devils. They outscored the Wolverines 7-1 the rest of the way. 

“When our coach got the tech, that’s when everything started getting fired up,” Ceaser said. “We started getting our coach’s back because we’re a family, a brotherhood. It put more fire in the team to get the win. As a team we back each other’s play.”

“I’m not going to make that a habit,” Ware said of his T as a tool of motivation.

Brandin Robbins led Penns Grove with 15 points, 13 of which came in the second half. Roman Gipson had 12, including a pair of free throws with 27 seconds left that put the Red Devils up six. KaRon Ceaser had nine points and led the Red Devils’ defensive effort down the stretch.

In every case the Red Devils used the press, a smothering trap and quick hands to create turnovers that they turned into baskets.

“My defense was great,” Ware said. “I don’t know what the numbers were, but I know we didn’t give up many shots. We let (Rocco) String get some putbacks, but he’s 6-7, he’s a big, strong kid, so he’s going to get that. What I told my guys was we wanted to limit that as much as possible.”

String did everything he could to bring the Wolverines back when they fell behind. He finished with 18 points, 15 rebounds and seven blocked shots. He blocked back-to-back shots, grabbed a rebound off a missed Penns Grove free throw and had a putback basket all in the space of about 30 seconds late in the third quarter rally.

Braydon Hall had 16 points and hit four big 3-pointers during the Wolverines’ various rallies.

“We played hard, we just didn’t make enough plays in the end,” said Woodstown coach Ramon Roots, still looking for his first win as a head coach. “If we made just a few more plays we would have won the game today, but we played tough. We played very tough today.”

PENNS GROVE (1-1) – Brandin Robbins 6 0-0 15, Roman Gipson 4 3-4 12, KaRon Ceaser 4 1-2 9, Will Roy 1 0-0 2, Jameel Horace 3 2-6 9, Geonni Conrad 1 0-0 3, Antoine Robinson 1 0-2 2, Haneef Frisbee 5 1-2 11. Totals 25 7-14 63.
WOODSTOWN (0-2) – Garrett Leyman 0 2-2 2, Eli Caesar 4 0-1 8, Rocco String 9 0-0 18, Blake Bialecki 3 2-2 9, Braydon Hall 6 0-0 16, M.J. Hall 0 0-0 0, Alejandro Vazquez 0 0-0 0. Totals 22 6-12 55.

Penns Grove13131918-63
Woodstown13121811-55

3-point goals: Penns Grove 6 (Robbins 3, Gipson, Conrad, Horace); Woodstown 5 (Bialecki, B. Hall 4). Rebounds: Woodstown 55 (String 15). Technical fouls: Horace, B. Hall, PG coach Ware. Fouled out: Frisbee, B. Hall. Total fouls: Penns Grove 18, Woodstown 21.

SALEM 67, SALEM TECH 27: Tymere Lecator and Neziah Spence each scored 15 points and dished seven assists as the Rams won their third straight game. Deshaan Williams added 10 points and Antwuan Rogers grabbed 10 rebounds.

SALEM TECH (0-3) – Daviontae Russell 3 0-0 6, Ayden Myers 1 0-0 2, Joseph Hayes 1 1-3 3, Conner Dougan 2 0-0 5, Larry Pompper 2 1-2 5, Aiden Bobo 1 0-0 2, Logan Pace 0 0-0 0, Robinson 2 0-0 4, Reed 0 0-0 0. Totals 12 2-5 27.
SALEM (3-0) – Tymear Lecator 7 0-0 15, Antwuan Rogers 4 2-2 10, Deshaan Williams 5 0-0 10, Xavier McGriff 4 1-2 9, Neziah Spence 6 1-2 15, Donovan Weathers 2 0-2 4, Joe Tunis 0 2-2 2, Kyaire Parsons 0 0-0 0, Cole Sayers 0 0-0 0, Harlem Parsons 1 0-0 2, Giovanni Tuvale 0 0-0 0. Totals 29 6-10 67.

Salem Tech26613-27
Salem18112018-67

3-point goals: Salem Tech (Dougan); Salem 3 (Lecator, Spence 2). Rebounds: Salem 34 (Rogers 10). Total fouls: Salem Tech 10, Salem 12.

GLASSBORO 65, PENNSVILLE 51: Xavier Sabb scored 10 of his 18 points in the first quarter, highlighted by three spectacular dunks, to stake the Bulldogs to a lead they maintained the rest of the game. Glassboro’s Maurice Davis led all scorers with 20 points. After trailing by 10 at halftime, the Eagles cut their deficit to seven with four minutes to play. Giovanni Rios led Pennsville with 13 points, nine rebounds and five steals.

GLASSBORO (1-2) – Hakim Theresa 1 0-0 2, Xavier Sabb 8 2-4 18, Aiden Harris 4 3-4 11, Maurice Davis 10 0-2 20, Davon Barr 2 4-6 8, Alex Adeleye 2 0-0 4, Marley Crowl 1 2-2 4. Totals 28 11-18 65.
PENNSVILLE (0-2) – Giovanni Rios 6 1-2 13, Perry Meranti 3 1-2 7, Cole Johnston 3 1-3 8, Logan Hitt 1 0-0 3, Mason O’Brien 2 2-3 7, Daniel Knight 2 0-0 5, Shiloh Jefferson 3 0-0 6. Totals 20 5-10 51.

Glassboro17161418-65
Pennsville12111513-51

3-point goals: Pennsville 5 (Johnston 2, Hitt, O’Brien, Knight). Rebounds: Pennsville 24 (Rios 9). Total fouls: Glassboro 11, Pennsville 12

OVERBROOK 75, SCHALICK 41: Lamar Little led three Overbrook scorers in double figures with 15 points as the Rams picked up their first win of the season. Zair Green added 14 and Xavier Wright 12. Sherrod Jones led Schalick with 14 points.
 
SCHALICK (1-2) – Reggie Allen 3 0-0 8, Nylan Sutton 4 4-7 12, Jase Volovar 1 0-0 2, Justin Iacona 1 1-1 3, Sherrod Jones 5 1-1 14, Jamari Whitley 1 0-0 2. Totals 15 6-9 
OVERBROOK (1-1) – Lamar Little 7 0-0 15, Xavier Wright 4 4-4 12, Zair Green 6 2-2 14, Elvin Santiago 3 0-0 6, Bilal Robinson 3 0-0 8, JR Stanley 1 0-0 3, Angel Bermudez 2 0-0 5, Jayden Wilkerson 1 0-0 2, Jaden St. John 3 0-0 6, Kyle Johns 2 0-0 4. Totals 32 6-6 75.
3-point goals: Schalick 5 (Allen 3, Jones 3); Overbrook 5 (Little, Robinson 2, Stanley, Bermudez).