Penns Grove beats Overbrook for third time this season in Tri-County Post-Season Bracket opener; Woodstown, Salem Tech fall
TCC GIRLS TOURNAMENT Championship Bracket Clearview 59, Cumberland 36 Kingsway 39, Woodstown 24 Washington Twp. 54, Triton 33 Pennsville at Delsea (Sat.) Postseason Bracket Pitman at Highland Clayton 62, Salem Tech 15 Penns Grove 44, Overbrook 37 TUESDAY’S GAMES Championship Bracket Pennsville-Delsea at Gloucester Catholic Clearview at Timber Creek Kingsway at Glassboro Washington Twp. at Wildwood Postseason Bracket Pitman-Highland at Schalick Salem at Williamstown Clayton at GCIT Penns Grove at Deptford
By Al Muskewitz Riverview Sports News
PINE HILL – Deja Cook had to be feeling pretty confident going into the opening round of this year’s Tri-County Conference Post-Season Bracket.
Her Penns Grove girls basketball team hadn’t enjoyed a lot of success during her first season as the head coach, but the success it did have came against the team it was playing in the first round.
The Red Devils made it three in a row over Overbrook Friday night, 44-37, advancing to the semifinals of their bracket. They visit second-seeded Deptford Tuesday at 4 p.m.
“We beat adversity and we showed that our will was stronger than the opposing team,” Cook said. “It’s hard to beat a team three times and we did.”
All three of the wins over the Rams pulled the Red Devils (3-18) out of the doldrums. The first one snapped a six-game losing streak and gave Cook her first win as a head coach. The second snapped a nine-game slide. Friday’s ended a three-game streak. They held the Rams to less than 40 points in every game.
They won this one with a good finish, outscoring the seventh-seeded Rams 14-6 in the fourth quarter to take the lead and win by seven.
Keziah Patterson and Janiyah Cummings led Penns Grove’s offense with 14 points each. Cummings completed the double-double with 18 rebounds and also had six blocked shots. Patterson had seven rebounds and six steals. Mikayla Washington had eight points and 17 rebounds.
“We were down numerous times during the game but the girls remained uplifted, kept fighting and were able to work together to get the win,” Cook said. “I’m proud of how far they came as a team and individuals. Looking forward to our next game.”
Gianna Simon led Overbrook (5-18) with 23 points. She hit six 3-pointers.
Penns Grove
12
8
10
14-
44
Overbrook
10
11
10
6-
37
CHAMPIONSHIP BRACKET KINGSWAY 39, WOODSTOWN 24:The Wolverines remembered how the last meeting with Kingsway went and didn’t want to repeat that again. They tightened up the things that got away from them in that 54-17 loss and gave the Lady Dragons a much better battle, but they just couldn’t get shots to fall.
They did score the first basket of the game, then Kingsway held them scoreless the rest of the quarter while opening an 11-2 lead. It was 28-8 in the third quarter, but they fought to stay in it.
“It was working on the things that we talk about working on all the time,” Woodstown coach Matt Smart said. “We had an emphasis of doing things in practice this week and to see the girls implement it, that was positive for us.
“Shots didn’t fall. We missed a couple layups in the beginning that could have maybe changed the game, but we were taking those layups, we were being aggressive, so I was proud of that all day today.”
Lauren Hengel was Woodstown’s leading scorer with nine points, all of them coming in the second half. She also grabbed eight rebounds, five in the fourth quarter. Kyia Leyman had 12 rebounds, eight in the first half.
Penns Grove takes down Willingboro, Salem Tech falls in TCC bracket; Salem bowling reaches sectional semis
BOYS BASKETBALL
PENNS GROVE – The reason teams try to schedule games late in the cutoff week is to make a last-minute move up the power points standings.
Penns Grove gained a lot of power points in its hope to move into the South Jersey Group 1 top four and potentially two home playoff games Thursday with its 69-58 win over Willingboro.
The Red Devils (15-9) jumped out front early and stayed in control. Geonni Conrad and Roman Gipson led their usually balanced scoring attack with 16 and 14, respectively.
The Chimeras had three scorers in double figures, led by Yasin Hogue’s 25 points, but Penns Grove had eight players hit the scoring column, with half of them scoring at least seven points.
Wildwood 68, Salem Tech 31: Trevor Troiano hit three 3-pointers and scored a game-high 15 points to lead the Warriors in the first round of the Tri- County Postseason Bracket. Raphael Busch led the Chargers with 11. Wildwood now plays at Pitman in the quarterfinals.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Wildwood 59, Salem 27: The Warriors (17-6) roared to a 23-4 first-quarter lead and cruised to a third straight victory. Wildwood’s Rebecca Benichou led all scorers with 23 points. Angela Wilber dished 10 assists. Dyaira Anderson led the Rams (8-9) with 16 points.
BOYS BOWLING SJ GROUP 1 QF Salem 2, Maple Shade 0: Troy Carey rolled two games of 266 for the day’s high series (532) and Jacob Puni rolled games of 242 and 228 to lead the second-seeded Rams (10-3) into the sectional semifinals. They’ll face sixth-seeded Doane Academy (8-10) Wednesday at Wood Lanes. The winner gets Camden Catholic or Asbury Park in the Feb. 21 finals.
SJ GROUP 2 QF Lindenwold 2, Salem Tech 1: Second-seeded Lindenwold (14-1-1) won the rubber game 842-789 to reach the sectional semifinals. Cooper Rappa bowled the high game (216) and high series (550) for the Chargers (6-8).
GIRLS BOWLING SJ GROUP 1 QF Camden Catholic 2, Salem Tech 1: The fourth-seeded Irish (14-1) won the rubber game 686-614 to reach the semifinals. Naomi Hess rolled a high-game 181 in Game 3 for the Chargers (9-2-1), but the Irish had four games 145 or better. Hess also had the high series for the match (512).
Crowd rushes the floor after Salem’s Tymear Lecator reaches 1,000-point plateau, Woodstown wrestling wins division title in coach’s final regular-season home match, also ncludes scores and highlights from Tuesday night’s Salem County sports calendar
BOYS BASKETBALL Salem 71, Penns Grove 52 WRESTLING Delsea girls 46, Schalick 21 Woodstown 58, Timber Creek 24 Penns Grove at Palmyra Schalick 45, Cedar Creek 33
By Al Muskewitz Riverview Sports News
SALEM – Tymear Lecator had known for a while what was going to happen if he scored his 1000th career point at home. When the milestone came, he just let it come to him.
The sellout crowd rushed the floor after the Salem junior guard hit the number Tuesday night on a free throw with 2:22 left in the Rams’ 71-52 win over rival Penns Grove.
When he swished the historic shot, they came out of the stands. They came from the other side of the floor. They came in waves. But instead of running away from crush of humanity, Lecator just let the love envelop him. He backed off the foul line, raised his arms in triumph and let the crowd carry him all the way to the far baseline.
“It’s been talked about in school since Monday,” he said. “I didn’t get away from it. I just stood them and let everybody just run into me. I knew they were coming so I just stood there.
“(Scoring 1000 points) has been on my mind since I was a freshman and I knew I had a high chance of getting it, especially in the role I’ve been playing on this team since my freshman year.
“It means a lot because not a lot of guys do it as a junior. Everybody usually gets it their senior year. It means everything because I know how much work I’ve put in over the years. I’m just proud I hit the milestone.”
Lecator is the 18th player in the boys program’s history to join the 1000-Point Club and the first since Anthony Farmer, the son of coach Anthony Farmer, did it in January 2024.
Ironically, they did it against the same team, on the same floor, under similar circumstances and from the same free throw line.
Farmer needed 35 on his night to reach the milestone; he scored 36. Lecator needed 22; he scored 23.
Farmer got it on a free throw in the fourth quarter. Lecator hit the mark on a free throw in the fourth quarter.
The crowd rushed the floor for Farmer. They did the same for Lecator.
“It brought back some good memories,” the elder Farmer said.
It took about 10 minutes to clear the floor after the celebration. And the player still had another free throw to make.
In some ways it was easier to nail that one down than the first one.
“Honestly, it was 10 times easier to make the second one than the first one,” he said. “The first one everybody was standing up getting ready to run on the court, so I was definitely real nervous. The second one was nothing compared to the first one.”
Needing 22 to reach the milestone wasn’t as big an ask as Farmer’s target number against Penns Grove, but it was lofty nonetheless. But Lecator wasn’t worried about getting it. He scored 20 or more 15 times in his career and six times each of the last two seasons, including Monday night at Paulsboro to get close.
“I’m used to scoring 20 … so I was like that ain’t that crazy. I could get that today,” he said. “I just made the right reads and I let the game come to me, and luckily I hit enough shots to score the 22.”
NOTES: Lecator also had eight rebounds and four assists. Deshaan Williams had his sixth double-double of the season (14 points, 10 rebounds). Marshall Stephens and Fatah Paige also grabbed 10 rebounds apiece. Penns Grove’s typical balanced scoring attack was led by Carson Pearsall’s 14 points … Salem remains the No. 1 team in the South Jersey Group 1 power points standings by nearly two full points over Haddon Twp. Saturday is the cutoff date.
SALEM 71, PENNS GROVE 52 PENNS GROVE (14-9): Roman Gipson 3 2-4 9, Geonni Conrad 2 2-3 6, Naheef Frisby 2 0-0 5, Will Roy 2 0-0 4, Mishawn Brantley 1 0-4 2, Jameel Horace 2 0-0 4, Carson Pearsall 4 5-9 14, Zane Thomas 3 2-2 8. Totals 19 11-22 52. SALEM (18-4): Tymear Lecator 9-4-23, Marshall Stephens 3-0-6, Neziah Spence 3-1-8, Fatah Paige 2-0-4, Darrelle Johnson 2-0-4, Deshaan Williams 5-4-14, BJ Robbins 1-2-4, Xavier McGriff 2-1-6, Kyaire Parsons 1-0-2. Totals 28-12-71.
Penns Grove
10
18
11
13-
52
Salem
11
26
17
17-
71
3-point goals: Penns Grove 3 (Colson, Fritby, Pearsall); Salem 3 (Lecator, Spence, McGriff). Rebounds: Penns Grove 24 (Frisby 7, Thomas 7); Salem 55 (Stephens 10, Paige 10, Williams 1o).
Wrestling
BOYS SCHALICK 45, CEDAR CREEK 33 106: Sincere Wilcox (CC) pinned Victor Fenske, 0:46 113: Galel Solano-Lopez (CC) pinned Nicholas Latona, 1:35 120: E’Shion Underwood (S) pinned Luke Sess, 0:40 126: Hector Villarrubia-Torres (CC) pinned Caleb Jenkins, 1:39 132: Gavin Marcasciano (CC) maj. dec. over Jacon Potts, 14-3 138: Masen Cruz (CC) tech fall over Gabriel McFeeley, 15-0 (2:50) 144: Michael Baisch (S) pinned Kyle Smith 1:27 150: Mason Hollywood (S) pinned Jakob Dase, 1:16 157: Ayden Jenkins (S) tech fall over Jake Hardiman, 16-0 165: Anthony Deaver (S) pinned Cole Burton, 3:30 175: Ricky Watt (S) pinned Xavier Villarubia-Torres, 3:06 190: Gerardp Foe;o[e (S) maj. dec. Giovanni Carnes, 8-0 215: James Cook (S) won by forfeit 285: Slayton D’Amico (CC) pinned Jeff Edmonds, 1:08
WOODSTOWN 58, TIMBER CREEK 24 106: Jimmy Boone (TC) pinned TJ Conto, 0:19 113: Jadon Middlemiss (WO) won by forfeit 120: Carson Bradway (WO) pinned Dyllan Klotz, 2:43 126: Walker Battavio (WO) pinned Seth Redman, 1:12 132: Barry Coverly (WO) won by forfeit 138: Chase Icon (WO) won by forfeit 144: Nehemiah Carter (WO) won by forfeit 150: Mathyias Ellis (WO) won by forfeit 157: Matt Cordovz (TC) pinned Tyrell West, 4:24 165: Ricky Watts (WO) pinned Nathaniel Collazo, 3:25 175: Greyson Hyland (WO) maj. dec. Zyeir Green, 12-4 190: Elijah Green (TC) pinned Asher Fitzpatrick, 3:43 215: Julian McCray (TC) pinned Bradley Snitcher, 2:27 285: Mateo Vinciguerra (WO) pinned Roland Green, 0:52
GIRLS DELSEA 46, SCHLAICK 21 100: Isabella Gjini (D) won by forfeit 107: Karleigh Six (D) won by forfeit 114: Ava Baldino (D) won by forfeit 120: Nevaeha Chaney (S) won by forfeit 126: Olivia Guzman (D) pinned River Wojcik, 0:29 132: McKenna Thomas (D) won by forfeit 138: Angelia Deaver (S) dec. Ellie Fanz, 7-3 145: Elizabeth Ostoyic (D) maj. dec. Haley Batista, 11-0 152: McKayla Rutledge (D) won by forfeit 165: Ranae Scurry (S) pinned Kyleigh Dotzel, 0:42 185: Lydia Gilligan (S) pinned Samaiya Figueroa, 5:11 235: Jessica Fantini (S) won by forfeit
Lifelong Red Devil approved to become school’s head football coach, driven to bring the program back to former glory
By Al Muskewitz Riverview Sports News
PENNS GROVE – Damian Ware has been through the highs and lows of the Penns Grove football program, both as a player and a coach. The Red Devils are in a downturn right now and he wants to bring them back and now he has that chance.
WARE
Ware was installed as the Red Devils’ new head football coach Monday night. He takes over for Marc Maccarone, who stepped down after the final game last season.
It’s an ambitious take for Ware, 48. He’s also the Red Devils’ boys basketball coach and will remain in that position in addition to the football job. Actually, he was coaching that team to a win at rival Pennsville while the board was meeting to approve him for the football job.
He also was an assistant track coach, but will give that up to oversee the strength and conditioning program. He’s hoping his players follow that lead and encourages them to become three-sport athletes.
“I’m a football guy too,” he said. “I’ve been coaching football for over 10 years at Penns Grove, I played football at Penns Grove. I was an all-star player back in the week a few times and a lot of people said I should have played football in college instead of basketball, but I love basketball more so I just played basketball in college. But I’m a football guy as well.”
What else he is is Penns Grove through and through. He played football and basketball there for Al Birch and Steve Kline before going on to play college basketball at FDU in the late 90s (and nearly beating UConn in the NCAA Tournament), and when he returned home served as an assistant for each of the Red Devils’ last three head football coaches – Kemp Carr, John Emel and Maccarone.
“One thing you know about Damian,” athletics director Anwar Golden said, “he is Penns Grove to the core. Nothing comes before the growth of Penns Grove. I’m really excited about working with him.”
The Red Devils had been championship contenders in Group I for years, but they missed the playoffs each of the last two years, bottoming out at 0-9 this past season, their first winless season in recent memory. In the most recent West Jersey Football League reshuffle, they was demoted to the Independence Division after playing in the dynamic Diamond Division since the league’s inception.
“We want to bring the pride back to Penns Grove football,” Ware said. “We were more of a football town than a basketball town and now it’s kind of flipped the other way. I want it to be both, football and basketball, because that’s what we’ve always been.
“We’ve always been a prevalent team in both sports. We’re looking to bring the culture back and bring the pride back to Penns Grove football. That’s part of the reason I wanted to take on the program, to try to bring it back,”
His approach to that will be a “homegrown way.” He said the two biggest factors in bringing them back are the commitment to a youth football program and restoring the culture surrounding the program.
“Without that feeder system it’s tough because kids come into high school without that background, knowledge of playing football or even knowing how to get into a three-point stance,” he said. “We want them to come into high school with some experience.
“We need to get our feeder system back first and foremost, and then change the culture. The pride in football has kind of been lackluster. A lot of guys went to different schools. We’d like to keep our talent here. That’s the No. 1 thing we need to do, keep our talent because we’ve always been one of the best programs because we have some of the best talent around.
“We need to bring the pride back to Penns Grove football, keep the kids here and continue to win like we always have.”
Top photo: Damian Ware (R) talks over a play with Penns Grove head coach Marc Maccarone during a preseason practice last summer. Ware was approved as the Red Devils’ new head coach Monday.
Pennsville girls basketball ends long title drought by clinching share of Diamond Division, plus the rest of Monday’s Salem County sports calendar GIRLS BASKETBALL Pennsville 65, Penns Grove 25 Pitman 48, Salem Tech 26 Schalick 46, Woodstown 25 BOYS BASKETBALL Penns Grove 80, Pennsville 16 Salem 60, Paulsboro 54 Pitman 52, Salem Tech 31 Woodstown 46, Schalick 33 INDOOR TRACK Pennsville, Salem at Ocean Breeze
By Al Muskewitz Riverview Sports News
PENNS GROVE — Pennsville assistant coach Ryan Wood stood before the girls basketball team after the game and gave the day its historical context in a way uniquely his own.
The Eagles had just clinched a share of its first division title since 1988 Monday when they bashed Penns Grove 65-25 in Rudy Baric Gym and Wood let them know just how long ago that was.
“Forty years ago,” he said rubbing his hands over his thinning scalp, “I had a full head of hair.”
And if you don’t believe it, his daughter, senior guard Marley Wood, has the proof.
“I’ve seen pictures, him and my brother (Luke) look the exact same, which is really weird,” she said.
The girls basketball banner at Pennsville High will soon get an update to reflect the latest division title.
The Eagles’ sixth straight win — and fourth since the coaching change — left them 9-1 in the TCC Diamond Division and a share of their first division title since 1988 with Glassboro. The teams split in the regular season.
“We’ve all worked very hard for this,” senior forward Taylor Bass said. “A lot of sweat, blood and tears have gone into it.”
There’s a banner in the far left corner of Pennsville’s Salberg Gym that commemorates the team’s last division title. After the boys soccer team won its first division title in 32 years in October, it left girls basketball with the school’s longest championship drought among teams that have won a championship. The boys basketball program has never won one. The girls track team is now on the clock (2011).
“Every year we get reminded that it’s been a while, so getting to do with my team my senior year and my dad in the back with us is great,” Marley Wood said.
The Eagles (14-6) had control of this one from the start. They built a 33-15 halftime lead, then opened the third quarter with 16 straight points to put it out of reach.
Bass and Addie Johnston led the offense with 18 points apiece. Since the coaching change that elevated Robin Efelis to head coach and brought Ryan Wood back to the bench, Johnston has scored 52 points and hit eight 3-pointers.
“It’s just been good games, good days,” the sophomore said. “My shooting’s been good, my confidence overall has been high. Just been coming out hot every day.”
Wood had six points, but grabbed 10 rebounds and dished 12 assists. Already the second-leading all-time girls scorer in school history, she needs one point for 1,300 and four assists for 500. That would put her in the 1300-500-500 Club since she already has 521 rebounds.
3-point goals: Pennsville 5 (Bass, Johnston 3, Weist); Penns Grove 3 (Patterson, JCummings, Torres). Total fouls: Pennsville 6, Penns Grove 6.
SCHALICK 46, WOODSTOWN 25: The Cougars put together one of their best defensive efforts of the season in a year filled with big defensive efforts and ended a 13-game losing streak against the Wolverines. It was almost seven years to the day the last time they won in the series, Feb. 12, 2019.
“This one feels good,” Schalick coach John Whelan said. “The girls were ready for this game and they put together four full quarters of good basketball. It was a signature win as we come to the end of there egular season. It will be a great momentum builder as we head into the playoffs.”
The Cougars (14-5) held their hosts to single digits in all four quarters. They led 10-8 after the first quarter, then took control in the second quarter. They closed Woodstown out with a 15-3 fourth quarter. They are averaging a shade under 24 points against in their 14 wins this season.
“As always we build off our defense,” Whelan said. “It was an outstanding defensive performance where the girls took pride in winning on that side of the court. That aggressiveness translated to playing downhill on the offensive end. Everyone played a part.”
Ava Scurry anchored the defense. She had 14 rebounds, including the 600th of her career, five steals and seven blocked shots. Cali Fisler had four steals and Olivia Vanacker had eight rebounds, a career-high nine assists and three steals.
Willow Davis led the offense with four 3-pointers and a career-high 18 points. Nevaeh Robinson had 10. Kendall Young was Woodstown’s leading scorer with 10 points.
The Wolverines, who once had a 39-game winning streaks against Salem County opponents, have now won lost two in a row to in-county foes.
PITMAN 48, SALEM TECH 26: Audrey Duffield scored 19 points and three other players had at least eight as the Panthers snapped a six-game losing streak that followed their last win over the Chargers. Shelby Liber led Salem Tech with 13 points. Amora Delaine had seven points and eight rebounds.
3-point goals: Salem Tech 3 (Liber 3). Rebounds: Salem Tech 35 (Delaine 8, Mott 7).
Boys games
PENNS GROVE 80, PENNSVILLE 16: The Red Devils went out 17-0 in the first five minutes and got scoring from 13 players.
Will Roy led the assault with 13 points, nine in the first quarter. Zane Thomas and Geonni Conrad had 11 apiece, and Jameel Horace had 10.
“That’s what we’re looking for,” Penns Grove coach Damien Ware said. “We have 10 to 12 guys who can play, contribute for us, so that’s really what we want to do on a night-in, night-out basis. If we can just play together. I tell them (to) play consistent.
“We’ve been playing good in stretches. We play good for five minutes and play bad for five minutes. Once we get to the point where we’re playing consistently good basketball we’re going to be tough to beat. We’re pretty deep. We have a lot of guys who can play, so we’ll be tough to deal with.”
PENNS GROVE (14-8): Roman Gipson 0 0-0 0, Carson Pearsall 4 0-0 9, Haneef Frisby 1 0-0 2, Will Roy 6 0-0 13, Mishawn Brantley 3 0-0 6, Geonni Conrad 5 0-0 11, Luis Colon 2 0-0 4, Jameel Horace 5 0-0 10, Jeremy Costacamps 1 0-0 2, Jerry Wooten 1 1-1 3, Ahkeen Edwards 1 0-0 2, Messiah Allah 0 2-2 2, Eli Pearsall 1 0-0 3, James Minor 0 2-2 2, Zane Thomas 4 3-3 11. Totals 34 8-8 80. PENNSVILLE (3-17): Jake Layfield 0 0-0 0, Shamir Watkins 1 0-0 2, Gavin Spears 0 0-0 0, Danny Knight 1 0-0 3, Jake Farina 2 0-0 6, Trey Clevinger 2 0-0 5, Colin Keenan 0 0-0 0, Liam Crane 0 0-0 0. Totals 6 0-0 16.
Penns Grove
25
25
20
10-
80
Pennsville
3
5
6
2-
16
3-point goals: Penns Grove 4 (Pearsall, Roy, Conrad, E. Pearsall); Pennsville 4 (Knight, Farina 2, Clevinger). Total fouls: Penns Grove 3, Pennsville 4.
SALEM 60, PAULSBORO 54: Tymear Lecator scored 21 points to inch closer to 1,000 career points and hit two free throws in a one-point game to keep the Red Raiders at arm’s length. The junior guard needs 22 points to hit the milestone going into Tuesday’s game with Penns Grove. He also had eight rebounds, five assists and four steals.
Deshaan Williams and BJ Robbins added nine points apiece for the Rams (17-4), the No. 1 team in the South Jersey Group I power points standings and No. 2 seed in the upcoming Tri-County Conference Tournament. Marshall Stephens and Donnie Weathers both grabbed 10 rebounds Stephens also blocked three shots.
The Rams came from eight down at halftime to take a four-point lead into the fourth quarter. The Red Raiders got within 54-53, then Lecator hit two free throws to stretch the lead and the Rams (17-4) closed it out from the line. They were 18-of-27 from the line in the game as a team, Lecator was 8-for-10.
When the milestone comes, he’ll be the 18th Salem player on the Salem County boys 1,000-point list.
“I’m not anxious, I know what work I put in and that never lies,” he said. “I’m just looking at it like another game and it’ll definitely be a blessing to hopefully reach the milestone tomorrow.”
3-point goals: Salem 4 (Lecator 3, Robbins); Paulsboro 6 (McKenzie 2, Taylor 2, Clay, Kersey). Rebounds: Salem (Lecator 8, Williams 7, Johnson 7, Stephens 10, Weathers 10); Paulsboro 30 (Carr 7, Bennett 7).
1000-POINT WATCH
TODAY
TOTAL
NEXT
Tymear Lecator, Salem
21 vs. Paulsboro
978
vs. Penns Grove, Tues.
WOODSTOWN 46, SCHALICK 33: The teams played even for a half, but Woodstown came out of the break in a strong defensive posture and pulled away. The Wolverines held them hosts to two points in the third quarter to pull ahead, then kept the pressure on in the fourth quarter.
“No special adjustment,” Woodstown coach Ramon Roots said. “We just played harder in the second (half),.”
Elijah Caesar led Woodstown’s offense with 14 points. Blake Bialecki added 12, including his 194th career 3-pointer, and went over 200 career assists. Kade Macom led the Cougars with a career-tying 16 points.
PITMAN 52, SALEM TECH 31: The Panthers controlled the game by dominating the first and third quarters. Peter DeChristopher led the effort with 16 points, four 3-pointers and six rebounds. Lucas Razze had six points, seven assists and five steals. Aiden Bobo led the Chargers’ offense with 10 points.
SALEM TECH (2-16): Chase Pompper 2 1-2 5, Luke Kroll 2 0-0 6, Ayden Myers 1 0-0 3, Raphael Busch 2 0-0 4, Sterling Lewis 1 1-2 3. Totals 12 3-6 31. PITMAN (9-13): Lucas Razze 2 1-2 6, Parker DeChristopher 6 0-0 16, Joey Zubert 4 0-0 9, Jake Bowen-Ashwin 1 1-2 3, Jay Craig 4 0-0 8, Oliver Spier 3 0-0 8, Micah Frost 0 0-0 0, Michael Aubrey 0 0-0 0, Kiernan Clark 0 0-0 0, Liam Etter 1 0-0 2, Brady Green 0 0-0 0, Brayden Geary 0 0-0 0. Totals 21 2-4 52.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Salem’s Amiyah Jones and Pennsville’s Aubrey Manorowitz both posted Top 10 finishes in jumping events to headline the Salem County performers at the SJTCA Meet at the Ocean Breeze Track & Field Facility.
Jones was fourth in the girls long jump (15-7) and eighth in the girls triple jump (30-9.75). Manorowitz placed fifth in the girls high jump (4-10).
Salem pulls down No. 2 seed in boys championship bracket; Kingsway No. 1 boys seed, Gloucester Catholic No. 1 girls seed; tournament starts Friday
By Al Muskewitz Riverview Sports News
Salem’s approach of playing anybody, anywhere, any time and having some success in it landed it the No. 2 seed among the boys and five total Salem County teams made their respective championship brackets in the Tri-County Conference tournament that starts Friday.
The 16-4 Rams, the TCC Classic Division champions and current South Jersey Group 1 No. 1, drew a first-round bye with the other three division winners when the tournament pairings dropped Monday and are the highest seeded Salem County team in either field. They will host the Penns Grove-Williamstown winner in the quarterfinals next Monday.
“We have been able to take care of business during the regular season to put ourselves in this position,” Rams coach Anthony Farmer said. “Now we have to go finish the job.”
Kingsway (No. 1), Delsea and Overbrook are the other three boys top seeds. Gloucester Catholic (No. 1), Wildwood, Glassboro and Timber Creek are the top four seeds in the girls bracket.
Penns Grove (No. 10) and Woodstown (No. 11) are the other two Salem County teams in the boys championship bracket. Pennsville (No. 9) and Woodstown (No. 11) are the two county teams in the girls championship bracket.
All the other county teams were placed in what the conference is calling the “post-season bracket.” Teams that lose in the opening round can play a second game unless they mutually opt out of the matchup.
Anthony Farmer has the Salem Rams No. 1 in the South Jersey Group I power points standings and the No. 2 seed in the Tri-County Tournament. The boys championship bracket is in the top photo.
TCC officials seeded the top 12 teams in each championship bracket according to South Jersey power points, rewarding the four division winners with first-round byes. Other tiebreakers were in place for divisions not decided by Sunday’s deadline and teams could jump seed if they had the head-to-head edge over the team immediately above them in the rankings.
Pennsville and Glassboro are currently tied for the Diamond Division girls lead – Pennsville can clinch a share of its first division title since 1988 today at Penns Grove – but Glassboro got the bye with a better overall record (and power points), and Wildwood overtook the Bulldogs for the 2 seed by virtue of winning their regular-season meeting.
Teams that finished 13 through 23 in the power points standings went to the post-season bracket. Schalick’s girls had the best luck of the local teams on the bubble. The Cougars (13-5) came in at 13 overall, but grabbed the No. 1 seed in their bracket with a first-round bye.
All games in the post-season bracket will be played at the higher seed. The first three rounds of the championship bracket will be played at the higher seed with the finals played in a boys-girls doubleheader at Washington Twp. Feb. 21.
“We are excited to be in a position to have the tournament run through Pittsgrove,” Schalick coach John Whelan said. “It’s another step in the right direction for this team.
“The girls have earned this opportunity and they are excited about having home court advantage. Our parents, fans and student section have been great recently creating a fun atmosphere to play in.
“Coach (Les) Berry and I are proud of the girls for everything they’ve accomplished so far and we are excited to see where this opportunity takes us.”
The girls Championship Bracket for the Tri-County Basketball Tournament.
TCC BOYS TOURNAMENT Championship Bracket Friday’s games Game 1: No. 9 Clearview (9-13) at No. 8 Timber Creek (10-10) Game 2: No. 12 Gloucester Catholic (8-14) at No. 5 Deptford (18-4) Game 3: No. 11 Woodstown (13-8) at No. 6 Cumberland (15-8) Game 4: No. 10 Penns Grove (13-8) at No. 7 Williamstown (13-8)
Feb. 17 Game 5: Clearview-Timber Creek winner at No. 1 Kingsway (14-9) Game 6: Gloucester Catholic-Deptford winner at No. 4 Overbrook (16-6) Game 7: Woodstown-Cumberland winner at No. 3 Delsea (12-9) Game 8: Penns Grove-Williamstown at No. 2 Salem (16-4)
Feb. 19 (at higher seed) Game 9: Game 5 winner vs. Game 6 winner Game 10: Game 7 winner vs. Game 8 winner
Feb. 21 At Washington Twp. HS Championship game, 11 a.m.
Postseason Bracket Friday’s games Game 1: No. 9 Schalick (9-10) at No. 8 Clayton (7-12) Game 2: No. 5 Glassboro (6-13) bye Game 3: No. 11 Salem Tech (2-15) at No. 6 Wildwood (13-8) Game 4: No. 10 Pennsville (3-17) at No. 7 Highland (5-16)
Feb. 17 Game 5: Schalick-Clayton winner at No. 1 GCIT (10-10) Game 6: Glassboro at No. 4 Triton (7-14) Game 7: Salem Tech-Wildwood winner at No. 3 Pitman (8-13) Game 8: Pennsville-Highland winner at No. 2 Washington Twp. (7-15)
Feb. 19 (at higher seed) Game 9: Game 5 winner vs. Game 6 winner Game 10: Game 7 winner vs. Game 8 winner
Feb. 21 (at higher seed) Championship game
TCC GIRLS TOURNAMENT Championship Bracket Friday’s games Game 2: No. 12 Cumberland (10-11) at No. 5 Clearview (13-8) Game 3: No. 11 Woodstown (9-12) at No. 6 Kingsway (14-8) Game 4: No. 10 Triton (11-10) at No. 7 Washington Twp. (12-8) Saturday’s games Game 1: No. 9 Pennsville (13-6) at No. 8 Delsea (12-9)
Feb. 17 Game 5: Pennsville-Delsea winner at No. 1 Gloucester Catholic (17-3) Game 6: Cumberland-Clearview winner at No. 4 Timber Creek (12-7) Game 7: Woodstown-Kingsway winner at No. 3 Glassboro (15-6) Game 8: Triton-Washington Twp. winner at No. 2 Wildwood (14-6)
Feb. 19 (at higher seed) Game 9: Game 5 winner vs. Game 6 winner Game 10: Game 7 winner vs. Game 8 winner
Feb. 21 At Washington Twp. HS Championship game, 1 p.m.
Postseason Bracket Friday’s games Game 1: No. 9 Pitman (3-13) at No. 8 Highland (2-19) Game 2: No. 5 Salem (8-8) bye Game 3: No. 11 Salem Tech (2-12) at No. 6 Clayton (7-11) Game 4: No. 10 Penns Grove (2-17) at No. 7 Overbrook (4-16)
Feb. 17 Game 5: Pitman-Highland at No. 1 Schalick (13-5) Game 6: No. 5 Salem at No. 4 Williamstown (4-15) Game 7: Salem Tech-Clayton winner at No. 3 GCIT (5-16) Game 8: Penns Grove-Overbrook winner at Deptford (8-13)
Feb. 19 Game 9: Game 5 winner vs. Game 6 winner Game 10: Game 7 winner vs. Game 8 winner
Here is the Salem County sports schedule for the week of Feb. 9-15
MONDAY, FEB. 9 BOYS BASKETBALL Penns Grove at Pennsville, 5:30 p.m. Salem at Paulsboro, 5:30 p.m. Salem Tech at Pitman, 5:30 p.m. Woodstown at Schalick, 5:30 p.m. GIRLS BASKETBALL Pennsville at Penns Grove, 4 p.m. Pitman at Salem Tech, 5:30 p.m. Schalick at Woodstown, 5:30 p.m. INDOOR TRACK Pennsville, Salem at Ocean Breeze, 4:30 p.m.
TUESDAY, FEB. 10 BOYS BASKETBALL Penns Grove at Salem, 5:30 p.m. WRESTLING Delsea girls at Schalick, 5 p.m. Woodstown at Timber Creek, 5 p.m. Penns Grove at Palmyra, 5:30 p.m. Cedar Creek at Schalick, 6 p.m. COLLEGE BASKETBALL Union at Salem CC, 5 p.m. WOMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL Salem CC at Morris, TBA
WEDNESDAY, FEB. 11 BOYS BASKETBALL Pennsville at Pitman, 5:30 p.m. Woodstown at Salem Tech, 5:30 p.m. GIRLS BASKETBALL Oakcrest at Schalick, 4 p.m. Pitman at Pennsville, 5:30 p.m. Salem Tech at Woodstown, 5:30 p.m. WRESTLING Pennsville, Salem at Overbrook Girls Jamboree, 5 p.m. Salem at Willingboro, 5 p.m. Pennsville at Haddon Heights, 6 p.m.
THURSDAY, FEB. 12 GIRLS BASKETBALL Wildwood at Salem, 5:30 p.m. COLLEGE BASKETBALL Camden at Salem CC, 6 p.m.
FRIDAY, FEB. 13 BOYS BASKETBALL TCC Tournament Championship Bracket Clearview at Timber Creek Gloucester Catholic at Deptford Woodstown at Cumberland Penns Grove at Williamstown Postseason Bracket Schalick at Clayton Salem Tech at Wildwood Pennsville at Highland GIRLS BASKETBALL TCC Tournament Championship Bracket Cumberland at Clearview Woodstown at Kingsway Triton at Washington Twp. Postseason Bracket Pitman at Highland Salem Tech at Clayton Penns Grove at Overbrook WRESTLING Schalick, Burlington Twp., Cherry Hill West at Maple Shade, 3:30 p.m.
SATURDAY, FEB. 14 BOYS BASKETBALL Salem Tech at Salem, 10 a.m. Woodstown at Haddonfield, 11:30 a.m. GIRLS BASKETBALL TCC Tournament Pennsville at Delsea WRESTLING Highland, Mainland at Pennsville, 10 a.m. Woodstown, Allentown, Haddon Heights at Delran, 10 a.m. COLLEGE BASKETBALL Sussex at Salem CC, 2 p.m. WOMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL Essex at Salem CC, noon
Here are the scores and details from Saturday’s Salem County sports calendar; includes basketball, wrestling BOYS BASKETBALL Deptford 68, Penns Grove 62 Woodstown 66, Pennsville 21 Battle by the Bay, Atlantic City Cherry Hill East 73, Salem 56
By Riverview Sports News
ATLANTIC CITY — Salem had hoped to get off to a hot start in its highly charged Battle By The Bay matchup with Cherry Hill East. Instead, the Rams fell behind out of the gate and although they played even in the second half fell 73-56.
It was a battle between the No. 2 teams in the South Jersey Group I power points standings against the No. 1 in SJ Group 4.
The Cougars (19-2) ran out to an 11-1 lead and held the Rams (16-4) without a field goal until Deshaan Williams’ put back with 3:22 left in the first quarter. It was 17-9 after the first quarter and 39-22 at halftime.
The Cougars were aware of the damage Salem guard Tymear Lecator could inflict and held him to nine points, the first time he’s been out of double figures in 12 games. The junior guard is now 43 points shy of 1,000 for his career.
Neziah Spence led Salem with 21 points, tying his career high, set earlier this year against A.I. duPont.
Chris Delgado led CHE with 19 points. Justin Farber had 15 points and Chris Abreu 14. The Cougars hit nine 3-pointers in the game. Salem was 3-of-13 from behind the arc.
CHERRY HILL EAST 73, SALEM 56 CHERRY HILL EAST (19-2): Chris Abreu 4 5-7 14, Chris Delgado 7 3-3 19, Justin Farber 5 3-4 15, Noah’s Marciano 2 0-0 5, Rya Olson 1 0-0 2, Noah Johnson 3 1-4 9, Kristian Glenn 3 0-0 7, Jaden Green 1 0-0 2. Totals 26 12-18 73 SALEM (16-4): Marshall Stephens 1 0-2 4, Xavier McGriff 1 2-2 4, Neziah Spence 6 6-7 21, Tymear Lecator 3 3-3 9, Deshaan Williams 2 1-2 5, BJ Robbins 1 0-2 2, Darrelle Johnson 2 0-0 4, Fatah Paige 2 1-4 5, Donnie Weathers 2 0-0 4. Totals 20 13-24 56.
Cherry Hill East
17
22
15
19-
73
Salem
9
13
14
20-
56
3-point goals: CHE 9 (Abreu, Delgado 2, Farber 2, Marciano, Johnson 2, Glenn); Salem 3 (Spence 3). Rebounds: CHE 27 (Marciano6, Abreu 6); Salem 42 (Weathers 9Paige 7, Johnson6).
1000-POINT WATCH
TODAY
TOTAL
NEXT
Tymear Lecator, Salem
9 vs. Cherry Hill East
957
at Paulsboro, Monday
WOODSTOWN 66, PENNSVILLE 21: Alejandro Vazquez tied his season-high with four 3-pointers and scored 18 points, Lucas Fulmer hit three 3s and scored a career-high 17 points, and the Wolverines opened a big halftime lead. Vazquez scored 15 points in the first half as the Wolverines opened a 45-9 lead. Danny Knight had 13 of the Eagles’ 21 points.
PENNSVILLE (3-17): Jake Layfield 0 0-0 0, Gavin Spears 0 0-0 0, Aidan Clark 0 0-2 0, Danny Knight 4 2-4 13, Jake Farina 2 0-0 6, Shamir Watkins 0 0-0 0, Keevan 0 0-0 0, Trey Clevinger 0 0-0 0. Totals 6 2-6 21. WOODSTOWN (13-8): Eli Caesar 1 0-0 2, Jalen Markward 3 1-3 7, Blake Bialecki 3 0-0 8, Alejandro Vazquez 7 0-0 18, John Hood-McGinley 0 0-0 0, Josh King 1 0-0 2, Andrew White 2 0-0 5, Trey Markward 1 0-0 2, Lucas Fulmer 6 1-2 16, Bryce Ayers 1 0-2 2, Brian Booker 0 0-0 0, Frank Hoerst 1 0-0 2, Connor Miller 1 0-0 2. Totals 27 2-7 66.
DEPTFORD 68, PENNS GROVE 62: Both teams had three scorers in double figures, but the Spartans’ trio outscored Penns Grove’s 52-41. Deptford’s Jordan Williams led all scorers with 24 points, Luke Vilary had 17 and Kenny Cockrell had a double-double (11/10 assists). The Red Devils got 15 points apiece from Roman Gipson and Geonni Conrad. Carson Pearsall had 11.
PENNS GROVE (13-8): Roman Gipson 7 1-1 15, Haneef Frisby 4 0-0 8, Geonni Conrad 5 5-7 15, Mishawn Brantley 2 0-0 5, Carson Pearsall 4 2-3 11, Jameel Horace 3 2-2 8, Will Roy 0 0-0 0, Luis Colon 0 0-0 0. Totals 25 10-13 62. DEPTFORD (18-4): Luke Vilary 7 0-0 17, Brian Orio 1 0-0 2, Jordan Williams 11 0-0 24, Kenny Cockerill 3 5-5 11, Mike Yankowski 2 1-2 5, Antoine Sims 1 0-0 2, Bryce Tull 3 0-0 7. Totals 28 6-7 68.
Penns Grove
17
14
17
14-
62
Deptford
20
17
17
14-
68
3-point goals: Penns Grove 2 (Brantley, Pearsall); Deptford 7 (Vilary 3, Williams 2, Tull 2).
Wrestling
WILLIAMSTOWN 40, WOODSTOWN 30 106: Ayden Danley (WI) pinned TJ Conto, 0:44 113: Jadon Middlemiss (WO) won by forfeit 120: Carson Bradway (WO) dec. Maddox Slotnick, 4-2 126: Freedom Neff (WI) pinned Walker Battavio, 5:52 132: Joseph Lascala (WI) dec. Barry Coverly, 7-3 138: Jayden Hennessy (WI) tech fall over Luke Woronicak, 18-1 (3:25) 144: Ahmed Valverde (WI) pinned Nehemiah Carter, 2:32 150: Ryan Douk tech fall over Mathyias Ellis, 15-0 (5:54) 157: Jack Masterson (WI) pinned Chance Bayonne, 2:17 165: Logan Warfield (WO) dec.Aiden Garcia, SV-1, 19-12 175: Greyson Hyland (WO) pinned Aiden Garcia, 4:37 190: Karlens Borgart (WI) dec. Asher Fitzpatrick, 6-4 215: Bradley Snitcher (WO) pinned Bernardo DeJesus, 1:37 285: Mateo Vinciguerra (WO) pinned Logan Kennedy, 0:19
PENNSVILLE QUAD CLEARVIEW 48, PENNSVILLE 24 106: Brett Land (P) won by forfeit 113: Johnathan Contravo (CL) dec. Erick Davalos, 5-4 120: Michael Lloyd (CL) dec. Earl Wynn, 10-6 126: Jason Hughes (CL) dec. Mehki Dicks, 11-6 132: Landon Wright (CL) maj. dec. Chase Baker, 11-3 138: Ethan Calhoun (CL) pinned Vincent Grether 144: Lucas Gandy (CL) tech fall over nathaniel Mason, 18-2 150: Travis Hagan (P) pinned Logan Wright 157: Elijah Beatty (CL) pinned Gabe Supernavage 165: Tyler Trovato (CL) pinned Robbie McDade 175: Julian Malatesta (CL) pinned Cristian Blyler 190: Stephen Pangle (P) pinned Antonio Green 215: Aaron Veytsman (CL) won by forfeit 285: Jacob Hand (P) won by forfeit
OAKCREST QUAD OAKCREST 70, SALEM 12 106: Giovanni Taylor (O) won by forfeit 113: Mason Sanchez (O) won by forfeit 120: Joseph Sanchez (O) tech fall over Zachary Tortella, 17-2 126: Keagan Santana (O) tech fall over Jesiyah Tomlinson, 18-2 132: Nikoloz Tchikadze (O) won by forfeit 138: Brodie Parker (S) pinned Kevin Longo 144: Aiden Xayaphachan (O) pinned Joseph Goetaski 150: Ziyon Moore (S) pinned Gavin Gabriel 157: Malik Hughes (O) won by forfeit 165: Adrienn Aponte (O) pinned Jordan Brown 175: Gunnar Olivieri (O) won by forfeit 190: Nyree Montford (O) won by forfeit 215: Nicholas Bellace (O) won by forfeit 285: Youssef Nossair (O) pinned Abdullah Jenkins
STERLING 65, SALEM 15 113: Gavin Kangas (ST) won by forfeit 120: Lucas Romano (ST) tech fall over Zachary Tortella, 19-4 126: Chris Gallucci (ST) pinned Jesiyah Tomlinson, 1:32 132: Guylherme Quintanilha (SA) pinned Ryan Pleis, 0:35 138: Marlon Williams (ST) pinned Brodie Parker, 0:56 144: Joseph Goetaski (SA) dec. Sebastian Adams, 11-10 150: Chase Szpargowski (ST) won by forfeit 157: Mason Marvin (ST) won by forfeit 165: Victor Romano (ST) pinned Jordan Brown, 1:31 175: Rene Camacho (ST) won by forfeit 190: Julian O’Donnell (ST) won by forfeit 215: Liam Crawford (ST) won by forfeit 285: Abdullah Jenkins (SA) won by med. forfeit 106: Luciano Pizzo (ST) won by forfeit
PENNS GROVE QUAD LINDENWOLD 35, PENNS GROVE 24 106: Jose Santiago (P) won by forfeit 113: Double forfeit 120: Double forfeit 126: Adan Gonzalez (P) won by forfeit 132: Nyla West (P) won by forfeit 138: Joshua Knight (L) pinned Cristian Garcia, 1:04 144: Brandon Caro (L) won by forfeit 150: Ravon Jackson (L) tech fall over Angel Ocasio, 25-10 157: AbdulMuta’Alie IbnAbdulHailm Tart (P) pinned Kane Castner, 2:49 165: Angel Ramos (L) pinned Rogelio Fraga-Martinez, 0:23 175: Raheem Johnson (L) won by forfeit 190: Double forfeit 215: Julian Sanchez (L) dec. Antonio Cooper, 6-3 285: Mekhi Collins (L) dec. Maliq Reddick, 5-1
VINELAND 57, PENNS GROVE 22 120: Joseph Ruberti (V) won by forfeit 126: Nick Garreffi (V) dec. Adan Gonzalez , SV-1 17-14 132: Donnie Tharp (V) pinned Nyhla West, 1:15 138: Jayden Minkowski (V) pinned Cristian Garcia, 0:41 144: Angel Ocasio (P) pinned Joel Acosta, 1:15 150: Ismael Rodriguez (V) won by forfeit 157: AbdulMuta’Alie IbnAbdulHailm Tart (P) won by forfeit 165: Cameron Herman (V) pinned Rogelio Fraga-Martinez, 0:11 175: Cris Lopez Perez (V) won by forfeit 190: Ethyn Mercado (V) won by forfeit 215: Antonio Cooper (P) won by forfeit 285: Brian McCarter (V) pinned Maliq Reddick, 3:51 106: Jose Santiago (P) maj. dec. Jeremiah Rosa, 23-10 113: Santino Machinsky (V) won by forfeit
WINSLOW 66, PENNS GROVE 18 113: Christopher Steed (WI) won by forfeit 120: Aaden King (WI) won by forfeit 126: Alverse Cannon (WI) pinned Adan Gonzalez, 0:49 132: Nathan Downey (WI) pinned Nyhla West, 0:35 138: Noah Young (WI) pinned Cristian Garcia, 0:50 144: Nathan Smalls (WI) pinned Angel Ocasio, 5:03 150: Chase Hamilton (WI) won by forfeit 157: AbdulMuta’Alie IbnAbdulHailm Tart (P) pinned Luke Virogito, 1:36 165: Emilian Sanchez-Thompkins pinned Rogelio Fraga-Martinez, 1:57 175: Pablo Hernandez (WI) won by forfeit 190: London Brown (WI) won by forfeit 215: Antonio Cooper (P) pinned Make Coney, 1:22 285: Izuchukwu Ugwuzor (WI) pinned Maliq Reddick, 0:43 106: Jose Santiago (P) pinned Jason Green, 0:58
PENNSVILLE – There are still some things about this head coaching stuff Robin Efelis is still getting used to.
The interim Pennsville girls basketball coach was down on the floor doing a couple post-game interviews Friday after the Eagles put away Millville 44-38 on Senior Night – an exercise she repeated a couple times that she’s never done before – when assistant coach Ryan Wood ducked his head out of the locker room and asked if she wanted to talk to the team.
Something else she hadn’t done before.
“I’m not sure I’m ready for all this,” she said. “I’m just trying to go from one day to the next, you know.
“This week has been really hard, but the girls are settled, they’re trying their hardest, I can’t ask for any more.
There are a lot of things different from her time as an assistant for the Eagles’ last two girls basketball coaches. When you’re the assistant you can always defer to the head coach. When you’re the head coach, the buck stops here.
Efelis was installed as the interim head coach Monday following the abrupt resignation of former coach Steve Merritt on the eve of one of the Eagles’ biggest games of the season. She accepted the assignment with the aim of keeping the girls together and the team on track to secure a share of its first division title since 1987-88.
So far, so good. The Eagles are 3-0 since the change with wins over Woodstown, Schalick and Millville, and have won five in a row overall. They can clinch that elusive division title with a win at Penns Grove Monday and can claim it outright with a win and a Glassboro loss to Clayton Wednesday.
“I think everyone is taking the change well,” senior guard Marley Wood said. “I don’t think anyone’s playing bad. I think everyone’s taking it very well.
“Everyone’s been really pumped up. We made some changes to our offense because of the different coaching styles that Ms. Efelis and Merritt and my dad have. Everyone’s been super pumped. We love basketball, so that’s all we really care about, and being together as a team.”
To give Efelis some help, Eagles athletics director Jamy Thomas reached out late Monday night to longtime Pennsville coach Ryan Wood to be the assistant coach.
The former boys basketball and football coach has coached seven of the players on the team, including all four of the seniors recognized before Friday’s game, which he said makes the transition “a little bit easier.” He was doing the X and O detail during the timeouts in Friday night’s game.
“He’s trying to help me,” Efelis said. “I listen to how he talks. I used to listen to Sam (Trapp) talk, how she talks (to the players), and I get more out of that trying to see how to maneuver the girls to be the best they can be.”
Looking at it as a career coach, Wood said Efelis is doing just fine.
“She is wonderful,” he said. “The girls love her; she’s great with the girls. She does a lot of stuff and I take care of a lot of X and O stuff.
“I don’t think you really learn how to become a head coach until it’s thrust upon you. There’s a big difference between being an assistant and being ‘the guy.’ It’s two different things.”
One of the benefits of being the team’s assistant is it gives him the chance to coach his daughter, Marley, again. It’s been a joy for both of them.
“I had no idea (he was going to be asked),” Marley said. “My dad told me they asked him to coach and I was like, OK. I was excited because I love having my dad as a coach. He coached for a little bit my sophomore and freshman year, which was nice, and then last year and this year he didn’t. Having him back has been nice.”
“Having the opportunity to coach my daughter is always a special thing, for anybody,” Papa Wood said. “I’m just here to support Robin in any way I can.”
Both teams got off to a slow start Friday. The Eagles scored the last five points of the second quarter to take a 16-12 halftime lead. Millville got within one in the third quarter, 22-21, then Taylor Bass made a bucket and Wood hit a 3-pointer and the Eagles never led by less than three the rest of the game.
“We had a slow start, but the second half everyone stepped it up,” Marley Wood said. “It’s really nice to win on your Senior Day.”
To mark the occasion, seniors Wood, Bass, Izzy Saulin and Kylie Harris started with sophomore Addie Johnston. The four senior players and a senior manager, a former player, have combined for 2,835 points and 60 wins in their career.
Wood scored 23 points to move into third place on Pennsville’s all-time girls scoring list, 10 away from No. 2. She also cleared 500 career rebounds and moved closer to 500 career assists.
Getting to No. 1 might be a bit of a stretch. Pennsville’s all-time leading scorer Katie Kline also is Salem County’s all-time leading scorer among the girls with more than 2,100 points.
“I can’t (get that), Katie Kline has 2,000,” Marley said. “I beat my siblings (Ryane and Luke), though. I was trying to get 1,500. I don’t know if that’s going to happen, but I’m glad I beat my siblings.”
SCHALICK 42, PENNS GROVE 37: The Cougars used a big third quarter to take the lead, then held on in the fourth.
Penns Grove held Neveah Robinson was held in check in the first half, but the Cougars’ leading scorer came to life after the break and scored 11 of her 13 points in a 21-point third quarter that gave here team a 39-28 lead. Robinson also grabbed 13 rebounds.
Ava Scurry led the Cougars (13-5) with 14 points. She also had a career-high 18 rebounds and seven blocked shots. She know has 592 rebounds and 214 blocks for her career. Liv Vanacker came within one point and one steal of a double-double.
Penns Grove’s Keziah Patterson led all scorers with 15 points. Janiyah Cummings had 13, six in the fourth quarter and the Red Devils cut it close.
3-point goals: Penns Grove 2 (Patterson 2); Schalick 2 (Robinson 2). Total fouls: Penns Grove 16, Schalick 9.
Top photo: Interim head coach Robin Efelis (R) and assistant coach Ryan Wood talk with the Pennsville girls basketball team in a timeout during Friday’s win over Millville.
Salem boys clinch TCC Classic division title in big way; Pennsville girls settling in with new coach, win second with Efelis; also scores and highlights from the rest of Thursday night’s Salem County sports calendar
BOYS BASKETBALL Penns Grove 66, Glassboro 52 Salem 110, Clayton 77 Schalick 63, Pennsville 33 Overbrook 51, Woodstown 46 Buena 57, Salem Tech 42 GIRLS BASKETBALL Glassboro 65, Penns Grove 31 Salem 54, Clayton 40 Woodstown 54, Overbrook 16 Pennsville 52, Schalick 35 WRESTLING Oakcrest 67, Salem 9
By Al Muskewitz Riverview Sports News
PITTSGROVE – The second time around was a little bit easier for Robin Efelis and the Pennsville girls basketball team.
With a lot less chaos and a bit more preparation, the Eagles won their second game in three days under their new coach Thursday night, topping Schalick 52-35 to remain on pace for a Tri-County Conference Diamond Division crown.
“They named Ryan Wood assistant coach, so with his knowledge and skill it made it a lot easier,” Efelis said. “Right now I’m just trying to get used to the thought (of being head coach). The girls are good. They’re handling it well, all the changes this week. They just pushed and pushed tonight and they did really good.
“I was just letting the girls be the girls. We had a few things that we tweaked here and there, but for the most part this week we were just letting them play.”
Efelis was installed as the Eagles’ interim head coach Monday night, less than 24 hours before they took on their biggest county rival in a game that could have derailed their title hopes. They beat Woodstown that night, but Efelis admitted “I was just a little bit overwhelmed. Everything happened so fast. I don’t mind stepping up, but I kind of miss my partner, too.”
She was promoted following the abrupt resignation of coach Steve Merritt after Monday’s practice. It’s her first time as a head coach in basketball, although she spent two seasons as the Pennsville track coach earlier in her career.
Neither Merritt nor Pennsville athletics director Jamy Thomas would comment on the internal nature of the resignation when the news broke. And neither would Efelis, except to express loyalty and appreciation for the coach she aided both years of his tenure.
“Steve’s heart was in the game,” Efelis said. “He had basketball in his heart. My opinion is not going to change.”
The Eagles (12-6) are a veteran team so Efelis wasn’t worried about them being able to handle the adversity. They got off to a slow start Thursday, falling behind 14-7 in the first quarter, but the fortunes swung on the last two minutes of the second quarter and first two minutes of the third. It was Pennsville’s fourth straight win.
Taylor Bass and Marley Wood led the offense with 18 and 17 points, respectively. Bass had 13 in the second half. Addie Johnston, who hit five 3-pointers in the Woodstown game, hit three more against the Cougers (12-5) and finished with 11 points. Jaida Burns and Izzy Saulin played key roles defensively.
Nevaeh Robinson and Ava Scurry led Schalick with 11 points apiece. Robinson hit a pair of 3-pointers in the Cougars’ first-quarter surge, but was held to five the rest of the night.
“The Pennsville girls kind of ran the show tonight,” Efelis said. “They got it together. They were a little lax the first quarter and then they took off.
“My coaching thing is I’m in it for the girls. I love watching them play. I love everything. Whether they lose or whether they win, I love seeing them compete. Tonight was a good night for us.”
They don’t time to rest on it. They have another emotional game Friday, hosting Millville for Senior Night.
SALEM 54, CLAYTON 40: Dyaira Anderson scored 16 points and grabbed 17 rebounds for her ninth double-double of the season, Carlysia Pierce scored 16 points and Jaryn Weathers had 10 as the Rams won their second straight and got back to .500 (8-8) on the season. Pierce also had eight rebounds, six steals and two blocked shots.
WOODSTOWN 54, OVERBROOK 16: The Wolverines got balanced scoring and played a tough defense that held the Rams to two points in three of the four quarters. Kendall Young led Woodstown’s offense with 14 points. Lauren Hengel had 10. Kemma Perry and Autumn Paleschic had eight apiece. For Paleschic, a sophomore in her first year on varsity, it was a career-high and doubled her season point total.
GLASSBORO 65, PENNS GROVE 31. Keziah Patterson scored 20 points for Penns Grove, but Glassboro got 27 from Kezia Brackett and 19 from Lily Czubas to remain on track with Pennsville to tie for the TCC Diamond Division crown,
Boys games: Salem clinches
CLAYTON — Salem scratched off a big box on their to-do list Thursday night, clinched its first Tri-County Classic Division title in five years and did it in a most emphatic way.
The Rams placed five scorers in double-figures, got double-doubles from Tymear Lecator and Marshall Stephens, and scored the most points in a game under coach Anthony Farmer, outgunning Clayton 110-77.
With their fourth straight win, the Rams (16-3) opened a two-game lead on Wildwood with one division game to play.
“It’s one of the first goals that you try to accomplish as you move forward to the ultimate goal, which is winning a state title,” Farmer said. “The first one you’ve got to get is the division. So, definitely a good feeling for the boys and the program to claim a division again, but there’s more work to be done.”
It was the second time this season and fifth time in Farmer’s five-year tenure the Rams have scored 100 or more in a game. Four of those games were against Clayton.
Lecator led the Rams with 17 points, 11 assists and six rebounds. Stephens had 11 points, 11 rebounds and four blocked shots. Xavier McGriff (15), Neziah Spence (15) and Deshaan Williams (14) also scored in double figures. All of Spence’s points came on 3-pointers. Clayton’s James Fritz led all scorers with 30 points.
The Rams led 46-34 at halftime, then erupted for 38 points in the third quarter to give themselves a chance at 100.
“That’s what our pregame was about, mentally preparing for the task at hand and going to play the right way,” Farmer said. “We have been playing better lately and we wanted to keep it rolling. We know Clayton forces you into some bad things and some bad habits with their style of play, so we wanted to be conscious of the things we’ve been working on and continuing to take steps forward. I’m proud of the way they finished today.”
It was another big game for Lecator. The junior moved to within 52 points to becoming a 1,000-point scorers. He’s scored 71 points in three games this week and he’s been averaging 20.7 in the 11 games since Pitman held him to seven points on Jan. 6. He’s also had 63 assists in the same stretch.
“Ty is a true student of the game,” Farmer said. “He’s a hard worker so I’m proud as coach to see those type of guys rewarded. He’s a heck of a player and he’s improving day by day. The sky’s the limit for that kid if he continues to listen and do the right things. He’s just gotten better each year.”
The Rams have a big test in their next game, facing SJ Group 4 No. 1 Cherry Hill East (18-2) Saturday in the Battle by the Bay in Atlantic City.
3-point goals: Salem 10 (McGriff, Spence 5, Lecator 3, Robbins); Clayton 9 (Venuto, Fritz 2, Carter, Ke. Mosley 3, Rehm, Ki. Mosley). Rebounds: Salem 58 (Stephens 11).
1000-POINT WATCH
TODAY
TOTAL
NEXT
Tymear Lecator, Salem
17 vs. Clayton
948
vs. CHE, Saturday in Atlantic City
PENNS GROVE 66, GLASSBORO 52: The Red Devils jumped out to a 10-0 lead in the first 3:30 of the game and maintained the lead. Penns Grove’s three double-digits scorers outscored Glassboro’s three by 13 points. Roman Gipson led Penns Grove with a season-high 21 points and Haneef Frisby scored 16, his best game in a Penns Grove uniform. Geonni Conrad added 10. Glassboro was led by Xavier Sabb’s 13.
OVERBROOK 51, WOODSTOWN 46: Newly minted 1,000-point scorer Blake Bialecki had 12 points and hit four 3-pointers to set Woodstown’s all-time record for career treys and Elijah Caesar had 10, but the Wolverines couldn’t overcome three double-digit scorers by the Rams. Bialecki now has 1,013 career points and 190 career 3-pointers.
SCHALICK 63, PENNSVILLE 33: Danny Knight had 22 points for Pennsville.
Wrestling
OAKCREST 67, SALEM 9 106: Giovanni Taylor (O) won by forfeit 113: Mason Sanchez (O) won by forfeit 120: Joseph Sanchez (O) tech fall over Zachary Tortella, 23-4 (4:00) 126: Romas Rivera (O) dec. Hayden Stauble, 15-11 132: Heriberto Curtidor (O) tech fall over Guylherme Quintanilha, 18-3 (4:00) 138: Kevin Longo (O) pinned Brodie Parker, 4:00 144: Aiden Xayaphachan (O) won by forfeit 150: Joseph Goetaski (S) pinned Gavin Gabriel 157: Roberth Quiroz (O) won by forfeit 165: Malik Hughes (O) won by forfeit 175: Gunnar Olivieri (O) won by forfeit 190: Nyree Montford (O) won by forfeit 215: Nicholas Bellace (O) won by forfeit 285: Abdullah Jenkins (S) dec. Youssef Nosair, 7-2.
tech fall over Mathyias Ellis, 15-0 (5:54)
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