Mighty Oaks close historic season with 77-75 win over Sandhills for fifth place in JUCO Division III national tournament; Taylor named all-tournament

JUCO DIVISION III CHAMPIONSHIP
At Herkimer, N.Y.
Fifth-place game
(10) Salem CC 77, (4) Sandhills CC 75
Third-place game
(9) Dallas Richland 86, (3) Minnesota State 69
Championship game
(2) Mohawk Valley 58, (5) Herkimer 51

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

HERKIMER, N.Y. – The final game of an historic year went down to the wire and the Salem CC prevailed, bringing a joyous end to the winningest season in the history of the men’s basketball program.

A.J. Jones hit a free throw with 9.9 seconds left to give them a two-point lead and the Mighty Oaks survived two potential game-tying shots at the basket to get past Sandhills (N.C.) CC 77-75 Saturday to claim fifth place in the NJCAA Division III national tournament.

The tenth-seeded Mighty Oaks (26-8) knocked off the seventh, sixth and, finally, fourth seeds in their first-ever national tournament appearance.

“At the end of the year there are only a couple of teams that leave a winner,” Mighty Oaks coach Mike Green said. “We had an opportunity to leave a winner, so we won out. Everybody here who is leaving, they won their last junior college game, so that’s good. That feels really good.”

“Top five in the country. We can say that now,” sophomore guard Akeem Taylor said. “This is definitely a big win. I feel like every win we had in this tournament was a big win because every game was history for the school and I feel like they’ll always remember this because it’s the start of a new culture here at Salem.”

Taylor was named to the all-tournament team after scoring 21 points, grabbing a career-high 15 rebounds and dealing six assists against the Flyers (28-8), who also were in their first-ever national tournament appearance. In the four tournament games, the 6-4 sophomore guard from Chester had 78 points, 37 rebounds and 17 assists.

Because of some caveat of not playing in 80 percent of the Mighty Oaks’ games – he became eligible in January and played 80 percent of the games he was eligible – Taylor wasn’t even considered for the All-Region 19 team. But he was named MVP of the Region 19/North Atlantic District B Tournament and made the national tournament all-star team.

“Before the game we thought I already had it locked in, but they said it was questionable,” Taylor said. “Before the game my goal was to dominate and I feel like I did well today.”

While Taylor was the only Salem player to make the all-tournament team, Tamir Powell and Jyheim Spencer also had big games in what likely will be their final games in a Salem uniform. Powell had 20 points – 19 in the second half – while Spencer had 12 points, 21 rebounds and three blocked shots. The single-game tournament record for rebounds is 28.

“It was the last game of JUCO and I was trying to set the tone for the team for next year,” Spencer said. 

The Mighty Oaks scored their biggest win in school history with their typical second-half surge and despite another tough game from behind the arc. They were 8-for-34 from 3-point range in the game, but at one point were only 2-for-20. They were just 1-of-17 in the first half. Had they just hit at their season clip they would have been leading by double digits instead of being down by three at halftime and sweating it out down the stretch.

Green refused to blame the shooting struggles on tired legs from playing four grueling games in four days.

“We’re not making any excuses, we just missed shots,” he said. “But our guys hit them when they mattered the most. Teams look at our percentage and try to zone us, but I know better. Those guys can shoot the ball. It’s just about taking the right shots.”

The Mighty Oaks were 4-for-26 from behind the arc with less than five minutes to play and trailed by four. Then all of a sudden they found the range.

Josh Ramos, 0-for-5 at the time in the game and 4-for-20 in the tournament, hit back-to-back 3s to draw them within one and then tie the game 62-62 with 3:26 to go. Powell hit one and then Ramos hit another from the left corner with 54.9 seconds left to cap an 8-0 rally that put Salem up for good 72-69.

“We were definitely tired coming up, we didn’t have any legs,” Ramos said. “But at halftime they told us to lock in, there are bigger things to worry about, things to finish the game, then – boom – we came out and shot the thing.

“I knew if it came to me I was ready for it. I wanted it to come to me and when it came to me I let it fly.”

Right after Ramos’ go-ahead 3, the Mighty Oaks forced Sandhills into a turnover, but the Flyers got it right back when Taylor couldn’t get the ball inbounds. Although it looked bad at the time, Taylor accepted it hoping to get a stop on the ensuing play instead of throwing it away.

That’s what happened. Taylor blocked Sandhills Damien Robinson from behind and grabbed the rebound, but the officials called him for a flagrant foul after checking the monitor. Zack Noel made one of the two free throws to make it 72-70 and this time on the inbounds play Taylor threw a baseball pass to Spencer, who finished it off with a resounding dunk.

“I saw the way they were guarding (the inbounds), so I saw it from the start,” Taylor said. “Once (Spencer) went, I threw it. I was scared to throw it; that was probably one of the first times I was that nervous. But I threw it and when I saw him catch it I knew it was dunk.”

“I wanted to make a statement,” Spencer said.

It still wasn’t over. Kendall Smith hit three free throws with 12.8 seconds left to make it 76-75. Spencer briefly lost the handle on the inbounds play, but got it to Jones, who was immediately fouled by Smith at 9.9. Jones made the second of his two free throws to make it a two-point game.

Green declined to outline the final defensive sequence, but the Mighty Oaks certainly didn’t want to lose the game on a 3. They chased the Flyers off the 3-point line to make them take a tough mid-range jumper and succeeded. Isaiah Upchurch, 1-of-9 from the floor at the time, took the initial shot from just inside the arc, launching it with 2.8 seconds left.

The ball caromed off the back iron and Robinson flew in over Spencer shoulder for a tip, but the flying Flyer got blocked by the rim with sixth-tenths of a second left and Spencer swatted the rebound back as the horn sounded.

“I was just hoping for us not to foul,” Powell said. “I wasn’t worrying about their shot going in. I knew we would stay inside them – we were playing good defense – I just hoped we didn’t foul. As long as we didn’t foul I knew we were  good and they missed the shot like I thought so.”
 
The Mighty Oaks checked a lot of boxes this season. They had their winningest season in school history. They made their first region tournament appearance since 2022. They won their first district title to make their first national tournament appearance. They picked up their first national tournament win. They also had the district MVP, region/district Coach of the Year and an all-tournament pick at the nationals.

“Amazing year, amazing, big-time year,” Green said. “The guys came together and made it happen. I think we have a pretty good team coming in next year, but this is uncharted territory. It’ll be a disservice to the kids who come in next year to try to do the same thing. That was amazing.”

ACORNS: The Mighty Oaks were 31.5-percent 3-point shooters entering the tournament, but were just 26-for-104 (.250) in their four games here … They were down two players as Tyrese Fortune (wrist) and Stefan Phillips (broken nose) were out with injuries … A.J. Jones started in Fortune’s spot. It was his third start of the year and first since Feb. 6. He played 26 minutes, giving the Mighty Oaks three points, four rebounds, three assists … The Mighty Oaks finished the season 14th in scoring (84.4) and 21st in scoring defense (72.1) … If they played enough games to qualify Taylor would finish 18th in Division III in scoring and Spencer would finish second in rebounding … Team officials are hoping to have a signing ceremony for the Mighty Oaks moving on to the next level later this spring. So far, only Rodney Shelton has committed (Harris-Stowe).

SALEM CC 77, SANDHILLS CC 75
SALEM CC (26-8) – Tamir Powell 5-16 7-8 20, A.J. Jones 0-5 3-5 3, Xavier Brewington 2-7 0-0 4, Akeem Taylor 8-18 4-4 21, Jyheim Spencer 4-6 4-6 12, Dontarius Jones 2-4 0-0 5, Tivon Woolford 0-4 0-0 0, Josh Ramos 3-11 0-0 9, Rodney Shelton 0-0 0-0 0, Tajee Jordan 1-1 1-2 3. Totals 25-72 19-25 77.
SANDHILLS CC (28-8) – Kevin Gentry 2-5 0-0 4, Mike Fee 2-4 0-0 4, Isaiah Upchurch 1-10 4-6 6, Damien Robinson 8-18 4-4 21, Zack Noel 2-9 2-4 6, Kendall Smith 1-6 6-9 8, Mylon Campbell 5-13 1-2 11, Jacob Grantham 0-0 0-0 0, Nylikk Throutman 6-10 0-1 13, Amarie Liburn 0-3 0-0 0, Xavion White 0–1 2-2 2. Total 27-79 19-28 75.

3-point goals: Salem 8-34 (Powell 3-10, A. Jones 0-2, Brewington 0-4, Taylor 1-3, D. Jones 1-2, Woolford 0-3, Ramos 3-10); Sandhills 2-3 (Upchurch 0-2, Robinson 1-1, Troutman 1-1). Rebounds: Salem 54 (Spencer 21, Taylor 15); Sandhills 50 (Noel 15, Robinson 7). Technical fouls: Salem coach Green. Total fouls: Salem 21, Sandhills 17. Officials: Tim Seil, Dan Viscariello, Ryan Schupp.

‘Get Back Gang’ lives to play another day; Powell rediscovers shot, helps Salem CC take down Union 72-65 to lay claim as Region 19 champion, reach JUCO Division III fifth-place game

JUCO DIVISION III TOURNAMENT
At Herkimer (N.Y.) College
Friday’s Games
Consolation Bracket
Sandhills 78, Dutchess 77
Salem CC 72, Union 65
Championship Semifinals
Herkimer 72, Dallas Richland 59
Mohawk Valley 92, Minnesota State-Fergus Falls 90
Saturday’s Games
Fifth-place game
(10) Salem vs. (4) Sandhills, noon
Third-place game
(9) Dallas Richland vs. (3) Minnesota State, 2 p.m.
Championship Game
(5) Herkimer vs. (2) Mohawk Valley, 5 p.m.

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

HERKIMER, N.Y. — The Salem CC basketball team responded to coach Mike Green’s challenge after a dreadful Elite 8 game the day before, Tamir Powell found his shot and the Mighty Oaks lived to play the final day of the JUCO Division III national tournament by taking out Region 19 rival Union Friday, 72-65.

The Mighty Oaks (25-8) will now play Sandhills (N.C.) CC for fifth place Saturday at noon. It’ll be their fourth game in four days.

The win avenged a 10-point regular-season loss to the Owls and had the Mighty Oaks claiming the Region 19 championship since the teams didn’t meet after winning their respective Region 19/North Atlantic District tournament brackets at Northampton.

They’ve now won four games against teams that beat them earlier in the season (Camden, Philadelphia, Montgomery County and Union) — the last three in the playoffs — earning the nickname “The Getback Gang.”

The Mighty Oaks played so much better in so many areas Friday than they did in the Elite 8 game. Playing with the heart and energy that was missing against Mohawk Valley, they outrebounded the bigger Owls, moved the ball around better (15 assists), created turnovers and made shots. If they were sharper from 3-point range they would have won by a wider margin.

“We challenged them and they answered the bell,” Green said. “I feel like we laid down yesterday. Mohawk Valley is a really good team, but I don’t think they’re 20 points better than us. I think we laid down and we just challenged them. I let them know they’ve got to respond and I think they responded today.”

The game followed the early script of the regular-season game between the teams with Salem again opening an early lead. Only this time they kept it up and never lost the lead after Jyheim Spencer put them up 23-22 with 5:14 left in the first half.

They got the biggest boost from Powell. The freshman from Philadelphia has struggled mightily in the national tournament with his shot. He was just 1-for-13 against Mohawk Valley and 2-for-26 through the first five halves of the tournament. His two makes were a goaltending basket Thursday and a layup in the first half Friday. He was 0-for-11 from 3 after hitting at a 36 percent during the season.

But he kept playing big minutes – he got 27 Friday – because he continued to guard and do the things that don’t necessarily show up in the box score.

His shot came around in the second half against the Owls. He opened Salem’s scoring in the half with back-to-back 3-pointers after Union tied the game at 32, giving the Mighty Oaks the cushion they maintained the rest of the game. The Owls brought it back to within four later in the half, then Powell stretched the lead back out with a conventional three-point play.

He finished with a team-high 17 points, 14 in the second half. He was 4-for-12 from the field in the half (5-of-19 for the game), but hit three from behind the arc.

“That game yesterday hurt him and I knew he was going to respond,” Green said. “He’s a Philly kid; he’s tough. He still didn’t have a great shooting night, but he hit the ones when we went on our run.”

Powell had been shooting it so bad up here he really wanted to feel like finding some corner to crawl into and disappear, but the shooter in him told him to keep firing.
 
He’d gone through shooting slumps before in high school and travel ball and he’s always snapped out of it. With the help of his teammates, particularly guard A.J. Jones, and family back home offering encouragement, he knew he would again.

“I feel like all I had to see was one go in to get me rolling and I feel like that’s what happened,” a ‘very relieved’ Powell said. “I knew the shots were going to come, that’s why I didn’t stop shooting; 1-for-20, 1-for-13, just keep shooting. I know my teammates and my coaches they want me to shoot it, they’ve got my back, I’m going to let it go.”

The Owls scored the first two baskets of the second half to tie the game. Powell squared up in the right corner and answered with his first 3 since the district championship game March 1. He got it the next trip down the floor and did it again. Akeem Taylor capped the flurry with a three-point play.

“What went through my mind at that instant is it’s on, we’re really not losing this game,” Powell said. “I don’t know what it is about the second half with us, we just come out on fire. I think it’s our halftime talk.”

Taylor continued to be the Mighty Oaks most valuable player and with a reasonable final game for the Saturday will likely land a spot on the all-tournament team. He had 16 points and nine rebounds Friday. Xavier Brewington had 10 points after going scoreless against Mohawk Valley. Spencer had six points and 11 rebounds.

ACORNS: By the time the Mighty Oaks wrap up the tournament, they will have played teams from six different states this season (seven counting scrimmages) … Freshman center Stefan Phillips suffered a broken nose after taking an elbow to the face late in the second half. He is doubtful for the final game of the season … Tyrese Fortune has also struggled with his shot this tournament (1-for-15), but he’s been plagued by a right wrist injury he sustained in the team’s final on-campus practice … Dutchess CC, the No. 1 seed in the tournament who bowed out in two games, is interested playing the Mighty Oaks next season … The championship game will be a neighborhood rivalry between Herkimer and Mohawk Valley. The schools are 15 miles apart.

SALEM CC 72, UNION 65
SALEM CC (25-8): Tamir Powell 5-19 4-7 17, Tyrese Fortune 1-6 3-5 5, Xavier Brewington 3-11 2-2 10, Akeem Taylor 6-14 4-5 16, Jyheim Spencer 3-5 0-1 6, Dontarius Jones 2-3 0-0 5, A.J. Jones 1-3 4-6 6, Tivon Woolford 0-0 0-0 0, Josh Ramos 1-3 0-0 3, Rodney Shelton 1-2 0-0 2, Tajee Jordan 0-0 0-0 0, Stefan Phillips 1-1 0-0 2. Totals 24-67 17-26 72.
UNION (24-6): David McKnight 5-10 2-2 14, Nicolas Acosta 1-4 0-0 2, Joseph Gargiulo 4-9 1-4 9, Kanye Brown 0-0 0-0 0, Jeremiah Saint Jean 1-2 0-0 2, Jayden Bates 4-11 0-0 8, Devin Geiger 6-14 10-10 22, Craig West 1-3 0-1 3, Amaad Kennedy 2-2 1-1 5. Totals 24-55 14-18 65.

‘Special performances’ by Woolford, Jones spark second-half rally that carries Salem CC to its first ever win in the national tournament, faces second-seeded Mohawk Valley next in Elite 8

JUCO DIVISION III TOURNAMENT
First-round Games
(9) Dallas-Richland 73, (8) Northern Essex 68
(5) Herkimer 81, (12) Dallas-Mountain View 71
(10) Salem CC 72, (7) Riverland 67
(6) Union 76, (11) Genesee 66
Thursday’s Games
Northern Essex vs. Dallas Mountain View, 9 a.m.
Riverland vs. Union, 11 a.m.
Dallas-Richland vs. (1) Dutchess, 1 p.m.
Herkimer vs. (4) Sandhills, 3 p.m.
Salem CC vs. (2) Mohawk Valley, 6 p.m.
Union vs. (3) Minnesota State-Fergus Falls, 8 p.m.

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

HERKIMER, N.Y. — Everybody wanted to be the player to slide Salem CC’s name on the second line of the national championship bracket, but by the time all the players got over to the big board on the other side of the court they realized only one player truly deserved the honor.

Tivon Woolford has quietly been playing his role as a reserve all season for the Mighty Oaks, but he’s also known as the team’s wildcard. And Wednesday afternoon, in the biggest basketball game in school history, the wildcard played as an ace.

Together with A.J. Jones, the two guards provided the second-half spark that carried the Mighty Oaks to an historic 72-67 win over seventh-seeded Riverland (Minn.) CC for the program’s first-ever national tournament win in their first-ever appearance in the JUCO Division III tournament at Herkimer College.

The Mighty Oaks (24-7) now take on second-seeded and third-ranked Mohawk Valley (26-1), the No. 1 defensive team in the country, in the Elite 8 Thursday at 6 p.m.

“That’s a big win,” Mighty Oaks coach Mike Green said. “It takes special performances to win in March and Tivon and A.J. gave us that. They played probably one of their better games of the year and it worked out for us.”

Woolford played 18 minutes off the bench and scored eight points on 3-for-4 shooting from the floor. Jones played 19 minutes, scored seven points, including two game-sealing free throws with seven-tenths of a second to play, and had several deflections that disrupted by Blue Devils’ efficient offense. 

All their points came in the second half. They hit back-to-back 3-pointers with four minutes left to snap a 60-60 tie and give the Mighty Oaks the lead for good.

“I thought I did really good today, that I pulled through for the team,” Woolford said. “The team needed some up energy. We needed some energy, points, defense, everything. I felt like I needed to go out there and improve for the team so we could get the win.”

“The whole season I’ve said he was the wildcard,” freshman guard Xavier Brewington said. “Tivon comes up for us whenever we need him. ““He’s unflappable, unflappable,” Green said. “He has the heart of a lion. He’s so out of it that he plays great in big games. He’s not bothered at all in big games. It’s like another walk in the park for him and he’s shown it time and time again.”

Woolford even saved the day at the big bracket, rushing in from the wings when Josh Ramos got fumbled with the backing on the placard and placed it on the proper line in the second round. The sophomore from Newark, Del., one of the last five remaining players from Green’s first half-season, was the player the team wanted to stick it there all along. 

“We definitely feel like Tivon deserved it in this one because he stepped up,” Akeem Taylor said. “That’s the one thing about our team – any day a different player can step up.”

“I’m happy they let me do it because it shows they’ve got the trust in me and that confidence in me to go do my thing and I want to say thank you,” Woolford said. “It felt real good knowing I went out there and got the opportunity to do my thing and show who I really could be. It felt good putting our name up there and showing what we can be.”

It was another strong second-half that got the Mighty Oaks through. They trailed the former No. 1 ranked team in Division III by 10 at halftime after going nearly seven minutes without a field goal, hitting only 1-for-8 from 3-point range, recording only two assists and often getting caught by the shot clock.

In the second half, though, they were 7-for-11 from behind the arc, got better ball movement and held the Blue Devils (29-4) to 30 points while outscoring them by 15. They’ve outscored their three playoff opponents in the second half 126-106 and during their current six-game winning streak they’ve outscored their opponents by nearly 11 points a game in the second half.

“We’re a second-half team for some reason,” Brewington said. “I said in the locker room at halftime we’ve been here before, we’ve been through worse, we’ve got a lot of game left. We’ve got to play together and that’s what happens when we play together.”

“The second half we knew we had to bring it,” Jones said. “It wasn’t even about what works and what doesn’t work. It was about showing heart and grit. That’s what we brought the second half and we showed we were the better team.”

Taylor and Brewington combined for 21 points in the second half and finished with 18 points apiece to lead Salem’s offense. Brewington hit a pair of 3s at the start of the second half to get the Mighty Oaks back in the game. Jyheim Spencer, the top-ranked rebounder in the tournament, had a double-double with 14 points and 10 boards. 

Spencer’s layup off a crisp entry pass from Jones gave the Mighty Oaks their first lead since 11-9 with 6:42 to play.

“Every game we play is history,” Taylor said. “Every game we win we’re making history.”

They sure don’t want it to end with the first one.

“We’re not done yet,” Green said. “We didn’t come here to win one game. We came here to win the tournament.”

SALEM CC 72, RIVERLAND CC 67
SALEM CC (24-7): Tamir Powell 0-6 2-2 2, Tyrese Fortune 0-5 2-2 2, Xavier Brewington 6-13 3-4 18, Akeem Taylor 8-18 1-3 18, Jyheim Spencer 6-8 2-3 14, Dontarius Jones 0-0 0-0 0, A.J. Jones 1-3 4-4 7, Tivon Woolford 3-4 0-0 8, Joshua Ramos 1-3 0-0 3, Rodney Shelton 0-0 0-0 0, Tajee Jordan 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 25-60 14-18 72.
RIVERLAND CC (29-4): Christian Campbell 7-15 3-4 19, Damar Jenkins 4-12 1-2 13, Buai Duop 5-9 0-0 12, Joe Poyser 4-7 2-4 10, Nazih Chehade 3-7 1-3 7, Gabe Hein 0-0 0-0 0, Lubab Kambalo 1-3 0-0 3, Rolph Blanc 0-2 0-0 0, Nick Edland 0-0 0-0 0, Jose Yepez 1-2 0-0 3. Totals 25-57 7-13 67.

3-point goals: Salem 8-19 (Powell 0-2, Fortune 0-2, Brewington 3-6, Taylor 1-2, A. Jones 1-2, Woolford 2-2, Ramos 1-3); Riverland 10-25 (Campbell 2-7, Jenkins 4-10, Duop 2-4, Kimball 1-2, Blanc 0-1, Yepez 1-1). Rebounds: Salem 41 (Spencer 10, Taylor 6, Powell 5, Brewington 5); Riverland 31 (Chehade 9). Total fouls: Salem 13, Riverland 13. Officials: Jim Salamone, Keegan Ryan, Danny Greenwald.

Jones, Jordan playing new roles, but still big ones in Salem CC’s run to the national tournament; Mighty Oaks win 72-67 behind an unlikely hero, game story to come, box score below

JUCO DIVISION III TOURNAMENT
First-round Games
(9) Dallas-Richland 73, (8) Northern Essex 68
(5) Herkimer 81, (12) Dallas-Mountain View 71
(10) Salem CC 72, (7) Riverland 67
(6) Union 76, (11) Genesee 66
Thursday’s Games
Northern Essex vs. Dallas Mountain View, 9 a.m.
Riverland vs. Genesee, 11 a.m.
Dallas-Richland vs. (1) Dutchess, 1 p.m.
Herkimer vs. (4) Sandhills, 3 p.m.
Salem CC vs. (2) Mohawk Valley, 6 p.m.
Union vs. (3) Minnesota State-Fergus Falls, 8 p.m.

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

HERKIMER, N.Y. – To say A.J. Jones wasn’t a big fan of the new guy when Salem CC changed basketball coaches during the Christmas break last year wouldn’t be a proper characterization. Uncertain might be more like it.

One coach, the coach who signed him, had just left the team and the guard who was just starting his college playing career was concerned this next one wasn’t going to up and leave after getting the Mighty Oaks through the storm as well.

He wasn’t there to meet Mike Green when the new coach greeted the team for the first time, a faux pas the 6-1 sophomore from Wilmington apologized for the next time they practiced together.

“I kind of perceived it wrong,” he said.

It’s all good now, of course, and even though his role has changed Jones is a key part of the rotation, an instant energy guy off the bench, in the Mighty Oaks’ run to today’s debut in the JUCO Division III national tournament against Riverland (Minn.) CC.

“Under the circumstances it was like the coach left us, so is he going to leave, too,” Jones wondered. “But then I see he stuck it out with us. He actually helped our game get better.

“He was more invested than the last coach, honestly. I warmed up to him. We got used to each other and now he’s like an older brother, a dad. He ended up not quitting on us. I saw he was in for the long run and now we’re here.”

Of course, with all the new players Green brought in to establish his program, roles were going to change.

It impacted Jones and 6-6 center Tajee Jordan the most. Both were starters last season; now, they come off the bench.

Jones made 17 starts last season and averaged 11.9 points with 45 assists and 45 steals. This year he’s gotten fewer minutes, but he still brings the same energy and defense he has always contributed. He’s played in 29 games with only two starts, averaging 6.5 points with 36 steals and 46 assists.

“We want to play more guys, we want to wear other teams down,” Green said. “A.J. comes in and does a great job of that.”

“I’ve been the energy guy,” Jones said. “I had more of a role to score (last year) because we needed that. We didn’t have plenty of guys, but I have other guys to do that now; we can all just play a role to make a team. Last year we had a team but there were plenty of roles we were missing, (that’s) the reason we were where we were at. We were OK, but we weren’t the greatest.

“Every guy on this team can do the same thing I do and I feel like we all feed off each other. We give each other energy. It doesn’t matter who’s in or out of the game we just want to win. It feels good winning.”

Jordan was the Mighty Oaks’ man in the middle, providing scoring, rebounding and general beef. This year he’s been called upon rebound and clog up the middle when he has the physical mismatch.

It took a little getting used to, but, like Jones, he’s enjoying the cumulative result.

SALEM CC 72, RIVERLAND CC 67
SALEM CC (24-7): Tamir Powell 0-6 2-2 2, Tyrese Fortune 0-5 2-2 2, Xavier Brewington 6-13 3-4 18, Akeem Taylor 8-18 1-3 18, Jyheim Spencer 6-8 2-3 14, Dontarius Jones 0-0 0-0 0, A.J. Jones 1-3 4-4 7, Tivon Woolford 3-4 0-0 8, Joshua Ramos 1-3 0-0 3, Rodney Shelton 0-0 0-0 0, Tajt Jordan 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 25-60 14-18 72.
RIVERLAND CC (29-4): Christian Campbell 7-15 3-4 19, Damar Jenkins 4-12 1-2 13, Buai Drop 5-9 0-0 12, Joe Poyser 4-7 2-4 10, Nazih Chehade 3-7 1-3 7, Gabe Hein 0-0 0-0 0, Lubab Kambalo 1-3 0-0 3, Rolph Blanc 0-2 0-0 0, Nick Edland 0-0 0-0 0, Jose Yepez 1-2 0-0 3. Totals 25-57 7-13 67.

Armed with as much info as possible on their opening-round opponent, Mighty Oaks take on Riverland CC in their first-ever basketball national tournament game 

JUCO DIVISION III TOURNAMENT
Wednesday’s Game
(10) Salem CC vs. (7) Riverland CC, 4 p.m.
Thursday’s Game
Salem-Riverland winner vs. (2) Mohawk Valley, 6 p.m.
Salem-Riverland loser vs. Genesee-Union loser, 11 a.m.

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

HERKIMER, N.Y. – Mike Green posed the question on one of his social media platforms around 7 o’clock Sunday night when he was already four days into his research.

“Is there a such thing as over preparing?” he rhetorically asked to the world.

One of his good coaching buddies told him privately an emphatic no, which Green took to mean he was doing the right thing. At least in the way the second-year Salem CC basketball coach goes about his business preparing the Mighty Oaks for Wednesday’s 4 p.m. NJCAA Division III national tournament debut against Riverland (Minn.) CC here at Herkimer College.

Ever since the matchup went up on the selection show screen last Wednesday afternoon, Green has been burning the midnight oil, pouring over stats and whatever video he could find of the Mighty Oaks’ immediate and potential future opponents.

“I know he be up all night, I do know that,” sophomore guard A.J. Jones said. “He wants it as much as we do, if not more.”

That’s just his way. Once, when he was an assistant at Penn State, in charge of player development, he broke down film on all four of the Nittany Lions’ potential 2023 NCAA Tournament foes. That year, they beat Texas A&M in the first round for the program’s first NCAA Tournament win since 2001 and narrowly lost to second-seeded Texas in the Round of 32.

“I’m used to it,” Green said. “That’s all I’ve been watching, Riverland. I go over it piece by piece. I feel like I know their players as if they were in our league. We’re in the know.

“But I’m not playing, so the key is to get my guys to be so familiar with them as well.”

What the coach’s research has shown is Wednesday’s game will be a clash of styles and whoever imposes their will best will come out on top. The Mighty Oaks (23-7) like to get it and go, go, go, while the Blue Devils (29-3), in the national tournament for the third time in four years, want to slow you down.

The Blue Devils are averaging 86 points a game and rank sixth nationally in offensive efficiency, led by Christian Campbell (15.2 ppg), Nazih Chehade (14.9) and Damar Jenkins (13.2). But it’s the way they can run down the shot clock on defense that gives the appearance of a slower pace. They’re only allowing 67 points a game and give you on average about 60 shots. The Mighty Oaks have put as many as 90 in a game this year.

That approach had them No. 1 in the nation for 12 straight weeks this season before a two-game hiccup in early February dropped them back. Two of their losses have come to Minnesota State Community & Technical College, the No. 3 seed here and a potential semifinal opponent for one of these two teams.

“I wouldn’t say we play slow by any means,” Riverland coach Derrick Hahn said Tuesday night. “I think the good defense is kind of what slows the game down a little bit. But contrasting styles for sure.”

The Mighty Oaks are confident they can adjust. They played a slower, half-court game in their two Region 19/North Atlantic District games last week and beat CC of Philadelphia and Montgomery County CC, two teams that beat them in close games during the regular season. They didn’t press once in the district championship game against Montco.

“I feel like the team we have this year we can make anybody play how we want them to play if we just put our minds to it,” Jones said. “We’ve got dawgs on our team. We’re gonna bark.”

ACORNS: Green was undecided about the Mighty Oaks’ Wednesday pre-game routine as he left Tuesday’s welcoming banquet. It’ll either be a walk-through somewhere in the hotel or a shoot-around at nearby Mohawk Valley CC … The team practiced at the tournament site Tuesday morning. Green liked it. “It’s a shooter’s gym,” he said. “Hopefully our guys can get going” … If the Mighty Oaks lose Wednesday, the consolation game Thursday will be their final game in the tournament win or lose. If they win Wednesday, then lose in Thursday’s quarterfinals, they will continue to play until they lose again … The tournament committee drew random players from each team for a door prize at the welcoming banquet. Xavier Brewington was the lucky Salem player. He chose a canvas carry bag .. There are 431 schools across the NJCAA’s three divisions, 56 are still playing.

Salem CC basketball team leaves out for JUCO Division III national tournament to cowbells, cheers

JUCO DIVISION III TOURNAMENT
Wednesday’s Game
Salem CC vs. Riverland CC, 4 p.m.
Thursday’s Game
Salem-Riverland winner vs. Mohawk Valley, 6 p.m.
Salem-Riverland loser vs. Genesee-Union loser, 11 a.m.

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

CARNEYS POINT –  With the sound of clanging green cowbells and cheers as a backdrop, the Salem CC basketball team received a rousing sendoff for the greatest adventure in the modern era of the school’s athletics program.

The Mighty Oaks pulled out of the parking lot a little after 1 o’clock Monday headed to Utica, N.Y., for their first-ever appearance in the NJCAA Division III national tournament at nearby Herkimer College.

They open their run towards a national championship Wednesday at 4 p.m. against seventh-seeded Riverland (Minn.) CC. The Mighty Oaks (23-7) are one of two unranked teams in the 12-team field and seeded tenth, in itself a source of motivation for the North Atlantic District B champions.

“There are only 12 teams there, we’re the tenth seed; I don’t feel we’re the tenth seed,” sophomore guard A.J. Jones said. “We’ve got dawgs on our team. We’re gonna bark.”

The team practiced in Dupont Fieldhouse before embarking on the trip and will see the tournament site for the first time when they practice Tuesday at 9 a.m. Riverland works out at 11.

The Blue Devils had a similar sendoff when they left Austin, Minn., Saturday and made a pit stop at Youngstown State to practice.

When the Mighty Oaks players wrapped up practice Monday they were welcomed back to the locker room with a spirit line comprised of faculty and friends.

“I think the whole campus community is exceptionally proud of what Coach (Mike) Green and the whole team has been able to accomplish in such a short time period,” athletics director Bob Hughes said. “And we’re standing behind them 100 percent as they hopefully make a run over these next couple days and we look forward to what it means for the future of not just the men’s basketball program but the whole athletic department.”

Hughes knows exactly what the Mighty Oaks are feeling as they embark on the trip. He had the same emotions when he took Rosemont to its first trip to the NCAA Division III national tournament as its head coach in 2019.

“I would say it’s about the same thing,” Hughes said as unwrapped the cowbells from their packaging. “Interesting, too, because Rosemont was historically all women (and then went co-ed and added men’s sports). 

“Similar situation, I guess, you could compare it to the fact they canceled athletics and Bob (Bunnell) brought it back. I really think all of this is a testament to Bob Bunnell and the efforts he put towards raising this department back up. The fact that we’re here is directly related to the efforts he put in over his time here. I’m reaping the benefits.”

GOOD VIBES: Josh Ramos says he’s confident going into the national tournament and that makes the Mighty Oaks feel good all the way down to their roots.

Ramos is Salem’s designated sniper and he’s one of the top 3-point makers in the country. But lately his shot has been a little off.

He has 72 treys this season, ninth-most in JUCO Division III and 12 more than he had last season when he was 27th in 3s made and shooting percentage. He hit six in a late-season win over Luzerne, but has made only 7 of 27 in the six games since.

“I haven’t really been hitting as much as I want to, but I keep getting shots up and I’m still going to have high confidence going to nationals,” the sophomore said. “I feel really confident going into the game. Me not hitting shots is definitely a big thing, but I stay ready. My team is getting it done, I’ve gotta show up.”

Salem coach Mike Green knows how valuable Ramos is to the Mighty Oaks’ success. His skill set will be especially in demand if they win Wednesday’s opener. The winner meets No. 2 seed Mohawk Valley, who’ve build the No. 1 scoring defense in the division by demanding teams shoot over or get inside its zone defense.

“He’s the one,” Green said of Ramos. “He’s going to determine how far we go. His shot-making opens the game up.”

No pressure, right?