Salem CC women and Mercer deadlocked early in the fourth quarter, then the visiting Vikings pulled away
By Al Muskewitz Riverview Sports News
CARNEYS POINT – Maggie St. Clair has a simple wish for her Salem CC women’s basketball team for the holiday and into the new year. All the Mighty Oaks want for Christmas is to play 40 minutes.
They had designs on going into their holiday break .500 for the season. They were playing Mercer County CC even into the fourth quarter, then things suddenly got tough.
The Vikings went on an 18-2 run over a four and a half minute stretch to pull away from a tie game and send Salem to a 65-53 setback in the Mighty Oaks’ final game of the first semester.
“Just play through four quarters,” St. Clair, a sophomore from Eastampton, said responding to the holiday wish question. “We just lose focus in stretches. I thought we played good for three quarters. We were hanging with them, everything was good … I just think our mindset kind of just went down after we got down a couple points.”
Two free throws by St. Clair with 9:04 to play tied the game at 42, but things unraveled in a hurry. Over the next 31 seconds the Mighty Oaks missed a shot and lost the rebound out of bounds and then made two turnovers. The Vikings (9-3) scored six straight points in the exchange and were on their way to taking control.
Akira Chambers made a power move to stop the slide, but then Mercer went on a 12-2 run to make it 60-46 with 4:44 to play.
The Mighty Oaks (4-6) outscored their visitors 7-5 the rest of the game, but by then the damage was done.
It was a tough quarter. After getting the game tied, the Mighty Oaks were 3-of-10 from the field and were charged with nine turnovers. They scored on seven of their last 20 possessions, but didn’t have a field goal after St. Clair’s putback with 2:50 play made it 60-50.
“We’re getting to the point where our program is now playing with these teams and the girls are doing a great job,” Marsh said. “I’m not coaching energy right now, but our execution isn’t there. Too many turnovers that one four-minute stretch.
“It’s the little things. I always say focus for 40 minutes. It’s been 32, now it’s maybe 36, but we’re still missing it.”
Salem CC guard Kathryn Laurence brings the ball up the floor against Mercer County CC Tuesday. (Photo by John Holt)
St. Clair led the Mighty Oaks with 14 points. Chambers had 10 points and Kathryn Laurence had nine on all three of their 3-pointers. Dani Gustin was their leading rebounder with nine. Caroline Zullo had a full boxscore with seven points, six rebounds and four steals.
Mercer’s Gabriella Ross led all scorers with 21 points. She had 16 in the second half after going 1-for-11 from the field in the first half. Alexandra Garcia Galen had 18, eight in the fourth-quarter eruption that gave the Vikings control of the game.
The Vikings led 30-27 at halftime after going 12 of 14 from the free throw line. They hit their first 11 in a row. The Mighty Oaks had only one free throw in the first half (they missed it).
Despite sitting at 4-6 at the break after starting the season 3-0, the Mighty Oaks still have a lot to play for when they return Jan. 7 against Camden County College. They’ll need to go 9-6 in their remaining games to make the Region XIX tournament.
“Every goal we have is still in front of us, but they have to decide,” Marsh said. “I keep saying what kind of team do you want to be? Do you want to be the ‘but’ team or the ‘what if’ team?
“We’re finally getting to where we’re playing with these teams. Now we’ve got to get to the point where we can beat those teams and we’re just not there yet.”
ACORNS: Marsh is giving his players off until Jan. 3 so they can be home for the holidays … Freshman guard Geovanna Tjaden is scheduled to see an orthopedist Friday to get a better evaluation on the ankle she sprained Saturday against Lackawanna … Mercer is back on the floor this season after a three-year hiatus.
MERCER COUNTY CC (9-3) – Zaakirah Edwards 2-3 0-0 4, Gabriella Ross 7-24 8-10 21, Jayla Jones 1-6 2-2 4, Lia Sakhniashvili 2-11 0-2 4, Alexandra Garcia Galen 6-11 4-4 18, Valerie Rivas 0-1 0-0 0, Jada Queen 3-8 1-2 7, Carla Cencerrero Gallego 2-5 3-4 7. Totals 23-69 16-24 65. SALEM CC (4-6) – Nyaijah Jackson 2-6 1-2 5, Caroline Zullo 3-8 1-2 7, Maggie St. Clair 6-18 2-2 14, Kathryn Laurence 3-9 0-0 9, Jakayla Jenkins 1-5 2-2 4, RayNescia King 0-1 0-0 0, Dani Gustin 1-1 0-3 2, Akira Chambers 4-6 2-3 10, Alexa Hopkins 1-2 0-0 2. Totals 21-56 8-14 53.
Mercer
18
12
12
23-
65
Salem
13
14
13
13-
53
3-point goals: Mercer 3-15 (Ross 1-6, Sekhniashvili 0-4, Garcia Galen 2-3, Cencerrero Gallego 0-2); Salem 3-14 (Jackson 0-1, Zullo 0-1, St. Clair 0-6, Laurence 3-6). Rebounds: Mercer 38 (Sekhniashvili 8, Queen 8); Salem 36 (Gustin 9, Jackson 7, Zullo 6). Technical fouls: Chambers. Fouled out: Garcia Gallen, Queen, Jenkins. Total fouls: Mercer 14, Salem 19.
Cover photo: Salem CC sophomore Maggie St. Clair (3) pulls up for a jumper against Mercer County CC Tuesday night. (Photo by John Holt)
Here is the schedule for Salem County sports teams for the week of Dec. 16-21; games 4 p.m. unless noted; x-scrimmage
MONDAY, DEC. 16 GIRLS BASKETBALL x-Pennsville at Palmyra x-Woodstown at Kingsway BOYS BASKETBALL x-Clearview at Woodstown x-Palmyra at Pennsville Buena at Salem Tech, 5:30 p.m. SWIMMING Woodstown vs. West Deptford at Riverwinds, 3:30 p.m.
TUESDAY, DEC. 17 GIRLS BASKETBALL Schalick at Cape May Tech, 5:30 p.m. BOYS BASKETBALL Cape May Tech at Schalick SWIMMING Schalick vs. Camden Academy Charter at Vineland YMCA, 3:15 p.m. INDOOR TRACK Salem, Penns Grove at Bennett Center, Toms River, 5 p.m. WRESTLING Salem, Palmyra at Pennsville, 5 p.m. BOWLING Salem Tech vs. ACIT WOMENS COLLEGE BASKETBALL Mercer County CC at Salem CC, 5 p.m.
WEDNESDAY, DEC. 18 GIRLS BASKETBALL Wildwood at Pennsville Salem at Woodstown, 5:30 p.m. Schalick at Clayton, 5:30 p.m. BOYS BASKETBALL Wildwood at Pennsville, 5:30 p.m. Clayton at Schalick, 5:30 p.m. Woodstown at Salem, 5:30 p.m. BOWLING Salem in Holiday Showcase at Laurel Lanes, Maple Shade, 3:30 p.m. Salem Tech vs. Gloucester Catholic at Wood Lanes
THURSDAY, DEC. 19 SWIMMING Schalick vs. Gloucester Catholic at GCIT, 4:45 p.m. Woodstown vs. Deptford at GCIT, 7 p.m. WRESTLING Penns Grove at Schalick Timber Creek at Woodstown, 6 p.m. Pennsville girls at Beast of the East Tournament (U of Del.) TRACK Pennsville Polar Bear Meet, 3 p.m. MENS COLLEGE BASKETBALL RCSJ-Cumberland at Salem CC, 5 p.m.
FRIDAY, DEC. 20 GIRLS BASKETBALL Overbrook at Schalick, 5:30 p.m. Pennsville at Glassboro, 5:30 p.m. Salem at Salem Tech Woodstown at Penns Grove BOYS BASKETBALL Glassboro at Pennsville, 3 p.m. Penns Grove at Woodstown, 5:30 p.m. Salem Tech at Salem, 3 p.m. Schalick at Overbrook, 5:30 p.m. WRESTLING Pennsville at William Penn (Del.) Invitational Pennsville girls at Beast of the East Tournament (U of Del.) SATURDAY, DEC. 21 GIRLS BASKETBALL Salem Tech at Gloucester Catholic, 1:30 p.m. Boardwalk Classic Wildwood Convention Center Penns Grove vs. Timber Creek, 2:15 p.m. SJIBT Tournament Highland at Woodstown, 11:30 a.m. WRESTLING Salem girls at Jackson Liberty Tournament, 9 a.m. Pennsville at William Penn (Del.) Invitational, 10 a.m. Woodstown in Beast of the East Tournament (U of Del.) TRACK Pennsville, Salem, Woodstown at Ott Center, Philadelphia
Salem CC men have another slow start, play better in second half but still fall to No. 12 Brookdale
By Al Muskewitz Riverview Sports News
CARNEYS POINT – In the world of wrestling you can’t be the man until you beat the man. In the basketball world, you can’t be somebody until you’ve done something.
The Salem CC basketball team has won nine games this year and came out against the No. 12 team in the country Saturday with a swagger coach Mike Green didn’t think they necessarily earned yet and Brookdale put the Mighty Oaks in their place quickly.
The Jersey Blues opened a 16-point halftime lead and carried it to a 84-76 victory.
“We came out like we were Brookdale, like we were ranked No. 12,” Green said. “As if we had some type of success, as if we won however many national championships they’ve won, and we’re not good enough to do that. We’ve got to come out fighting.
“When you come out like that, they’ll show you who they are.”
The Mighty Oaks (9-4) led only once — 9-8 on a Josh Ramos 3-pointer — but it was at that the Blues (10-3) started putting away.
The slow start was fueled by poor shooting, an oddity of sorts given that Saturday afternoons at home have been some of Salem’s best shooting games, and turnovers. Salem shot only 26 percent from the floor in the first half and hit only two 3-pointers.
Green said it bothered him “big time” the approach his shorthanded team seemed to display approaching the game. The nine wins it has scored this year are the same number it had last year after Green took over, so whatever success they’ve enjoyed has really been a wash in his mind.
“It’s arrogance and I’m not an arrogant person,” he said. “I wasn’t an arrogant player, I’m not an arrogant coach, so it bothered me big time.
“You’ve got to do something. We haven’t done anything. We won nine game. We won nine games last year. We’re right at where we were last year. We’re not OK with that, we’re not satisfied with that.”
They started the second half hot, hitting three 3s in the first 90 seconds, and doubled their offensive productive over the first half. They shot shot 50 percent from the floor in the second half, but Brookdale matched them shooting 52 percent without attempting a 3.
The Mighty Oaks just couldn’t get the deficit to a manageable number. They got it to 10 with 2:25 to play and spent the rest of the time trying to cut into it by putting Brookdale on the foul line, but the Jersey Blues went 9-of-13 to negate that strategy.
Salem did place five scorers in double figures, but only played eight. Josh Ramos was their leading scorer with 15 points. Shyheed Taylor and Dontarius Jones each had 13 and Tivon Woolford and Xavier Brewington each had 10.
Rodney Shelton and A.J. Jones both grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds, but Jones didn’t score. Green expected a different type of Salem team, one worthy of producing some swagger, when all the injured players return.
The Mighty Oaks return to the floor Thursday against RCSJ-Cumberland in their final game of 2024. They’ll be looking to win 10 games before Christmas for the first time since the resumption of the program. The 2021-22 team also won nine games before the holidays.
BROOKDALE CC 84, SALEM CC 76 BROOKDALE (10-3) – Anthony Leger 5-8 1-3 11, Bruce Gooding 2-9 4-5 8, Devyn Wright-Myles 4-9 4-6 12, Jack Zink 6-13 2-2 14, Regan Burke 6-10 4-6 16, Shawn Valentine 0-0 1-2 1, Ariel Perez 0-0 1-2 1, Troy DaCruz 2-5 1-2 6, Latrell Thompson 4-5 1-2 9, Keith Allen 1-4 4-4 6. Totals 29-63 23-34 84. SALEM (9-4) – Dontarius Jones 5-8 1-1 13, Tivon Woolford 3-7 3-4 10, Josh Ramos 6-12 0-0 15, Rodney Shelton 4-10 0-1 8, Shyheed Taylor 2-6 7-14 13, A.J. Jones 0-5 0-0 0, Xavier Brewington 3-13 2-3 10, Stefan Phillips 2-4 3-3 7. Totals 25-67 16-26 76.
Brookdale CC
41
43-
84
Salem CC
25
51-
76
3-point goals: Brookdale 3-11 (Leger 0-1, Zink 2-7, Burke 0-1, DaCruz 1-2); Salem 10-31 (D. Jones 2-3, Woolford 1-4, Ramos 3-9, Taylor 2-5, A. Jones 0-2, Brewington 2-8). Rebounds: Brookdale 35 (Burke 9, Leger 7, Thompson 7); Salem 48 (Shelton 11, A. Jones 11). Fouled out: Thompson, Ramos, Phillips. Total fouls: Brookdale 21, Salem 23.
Taylor, Phillips hit six straight free throws in final minute to help Salem CC men hold off Williamson Trades and give coach as many wins this season as he had all last year after taking over program
By Riverview Sports News
MEDIA, Pa. – Free throws can make all the difference in a basketball game. Don’t the Salem CC men’s team know it.
The Mighty Oaks learned the hard way against Camden CC how not making free throws down the stretch can cost you and have spent a lot of their time since addressing the issue.
On the road Thursday night, they experienced just how rewarding making those late foul shots can be. Freshmen Stefan Phillips and Shyheed Taylor hit six straight free throws in the final 52 seconds and were a combined 13-for-13 in the game as the Mighty Oaks held off Williamson College of the Trades 74-66.
“That was big,” said Salem coach Mike Green, who now has won as many games this season as he did last year after taking the team midseason. “Free throws are always big and sometimes kids don’t focus much on it, but it’s been a main focus of ours since we lost that game to Camden.
“When you lose some games like that, man, guys tend to lock in. It’s either going to help you or kill you. Some of the guys still have jitters from it, so we can’t have you in until you get confident. You ain’t confident in it, how can we (be). We’re going to get the ball in Stef’s hands, get the ball in Shyheed’s hands, get the ball in Xavier (Brewington’s) hands, guys who can make free throws.”
Taylor, a 71-percent free throw shooter, hit the first two in the final minute after the Mechanics pulled to within 70-64. Phillips made the last four after being reinserted into the game with 37 seconds left.
Phillips, an 89-percent free throw shooter on the season (seventh nationally), was 8-for-8 in the game. Taylor was 5-for-5. Neither played in Tuesday night’s loss at Ocean for disciplinary reasons.
“Just getting the ball in the right people’s hands, getting the ball in the most fresh people’s hands,” Green said. “We knew who was fresh and who wasn’t and who to get the ball to when the game’s only the line.
“(Phillips) was hitting them well for us so we had to get the ball in his hands. He’s too young to understand the pressure of it, so he’s just going up there and knocking them down.”
The Mighty Oaks were 20-of-29 from the line in their overtime loss at Camden County College on Nov. 26, but missed several in key situations down the stretch that prevented them from winning. They have gone 55-for-78 In the four games since (70.5 percent). They were 16-of-19 Thursday, raising their season average to .696, currently 15th in JUCO Division III.
“The games we lost it hasn’t been good,” Green said. “It’s something we drill, something we take a lot more serious. After the kids dropped a game because of it they’re a lot more locked in.
In the three games the Mighty Oaks (9-3) lost they are shooting just 65 percent from the line (40-of-62).
The Mighty Oaks led wire-to-wire, taking control with a 10-2 run right out of the gate. All three of their leading scorers – Josh Ramos, Phillips and Taylor – had 12 points apiece and all three came off the bench.
Four of the Mechanics’ five starters scored in double figures, led by Robert Whiley’s 22. Their only starter who didn’t score in double figures, A’Jaad White, pulled down 16 rebounds.
“They was watching some of the film of our last game,” Green said of the fast start. “We started last game down 10-0. It was moreso getting those guys to see what they’re doing. Rather me yelling it and trying to tell them that, it’s good to see it. I think I’ve got to do that a little bit more with this group.”
The Mighty Oaks lost another player to injury in the game. Guard Julien Jones, who has been a steadying influence of late, went out with a knee injury, the extent of which wasn’t immediately known.
SALEM CC (9-3) – Xavier Brewington 3-11 1-1 8, Tivon Woolford 1-5 0-0 3, Rodney Shelton 3-3 0-0 6, Dontarius Jones 2-5 1-1 5, Julien Jones 1-1 0-0 2, Josh Ramos 4-8 0-1 12, Stefan Phillips 2-2 8-8 12, Shyheed Taylor 3-5 5-5 12, Tyrone Tolson 3-6 0-0 7, A.J. Jones 2-3 1-2 5, Tyrese Fortune 1-8 0-1 2. Totals 25-57 16-19 74. WILLIAMSON TRADES (9-6) – Ronald Johnson 6-9 0-1 13, AJaad White 2-6 2-2 6, Robert Whiley 7-19 7-9 22, Semaj Cherry 6-14 1-1 23, Liam Rardin 3-11 5-6 12, Nadir Ali 0-0 0-0 0, Jordan Draine 0-5 0-0 0. Totals 24-64 15-19 66.
Salem CC
32
42-
74
Williamson Trades
22
44-
66
3-point goals: Salem 8-23 (Brewington 1-6, Woolford 1-3, Ramos 4-7, Taylor 1-1, Tolson 1-3, Fortune 0-3); Williamson 3-15 (Johnson 1-1, Whiley 1-9, Rardin 1-4, Draine 0-1). Rebounds: Salem 32 (Shelton 6, Fortune 5); Williamson 46 (White 16). Fouled out: Johnson, White. Total fouls: Salem 17, Williamson 18.
Salem CC women start fast against Bucks County CC, snap four-game losing streak in big way, get back to .500
By Riverview Sports News
CARNEYS POINT – The Salem CC women’s basketball team lost a game off the schedule earlier in the week, but it turned out to be a blessing in disguise.
LAURENCE Team-high 16 points
Not having a game gave the Mighty Oaks three good days to get things back on track and Thursday night they responded by routing Bucks County CC 73-38 to snap a four-game losing streak and get back to .500 for the season.
“It got us a chance to refocus and have a couple good practices,” Salem coach Brian Marsh said. “Instead of one day to prepare for Bucks, we had three days.
“When you’re coming off a tough loss and a four-game losing streak it took a couple days to get that off us and extra two days helped.”
The Mighty Oaks (4-4) were supposed to play at CC of Morris Tuesday night, but Morris canceled due to a lack of players. In addition to some intense practices, they played a starters-vs-subs intrasquad game Tuesday and the reserves really got after it. It carried over to Thursday with the Salem non-starters outscoring Bucks’ bench, 24-6.
“The last couple practices we’ve been pushing them really hard and we’ve had some really good practices,” Marsh said. “This week I was focusing on intensity instead of energy, I thought that was a better word.
“Not just intensity of how fast you’re moving but moving the ball, passing the ball, rebounding, playing defense. I thought we came out really well in the first quarter.”
Salem started fast, shooting 58 percent from the floor (60 percent from 3-point range) and opening a 25-6 first quarter lead. They extended it to 41-12 at halftime.
After hitting a lull in the third quarter, they refocused in the fourth and outscored Bucks 22-6 to finish.
Kathryn Laurence hit four 3-pointers in the game and led three Salem scorers in double figures with 16 points. Pennsville’s Caroline Zullo made the most of her first start of the season, scoring a season-high 12 points on 5-of-10 shooting and collecting five steals. Maggie St. Clair had 10 points.
“I thought Caroline played well and has been giving us energy,” Marsh said. “We were just looking for those fast starts, trying to play fast and not get behind early. Play our game early is really what we tried to do against this team.
“Kathryn’s battling an ankle injury, but we’re just waiting for Kathryn to be Kathryn. Her shooting has been coming, you can see in practice it’s getting back to where she normally is. She’s just a great shooter and is really shooting it with confidence now. Before she was a little hesitant, but she’s been working on her shot and kind of forgetting about her ankle. She’s getting back to the Kathryn that we’re used to from last year.”
SALEM CC 73, BUCKS COUNTY CC 38 BUCKS COUNTY CC (2-4) – Jess Kepner 1-7 0-0 3, Caramia Delucia 1-9 2-2 5, Kalypso Braynen 2-6 0-0 4, Susan McKeever 1-3 1-2 3, Morgan Volz 6-26 5-6 17, Emily Gilmore 0-0 0-0 0, Lilyana Colon 3-10 0-0 7. Totals 14-61 8-10 38. SALEM CC (4-4) – Nyajiah Jackson 4-9 1-2 9, Caroline Zullo 5-10 0-0 12, Maggie St. Clair 5-8 0-0 10, Kathryn Laurence 6-12 0-0 16, Jakayla Jenkins 1-3 0-0 2, RayNescia King 2-7 0-0 5, Geo Tjaden 2-5 0-0 6, Dani Gustin 1-1 0-0 2, Imara James 0-6 0-0 0, Akira Chambers 3-6 1-2 7, Alexa Hopkins 2-4 0-0 4. Totals 31-71 2-4 73.
Bucks Co. CC
6
6
20
6-
38
Salem CC
25
16
10
22-
73
3-point goals: Bucks 2-10 (Kepner 1-4, Delucia 1-1, Volz 0-4, Colon 0-1); Salem 9-21 (Zullo 2-4, St. Clair 0-1, Laurence 4-8, King 1-1, Tjaden 2-4, James 0-2, Hopkins 0-1). Rebounds: Bucks 42 (Volz 11, Delucia 9); Salem 37 (Chambers 6, Laurence 5). Total fouls: Bucks 9, Salem 12.
Ocean CC hits three FTs in final five seconds to cut down Mighty Oaks, 73-70
By Al Muskewitz Riverview Sports News
TOMS RIVER – Playing on the road is tough enough. Playing on the road with only half your complement of players makes it even tougher.
That’s the situation the Salem CC men’s basketball team found itself in Tuesday night. The Mighty Oaks were reduced to eight available players due to injuries and although they were in control of the game deep into the second half they fell at Ocean CC 73-70.
The Vikings (5-5) hit three free throws in the final five seconds to win it and avenge a seven-point loss in Carneys Point Nov. 19. The Mighty Oaks (8-3) led by 10 at halftime and by seven with 4:10 to play, but much like their overtime loss to Camden, they had too many turnovers and missed free throws down the stretch to secure the win.
“Most colleges only play with eight players anyway, so I don’t think that’s anything you should get applauded about,” Salem coach Mike Green said. “Most colleges only play eight players, nine players max.
“Eight people are enough to win with, for sure. It’s happening all over the nation.”
Salem’s Julien Jones hit a runner with 30 seconds left to tie the game at 70 and Green immediately called a time out to set up their final strategy, which was simply to stay in front of your man on defense.
Ocean’s Myles Marabuto hit two free throws with 5.5 seconds left to break the tie. With little time left on the clock, the Mighty Oaks hurried to get the ball up the court and get a shot, but Marabuto pressured them to step on the sideline before reaching midcourt.
The Vikings inbounded, Kai Barckley was fouled with less than a second to go and made the first of his two free throws for the final margin. The Vikings were 18-of-21 from the free throw line in the game (Salem was 5-of-10). Barckley finished with 15 points off the bench.
“If you want to win this league, stay in front of guys,” Green said. “We couldn’t stay in front of a 5-10 guard with our 6-6 forward and it cost us.”
Rodney Shelton had a big game for the Mighty Oaks and not just because he was one of the biggest players on the floor. Playing extended minutes because his backup wasn’t available, Shelton responded with 16 points, 10 rebounds and six blocked shots.
Tyrese Fortune had 14 points and Xavier Brewington had 13 points, eight rebounds, four assists and three steals.
Wednesday is a big day on the Mighty Oaks’ injury front. Tamir Powell, a 6-3 freshman from Philadelphia who has spent all season in a boot, begins his rehab for an expected January return and sophomore captain Niame Scott undergoes surgery on the knee he fractured in Saturday’s win over Bergen.
Here is the schedule for Salem County sports teams for the week of Dec. 9-14; events start at 4 p.m. unless noted, x-scrimmage
DEC. 9 GIRLS BASKETBALL x-Gloucester City at Salem Tech x-Millville at Pennsville x-Pleasantville at Penns Grove x-Salem at Paulsboro x-Schalick at Oakcrest BOYS BASKETBALL x-Atlantic Tech at Salem x-Cedar Creek at Schalick x-Penns Grove at Lindenwold
DEC. 10 GIRLS BASKETBALL x-Penns Grove, Winslow at Highland x-Woodstown at Moorestown Friends BOYS BASKETBALL x-Moorestown Friends at Woodstown BOWLING Salem Tech vs. ACIT MENS COLLEGE BASKETBALL Salem CC at Ocean County, 5 p.m. WOMENS COLLEGE BASKETBALL Salem CC at CC of Morris, 5 p.m.
DEC. 11 GIRLS BASKETBALL x-Paulsboro at Schalick x-Schalick at Bridgeton BOYS BASKETBALL x-Salem at Hammonton x-Schalick at Winslow x-West Deptford at Salem Tech BOWLING Salem vs. West Deptford at Bolero Lanes
DEC. 12 GIRLS BASKETBALL x-Cumberland at Pennsville x-Schalick at Salem BOYS BASKETBALL Mastery Charter at Salem Tech, 5:15 p.m. x-Pennsville at Cumberland x-Penns Grove at Egg Harbor Twp., 5:30 p.m. x-Lower Cape May at Schalick x-Salem at Vineland x-Woodstown at Gateway SWIMMING Schalick vs. Highland at GCIT, 4:45 p.m. Salem vs. Pitman at GCIT, 5:45 p.m. BOWLING Salem vs. Gloucester City at Westbrook Lanes Salem Tech vs. Clayton at Wood Lanes MENS COLLEGE BASKETBALL Salem CC at Williamson Trades, 7 p.m. WOMENS COLLEGE BASKETBALL Bucks County CC at Salem CC, 5 p.m.
DEC. 13 GIRLS BASKETBALL x-Hammonton at Woodstown
DEC. 14 BOYS BASKETBALL Red Devil Classic, Penns Grove Glassboro vs. Lindenwold, 10:30 a.m. Salem vs. Woodbury, 4:30 p.m. Paulsboro at Penns Grove, 6:30 p.m. GIRLS BASKETBALL Red Devil Classic, Penns Grove Bridgeton at Penns Grove, 12:30 p.m. Glassboro vs. Woodbury, 2:30 p.m. WRESTLING Schalick Holiday Tournament, 9 a.m. Woodstown in Delaware Valley Tournament MENS COLLEGE BASKETBALL Brookdale CC at Salem CC, noon WOMENS COLLEGE BASKETBALL Salem CC at Lackawanna, noon
Salem CC men rally after scary injury to their captain, pull away from winless Bergen with big second half; Mighty Oaks women drop fourth straight in loss to Raritan Valley
By Al Muskewitz Riverview Sports News
CARNEYS POINT – Josh Ramos stood motionless out of the floor watching the medical professionals attend to teammate and captain Niame Scott in the foul lane in front of the Salem Community College bench. For the first time ever on a basketball court the Mighty Oaks sophomore guard felt helpless.
The entire gym went silent when Scott fell to the floor with a fractured right knee early in the second half of a Saturday game that was closer than the teams’ records said it should be. Play was delayed 22 minutes as trainers, team staff and eventually EMTs worked to stabilize the sophomore from Philadelphia and make him as comfortable as possible before taking him off the floor on a gurney and transporting him to a nearby hospital.
The home side wasn’t playing all that well before the mishap as winless Bergen was giving them all they could handle. But the Mighty Oaks’ mindset changed following the injury. They now had something – somebody – to play for.
They hit five 3-pointers in the first five minutes after play resumed and wound up scoring 61 points in the second half en route to a 97-68 victory.
“The whole thing was just to go out there and win the game for him,” Ramos said. “Mentally it definitely took a toll. We just had to turn it around. We just all knew we had to show up for him.”
The Mighty Oaks (8-2) had just taken a 45-44 lead on A.J. Jones’ bucket. On Salem’s next trip down the court Scott missed a short shot looking to extend the lead, went in for the rebound, then fell to the floor in agony after his foot lodged against the foot of a Bergen player. He immediately clutched his right leg.
It was initially believed Scott had only dislocated the knee, serious enough but an injury that would have given him a chance to return this season. Tests later determined it to be fractured.
It’s the latest in a growing number of injuries to hit the program. The Mighty Oaks already were missing four players with ankle/foot issues.
“It is a sad moment,” Ramos said. “He’s one of our main guys. It’s a big loss to our team.”
Scott was the team’s fourth-leading scorer (8.6 ppg) and second on the team in assists (21), but his presence provides a lot more than stats.
“He’s a big part of the team,” Mighty Oaks coach Mike Green said. “We have him doing a lot more than last year, we’ve asked him to play a lot harder, and he’s responded.”
Now as Scott recovers, Green said the team is “going to cover him with love, the greatest healer.”
Up to the point of the injury, it looked like the Mighty Oaks would have trouble scoring 75 points against the winless Bulldogs (0-10). They weren’t taking great shots in the first half and the ones they were taking they weren’t hitting. But Scott’s injury spurred them to action.
Ramos, who didn’t hit a shot in the first half, made four straight 3-pointers in the 19-2 barrage that followed the resumption. The Mighty Oaks shot 57 percent from the floor in the second half and were 8-of-16 from 3-point range. They were only 14-of-36 from the floor and 3-of-16 from 3 in the first half while falling behind 37-36 at halftime. They shot 17-of-28 after the injury to their captain.
“I knew with him going down it is a big loss, I had to step up personally,” Ramos said. “I knew I came out 0-for-4, 0-for-5 going into the half. I knew I had to step up, step into my role. We just got it going. You’ve just got to play harder, you’ve got to give it your all knowing that someone’s down and we came out with the win.”
The 61 points were the Mighty Oaks’ second largest one-half output this season, behind only the 62-point second half in the season opener against Delaware County that established their persona as a second-half team this year.
Seven of the 10 Mighty Oaks who played in the game scored in double figures. Xavier Brewington (17 points, 10 rebounds) and Rodney Shelton (12/12) both had double doubles. A.J. Jones had 14 points, Ramos 12, Tyrone Tolson and Stefan Phillips 11 apiece and Tivon Woolford 10. Shelton and Ramos scored all their points in the second half.
“It’s more of what we preach: Next man up,” Green said. “The next person’s got to be ready to play. We play a lot of guys. It’s always going to be next man up.”
The game got off to a balky start with Green calling back-to-back timeouts in the first 45 seconds of the game. It wasn’t something he saw on the court that bothered him as much as it was something he wasn’t going to see.
The Mighty Oaks’ lost their Hudl connection for recording the game and player highlights. Green sprinted back to the locker room during the first full timeout to find a solution, then called a 30-second timeout when he returned to the bench, not to implant any strategy that should’ve gone in the first TO, but to make sure the fix was installed properly.
“I would have burned a couple more if it had taken longer,” Green said. “We can’t miss this. This is these kids’ livelihood. Whatever they do well, they need to have it documented (for recruiting purposes).
“Every second needs to be documented; it’s that serious. The line is that short, so we wanted to make sure the kids get everything they can.”
Salem CC guard Niame Scott brings the ball up court early in the second half against Bergen CC. A few minutes later, Scott suffered a serious knee injury and was transported to a local hospital, but the Mighty Oaks rallied behind their injured captain and pulled away. On the cover, Salem’s A.J. Jones (4) tries to dribble past Bergen’s Matthew Kelleher. (Photos by Phillip Chang)
Women’s game
RARITAN VALLEY CC 79, SALEM CC 63 – The Mighty Oaks women needed a win badly. They had lost their last three after opening the schedule with a three-game winning streak and were in danger of falling below .500 for the first time this season.
Coach Brian Marsh knew Saturday’s game with Raritan Valley was going to be a tight one and it was for three quarters. There were two bad stretches that them in.
The Mighty Oaks nearly recovered from the first one, but not from the second. In the span of about three minutes in the fourth quarter the Lions took a three-point lead to 15 and eventually handed Salem its fourth loss in a row.
The first bad stretch came in the final two minutes of second quarter when the Lions scored the last 12 points of the half after taking the lead for good with the 17th lead change of the game.
That’s how tight it was early. Salem led after the first quarter 16-15 when RayNescia King beat the buzzer with a 3-pointer from just across midcourt and the teams traded the lead until the Lions went on their run.
“Those two probably eight minutes dictated the whole game,” Marsh said. “I let them know a game is 40 minutes, not 32 minutes, not 37 minutes. They have to focus for the full (40) minutes.
“They get down and then they work their butts off to get back in it and it’s like they don’t have the energy left to complete it.”
The Mighty Oaks were plagued by 28 turnovers (19 steals), off which the Lions scored 34 points.
“We handled the press against (No. 4) Union much better than we did here, and that’s at home and it’s a bigger court,” Marsh said. “I think it’s a lack of focus at certain points. I’ve just got to do a better job of getting these girls to focus for 40 minutes. I really think that’s the big thing.”
Nyaijah Jackson led Salem with 14 points and seven rebounds. Akira Chambers had 10 points six boards.
Julia Fontanillo had a strong all-around game for Raritan Valley with 16 points, seven rebounds, seven assists and five steals. RV’s Sophia Larsen led all scorers with 18 points.
The Mighty Oaks won’t return to the floor until Thursday when they host Bucks County CC. They were supposed to play at CC of Morris Tuesday, but the Titans canceled due to a lack of players. Salem is looking to find a replacement game for later in the season.
Salem CC’s Akira Chambers (34) fights for position under the net against Raritan Valley. (Staff photo)
MEN’S BOX SCORE Salem CC 97, Bergen CC 68 BERGEN CC (0-10) – Amire Walker 4-14 7-11 18, Demetrius Chavis 6-14 0-2 15, Matthew Kelleher 5-11 0-0 12, Louis Sosa 3-8 4-4 11, Jayden Opio 2-9 0-0 4, Daniel Fernandez 1-3 0-0 2, Evan Meberg 3-6 0-0 6. Totals 24-65 11-17 68. SALEM CC (8-2) – Julien Jones 0-4 0-0 0, A.J. Jones 5-9 3-4 14, Tivon Woolford 4-8 0-0 10, Xavier Brewington 6-11 2-2 17, Rodney Shelton 6-10 0-2 12, Niame Scott 1-5 2-2 4, Josh Ramos 4-12 0-0 12, Tyrone Tolson 4-7 2-2 11, Shyheed Taylor 1-3 4-8 6, Stefan Phillips 4-4 3-4 11. Totals 35-73 16-24 97.
Bergen CC
37
31-
68
Salem CC
36
61-
97
3-point goals: Bergen 9-34 (Walker 3-9, Chavis 3-8, Kelleher 2-8, Sosa 1-4, Opio 0-4, Meberg 0-1); Salem 11-32 (J. Jones 0-3, A. Jones 1-4, Woolford 2-2, Brewington 3-7, Scott 0-1, Ramos 4-11, Tolson 1-3, Taylor 0-1). Rebounds: Bergen 28 (Sosa 8, Opio 6); Salem 46 (Brewington 10, Shelton 12). Technical fouls: Salem coach Green. Total fouls: Berger 15, Salem 18.
WOMEN’S BOX SCORE Raritan Valley CC 79, Salem CC 63 RARITAN VALLEY (5-4) – Sophia Larsen 4-14 9-11 18, Elizabeth May 2-10 0-0 6, Ona Riopedre 2-11 3-4 7, Telma Comba 3-9 3-5 9, Julia Fontanillo 7-14 2-4 16, Judith Vila 1-3 0-0 3, Paula Aguilera Ortega 0-1 4-4 4, Saionni Patrick 2-3 1-1 5, Madison Vitucci 4-4 1-1 11. Totals 25-69 23-30 79. SALEM (3-4) – Nyaijah Jackson 4-7 6-8 14, Maggie St. Clair 2-10 0-0 5, Dani Gustin 1-2 0-0 2, Kathryn Laurence 4-8 0-0 8, Jakayla Jenkins 4-6 0-1 8, RayNescia King 2-5 0-0 5, Caroline Zullo 2-7 1-2 5, Akira Chambers 5-8 0-2 10, Alexa Hopkins 0-1 1-1 1. Totals 24-54 8-14 58.
Raritan Valley CC
15
24
15
25-
79
Salem CC
16
12
23
12-
63
3-point goals: Raritan Valley 6-24 (Larsen 1-6, May 2-9, Riopedre 0-5, Fontanillo 0-1, Vila 1-1, Vitucci 2-2); Salem 2-7 (St. Clair 1-2, Laurence 0-2, Jenkins 0-1, King 1-1, Hopkins 0-1). Rebounds: Raritan Valley 37 (Riopedre 8, Comba 7, Fontanillo 7); Salem 39 (Jackson 7, St. Clair 6, Gustin 6, Jenkins 6, Chambers 6). Fouled out: Larsen, Gustin, Jenkins. Total fouls: Raritan Valley 18, Salem 22.
Women’s team has tough time at No. 4 Union, men get back on winning track at Thaddeus Stevens
By Riverview Sports News
CRANFORD – The Salem Community College women’s basketball team returned to the floor after an 11-day Thanksgiving break and faced one of the toughest games on its schedule.
The Mighty Oaks went into Union College’s small gym and lost to the fourth-ranked Owls 105-45.
It was the third time this year Union (9-0) had broken the 100-point mark and sixth time it scored at least 95. The Owls went into the game ranked fourth in JUCO Division II in scoring, fifth in rebounding and second in steals.
Two of Salem’s three losses have come to teams ranked in the D-II top 10.
Union’s Saran Camara led all scorers with 25 points. Akira Chambers led Salem (3-3) with 13 points.
“I thought we played well in stretches in the first half,” Salem coach Brian Marsh said. “I played a quicker lineup to start the game and I think that helped.
“It took a little while to get settled. It’s a very difficult place to play against a very good team.”
The Mighty Oaks will look to snap their three-game losing streak Saturday at home against Raritan Valley CC.
3-point goals: Salem 3-16 (Jackson 1-3, St. Clair 0-4, Jenkins 0-1, Tjaden 2-6, Laurence 0-1, Chambers 0-1); Union 7-32 (Brightwell 0-1, Bynum Johnson 1-7, Ogunwolere 0-1, J. Smith 0-1, Tillmon 0-2, Fulton 2-3, Camara 3-5, Urena Rojas 0-1, Edwards 0-1, Walker 1-3, C. Smith 0-2, Brown 0-1, Williams 0-3). Technical fouls: Marsh.. Fouled out: Salem 19, Union 17.
Men back in win column
LANCASTER – The Salem CC men hadn’t played since Nov. 26, but they beat Thaddeus Stevens Tech on the road to get back on the winning track.
“We hadn’t practiced but once (over the break), so we were a bit winded, but we fought,” Mighty Oaks coach Mike Green said.
Salem (7-2) returns to the court Saturday at home against Bergen CC.
Salem CC men hit the road for first time this season, lose six-point lead late in regulation, then the game in overtime; updated with full box score
By Riverview Sports News
BLACKWOOD – The Salem CC men’s basketball team hit the road for the first time this season Tuesday night and did a lot of things right, but in the end lost to Camden County College 102-93 in overtime to end a four-game winning streak.
On the positive side, the Mighty Oaks (6-2) had one of their better shooting nights of the season – both from the field and behind the arc – had a six-point lead in the final 1:30 of regulation and had the shot they wanted at the end.
But in the end, they didn’t follow the game plan in overtime and missed too many free throws in crucial situations.
“I think we handled it fairly well, except for when we didn’t,” Oaks coach Mike Green said. “The guys shot it better, the ball moved some. I think had too big of a lapse when it’s time to win the game.”
The Oaks shot 30-of-72 from the floor and were a season-best 13-of-28 from 3-point range. They were 20-of-29 from the free throw line.
They placed four scorers in double figures. Xavier Brewington continued his hot streak, scoring a career-high 22 points along with seven rebounds and seven assists. He was 8-of-12 from the floor, 4-of-8 from 3-point range. The freshman from Dover is averaging 18.3 points, 6.8 rebounds and 4.5 assists over his last four games..
“Some other guys played well (too),” Green said, “but he’s pushing us in the right direction. He’s playing really good basketball right now.”
Tyrese Fortune had 16 points, Niame Scott 14 and Stefan Phillips 11. Josh Ramos had nine – all from 3-point range. Phillips was 7-of-8 from the free throw line and is now 21-of-23 there for the season. Fortune had eight rebounds and Phillips had six.
The game was tied at 87 with nine seconds left in regulation. Scott had a layup at the buzzer to win it, but the shot didn’t fall. In overtime it was all Camden (5-2).
“We didn’t follow the scouting report,” Green said. “The scouting report is simple for those guys. We didn’t follow it all game and it came back to bite us in the butt.”
The Oaks don’t play again until they visit Thaddeius Stevens on Dec. 3. After playing eight games in 17 days, Green is giving the players off from basketball through the weekend so they can focus on academics.
Camden CC 102, Salem CC 93 (OT)
SALEM CC (6-2) – Xavier Brewington 8-12 2-4 22, Tyrese Fortune 6-15 2-3 16, Niame Scott 4-10 4-6 14, Stefan Phillips 2-3 7-8 11, Josh Ramos 3-8 0-2 9, A.J. Jones 3-6 1-2 8, Tyrone Tolson 3-7 0-0 7, Rodney Shelton 1-7 2-2 6, Shyheed Taylor 0-1 2-2 2, Tivon Woolford 0-1 0-0 0, Julien Jones 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 30-72 20-29 93. CAMDEN CC (5-2) – Tyson Shaw 4-10 5-8 13, Demere Hollingsworth 7-11 3-4 19, Mikey Campbell 7-12 0-0 14, Elijah Hightower 11-16 3-4 25, Jacquez Williams 3-5 3-3 11, Christian Barksdale 1-1 0-0 2, Noah Allen 2-3 0-0 4, Charlie LeBarre 0-0 0-0 0, Davit Geleshvilli 2-4 0-0 4, Cam Rembert 4-4 0-0 8, Titus Blalock 0-4 2-3 3, Matt Dicristo 0-3 0-0 0. Totals 41-73 16-22 102.
Salem CC
46
41
6-
93
Camden CC
41
46
15-
102
3-point goals: Salem CC 13-28 (Brewington 4-8, Fortune 2-2, Scott 2-4, Ramos 3-8, A. Jones 1-2, Tolson 1-2, Woolford 0-1, J. Jones 0-1); Camden CC 4-12 (Hollingsworth 2-5, Williams 2-2, Gelashvilli 0-1, Blalock 0-4). Rebounds: Salem CC 32 (Brewington 7, Fortune 8); Camden CC 35 (Hollingsworth 8, Hightower 6. Technical fouls: Hightower. Fouled out: Fortune. Total fouls: Salem CC 16, Camden CC 23.
Riverview Sports News 