A lot to take in

Penns Grove outlasts Pennsville in a game that had a little bit of everything, a lengthy delay and a player going over 1,000 points

THURSDAY’S BOYS GAMES
Glassboro 55, Woodstown 47
Overbrook 58, Schalick 31
Penns Grove 75, Pennsville 65
Pitman 101, Salem Tech 44
Salem 90, Clayton 52

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

PENNS GROVE – For all the highs and lows that were going on in the Pennsville-Penns Grove game Thursday night, there were three big takeaways that should have followed the crowd back out into the cold night.

Penns Grove coach Damian Ware picked up another win over his Carleton School teaching colleague, planning period partner and Pennsville coaching buddy Joe Mecholsky. The Red Devils collected a bunch of South Jersey Group I power points and some serious county cred by beating their rivals. And Pennsville’s Luke Wood became the latest member of the 1,000-Point Club.

And, oh, Penns Grove’s floor Zamboni works just fine.

**Luke Wood and his family celebrate the Pennsville junior guard scoring his 1,000th career point Thursday night at Penns Grove.**

First the highlights:

The Red Devils took down the Eagles 75-65 for their ninth win in the last 10 meetings between the two coaches. They led virtually wire-to-wire largely by hitting 3s and ruling the boards (18 offensive rebounds) and placed three scorers in double figures.

Freshman KaRon Ceaser, riding the high of receiving his first college football scholarship offer from Syracuse earlier in the day, led the Red Devils with 20 points. Giomar Conrad had 18 points and Mehki Ballard, who seems to have found his shooting rhythm just in time for the second half of the season, had 14 with a couple 3-pointers.

Wood became the 17th member of Pennsville’s 1,000-Point Club and second in his family when he drained a 3-pointer from the left corner with 5:45 left in a game the Eagles had climbed back into contention for. He needed 19 points coming into the game and finished with a season-high 28, going 11-of-25 from the field. He hit the magic number on his 18th shot of the game.

It was hoped he would reach the milestone at home this weekend, where his sister Ryane, the most recent player to join the club (1224 points ending in 2022), could have been on hand to watch. Instead, he had to settle for reaching the milestone against the same team his coach did against in 1992.

“I don’t know if there’s any other emotion other than it feels good, it’s great,” Wood said. “That’s something you come into high school trying to get and you finally hit it, it feels good.”

Now for the lowlight:

The game was delayed 28 minutes late in the first quarter as a custodian cleaned the gym floor after it had become dangerously slippery from the de-icing salt on spectators’ shoes mixing with the chemicals used to clean the floor. It made for hazardous footing along the sidelines and players from each team fell hard as a result.

Mecholsky threatened to pull his team from the game after Peyton O’Brien slipped along the baseline for a second time in the opening minutes of play. The game was halted at 7:28 p.m. local time – with 36.9 seconds left in the first quarter and Penns Grove leading by 10 – after the Red Devils’ Camren Thompson crashed into the bleachers.

“We’re here with kids, we’re here just trying to play a game and conditions are disastrously … I’ve never even seen that before in my life,” Mecholsky said. “We were going home. We were going home. What am I going do, have a Pennsville kid break his clavicle over there? No. We were leaving. We were leaving. That was an embarrassment. But they did fix it.”

The players from both teams said it was only slippery in the corners and around the sideline. The playing area was not affected, they said.

“The court was fine, but once you went out of bounds it was scary,” O’Brien said, “but we fought through it and they fixed it after a while so we were good.”

“I tried to stay away from the sidelines,” Wood said. “I was playing it smart. I tried to stay in the middle of the floor.”

A custodian made four laps around the court on the cleaner during and went back-and-forth three times along the baselines before the game resumed at 8 p.m. local time. The custodian went around the court twice more at halftime.

**A Penns Grove High School custodian cleans the edge of the basketball court during a delay in Thursday night’s game with Pennsville.**

The teams hung out in their bench area until the clean-up was finished.

“It was something that was out of any of our control,” Ware said. “For precaution and safety of the kids (the delay) was the best thing to do. You never know, somebody could have slipped, rolled an ankle, fell, bust their elbow up. It was the best thing we could do at that point.”

There were some rumblings the game could be suspended at halftime and resumed at a later date, but the three-person all-female officiating crew indicated at halftime the second half would proceed as scheduled. Ware said he would have not been in favor of a stoppage. The second half proceeded without incident.

The delay didn’t seem to bother the Red Devils’ game. They were leading 24-14 at the time of the delay and wound up winning by that margin. They hit six of their eight 3-pointers after the delay. They led by 20 in the third quarter before Ware subbed in his reserves and Pennsville rallied.

“I was actually kind of tired in the beginning of the game so the delay actually kind of helped me,” Ballard said.

Wood’s milestone 3-pointer got the Eagles to within 10. The junior guard looked a lot more relaxed once he reached 1,000 and he scored the Eagles next seven points. His next 3-pointer got them within six with 3:34 to play, 65-59, but that was as close as they got.

“There’s definitely a little bit of pressure when you’re about to score 1,000 points,” Wood said. “I think definitely after I scored it today everyone could tell the pressure got lifted and that I was back to my normal self.”

Thompson answered with a 3 and the Red Devils kept the margin between eight and 10 for the time that remained.

“They made more 3s than I anticipated and we didn’t rebound like them,” Mecholsky said. “Great game by coach (Ware). His players made shots tonight and they rebounded. They weren’t special, but they outrebounded us and we lost.”

PENNS GROVE 75, PENNSVILLE 65
PENNSVILLE (5-7) – Luke Wood 11-25 2-3 28, Peyton O’Brien 7-9 2-5 18, Daniel Saulin 2-3 0-0 4, Jayden Thomas 3-8 1-2 7, Malik Rehmer 1-4 0-0 2, Cohen Petrutz 1-3 1-2 3, Mason O’Brien 1-2 1-2 3, Logan Hitt 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 26-54 7-14 65.
PENNS GROVE (5-6) – Brandon Robbins 0 0-0 0, Giomar Conrad 7 2-4 18, Karon Ceaser 5 8-10 20, Willie Slocum 3 3-4 9, Mehki Ballard 5 2-4 14, Camron Thompson 2 0-0 5, Khiry Higgs 0 0-0 0, Mr Peterson 0 0-0 0, Dameon Wilson 3 0-1 6, Neziah Spence 1 0-2 3, Will Roy 0 0-0 0. Totals 26 15-25 75.

Pennsville	17	12	14	12 –	65
Penns Grove	24	16	22	13 –	75

3-point goals: Pennsville 6-18 (Wood 4-10, P. O’Brien 2-3, Thomas 0-1, Rehmer 0-2, Petrutz 0-2); Penns Grove 8 (Conrad 2, Ceaser 2, Ballard 2, Thompson, Spence). Technical fouls: Wood. Total fouls: Pennsville 17, Penns Grove 13. Officials: Dumas, Jackson, Carter.

SALEM 90, CLAYTON 52
SALEM (7-4) – Jabez DeJesus 18 0-0 41, Paul Weathers 5 0-0 10, Tymear Lecator 4 2-2 10, Donovan Weathers 2 2-2 6, Xavier McGriff 2 1-2 5, Antwan Rodgers 5 0-0 10, Cole Sayers 1 0-0 2, Joseph Tunis 2 0-0 6, Anthony Farmer 0 0-0 0. Totals 39 5-6 90.
CLAYTON (3-10) – Dillon Jones 2 1-2 5, Princeton Sackor 6 3-4 17, Nazir Davis 5 0-0 11, Demetris Williams 1 2-4 4, Jon Cox 1 3-4 5, Cristan Scott 1 0-0 2, Ashaud Hines 4 0-0 8. Totals 20 9-14 52.

Salem	21	25	22	22 –	90
Clayton	8	14	12	18 –	52

3-point goals: Salem 7 (DeJesus 5, Tunis 2); Clayton 3 (Sackor 2, Davis).
NOTES: DeJesus smashed his career high by 15 points.

GLASSBORO 55, WOODSTOWN 47
GLASSBORO (5-7) – Charles Graves 5 12-13 22, Xavier Sabb 5 4-8 14, Clinton Suggs 4 2-3 11, Jayce Grays 1 0-0 2, Josh Buff 1 1-1 3, Michael Dougherty 1 0-2 3. Totals 17 19-27 55.
WOODSTOWN (6-5) – Blake Bialecki 4 0-0 11, M.J. Hall 3 0-0 9, Max Webb 3 3-4 10, Garrett Leyman 2 0-0 5, Rocco String 3 0-2 6, Alejandro Vazquez 1 0-0 3, Anthony Bokolas 1 0-0 2, Manny Ortega 0 0-0 0, Elijah Caesar 0 1-2 1. Totals 17 4-8 47.

Glassboro	16	4	21	13 –	55
Woodstown	15	6	11	15 –	47

3-point goals: Glassboro 2 (Suggs, Dougherty); Woodstown 9 (Bialecki 3, Hall 3, Webb, Leyman, Vazquez).
NOTES: Graves and Sabb both had double-doubles with Graves grabbing 10 rebounds and Sabb hauling in 11. Webb had six assists and four steals for Woodstown. The Wolverines have lost three in a row.

OVERBROOK 58, SCHALICK 31
SCHALICK (4-5) – Reggie Allen 19, Dan Lis 4, Jordan Johnson 2, Nylan Sutton 4, Jase Volovar 2.
OVERBROOK (9-3) – Jaden St. John 2 0-0 4, Lamar Little 4 0-0 11, Chris Grier 2 1-3 5, Amare Kee 2 1-1 6, Maki Ortiz 1 0-0 2, Angel Bermudez 0 0-0 0, Shaun Mills 4 0-1 9, Tory Scott 1 0-0 2, Zair Green 3 1-1 8, Kevin Satchell 0 1-2 1, Elvin Santiago 1 2-2 4, Nic Johnson 2 2-5 6. Totals 22 8-15 58.

Schalick	5	0	14	12 –	31
Overbrook	26	7	9	16 –	58

3-point goals: Overbrook 6 (Little 3, Kee, Mills, Green).

PITMAN 101, SALEM TECH 44
PITMAN (10-3) – Porter Kostiuk 2 6-6 10, Stephen Devanney 1 2-4 4, Hudson Rue 1 0-0 2, Elijah Crispin 8 2-2 19, Trey Tinges 1 1-2 4, Colin Ambrosius 1 0-0 2, Chris Wyllie 3 0-0 7, Michael Fisciaro 12 3-3 32, Sonny Myers 5 1-4 11, Greg Petersen 1 4-4 8, Jake Epting 2 0-0 4. Totals 37 19-25 101.
SALEM TECH (0-10) – Haneef Frisby 12, Joseph Hayes 4, Daviontae Russell 6, Josh Muntz 4, Tyler Zampino 8, Antoine Robinson 8, Chase Ayers 2.

Pitman	34	23	28	16 –	101
Salem Tech	12	14	12	6 –	44

3-point goals: Pitman 8 (Crispin, Tinges, Wyllie, Fisicaro 5).
NOTES: The Panthers became the first team to score 100 in Salem Tech’s gym. Clayton hung 100-plus on the visiting Chargers in the 2021-22 and 2019-20 seasons.

Friendly rivalry

For the two coaches in the Pennsville-Penns Grove basketball game, tomorrow they can be friends, today they fight

THURSDAY’S BOYS GAMES
Glassboro 55, Woodstown 47
Overbrook 58, Schalick 31
Penns Grove 75, Pennsville 65
Pitman def. Salem Tech
Salem 90, Clayton 52

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

PENNS GROVE – For everybody else at the Paul W. Carleton School it was just another day at school, but for two of the teachers there it was a day a little different than all others.

For 363 days of the year, Damian Ware and Joe Mecholsky are teachers in the same school. One, Ware, teaches the fifth graders in an upstairs classroom. The other, Mecholsky, has the fourth graders downstairs.

They wave familiarly when they pass in the halls. They have the same planning period and often sit together talking basketball, comparing notes on common opponents.

But Thursday, while the conversation may be cordial and more poor mouth than trash talk, this day is different.

Every other day of the year they’re Carleton School teachers through and through, but when this school day ended Thursday they were trying to beat each other’s brains in as the coaches of the Penns Grove and Pennsville basketball teams that also, by the way, happen to be their high school alma maters.

“Oh, we’ll talk,” Ware said. “We don’t trade secrets or anything, but we’ll have general conversations about hoops and stuff like that.

“It’s actually a lot of fun. We have fun with each other. Neither one of us take anything personally. It’s all fun. It’s all about the kids. It’s a competitive, fun thing, basically.”

Everybody in the school gets caught up in it. Teachers and students are always asking when they’re going to play. The students get a kick out of watching their Mr. M coach the opposition.

Their teams have met nine times in the previous six years they’ve been head coaches at their alma maters and Ware has had the best of it, winning eight of them. Mecholsky finally broke through in the first meeting last season – in the Hyper-Baric Chamber that is Penns Grove’s gym – but the Red Devils got them back in Pennsville in the rematch.

(UPDATE: Ware made it nine out of 10 against his buddy Thursday night as the Red Devils won 75-65.)

There have been some memorable games though.

“We aren’t friendly while coaching against each other because every chance that son of a gun has had a chance to put 100 on my head he does it,” Mecholsky said. “He doesn’t try to hold back his team. He doesn’t try to be nice. No-o-o-o.

“One year (2018), they scored 100 on us and had a foul called so they took the 100 off the board. The next possession instead of just dribbling out the clock, with the crowd going ‘one hundred, one hundred,’ he scored again, so the crowd got to celebrate twice.

“And then the next morning we had breakfast together at the Deepwater Diner as if nothing happened.”

The game has no name, like the Wildman Willey Boot the teams play for in football, and strangely there have been no special wagers between the coaches like mayors and governors sometime do during football bowl games. Those things aren’t needed here. They’re playing for something more. Much more.

“We bet the one thing that can’t be bought with money – pride,” Mecholsky said. “When I see him in the hall the next day and I look at him, yea-h-h-h, I’m able to say I got you. And if he gets me, he’ll give me the same thing. We get on each other, but it’s brotherly love.”

When Friday morning comes things will return to normal for everyone at the Carleton School, unless, of course, school gets canceled or delayed by the impending snowstorm. Ware will make his way upstairs to teach his fifth graders and Mecholsky will head to downstairs to be with his fourth graders.

They’ll pass each other in the halls and get together during their planning period and talk ball as if nothing had happened. Only this time one will have a little extra pep in their step that’s not likely to subside until they play again the last day of the regular season.

“During the game we’re rivals and want to beat each other, Pennsville-Penns Grove,” Mecholsky said, “but right after the game it’s a handshake, it’s a hug and we’re back to work tomorrow.”

Who knows, they might even have breakfast at the Deepwater Diner together again.

Feels so good

McDade pin clinches Pennsville wrestling’s 57-18 over rival Penns Grove; Woodstown falls in basketball

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

PENNS GROVE – Robbie McDade is one of those multi-sport athletes who stays in the moment. He plays for the season he’s in at the time, accepts the results in that season and when it’s over moves on to the next one. But he had to admit it was pretty satisfying what happened Wednesday night.

As a football quarterback, he was on the losing end of Pennsville’s annual game for The Boot with rival Penns Grove in the fall. But he got a measure of revenge on the wrestling mat when he pinned Jayden Owens in 3:29 to clinch the Eagles’ 57-18 victory.

“It was pretty satisfying,” McDade said. “It’s always good to beat a rival. It sucks that we lost in the football, but it’s the next mindset. Wrestling, you’ve got to come in here and win. Can’t wait for next year in football and if we see them again here I can’t wait to beat them again.

“Every time we go against these guys, (in) wrestling, (in) football, it always puts a fire in you to do better and try to win. I’m looking forward to that football season.”

The Eagles had the match well in hand when McDade went on the mat for his 157 bout. They won the first seven weight classes of the match, four by forfeit, to open a 39-0 lead. Tre Brown got Penns Grove on the board with a pin of Sky Eppes at 150, then McDade put the Eagles over the top with his second-period pin.

McDade has pinned his last three opponents and won his last seven dual bouts in a row.

“He’s a sophomore this year so he’s still adjusting to varsity-level competition,” Pennsville coach John Starcevich said. “He’s becoming more technical and less backyard brawler. He’s developing a technique, he’s starting to work the system that we teach and he’s having more and more success with it. He’s dangerous.

“Now he’s wrestling better competition and he’s won a couple matches where his technique is prevailing.”

McDade scored one of four pins by Pennsville wrestlers, joining Kameron Drummond (132), Travis Hagan (144) and Trevor Waddington (285).

All of Penns Grove’s points came via pin – Brown, Antonio Garris (165) and first-year wrestler Clinton Bobo (175).

McDade wasn’t the only Eagles wrestler to exact a little revenge in the match. When Elias Lussi scored his 9-2 decision over Isaiah Upshur at 190 in one of the headline bouts of the night, he beat a wrestler who pinned him in 30 seconds a year ago.

WOODSTOWN 41, SCHALICK/CUMBERLAND 21: The Wolverines won five of the last six matches to pull away and snap a six-match losing streak. They held a 19-15 lead after eight bouts, then got wins from Zach Bevis (165), Greyson Hyland (175), Paul Banff (190), Andrew Sinou (215) and Mateo Vinciguerra (285) to seal the win. Banff and Vinciguerra scored pins and Sinou’s decision clinched it.

PENNSVILLE 57, PENNS GROVE 18
106: Gina Shinn (Pv) won by forfeit
113: Vincent Ciccantelli (Pv) won by forfeit
120: Christopher Daniels (Pv) dec. Devine Arce, 6-2
126: Gavriel Supernavage (Pv) won by forfeit
132: Kameron Drummond (Pv) pinned Raeed Clark, 1:51
138: Ayden Perez (Pv) won by forfeit
144: Travis Hagan (Pv) pinned Nasir Garris, 3:29
150: Tre Brown (PG) pinned Sky Eppes, 5:34
157: Robbie McDade (Pv) pinned Jayden Owens, 3:29
165: Antonio Garris (PG) pinned Cole Campbell, 1:28
175: Clinton Bobo (PG) pinned Connor Ayars, 2:44
190: Elias Lussi (Pv) dec. Isaiah Upshur, 9-2
215: Dan Emmons (Pv) dec. Antonio Cooper, 7-6
285: Trevor Waddington (Pv) pinned Samir Brown, 3:48
Records: Pennsville 11-2, Penns Grove 3-5

WOODSTOWN 41, SCHALICK/CUMBERLAND 21
113: DeAnthony Harden (SC) won by forfeit
120: Travis Balback (Wo) pinned Gabriel McFeeley, 0:55
126: Carson Bradway (Wo) maj. dec. over Luke Silva, 9-1
132: Alex Torres (Wo) pinned Chase Williams, 1:03
138: Daniel Lloyd (SC) dec. Willem Groom, 11-6
144: Ayden Jenkins (SC) dec. Laitton Roberts, 5-2
150: Brett Rowand (Wo) dec. Riley Papiano, 7-0
157: Ricky Watt (SC) dec. Zayden Donahue, 6-4
165: Zach Bevis (Wo) dec. Jake Magonagle, 6-2
175: Greyson Hyland (Wo) maj. dec. over Eric Sulik, 11-1
190: Paul Banff (Wo) pinned Gabrielle Rodriguez, 3:15
215: Andre Sinou (Wo) dec. Evan Elliott, 10-5
285: Mateo Vinciguerra (Wo) pinned Noval Jenkins, 0:29
106: Caleb Jenkins (SC) pinned Chase Blandino, 1:00
Records: Schalick/Cumberland 9-4, Woodstown 3-9

Penns Grove’s Tre Brown (red) gets Pennsville’s Sky Eppes upside down in their 150-pound match Wednesday night. On the cover, Pennsville’s Robbie McDade (blue) has control over Jayden Owens on the way to his pin at 157.

Basketball

Overbrook 57, Woodstown 42

PINE HILL – Lamar Little and Nic Johnson scored 14 points apiece and Overbook got off to a fast start and handed the Wolverines (6-4) their second straight loss. Blake Bialecki led Woodstown with 12 points and was the Wolverines’ only scorer in double figures. Overbrook (8-3) has won three in a row.

OVERBROOK 57, WOODSTOWN 42
WOODSTOWN (6-4) – Blake Bialecki 12, Alejandro Vazquez 9, M.J. Hall 4, Garrett Leyman 2, Max Webb 2, Rocco String 6, Elijah Caesar 7.
OVERBROOK (8-3) – Jaden St. John 1 0-0 2, Maki Ortiz 2 0-0 4, Kevin Satchell 0 2-2 2, Lamar Little 5 0-0 14, Zair Green 4 0-0 10, Chris Grier 1 2-4 4, Nic Johnson 4 4-4 14, Amare Kee 0 0-2 0, Shaun Mills 3 0-0 7, Tory Scott 0 0-0 0, Elvin Santiago 0 0-0 0. Totals 20 8-12 57.

Woodstown	4	10	8	18 –	42
Overbrook	17	11	20	9 –	57

3-point goals: Overbrook 9 (Little 4, Green 2, Johnson 2, Mills).

Snow day reset

With the weather putting everything on hold Tuesday, let’s take a look at where things stand on a number of fronts

Chasing 1,000

PLAYER	TEAM	TOTAL	NEEDS	SEA. AVG.
Luke Wood	Pennsville	981	19	15.3
Anthony Farmer	Salem	871	129	16.9
Meely Horace	Penns Grove	864	136	17.2
Megan Donelson	Woodstown	860	140	18.4
Talia Battavio	Woodstown	853	147	19.8

Tri-County Conference Standings

CLASSIC GIRLS	ALL	DIV	CLASSIC BOYS	ALL	DIV
Wildwood	9-3	3-0	Pitman	9-3	3-0
Gloucester Cath.	9-3	2-0	Salem	6-4	2-1
Pitman	6-2	1-1	Wildwood	8-5	3-2
Clayton	5-6	1-2	Gloucester Cath.	6-4	2-2
Salem	4-6	1-2	Clayton	3-9	1-3
Salem Tech	0-8	0-3	Salem Tech	0-9	0-3

DIAMOND GIRLS	ALL	DIV	DIAMOND BOYS	ALL	DIV
Woodstown	8-2	3-0	Overbrook	7-3	2-1
Glassboro	6-3	2-1	Woodstown	6-3	2-1
Penns Grove	5-4	2-1	Penns Grove	4-6	2-1
Pennsville	5-6	2-1	Glassboro	4-7	2-1
Schalick	2-6	0-3	Pennsville	5-6	1-2
Overbrook	2-7	0-3	Schalick	4-4	0-3

SJ Group I Power Points

GIRLS	W-L	PCT	PTS
Wildwood	9-3	.750	248
Woodstown	8-2	.800	200
Palmyra	9-1	.900	195
Maple Shade	9-3	.750	192
Woodbury	5-7	.417	180
Audubon	8-3	.727	175
Gateway	8-4	.667	165
Burlington City	8-6	.571	154
Pennsville	5-6	.455	117
Cape May Tech	4-6	.400	106
Pitman	6-2	.750	101
Glassboro	6-3	.667	97
Penns Grove	5-4	.556	93
Clayton	5-6	.455	91
Salem	4-6	.400	89
Paulsboro	4-5	.444	78
Buena	2-6	.250	67
Riverside	3-7	.300	63
Schalick	2-6	.250	53
KIPP Cooper	0-11	.000	52
Camden Acad.	1-8	.111	32
LEAP	0-7	.000	13

NOTE: Salem Tech (0-8) is No. 20 in South Jersey Group II (36 points).

BOYS	W-L	PCT	PTS
KIPP Cooper	11-3	.786	234
Pitman	9-3	.750	234
Wildwood	8-5	.615	212
Woodbury	7-7	.500	171
Audubon	8-4	.667	168
Salem	6-4	.600	153
Paulsboro	5-7	.417	148
LEAP	7-6	.538	144
Glassboro	4-7	.364	139
Palmyra	6-5	.545	134
Riverside	5-7	.417	125
Pennsville	5-6	.455	122
Penns Grove	4-6	.400	122
Maple Shade	4-8	.333	113
Woodstown	6-3	.667	104
Burlington City	2-12	.143	103
New Egypt	4-5	.444	99
Clayton	3-9	.250	89
Cape May Tech	1-10	.091	67
Gateway	0-12	.000	62
Schalick	4-4	.500	60
Buena	0-11	.000	60
Camden Prep	1-3	.250	36

NOTE: Salem Tech (0-9) is No. 21 in South Jersey Group II (34 points)

This week’s schedule

Here is the high school sports schedule for Salem County teams for the week of Jan. 15-21

Monday

BASKETBALL
Girls
Salem at Burlington City, 11 a.m.
St. Joe at Schalick, 1:30 p.m.

Boys
Pennsville at Haddon Twp., 11 a.m.

WRESTLING
Egg Harbor Twp. at Schalick, 5 p.m.

INDOOR TRACK
NJSIAA Relays, Bennett Center, Toms River

Tuesday

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

SWIMMING
Schlick at Camden Academy, 3:30 p.m.

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

Wednesday

BASKETBALL
Girls
Salem at Gloucester Catholic, 5:30 p.m.
Boys
Woodstown at Overbrook, 5:30 p.m.

WRESTLING
Woodstown at Cumberland, 5 p.m.
Pennsville at Penns Grove, 6 p.m.

INDOOR TRACK
Pennsville, Penns Grove, Salem in SJCTA Meet, Toms River, 3:30 p.m.

BOWLING
Salem Tech at West Deptford, 4 p.m.

Thursday

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

SWIMMING
Woodstown vs. Gloucester Catholic at GCIT, 5:45 p.m.
Schalick vs. Pitman at GCIT, 7:15 p.m.
Salem vs. Deptford Twp. at GCIT, 8:30 p.m.

BOWLING
Salem Tech in NJTAC at Bowlero, North Brunswick, 11:30 a.m.
Salem vs. Collingswood, Westbrook Lanes, 4 p.m.

Friday

BASKETBALL
Girls
Pennsville at Gloucester City, 5:30 p.m.
Schalick at Buena, 4 p.m.
Boys
Buena at Schalick, 5:30 p.m.
Gloucester City at Pennsville, 5:30 p.m.
Salem Tech at Moorestown Friends, 5:30 p.m.

WRESTLING
Woodstown at Timber Creek, 5 p.m.
Pennsville at Mainland Regional, 5:30 p.m.

Saturday

BASKETBALL
Girls
Salem Tech at Camden County Tech, 11:30 a.m.

SJIBT Tournament
Woodstown at Camden Catholic, 2:30 p.m.

WRESTLING
Schalick, Deptford Twp., Pemberton at Haddon Twp., 8 a.m.
Salem, Overbrook, Pitman at Penns Grove, 9 a.m.
Pennsville, Vineland, BCIT-Westampton at Collingswood, 10 a.m.
Woodstown, Haddon Heights, Pennsauken at Buena

SWIMMING
Salem, Schalick in SJISA Championships at GCIT

INDOOR TRACK
Woodstown, Penns Grove at Bennett Center, Toms River

BOWLING
Salem vs. Eastern at 30 Strikes, 9 a.m.

Making the most

Salem County wrestling teams in action all over the state Saturday with mixed results; Efelis, Baptiste have big days for Pennsville

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

PENNSVILLE – Maddox Efelis got the word he was going to be in Pennsville’s varsity lineup for a duals match for the first time in his career sometime during the day Friday. It was plenty of time to get ready and enough time not to get nervous.

When it came time to get on the mat, the junior handled things the way Eagles coach John Starcevich would have liked – like he’d been there before. Efelis won both of his matches, one by first-period pin and one by decision, as the Eagles defeated Oakcrest and Overbrook in their Saturday quad.

“I wanted to get out there and not get pinned and help us get some points,” Efelis said. “It felt good to get the wins.”

Efelis got inserted in the lineup after regular 138 Joey Maurer was an injury default in Friday’s night’s match against Buena. It was Efelis’ first time making weight at 138, having previously weighing in at 144.

He had wrestled with the varsity once before this season, at 150 against Gateway in the Blue Devil Duals, and lost in a technical fall. Most of his mat time has been in the wrestling room and with the JVs.

“I was nervous (today), but I tried to keep everything the same that I do to get ready for a match,” he said.

The Eagles beat Oakcrest 40-15 and Overbrook 51-18. They didn’t wrestle Millville in the quad because they already had earlier this season. Robbie McDade (157) had two pins, Trevor Waddington (285) had a pin and a decision, and Travis Hagan (144), Sky Eppes (150) and Connor Ayars (175) all had two wins via pin and forfeit.

It also was a big day for another new wrestler. The Eagles put together some girls matches and Esther Baptiste, a first-year senior wrestler, won her two matches, pinning Kayla Nicholson from Overbrook in 3:37 and taking an 8-4 decision from Jade McDowell from Millville.

She was especially proud of the win over McDowell, which she called one of her most difficult matches of the season, because she twice escaped headlocks that had her in danger. It gave her a 6-4 overall record this year with four pins, 6-2 in matches against girls.

“Today opened my eyes to more of what I can do better at offensively and defensively,” she said. “I’m proud of myself because I was really tired when I had to wrestle my last match and I didn’t let her pin me and I won.”

Baptiste’s road to the mat is a lot like another wrestler on the Eagles’ roster. After emigrating to the United States from Guyana in 2018, she came to the wrestling room after moving to Pennsville from Houston last year and talking with 190 standout Elias Lussi about the sport. She showed up with an athletic background and a lot of enthusiasm and has been learning on the fly.

Lussi came to the Eagles wrestling room three years ago after moving from Miami with no understanding of the sport and has become the face of the program. “It was because of him that I really wanted to try it out,” Baptiste said.

Now she’s enjoying the experience so much she’s thinking of joining the program at Rutgers-Newark next year depending on how the rest of this season goes.

Pennsville Quad

TEAMS	PVILLE	MILL	OAKC	OVER
Pennsville	PVILLE	NA	40-15	51-18
Millville	NA	MILL	58-18
Oakcrest	15-40	18-58	OAKC	42-37
Overbrook	18-51		37-42	OVER

PENNSVILLE 40, OAKCREST 15
215: Jose Anaya (O) dec. Daniel Emmons, 7-1
285: Trevor Waddington (P) dec. Youssef Nosair, 4-0
106: Lucas Thomas (P) won by forfeit
113: Double forfeit
120: Christopher Daniels (P) maj. dec. over Bruce Bellace, 12-1
126: Braden Monroe (O) dec. Gabriel Supernavage, 10-5
132: Heriberto Curtidor (O) dec. Kameron Drummond, 9-3
138: Maddox Efelis (P) dec. George Swoyer, 6-4
144: Travis Hagan (P) pinned Erick Montas-Arias
150: Sky Eppes (P) pinned Jorge Curtidor Cornejo, 2:00
157: Robert McDade (P) pinned Ryan Monroe, 2:00
165: Andrew Smith (O) pinned Cole Campbell
175: Connor Ayars (P) won by forfeit
190: Double forfeit

PENNSVILLE 51, OVERBROOK 18
190: Elias Lussi (P) pinned Daniel Keyes, 2:13
215: Tomas Sanchez (O) pinned Daniel Emmons, 1:58
285: Trevor Waddington (P) pinned Aydin Appley, 5:44
106: Zoe Torraya (O) dec. Gina Shinn, 6-3
113: Lucas Thomas (P) won by forfeit
120: Michael Wallas (O) dec. Christopher Daniels, 10-4
126: KhyRee Hines (O) dec. Kameron Drummond, 9-5
132: Michael Romano (O) dec. Ayden Perez, 6-2
138: Maddox Efelis (P) pinned Domino Redrow, 1:14
144: Travis Hagan (P) won by forfeit
150: Sky Eppes (P) won by forfeit
157: Robert McDade (P) pinned Oscar Calderon, 2:45
165: Cole Campbell (P) dec. Ben Matos, 8-5
175: Connor Ayars (P) pinned Vance Elder, 1:05

Penns Grove Quad

TEAMS	PGRV	DEPT	NEGP	STJOE
Penns Grove	PGRV	18-60	48-27	54-18
Deptford	60-18	DEPT	60-24	76-6
New Egypt	27-48	24-60	NEGP	48-18
St. Joe’s (Hamm)	18-54	6-76	18-48	STJOE

PENNS GROVE – Penns Grove went 2-1 in their own duals event, beating St. Joe’s (Hammonton) 54-18 and New Egypt 48-27, and falling to Deptford 60-18.

The Red Devils were set up with multiple forfeits in their St. Joe’s win, but they staged a big rally to take down New Egypt. They lost each of the first five bouts against the Warriors, then won the next eight to secure the win.

Anthony Brown (150) won all three of his matches by pin. Isaiah Upshur went 3-0 with a pin in the Deptford match, a injury default and a forfeit.

PENNS GROVE 54, ST. JOE’S 18
106: Double forfeit
113: Sultan Harris (P) won by forfeit
120: Devine Arce (P) won by forfeit
126: Cameron Vile (P) won by forfeit
132: Mason Hollywood (S) pinned Adan Gonzales, 3:32
138: Double forfeit
144: Anthony Afanador (S) pinned Nasir Garris, 3:14
150: Anthony Brown (P) pinned Colin Steiner, 1:52
157: Jayden Owens (P) pinned Bobby Butkus, 1:09
165: Nicholas Melchiore (S) pinned Antonio Garris, 1:30
175: Christopher Fraga (P) won by forfeit
190: Clinton Bobo (P) won by forfeit
215: Isaiah Upshur (P) won by forfeit
285: Sumir Brown (P) won by forfeit

PENNS GROVE 48, NEW EGYPT 27
106: Jocelin Olivera (N) won by forfeit
113: Gavin Stone (N) pinned Sultan Harris, 1:15
120: Fred Frappier (N) dec. Devine Arce, 9-8
126: Steve Meleg (N) pinned Cameron Vile, 4:28
132: Wyatt Burgess (N) won by forfeit
138: Adan Gonzales (P) won by forfeit
144: Nasir Garris (P) pinned Zachary Peterson, 1:47
150: Anthony Brown (P) pinned Nicholas Johnson, 0:28
157: Jayden Owens (P) pinned Alan Arce, 2:27
165: Antonio Garris (P) pinned Elmer Morfin, 4:25
175: Clinton Bobo (P) pinned Dylan Searles, 0:57
190: Isaiah Upshur (P) def. Morgan Peterson, inj.
215: Sumir Brown (P) won by forfeit
285: Double forfeit

DEPTFORD 60, PENNS GROVE 18
120: Daniel Jimenez (D) dec. Devine Arce, 9-4
126: Ethan Christmas (D) pinned Cameron Vile, 3:10
132: Amir Barnes (D) pinned Adan Gonzales, 1:50
138: Odesa Myers (D) won by forfeit
144: Jaylen Huertas (D) dec. Nasir Garris, 6-0
150: Anthony Brown (P) pinned Nick Childress, 3:51
157: Mel Maguire (D) pinned Jayden Owens, 1:48
165: Antonio Garris (P) pinned Jason Perez, 3:26
175: Drew Ford (D) pinned Clinton Bobo, 4:59
190: Isaiah Upshur (P) pinned Kevin Sokhom, 1:10
215: Nathan Dare (D) pinned Antonio Cooper, 3:40
285: John Griffith (D) pinned Sumir Brown, 2:35
106: Ava Paul (D) won by forfeit
113: Eoin Curran (D) pinned Sultan Harris, 0:36

Emerson/Park Ridge Quad

TEAMS	WOOD	WATCH	HILLS	EMPR
Woodstown	WOOD	38-39	30-36	21-51
Watchung Hills	39-38	WATCH	30-29
Hillsborough	36-30	29-30	HILLS	28-34
Emerson/Park Ridge	51-21		34-28	EMPR

PARK RIDGE – The Wolverines went all the way up near the state line with New York to face some stiff North Jersey competition. They went 0-3, but two of their matches went down the wire.

They lost to Emerson/Park Ridge 51-21, Hatchung Hills 39-38 and Hillsborough 36-30.

The match with Hillsborough was close throughout and was tied three times, the last at 30-30 when Brett Rowand pinned Tyler Margelis in under a minute at 150. But Hillsborough scored decisions in each of the final two bouts to pull out the win.

Rowand gave the Wolverines a 38-34 lead over Watching Hills with a decision at 150, but Cody Pritzlaff scored a technical fall (23-7) in the final bout at 157 to snatch the win away.

Paul Banff (190) and Mateo Vinciguerra (285) won all three of their matches by pin for the Wolverines.

EMERSON/PARK RIDGE 51, WOODSTOWN 21
157: Nicholas Giella (E) pinned Jayden Donahue, 1:41
165: Luke Macfie (E) dec. Zach Bevis, 10-4
175: Jacob Shannon (E) pinned Greyson Hyland, 1:48
190: Paul Banff (Wo) pinned Carlos Rivera, 1:38
215: Cole Hughes (E) pinned Andre Sinou, 0:37
285: Mateo Vinciguerra (Wo) pinned Leo Danziger, 0:32
106: Evan Constante (E) won by forfeit
113: Joseph Dimotta (E) won by forfeit
120: Travis Balback (Wo) pinned Nate Shannon, 1:06
126: Matthew Constante (E) pinned Carson Bradway, 2:51
132: Ryan Messick (E) pinned Alex Torres, 2:48
138: Paul Coombes (E) dec. Willem Groom, SV-1 4-2
144: Laitton Roberts (Wo) dec. Colin Cottrell, 6-0
150: Luel Cutout (E) dec. Brett Rowand, SV-1 9-7

WATCHUNG HILLS 39, WOODSTOWN 38
165: Zach Bevis (Wo) tech fall over Reilly Tallion, 20-5 (5:19)
175: Greyson Hyland (Wo) pinned Artun Kirgezmis, 0:35
190: Paul Banff (Wo) pinned Alejandro Dilone, 0:43
215: Jake Carfaro (WH) pinned Andre Sinou, 1:26
285: Mateo Vinciguerra (Wo) pinned Kenneth Ferrari, 1:20
106: Evan Frank (WH) won by forfeit
113: Morgan Torres (WH) won by forfeit
120: Anthony DiAndrea (WH) maj. dec. over Travis Balback, 9-1
126: Carson Bradway (Wo) pinned Vincent Glynos, 1:51
132: Alex Torres (Wo) pinned Max Shaferman, 0:39
138: Jordan Bash (WH) pinned Willem Groom, 1:30
144: Nick Valenti (WH) pinned Laitton Roberts, 0:40
150: Brett Rowand (Wo) dec. Ryan Higgins, 6-4
157: Cody Pritzlaff (WH) tech fall over Jayden Donahue, 23-7 (4:09)

HILLSBOROUGH 36, WOODSTOWN 30
175: Greyson Hyland (Wo) pinned Andrew Lodato, 0:57
190: Paul Banff (Wo) pinned Michael Bynes, 0:45
215: Matthew Jones (H) pinned Andre Sinou, 1:40
285: Mateo Vinciguerra (Wo) pinned Nicholas Duarte, 3:27
106: Ryan Spinelli (H) won by forfeit
113: Thomas Kester (H) won by forfeit
120: Travis Balback (Wo) pinned Michael Sanchez, 1:46
126: Corey Iannucci (H) dec. Carson Bradway, 13-7
132: Zachary Iannucci (H) dec. Alex Torres, 9-7
138: Owen Miller (H) dec. Willem Groom, 8-2
144: Bregg Lockburner (H) dec. Laitton Roberts, 2-1
150: Brett Rowand (Wo) pinned Tyler Marvels, 0:53
157: Kevin Hoefele (H) dec. Jayden Donahue, 5-1
165: Matthew Miller (H) dec. Zach Bevis, 12-5

Schalick Quad

TEAMS	SCWR	BUENA	NBURL	TIMCK
Schalick/Cumb.	SCWR	63-9	13-59	36-43
Buena	9-63	BUENA	11-66
N. Burlington	59-13	66-11	NBURL	60-15
Timber Creek	43-36		15-60	TIMCK

BRIDGETON – Schalick/Cumberland went 1-2 in its event, scoring a 63-9 win over Buena. Noval Jenkins (285) and Ayden Jenkins (144) both had a decision and a pin for SC on the day.

SCHALICK/CUMBERLAND 63, BUENA 9
215: Evan Elliott (SC) pinned Maysen Sandfort, 4:20
285: Noval Jenkins (SC) pinned Brian Ayres, 1:59
106: Caleb Jenkins (SC) won by forfeit
113: DeAnthony Harden (SC) pinned Nicholas Panaro, 1:21
120: Gabriel McFeeley (SC) pinned Michael Pettit, 1:30
128: Luke Silva (SC) pinned Aden Vai, 1:34
132: Chase Williams (SC) pinned Gionni Sharkey, 3:56
138: Daniel Lloyd (SC) pinned Lucas Gellura, 0:40
144: Dom DiGiovachino (B) dec. Ayden Jenkins, 9-3
150: Koen Martin (SC) pinned Cole Chinicchi, 0:35
157: Charlie Muzzarelli (B) dec. Ricky Watt, 7-2
165: Jake Magonagle (SC) won by forfeit
175: Louie Drogo (B) dec. Eric Sulik, 12-6
190: Gabriel Rodriguez (SC) dec. Brian Passamante, 6-4

NORTHERN BURLINGTON 59, SCHALICK/CUMBERLAND 13
285: Noval Jenkins (SC) dec. Manuel Saenz, 3-2
106: Landen Knox (N) pinned Caleb Jenkins, 1:02
113: Rocco Giangeruso (N) tech fall over DeAnthony Harden, 16-1 (5:40)
120: Michael McGarigle (N) pinned Gabriel McFeeley, 0:39
126: Nicholas Bruno (N) dec. Luke Silva, 8-2
132: Galiano Zeppadoro (N) pinned Chase Williams, 0:38
138: Justin Marcello (N) pinned Daniel Lloyd, 1:13
144: Ayden Jenkins (SC) major. dec. over Gavin Fowler, 17-5
150: Hayden Joyce (N) pinned Koen Martin, 1:50
157: Ricky Watt (SC) pinned Joseph Gervasi, 1:50
165: Brendan Goldmacher (N) dec. Jake Magonagle, 7-6
175: Griffin Goldmacher (N) pinned Eric Sulik, 1:22
190: Sean Falcey (N) pinned Gabriel Rodriguez, 2:24
215: Grayson Haynes (N) pinned Evan Elliott, 2:27

TIMBER CREEK 43, SCHALICK/CUMBERLAND 36
190: Amir Reason-Dallas (T) pinned Gabriel Rodriguez, 0:25
215: Josh Bartell (T) pinned Evan Elliott, 5:52
285: Jayson Ross (T) pinned Noval Jenkins, 2:26
106: Caleb Jenkins (SC) pinned Dominic Spearman, 0:58
113: Matthew Steele (T) dec. DeAnthony Harden, 7-6
120: Devin Karge (T) pinned Gabriel McFeeley, 0:28
126: Luke Silva (SC) pinned Naim Mosley, 3:04
132: Chase Williams (SC) pinned Josh Wolfenden, 4:53
138: Joey Walker (T) pinned Daniel Lloyd, 0:52
144: Ayden Jenkins (SC) pinned Eric Rambaran, 2:27
150: Ryan Kuriger (T) maj. dec. over Koen Martin, 13-4
157: Gavin Bates (T) pinned Ricky Watt, 3:07
165: Jake Magonagle (SC) won by forfeit
175: Eric Sulik (SC) won by forfeit

Milestone victory

Schalick knocks off winless Gateway to guarantee winningest season in four years; Camden Catholic denies Woodstown, Deptford dumps Penns Grove

FRIDAY’S BOYS SCORES
Camden Catholic 60, Woodstown 41
Deptford 70, Penns Grove 51
Schalick 61, Gateway 47
SATURDAY’S GAMES
Salem at Cherokee, 12:30 p.m.

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

PITTSGROVE – Getting to and staying at .500 is one of Schalick basketball’s biggest focuses this season, because there is so much that goes with it, but there was something even more special about getting back there – for the fourth time this season – Friday night.

When the Cougars put away winless Gateway 61-47, it allowed them to eclipse last season’s win total and guaranteed them their winningest season since the 2019-20 season. The four wins match their combined total of the last two years and has them thinking about something they haven’t dare consider since 2018-19 – a berth in the state tournament.

“Going into the game our goal is to always fight to be a .500 team and coming into today we had a chance to go back to that,” Schalick coach James Turner said. “I know that’s important to the kids as well because they know if we can stick to staying being a .500 team we have a good chance of getting into the playoffs. They really wanted that win today.”

The Cougars (4-4) had to work for it. They trailed the Gators (0-12) by two after the first quarter, but they made a defensive adjustment during the break and it produced turnovers and quick transition points that allowed them to pull away.

While all that was going on, Reggie Allen, Nylan Sutton and Dan Lis hit the Cougars’ three 3-pointers and they took a seven-point lead into halftime. The same defensive approach let them to stretch the lead to 13 going into the fourth quarter.

The Cougars know they have to keep winning. The 2019-20 team didn’t make the playoffs with nine wins, but the 2018-19 team did with seven. The last time the program had a winning season was 2015-16 when they were 22-8 and played in the South Jersey Group I final.

“They know that if we want to make the playoffs we have to get wins, so the .500 thing isn’t always the most important thing ,” Turner said. “We had certain things in front of us in the beginning of the season that we knew we had a great chance to be competitive in and the kids know that as well. When we’re playing those games we put more emphasis on winning the ones we’re supposed to be competitive in.”

They’re still looking for that signature win. The four teams they have beaten this season – Salem Tech, Cape May Tech, Pennsauken Tech, Gateway — have a combined record of 4-38. They are currently No. 20 in the South Jersey Group I power points standings, 35 points behind current No. 16 Pennsville.

Sutton led the Cougars with a career-high 20 points. Allen had 19, including nine in the second quarter, and Lis had 11.

SCHALICK 61, GATEWAY 47
GATEWAY (0-12) – Sean Simmons 10 1-2 22, Justin Dugan 4 2-4 13, Benji Contarino 1 0-1 2, Akey Talley 0 1-2 1, Steven Marlachatta 2 3-5 7, Sean Cawley 0 0-0 0, Cody Shaw 0 0-0 0, Jahmeire Rowe 1 0-0 2, Peter Franbach 0 0-0 0, Cole Tice 0 0-0 0, D.J. Bink 0 0-0 0. Totals 18 7-14 47.
SCHALICK (4-4) – Reggie Allen 7 4-7 19, Nylan Sutton 9 1-3 20, Dan Lis 4 2-3 11, Jake Siedlecki 1 0-0 2, Jordan Johnson 1 3-6 5, Levi Mason 1 2-2 4, Ryan Johnson 0 0-0 0, Jase Volovar 0 0-0 0, Lincoln Murphy 0 0-0 0. Totals 23 12-21 61.

Gateway	10	11	11	15 –	47
Schalick	8	20	17	16 –	61

3-point goals: Gateway 4 (Simmons, Dugan 3); Schalick 3 (Allen, Sutton, Lis). Fouled out: Contarino, Siedlecki. Total fouls: Gateway 19, Schalick 15.

Camden Catholic 60, Woodstown 41

WOODSTOWN – Luke Kennevan and Bryce Clark combined for five 3-pointers and 35 points and the Irish put forth a defensive effort that shut down Woodstown’s hottest player while snapping the Wolverines’ two game winning streak.

Kennevan scored 20 with three 3-pointers and Clark had 15 with a pair of treys. The teams played to a 13-13 tie in the first quarter before the Irish pulled away.

Blake Bialecki had scored 23 and (4) and 29 (8) in the Wolverines’ previous two wins, but he was held scoreless for only the second time in his career. M.J. Hall, who hit the big 3-pointer in their win over Pennsville, led the Wolverines with 15 points. Max Webb had 13.

CAMDEN CATHOLIC 60, WOODSTOWN 41
CAMDEN CATHOLIC (5-4) – Luke Kennevan 8 1-2 20, Seamus Bieg 2 1-2 6, Sean Welde 1 1-2 4, Bryce Hillman 1 0-0 2, Bryce Clark 7 2-3 15, Mel Jones 1 0-2 2, Zach Winkler 1 0-0 2, Azyris Richmond 1 0-1 2, Charlie Neal 0 2-2 2, Andrew Granroth 0 2-2 2. Totals 22 9-16 60.
WOODSTOWN (6-3) – Manny Ortega 0 0-0 0, Blake Bialecki 0 0-0 0, Alejandro Vazquez 1 1-1 3, M.J. Hall 5 2-4 15, Garrett Leyman 0 0-0 0, Lucas Fulmer 0 0-0 0, Max Webb 4 4-6 13, Rocco String 2 3-4 7, Elijah Caesar 1 0-0 3. Totals 13 10-15 41.

Camden Catholic	13	13	16	20 –	60
Woodstown	13	8	9	11 –	41

3-point goals: Camden Catholic 7 (Kennevan 3, Bieg, Welde, Clark 2); Woodstown 5 (Hall 3, Webb, Caesar).

Deptford 70, Penns Grove 51

PENNS GROVE – The Red Devils went through one of the nights where nothing would fall for them and Deptford hit everything.

The Red Devils had numerous shots in and around the basket, but watched in frustration as shot after shot either went in and out or came up short. Deptford, meanwhile, made 27 buckets, including seven 3-pointers, four in the first quarter as it opened a 22-15 lead.

Aydan Copestick hit four of the 3s and led three Spartans in double figures with 18 points. Cairee Cooper had 15 and Deyon Rowland had 14.

“They shot the lights out and we couldn’t buy a bucket,” Penns Grove coach Damian Ware said.

Mekhi Ballard led Penns Grove with 16 points. He hit three of the Red Devils’ four 3-pointers and has drained seven in the last four games.

DEPTFORD 70, PENNS GROVE 51
DEPTFORD (6-5) – Bryce Dunn 1 0-1 2, Cairee Cooper 6 3-4 15, Deyon Rowland 5 2-4 14, Aydan Copestick 6 2-2 18, Brian Orio 4 1-2 9, Luke Vilary 1 1-2 3, Jordan Williams 3 0-0 7, Alanzo Hernandez 0 0-0 0, Braheem Korleh 1 0-0 2, Joe Crowley 0 0-0 0, Shakeem Green 0 0-0 0, Kenny Cockerill 0 0-0 0. Totals 27 9-15 70.
PENNS GROVE (4-6) – Brandon Robbins 0 0-0 0, Roman Gipson 2 0-0 5, Giomar Conrad 4 4-7, Karon Ceaser 3 2-9 8, Mehki Ballard 5 3-5 16, Camron Thompson 1 0-0 2, Khiry Higgs 1 0-2 2, Mr Peterson 1 0-0 2, Dameon Wilson 2 0-0 4, Neziah Spence 0 0-0 0, Will Roy 0 0-0 0. Totals 19 9-23 51.

Deptford	22	13	18	17 –	70
Penns Grove	15	12	16	8 –	51

3-point goals: Deptford 7 (Rowland 2, Copestick 4, Williams); Penns Grove 4 (Gipson, Ballard 3). Total fouls: Deptford 18, Penns Grove 19.

Cougars close it out

Willoughby’s FT breaks tie, then Schalick’s defense holds firm in win over Salem; McCracken’s fourth straight double-double leads Wildwood over Penns Grove

THURSDAY’S GIRLS SCORES
Wildwood 64, Penns Grove 53
Schalick 27, Salem 26

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

PITTSGROVE – Mother Nature knocked out the lights on the Schalick-Salem girls basketball game Wednesday night and the 24 hours later Schalick’s Abby Willoughby turned the lights out on the Rams.

Willoughby broke a tie with a free throw with about 90 seconds left and the Schalick defense made it stand to produce a 27-26 win Thursday that snapped a three-game losing streak.

Willoughby’s free throw was the only point the Cougars (2-5) scored in the fourth quarter, but it made all the difference in the game.

“We went into halftime with a small lead (17-16),” Schalick coach John Whelan said. “We talked about they’re an aggressive team that wants to create chaos so it’s all about controlling tempo of the game and keeping our composure. If we can do that offensively and rebound defensively, that was our second half goal, and I’d say we did that.

“After the game we talked about how difficult it is to close out a basketball game. As young as we are, that’s something you have to learn how to do. I’m very proud of the fact they were able to do that.”

Willoughby was playing in her second game back from an injury. The game was tied at 26 when she was fouled on the floor and since Salem was over the limit she went to the line for two shots.

The sophomore missed the first shot, but hit the second and Schalick had the lead – for good, as it turned out.

“She as always did a great job,” Whelan said. “She’s tough handling the ball and brings a lot of energy defensively, but if you want to say an ultimate team win, this was it. Everybody did their part. We had five girls score and they were all pretty even. Defensively everybody got hands on passes, were playing aggressive.”

The Rams had the ball with four seconds left for a last shot, but the Cougars got a hand on it to tip it away.

“We had plenty of opportunities to win the game, we couldn’t finish around the basket; shots weren’t falling for us,” Salem coach Tiasia Tatem said. “It was a back-and-forth low-scoring game and the odds fell in their favor.”

Defense was the key to the game. After Salem took a 10-5 lead, Whelan asked the players if they wanted to continue in the defense they were playing, go man-to-man or their 3-2 matchup. The Cougars went with a variation of their 3-2 and went that way the rest of the game.

“There was a timeout with about 52 seconds left and we just talked about at this point it’s a one-point game, 52 seconds (left), it’s who wants it more,” Whelan said. “Both teams battled, but we did what we had to do to make stops on defense and came out where we wanted.”

The game was a matchup between two of the best shot-blockers in Salem County. Schalick’s Ava Scurry had 14 blocks to lead the Cougars’ defense effort. Salem’s NaeNae Logan came into the game with 50 blocks, but was bothered by a nagging hip throughout the game and had only three.

SCHALICK 27, SALEM 26
SALEM (2-6) – Ameriyana Hunter 1 0-0 2, Ryann Foote 2 0-3 4, Kaela Nichols 1 1-2 4, Carlysia Pierce 2 0-0 4, Ava Rodgers 4 1-3 9, NaeNae Logan 0 1-4 1, Marissa Bower 0 0-0 0, Lyric Hayes 1 0-0 2, Nevaeh Hickman 0 0-0 0, Marjziah Bundy 0 0-0 0. Totals 11 3-12 26.
SCHALICK (2-5) – Ava Scurry 1 0-0 2, Cali Fisler 2 1-2 5, Abby Willoughby 2 1-2 5, Carly Vicente 3 1-4 8, Cianna Gaines 1 5-6 7, Katie Little 0 0-2 0. Totals 9 8-14 27.

Salem	10	6	6	4 –	26
Schalick	5	12	9	1 –	27

3-point goals: Salem 1 (Nichols), Schalick 1 (Vicente). Total fouls: Salem 16, Schalick 14.

Wildwood 64, Penns Grove 53

WILDWOOD – Meely Horace moved a step closer to becoming Penns Grove’s next 1,000-point scorer with 24 points, but Wildwood junior Macie McCracken continued her dominance and the Warriors turned back the visiting Red Devils’ threat.

McCracken led the Warriors with a career-high 36 points and 13 rebounds. It was her fourth straight double-double and eighth in 10 games this season. She’s averaging 31.8 points and 12 rebounds in the double-double streak.

The Red Devils got within eight late in the third quarter, but were denied a chance to get closer when they missed a 3-pointer and two free throws in the final three seconds of the quarter.

WILDWOOD 64, PENNS GROVE 53
PENNS GROVE (5-4) – RaNiyah Wilson 2 0-0 4, Meely Horace 9 4-6 24, Brianna Robbins 4 1-2 9, Amani Taylor 2 2-2 6, Arianna Dowe 1 0-0 2, JaNiyah Cummings 3 0-2 6, Syanna Robbins 1 0-0 2. Totals 22 7-12 53.
WILDWOOD (7-3) – Macie McCracken 12 9-11 36, Sophia Wilber 4 3-3 11, Angela Wilber 1 2-2 5, Kaliah Sumlin 0 0-0 0, Rebecca Benichou 4 1-1 12. Totals 21 15-17 64.

Penns Grove	24	29 –	53
Wildwood	37	27 –	64

3-point goals: Penns Grove 2 (Horace 2); Wildwood 7 (McCracken 3, A. Wilber, Benichou 3).

Back on track

MONDAY’S GIRLS BASKETBALL SCORES
Clayton 64, Salem Tech 17
Glassboro 70, Schalick 18
Penns Grove 79, Overbrook 22
Wildwood 84, Salem 33
Woodstown 58, Pennsville 43

By Riverview Sports News

WOODSTOWN — Talia Battavio bounced back from a cold shooting Saturday to score 22 points Monday night and lead Woodstown back into the win column, 59-43 over Pennsville in the Wolverines’ Coaches vs. Cancer game.

Battavio was held to a season-low nine points by OLMA and didn’t hit a shot in the second half, but bounced back for her fourth 20-point game of the season. The Wolverines are 11-1 the last two seasons when either Battavio or Megan Donelson score 20 points in a game. She also had five assists and six blocked shots.

The junior guard was one of three Wolverines to score in double figures in the game. Donelson had 17 points, including her 100th career 3-pointer, with five assists, three blocks and four steals. And Shannon Pieman had 12 points and eight rebounds. Alyssa Baber grabbed 12 boards.

“I feel like we’re still not playing our best basketball, individually or as a whole, but it was a good division win with multiple girls scoring,” Wolverines coach Kara Straughn said. “There’s nothing we can’t iron out in practice tomorrow (and) the rest of the week.

“We needed some momentum with tonight’s win because I think we have the potential to go on a winning streak for a few weeks now through the month.”

Pennsville’s Marley Wood led all scorers with 27 points. She hit a career-high seven 3-pointers, matching teammate Nora Ausland for the team’s single-game high this season (Overbrook).

WOODSTOWN 59, PENNSVILLE 43
PENNSVILLE (4-5) — Nora Ausland 4 0-0 9, Celli Ausland 1 0-0 3, Kylie Harris 1 0-0 2, Izzie Säulen 1 0-0 2, Marley Wood 10 0-1 27. Totals 17 0-1 43.
WOODSTOWN (6-2) — Talia Battavio 9 2-2 22, Megan Donelson 7 0-0 17, Gianna Maiorini 2 0-0 4, Alyssa Baber 1 0-0 2, Shannon Pieman 6 0-2 12, Jala Thomas 1 0-0 2, Lizzy Daly 0 0-0 0, Emma Perry 0 0-0 0, Lauren Hengel 0 0-0 0, Brae DiGregorio 0 0-0 0. Totals 26 2-4 59.

Pennsville	7	8	10	18 —	43
Woodstown	19	12	11	17 —	59

3-point goals: Pennsville 9 (N. Ausland, C. Ausland, Wood 7); Woodstown 5 (Batavia 2, Donelson 3).

WILDWOOD 84, SALEM 33
SALEM (2-5) — Ryann Foote 4 6-8 14, Ameriyona Hunter 1 0-0 2, Carlysia Pierce 1 0-0 2, Ava Rodgers 0 1-2 1, Kaela Nichols 3 0-0 6, Marissa Bower 3 0-0 6, Zaniyah Frieson 1 0-0 2. Totals 13 7-10 33.
WILDWOOD 84 (6-3) — Sophia Wilber 1 3-4 6, Angela Wilber 6 5-7 18, Macie McCracken 12 1-1 30, Kaliah Sumlin 3 3-6 9, Rebecca Benichou 9 1-1 21, Cydnee Kilian 0 0-0 0. Totals 31 13-19 84.

Salem	6	9	11	7 —	33
Wildwood	32	24	22	6 —	84

3-point goals: Salem 0, Wildwood 9 (S. Wilber, A. Wilber, McCracken 5, Benichou 2).

CLAYTON 64, SALEM TECH 17
CLAYTON (4-5) — Jordyn Jones 5 0-0 10, Rainelle Blocker 7 0-0 14, Rosalina Pereira 4 0-0 11, Deondria Simon 1 0-0 2, Ava Delaney 9 0-0 19, Janice Blair 0 1-2 1, Sophia Petsch 3 0-0 7. Totals 29 1-2 64.
SALEM TECH (0-7) — Shelby Drummond 1 0-0 2, Kaylin Beardsley 2 0-0 6, Demajae White 1 0-0 2, Hanna DeWitt 1 0-0 2, TiRonna McGaha 1 0-0 0, Morgan VanDover 1 1-2 3. Totals 7 1-2 17.

Clayton	21	21	12	10 —	64
Salem Tech	10	2	2	3 —	17

3-point goals: Clayton 5 (Pereira 3, Delaney, Petsch); Salem Tech 2 (Beardsley 2).

Familiar finish

Hall again hits the big shot as Woodstown gets back on track with a tight win over Pennsville; Ballard makes four late FTs to lift Penns Grove, Salem stages big fourth-quarter rally

MONDAY’S SALEM COUNTY BOYS SCORES
Penns Grove 51, Overbrook 48
Clayton 83, Salem Tech 57
Glassboro 68, Schalick 42
Salem 64, Wildwood 57
Woodstown 60, Pennsville 57

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

PENNSVILLE – The Woodstown basketball team needed a win in the worst of ways. That it came against a heated rival only made it better.

M.J. Hall hit a game-tying free throw with 38 seconds to play and then nailed the go-ahead 3-pointer with 5.2 seconds left to lift Woodstown over Pennsville 60-57 to get back on track after two crushing losses.

The Wolverines started the season 4-0, but their fortunes changed when the calendar did. They started the new year by letting a double-digit lead against Penns Grove get away under a hail of turnovers and then losing a low-scoring three-point game to Delsea 24 hours later.

But they were determined to get back on track and Hall, a junior guard with a history of picking the Eagles apart, made it happen.

“It’s a brotherhood and for us to be down in a situation like this after coming off an 0-2 week is just a blessing to have,” Hall said. “Going through the shot with the ball in your hand on the last possession is always a nervous wreck, but to come through and get us back on a winning streak hopefully is a blessing.

“We all play a part. Rocco (String) getting fouled out had us nervous, but we just found a way to come through and pull off the win and send a statement to anybody else.”

The end of the game was eerily similar to the one the Wolverines won here last year when Hall hit the game-winning shot from in front of the Woodstown bench with time running out.

The Wolverines opened a 20-5 lead early in the second quarter and the way things were going felt they had a real opportunity to push the lead to 25 or 30 before halftime. But Pennsville, showing shades of Penns Grove’s rally Thursday night, chipped away on the front end to get within eight and then got back in the game altogether with the final nine points of the half.

The Eagles did take the lead early in the third quarter when Daniel Saulin converted a long pass from Jayden Thomas into a layup to make it 33-32. The game stayed tight the rest of the night and was tied at 45 going into the fourth quarter.

“We talk about the hope that we keep for ourselves and the hope we shouldn’t give the other teams,” Woodstown coach Phil Campbell said. “We gave them some hope there before halftime and they made a game of it.”

Malik Rehmer hit two free throws with 1:13 left off the play that fouled String out to put Pennsville up for the last time 57-56. Woodstown, now without its big man in the game, called time with 1:08 left to set up a play. The Wolverines worked it around and Hall was fouled by Saulin.

Hall hit the first of the two free throws to tie the game. He missed the second shot and Saulin rebounded, but Hall snuck around to steal it back and the Wolverines immediately called time again with 33.8 left.

The plan was to work it around to about 15 seconds and get it to Garrett Leyman. They did, but the Eagles sealed off his drive to the basket. Instead of forcing something, Leyman smartly kicked it out to Hall, who drained the go-ahead 3 from the far left side of the floor.

Last year Hall hit the winning 3 from the right corner after the Eagles missed a potential game-winning layup just seconds earlier.

“We talk a lot about inside-out 3-pointers are the best shot you can take,” Campbell said. “They’re the highest percentage 3 in the country, inside-out, and that was exactly what he got. He’s a good shooter, especially in that kind of position.”

It just had to be Hall. In two career games in Pennsville, he has scored 23 points and hit two game-winning shots.

“To hit a shot like that, big, it’s fun,” he said.

“He just seems to flip the switch here in Pennsville,” sophomore guard Blake Bialecki said. “He always seems to play good here.”

Hall finished with 11 points. Bialecki led the Wolverines with 26 points, including five 3-pointers.

Hall’s big shot may have given the Wolverines the lead, but it still wasn’t over. Pennsville called time with 4.4 seconds left to set up the tying shot. They set the play in motion, but Luke Wood stepped on the sideline trying to rush up the floor for a 3.

Wood led Pennsville with 19 points and moved inside 50 points of 1,000. He had 12 points during the Eagles’ second-quarter comeback, but fell ill during halftime and missed the first four minutes of the third quarter. Saulin had 14 points and six rebounds. Rehmer had 13 points and nine boards.

“We played good team ball tonight, it was just unfortunate that we got nearly home and we just … two plays either way and we win that game,” Pennsville coach Joe Mecholsky said. “I’m not discouraged whatsoever. The kids decided the game and tonight the Woodstown team was a play better than us.”

WOODSTOWN 60, PENNSVILLE 57
WOODSTOWN (5-2) — Manny Ortega 1 0-0 3, Blake Bialecki 10 1-2 26, Alejandro Vazquez 0 0-0 0, M.J. Hall 4 1-2 11, Garrett Leyman 1 2-2 4, Anthony Bokolas 1 0-0 2, Max Webb 4 0-0 10, Rocco String 2 0-0 4. Totals 23 4-6 60.
PENNSVILLE (4-4) — Mason O’Brien 1 0-0 2, Luke Wood 7 2-4 19, Cohen Petrutz 2 0-0 4, Peyton O’Brien 2 0-0 4, Jayden Thomas 0 0-0 0, Malik Rehmer 3 6-7 14, Daniel Saulin 6 2-3 14. Totals 21 10-14 57.

Woodstown	16	16	13	15 —	60
Pennsville	5	23	17	12 —	57

3-point goals: Woodstown 10 (Ortega, Bialecki 5, Hall 2, Webb 2); Pennsville 5 (Wood 3, Rehmer 2).
Technical fouls: Thomas. Fouled out: String. Total fouls: Woodstown 12, Pennsville 8. Officials: Panko, Popper, Johnson.

PENNS GROVE 51, OVERBROOK 48: Mekhi Ballard seems to be back in the groove and that’s a good thing for the Red Devils.

Ballard hit four free throws in the final 30 seconds to seal the victory and send the Red Devils into a four-way tie for first in the Tri-County Diamond Division.

“He’s our most experienced player who was off to a slow start, but has come up big the last two games,” Penns Grove coach Damian Ware said. “He had seven fourth-quarter points against Woodstown and then four big free throws today in the fourth. He’s starting to find his rhythm.”

Both pairs of free throws came after Overbrook scored to cut into the Red Devils’ lead. The first set pushed the lead to four. The Rams hit a 3 on the next trip down the floor and then he made two more to make it a three-point game. Overbrook had a shot at the buzzer for the tie but missed.

Ballard finished with 13 points to lead three Red Devils scorers in double figures. Giomar Conrad had 12 and Mr Peterson 10. Yes, the name is Mr, as in Mister.

“My dad told me a long time ago it was because when anybody talks to me he wants them to respect my name,” Peterson explained.

It’s the same reason Mr. T explained his name is Mr. T.

PENNS GROVE 51, OVERBROOK 48
OVERBROOK (5-3) — Shaun Mills 1 4 6, Chris Grier 6 9 24, Amare Kee 1 0 3, Lamar Little 1 0 2, Kevin Satchell 1 0 3, Xavier Wright 2 1 5, Maki Ortiz 1 0 2, Jaden St. John 0 3 3. Totals 13 17 48.
PENNS GROVE (4-5) — Brandon Robbins 0 0 0, Roman Gipson 2 3 7, Giomar Conrad 5 1 12, KaRon Ceaser 0 1 1, Willie Slocum 1 2 4, Mehki Ballard 3 6 13, Camren Thompson 1 0 2, Khiry Higgs 1 0 2, Mr Peterson 5 0 10. Totals 18 13 51.

Overbrook	9	7	17	15 —	48
Penns Grove	13	11	11	16 —	51

3-point goals: Overbrook 1 (Grier 3, Kee, Satchell); Penns Grove 2 (Conrad, Ballard).

SALEM 64, WILDWOOD 57: Freshman Tymear Lecator had the best game of his career, leading three Salem scorers in double figures, and the Rams went an amazing 18-for-18 from the free throw line.

The Rams trailed by 12 in the third quarter and staged a furious fourth-quarter rally to win their third game in a row.

“I don’t know how we did it, but we pulled it off,” Salem coach Anthony Farmer said.

Lecator, a transfer from Winslow, scored 21 points and grabbed six rebounds. Anthony Farmer had 19 points and was 11-for-11 from the line. Paul Weathers posted a double-double with 16 points and 11 rebounds.

SALEM 64, WILDWOOD 57
WILDWOOD (6-4) — Junior Hans 4 7-8 16, Ryan Troiano 3 0-1 7, Jordan Fusi 3 1-1 12, Brian Cunniff 7 3-3 17, Josh Pintella 0 0-0 0, Harley Buscham 0 0-0 0, Lukas Basile 0 1-2 1, James Wyers 2 0-0 4. Totals 20 12-15 57.
SALEM (4-2) — Ramaji Bundy 1 0-0 2, Anthony Farmer 4 11-11 19, Jabez DeJesus 2 0-0 4, Paul Weathers 6 3-3 16, Tymear Lecator 7 4-4 21, Antwone Rogers 1 0-0 2, Donovan Weathers 0 0-0 0. Totals 21 18-18 64.

Wildwood	14	21	13	9 —	57
Salem	11	15	18	20 —	64

3-point goals: Wildwood 5 (Hans, Troiano, Fusik 3); Salem 4 (P. Weathers, Lecator 3).

GLASSBORO 68, SCHALICK 42: Charles Graves scored 21 of his career-high 45 points in the first quarter and helped the Bulldogs (4-4) pull away from a one-point game in the final 2:30 of the quarter to take control.

The Bulldogs hit six 3-pointers in the first quarter; Graves had four of them. He’s gone for 20 or more in six of his last seven games, averaging 26.0 a game in that stretch. He’s averaging 23.7 for the season.

GLASSBORO 68, SCHALICK 42
SCHALICK (3-4) — Nylan Sutton 2 0-2 4, Jordan Johnson 1 2-2 5, Reggie Allen 9 2-6 21, Ryan Johnson 1 0-0 2, Daniel Lis 4 1-2 10, Jake Siedlecki 0 1-2 1. Totals 17 6-14 42.
GLASSBORO (4-4) — Charles Graves 18 5-8 45, Clinton Suggs 2 3-3 7, Michael Dougherty 3 1-2 10, Josh Buff 1 0-0 2, William Goggans 2 0-0 4. Totals 26 9-13 68.

Schalick	12	9	10	11 —	42
Glassboro	29	15	15	9 —	68

3-point goals: Schalick 3 (Johnson, Allen, Lis); Glassboro 7 (Graves 4, Dougherty 3). Total fouls: Schalick 11, Glassboro 10.

CLAYTON 83, SALEM TECH 57
SALEM TECH (0-8) — Antoine Robinson 1 2-4 4, Chase Wills 5 2-2 12, Tyler Zampino 2 1-2 5, Josh Muntz 0 0-0 0, Haneef Frisby 5 1-2 11, Joseph Hayes 2 0-0 4, Gio Holmes 4 0-0 10, Daviontae Russell 2 4-6 9. Totals 21 10-14 55.
CLAYTON (2-7) — Dillon Jones 3 0-2 6, Princeton Sackor 6 4-6 20, Nazir Davis 9 2-5 23, John Carter 1 0-0 3, Michael Akosah 0 1-2 1, Demetris Williams 5 3-8 13, Jon Cox 1 1-1 3, Ashaud Hines 4 0-2 8, Chimali Mitchell 1 0-0 3, Mason Gable 1 0-0 3. Totals 31 11-26 83.

Salem Tech	5	11	27	14 —	57
Clayton	22	16	17	28 —	83

3-point goals: Salem Tech 3 (Holmes 2, Russell); Clayton 10 (Sackor 4, Davis 3, Carter, Mitchell, Gable).

Tri-County Conference

DIAMOND	ALL	DIV	CLASSIC	ALL	DIV
Woodstown	5-2	2-1	Pitman	8-2	3-0
Overbrook	5-3	2-1	Gloucester Cath.	6-3	2-1
Glassboro	4-4	2-1	Salem	4-3	2-1
Penns Grove	4-5	2-1	Wildwood	6-4	2-2
Pennsville	4-4	1-2	Clayton	2-7	1-3
Schalick	3-4	0-3	Salem Tech	0-8	0-3