Salem CC women’s basketball program looking for new coach after Marsh resigns after three seasons, tumultuous 2025-26
By Al Muskewitz Riverview Sports News
CARNEYS POINT – Brian Marsh has resigned as Salem Community College’s women’s basketball coach after three seasons and a tumultuous 2025-26 campaign. He will remain as the assistant director of financial aid for the college.
MARSH
Marsh came into the program as an assistant coach and recruiter when the school brought the program back for the 2023-24 season and was handed the team that August when the original coach left before the Mighty Oaks played their first game.
He had a 23-43 record, with a high-water mark of 11 wins last season.
“It was a very difficult decision,” he said. “I’ve been very committed to this program to get thing up and running … it just became two full-time jobs. My coaching’s supposed to be a part-time job and I was doing 60-70 hours a week for the past couple years.
“With recruiting and getting this program started and everything that’s going on it just became very difficult. Obviously, with it being a very frustrating year this year … I just figured it was time to kind of move on and enjoy life. Everything that happened in my life this year (including the loss of his mother and brother) I just thought maybe it was a good time to kind of move this thing on … There’s a quote I saw that sort of goes here: Even lions get tired.”
The athletics department will begin a national search immediately for Marsh’s successor, but there is no timetable on naming his replacement. The job should have some appeal. The college recently added football and volleyball to increase its visibility. Marsh said he had 22 applicants in his most recent search for an assistant coach.
“We’re very grateful for the time and the commitment that Coach Marsh gave to the Salem Community College’s women’s basketball program,” athletics director Bob Hughes said. “His passion and commitment to the young women here was truly remarkable.”
This year’s team went 3-17 and suspended the season with three games left following the arrest of four players that left it without enough player to field a competitive team. They only had eight available players as it was.
The season also was impacted by the postponement of three midseason games when injuries cut into the roster and other off-court issues.
“We strive to create a great student-athlete experience for every student-athlete in every program here at SCC,” Hughes said. “Clearly we fell short of that having to end the season early and we’ll work to make sure the team is given every opportunity to complete the seasons moving forward.”
Even as the turmoil churned, Marsh, 54, always expressed hope he would be coaching the team next season and was actively recruiting locally for it.
“It was a frustrating season,” Marsh said. “Coach Kia (trainer Kiarrah Johnson) did an excellent job of keeping our girls healthy, but when you have eight girls and we just couldn’t keep them healthy it was a balancing act.
“I give my team a lot of credit. My players fought hard and they wanted to finish this thing like I did, and I gave them a lot of credit for that. We easily could have packed it in, there were teams that packed it in in January, but we kept fighting and kept fighting. Obviously at the end we just didn’t have enough players and it was very disappointing.
“It was just a very frustrating year on that end. You try to keep fighting and fighting, eventually it gets to a point where you don’t want to put your players in danger or get them out there playing 40 minutes so they even get more injured. It was one of the those things that unfortunately was out of my hands, the circumstances. The players played hard every game. We could have had a much different season had we been healthy.”
Salem CC baseball opens its season with doubleheader sweep at Bryant & Stratton (Va.); LeBold has homer, 6 RBIs in opener, String homers in nightcap
By Al Muskewitz Riverview Sports News
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – Apparently, not having been outside to practice all winter didn’t affect the Salem CC baseball team much.
LEBOLD
The Mighty Oaks, stuck inside since the biggest snowstorm in a decade three weeks ago still had the area looking like the frozen tundra, opened their season Monday with a 10-6, 6-2 sweep of Bryant & Stratton, a team that has already played 11 games. Both wins were come-from-behind affairs.
It marked their first doubleheader sweep to open the season since the revival of the program, their first Opening Day win since 2023 and their third Opening Day win since 2020.
The Mighty Oaks had concerns about not being outside, but coach John Holt reminded them they have played the game before and to keep things as simple as possible once they did get on the field.
“They’ve caught a thousand ground balls and a thousand fly balls in their lifetime and all I’m looking for is them to just keep routine routine,” Holt said before the trip.
The hitters didn’t have a problem. Sophomore outfielder Jason LeBold had a big day. He had seven RBIs in the doubleheader and had the go-ahead RBI in both games.
He drove in six in the opener. He hit a three-run go-ahead homer in the second inning after the Bobcats dropped an inning-ending third strike the batter before, hit a two-run single in the fourth and drove in a run with an infield out in the sixth. In the nightcap, he broke a 2-2 tie in the fourth with an RBI double.
Former Woodstown standout Rocco String made his first college hit a big one, launching a three-run homer in seventh inning of the nightcap.
Tyler Hacker had two doubles and an RBI in the opener and two singles and an RBI in the nightcap. He also closed out the opener on the mound with a game-ending double play. Actually, the Mighty Oaks ended both games with a double play.
The Mighty Oaks are off now until Feb. 27 when they open Region 19 play at home against Ocean. Perhaps by then the snow will be gone.
Here is the Salem County sports schedule for the week of Feb. 15-22
SUNDAY, FEB. 15 INDOOR TRACK South Jersey Group I Sectionals at Bennett Complex, 9 a.m.
MONDAY, FEB. 16 WRESTLING Cedar Creek at Salem, 10 a.m. NJSIAA Team Tournament At Paulsboro Buena vs. Paulsboro, 5:30 p.m. Pennsville vs. Schalick, 5:30 p.m. Winners to follow At Audubon Haddon Twp. vs. Woodstown, 5 p.m. Maple Shade vs. Audubon, 5 p.m. Winners to follow COLLEGE BASEBALL Salem CC at Bryant & Stratton (Va.)
TUESDAY, FEB. 17 BOYS BASKETBALL TCC Tournament Championship Bracket Timber Creek at Kingsway Deptford at Overbrook Cumberland at Delsea Williamstown at Salem, 5 p.m. Consolation game Woodstown at Penns Grove, 5:30 p.m. Postseason Bracket Clayton at GCIT Glassboro at Triton Wildwood at Pitman Highland at Washington Twp. GIRLS BASKETBALL TCC Tournament Championship Bracket Delsea at Gloucester Catholic Clearview at Timber Creek Kingsway at Glassboro Washington Twp. at Wildwood Consolation game Woodstown at Triton, 5:30 p.m. Postseason Bracket Pitman at Schalick Salem at Williamstown Clayton at GCIT Penns Grove at Deptford
WEDNESDAY, FEB. 18 WRESTLING Pennsville at Pennsauken, 6 p.m. Team Sectional Finals BOYS BOWLING South Jersey Group I Tournament Salem vs. Doane Academy, Wood Lanes, 3 p.m. Asbury Park at Camden Catholic
THURSDAY, FEB. 19 BOYS BASKETBALL TCC Tournament Championship Bracket Timber Creek-Kingsway vs. Deptford-Overbrook Cumberland-Delsea vs. Williamstown-Salem Postseason Bracket Clayton-GCIT vs. Glassboro-Triton Wildwood-Pitman vs. Highland/Washington Twp. GIRLS BASKETBALL TCC Tournament Championship Bracket Delsea-Gloucester Catholic vs. Clearview-Timber Creek Kingsway-Glassboro vs. Washington Twp.-Wildwood Postseason Bracket Pitman-Schalick vs. Salem-Williamstown Clayton-GCIT vs. Penns Grove-Deptford Consolation game Cumberland at Pennsville, 4 p.m. WRESTLING Salem at New Egypt, 5 p.m.
FRIDAY, FEB. 20 BOYS BASKETBALL Camden County Tech at Salem Tech, 5:30 p.m. GIRLS BASKETBALL Medford Tech at Salem Tech, 4 p.m. WRESTLING St. Joseph (Hamm.) at Salem, 5 p.m. Penns Grove at Cherry Hill West, 6 p.m. State Team Semifinals
SATURDAY, FEB. 21 BOYS BASKETBALL TCC Championship, Washington Twp., 11 a.m. GIRLS BASKETBALL TCC Championship, Washington Twp., 1 p.m. BOYS BOWLING South Jersey Group I Championship WRESTLING Pennsville, Ewing at Pt. Pleasant Beach, 10 a.m.
SUNDAY, FEB. 22 TRACK NJSIAA Group Championships, Bennett Center, 9 a.m.
Sophomores rule the day as No. 3 Mighty Oaks wrap up regular season with 104-69 win over Sussex, await Region 19 tournament seedings, but should get Ocean-Philadelphia winner
By Al Muskewitz Riverview Sports News
CARNEYS POINT — There’s never been a game Stef Phillips wanted to make it back for more in his entire career than Saturday’s regular-season finale.
The Salem CC forward has been out with a sore knee the last three games and tried all the rehab humanly possible to make sure he was back for Sophomore Day.
Not only did he return for the festivities, he came back in a big way, posting his second career double-double to help the Mighty Oaks crush Sussex 104-69 to complete an historic regular season that saw them ranked No. 1 for six weeks and claim the overall No. 1 seed in Region 19.
He scored a career-high 15 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in 21 minutes. It was his first double-double since the second game of last season.
“After I hurt my knee it was like in the air if I would play or I wouldn’t,” Phillips said. “I made sure I came to rehab every day with the mindset of me getting back, not for this game particular but any game, playoffs or anything.
“Yesterday at practice I felt great. I felt like myself. I woke up this morning happy. I knew for sure I was playing and I played my heart out, too.”
It was a good day for three sophomores, who are guaranteed one more game in Dupont Fieldhouse as a semifinal host in their region tournament bracket. Crowd favorite Mike Goodwin, a Penns Grove native who coach Mike Green called “the ultimate team guy,” earned the first start of his college career and had career highs in points (five) and rebounds (10). Nayeem Johnson scored a game-high 18 points on 7-of-8 shooting in 15 minutes off the bench.
“The sophomores played really well; they combined for some heavy power,” Green said. “It’s good the sophomores go out with a bang.”
Phillips was active from the start. He scored the first basket of the game on an aggressive putback of a Goodwin miss and had another putback a few minutes later. He scored six of the Mighty Oaks’ first 13 points and had 11 points and nine rebounds at halftime.
“We challenged him to go out there and rebound,” Green said. “He can score the ball . We tried to get him to go out and rebound and he had nine in the first half. He was supposed to be on minutes restriction, but he was playing so well I kind of forgot about it. He gave us what we need.”
Goodwin’s start wasn’t just a token gesture, a tradition to reward time served and out at the first dead ball. He played the first five minutes before giving way to leading scorer Jarrell Little, but that wasn’t the end of his day.
He played a career-high 15 minutes, much to the delight of the student section that began calling him back with eight minutes left in the game. His teammates were working to get him in the scoring column and everyone in the building let out a roar when he finally got one to fall with 4:08 left. It was such an exhilarating experience he followed it with a layup-and-one on the next possession.
He might have even gotten a double-double if he were a little sharper around the basket.
“I never thought I’d start,” he said. “I just thought to be ready whenever my name is called and just perform when it is. But it definitely felt good. You hustle, you work, it felt like all the work, it paid off to finally start.
“I was definitely in my head the first couple shots. I wasn’t finishing through contact and I was a little discouraged, but I tried to pick myself up at halftime. I’ve just got to learn to keep working through it.”
He wasn’t in the game to lead the Mighty Oaks in scoring. His greatest asset is as a rebounder.
“I may not be the best scorer, but I know to hustle and try to get ball off the rim,” he said. “That’s one of my strong suits. I’m going to keep on grabbing the boards.”
Every player who got in the game for the Mighty Oaks scored and seven finished in double figures. All but one grabbed at least one rebound.
They wrapped up the regular season 29-1 and will be one of the No. 1 seeds when Region 19 seeds the two region/district tournament next week. They are projected to face the winner of the play-in game between Ocean and Philadelphia) in their home tournament opener, which will be the sophomores’ final home game.
The Skylanders (8-21) made it hard on Salem early. It was 26-24 when Qua Smith, Nasseem Wright and Phillips returned to the game after a Sussex timeout with 7:37 left in the half. Over the next five minutes the Mighty Oaks outscored the visitors 19-5 to take control of the game.
Phillips had a 3-pointer and another putback in the run.
“Just wearing guys down … and the results show,” Green said. “Sometimes it takes a whole half and it has been lately.”
SCATTERED ACORNS: It was the 13th time this year the Mighty Oaks have hit 100 and the fourth time they have had seven scorers in double figures … They are 14-0 at home this year and have a 21-game home winning streak … They rank first in JUCO Division III in total points, third in scoring average. They’re also first in field goal percentage and assists per game.
SALEM CC 104, SUSSEX 69 SUSSEX (8-21): Nico Sosa 9-22 1-1 20, Isaiah Bivens 3-7 4-4 12, DJ Baker 2-6 2-3 6, Elijah Geary 3-5 1-2 7, Ryan Geene 5-10 4-4 16, Liam DeLorenzi 0-5 0-0 0, Liam Dunn 3-9 0-0 8. Totals 25-64 12-14 69. SALEM CC: Saaid Lee 5-9 2-2 13, Zyaire Gibson 4-9 0-0 10, Nasseem Wright 7-8 0-0 15, Stefan Phillips 7-11 0-0 15, Mike Goodwin 2-8 1-1 5, Jahseir Sayles 2-8 0-0 4, Jarrell Little 1-7 1-2 3, Qua Smith 4-5 2-2 10, Nayeem Johnson 7-8 2-2 18, Idris Rines 5-10 0-0 11. Totals 44-83 8-9 104.
Sussex
32
37-
69
Salem CC
47
57-
104
3-point goals: Sussex 7-20 (Sosa 1-3, Bivens 2-4, Geene 2-4, DeLorenzi 0-3, Dunn 2-6); Salem CC 8-26 (Lee 1-2, Gibson 2-6, Wright 1-1, Phillips 1-3, Sayles 0-5, Little 0-4, Johnson 2-2, Rines 1-3). Rebounds: Sussex 26 (Bivens 7, DeLorenzi 5); Salem CC 49 (Phillips 10, Goodwin 10, Smith 7). Total fouls: Sussex 8, Salem CC 13.
Salem CC’s three sophomores (L-R) Mike Goodwin, Stefan Phillips and Nayeem Johnson combined for 48 points and 23 rebounds on Sophomore Day.
Region XIX Standings
DIVISION III
R19
ALL
GSAC
x-SALEM CC (3)
16-1
29-1
21-1
x-Northampton (8)
15-2
23-4
x-Montgomery (9)
14-3
19-4
x-Brookdale (RV)
14-3
19-9
13-6
x-Union (13)
12-5
21-8
13-4
x-Camden
12-5
17-11
12-9
x-Bergen
10-7
15-12
15-11
x-Ocean
10-7
15-12
10-10
Atlantic Cape
8-9
12-15
9-9
Thaddeus Stevens
7-10
12-14
RCSJ-Cumberland
7-10
10-17
8-12
RCSJ-Gloucester
6-11
10-20
4-16
Harrisburg Area
6-11
7-17
x-Philadelphia
5-11
13-12
Delaware County
3-14
5-21
Passaic
3-14
5-23
4-16
Sussex
2-14
8-22
4-14
Luzerne
2-15
5-22
Number in parenthesis is JUCO Division III national ranking; games left in italic are region counters; x-clinched playoff berth
SATURDAY’S GAMES Salem CC 104, Sussex 69 Union 69, Brookdale 45 Harrisburg Area 78, Atlantic Cape 75 Northampton 77, Camden 62 Montgomery 89, RCSJ-Gloucester 76 Ocean 111, Luzerne 95 Morris 68, Raritan Valley 66 Lackawanna 79, Delaware Tech 61 Passaic 76, Philadelphia 65 Harcum 64, Mercer 62 Thaddeus Stevens 85, RCSJ-Cumberland 78 Middlesex 90, Ulster 56
PROJECTED REGION 19 SEEDS 1. Salem CC, 2. Northampton, 3. Brookdale, 4. Montgomery, 5. Camden, 6. Union, 7. Bergen, 8. Ocean, 9. Philadelphia
PROJECTED MATCHUPS North Atlantic A Ocean-Philadelphia winner vs. Salem Camden at Montgomery North Atlantic B Union at Brookdale Bergen at Northampton Winners advance to finals at Northampton
No. 3 Mighty Oaks beat Camden to clinch best record in Region 19, basically clinching top seed in region/district Division III tournament, seeding Feb. 19
By Al Muskewitz Riverview Sports News
CARNEYS POINT — The Salem CC basketball team reached another major milestone in an already historic season Thursday night when it put together another big second half and pulled away from Camden 76-48.
The official line is the third-ranked Mighty Oaks (28-1) simply clinched the best record in Region 19 Division III with their sixth straight win. Yeah, try selling that to them.
In their mind, they clinched the No. 1 seed in the league, one of two No. 1s in the upcoming Region 19/North Atlantic District Tournament.
“It’s a representation of all the work we’ve been putting in to this point,” freshman Nasseem Wright said. “We’re a new group of guys, we all trust in playing together. It’s just cool to see all the hard work that we’re putting in is paying off. Still more to gp though.”
It’s hard to argue the logic. The Mighty Oaks are 15-1 in Region 19 with one game remaining. In the unlikely event they lose Saturday’s regular-season finale against Sussex (8-21) and Northampton beats Camden to create a 15-2 tie at the top of the standings, the Mighty Oaks beat Northampton head-to-head, which should give them the advantage in any tiebreaker.
Region 19 basketball chairman Jack Sullivan, the athletics director at Morris, said Thursday the tournament field will be seeded based on the standings. It will be seeded Feb. 19.
Before Thursday’s games there were 10 teams in the mix that would be split into two separate five-team brackets (North Atlantic A & B) for the region’s two automatic berths in the national tournament in Herkimer, N.Y. Teams must be .500 or better either overall or in region play to qualify.
That’s what makes grabbing the No. 1 so appealing.
“We aren’t the only ones having a good year, so it’s good to clinch it,” Green said. “Matchups matter. Those 8-9-10 teams, Bergen, Atlantic Cape, they’re nothing to play with. We know this league is dangerous.”
There’s a strong belief that even if the Mighty Oaks stumble on the way out they’ll still get an at-large bid to the nationals.
What have they done so far? Won the GSAC. Check. Surpassed last year’s win total. Check. Clinched the top seed. Check.
“I want to go 3 for 3,” leading scorer Jarrell Little said. “Conference, Region 19 and national championship.”
They started out Thursday as if they were going to have an easy time with the Cougars (17-10), who traditionally have been anything but easy for them. They jumped out 14-0 in the first four minutes and later 19-7 on a 3-pointer by Saaid Lee, but then went flat and didn’t hit another field goal until another Lee 3-pointer with 4:57 left in the half and had to hold on for a 28-25 halftime lead.
“There’s no way you score 14 points in four minutes and then 14 points in 16 minutes; that’s just not us, man,” Green said. “We guarded. They only had 25 (at halftime). We just didn’t do the right things offensively.”
“I think we just got too selfish and complacent,” Lee said. “We just had to get back to what we do, playing our brand of basketball, sharing the ball, playing hard, playing fast.”
After Green “kind of straightened them out” at halftime with what Lee called “a conversation,” they got with the program.
The scored nearly twice as many points than they did in the first half and shot 53 percent from the floor. After not scoring at all in the first half, they bench gave them 13 points in the second. And they continued to play solid defense, holding the Cougars to 28 percent shooting and 23 points.
They went back up by eight at the start of the second half, but the Cougars cut it back to 37-34 with 16:23 to play. At that point the Mighty Oaks came back to life and returned to the form that had gotten them where they are today.
Wright, held to five points in the first half, scored 13 of their first 18 points of the second half, including a thunderous run-out dunk off a Little blocked shot that made it 46-34 with 11:38 to play. Six minutes later they were up 19.
Lee hit back-to-back 3-pointers from the right corner to make it 60-41 with 5:30 left. Wright and Lee scored 20 points apiece. Little had 16. Idris Rines grabbed 12 rebounds.
“First half I was gassed, I’m not gonna lie,” Lee said. “A lot of teams in the league don’t really work as hard as us and do as much as we do, so when we’re tired we always tell each other if we’re tired they gotta be dead, so just keep pushing through, keep fighting through the adversity.”
NOTES: The 48 points by Camden were the fewest allowed by the Mighty Oaks in Green’s 81 games as head coach … With his 16 points, Little surpassed 500 for the season and is now 26th on SCC’s all-time scoring list. Wright moved to within eight of the milestone … Saturday’s regular-season finale is Sophomore Day. “Maybe we’ll let the sophomores coach since they’ve got all the answers,” Green said . “Let Mike (Goodwin) coach. Let Nayeem (Johnson). Let Stef (Phillips) coach. It’s a celebration for them, hopefully we do something nice for them and send those guys out the right way” … Phillips expects to be back in uniform Saturday after missing the last three games with a sore knee … Never let it be said that Green doesn’t give the people what they want. With 2:38 to go the student section called for Green to put Goodwin in the game. The coach sent him in 1:43 left and the sophomore stayed in until the end. “Kid works hard every day in practice, he’s improved a ton, so he deserved the opportunity. Every chance we get ,we’re going to put him out there.”
SALEM CC 76, CAMDEN 48 CAMDEN (17-10): Kai Gatson 3-12 0-0 7, Ben McGonigle 0-3 0-0 0, ZhaMere Crawford 2-11 0-0 4, Christian Durham 3-6 0-1 8, Istavan Norwood 6-12 4-5 16, Stephen Robinson 2-3 0-0 4, Anthony Edwardi 1-3 0-0 2, Kevin Satchell 1-8 1-2 3, Sami Singletary 1-4 1-4 4. Totals 19-62 6-12 48. SALEM CC (28-1): Jarrell Little 4-6 5-6 16, Saaid Lee 8-15 0-0 20, Zyaire Gibson 2-8 0-0 5, Nasseem Wright 8-12 4-5 20, Idris Rines 1-6 0-1 2, Jahseir Sayles 1-5 0-0 2, Qua Smith 2-2 0-0 2, Nayeem Johnson 3-9 1-2 7, Mike Goodwin 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 29-64 10-14 76.
Camden
25
23-
48
Salem CC
28
48-
76
3-point goals: Camden 4-16 (Gatson 1-6, McGonigle 0-1, Crawford 0-1, Durham 2-3, Robinson 0-1, Edwardi 0-1, Satchell 0-2, Singletary 1-1); Salem CC 8-22 (Little 3-3, Lee 4-5, Gibson 1-7, Rines 0-3, Sayles 0-3, Johnson 0-1). Rebounds: Camden 37 (Norwood 9, Crawford 8). Salem CC 42 (Rines 12, Smith 8). Fouled out: Rines. Total fouls: Camden 12, Salem CC 13.
Region XIX Standings
DIVISION III
R19
ALL
GSAC
GAMES LEFT
x-SALEM CC (3)
15-1
28-1
20-1
Sus, Sat
x-Northampton (8)
14-2
22-4
Cam, Sat; TS, Tu
x-Brookdale (RV)
14-3
19-8
13-5
Union, Sat; Sus, Tu
x-Montgomery (9)
13-3
18-4
RC-G, Sat
x-Camden
12-4
17-10
12-9
NH, Sat; Mercer, Tu
x-Union (13)
12-5
20-8
11-4
Brk, Sat; RC-C, Tu
x-Bergen
10-7
15-12
15-11
x-Ocean
9-7
14-12
10-10
Luz, Sat
Atlantic Cape
8-8
12-14
9-9
HACC, Sat; Pas, Tu
RCSJ-Cumberland
7-9
10-16
8-12
x-Philadelphia
6-10
13-11
Pas, Sat; Sus, Wed
RCSJ-Gloucester
6-10
10-19
4-16
Thaddeus Stevens
5-10
10-14
Harrisburg Area
5-10
6-16
Delaware County
3-14
5-20
Sussex
2-13
8-21
4-13
Passaic
2-14
4-23
3-15
Luzerne
1-14
4-21
Number in parenthesis is JUCO Division III national ranking; games left in italic are region counters; x-clinched playoff berth
THURSDAY’S GAMES Salem CC 76, Camden 48 Misericordia at Harcum Montgomery 81, Northampton 61 Frederick 92, Delaware Tech 85 Manhattan CC at Bergen Brookdale 87, Ocean 69 Union 83, Passaic 79 Philadelphia 81, Delaware County 58 Lackawanna 82, Raritan Valley 68 Bergen 80, Atlantic Cape 66 Harrisburg Area at Thaddeus Stevens RCSJ-Cumberland 84, RCSJ-Gloucester 79 FRIDAY’S GAME Delaware County at Luzerne SATURDAY’S GAMES Sussex at Salem CC Passaic vs. Finger Lakes Union at Brookdale Atlantic Cape at Harrisburg Area RCSJ-Cumberland at Thaddeus Stevens Northampton at Camden RCSJ-Gloucester at Montgomery Ocean at Luzerne Raritan Valley at Morris Passaic at Roxbury Lackawanna at Delaware Tech Ulster at Middlesex Philadelphia at Passaic Harcum at Mercer
UPDATED: Salem CC baseball facing final prep for Monday’s season opener without ever having gotten out on the field
By Al Muskewitz Riverview Sports News
CARNEYS POINT – John Holt was talking with Bryant & Stratton coach Paul Bottigliero the other day about their Opening Day doubleheader in balmy (compared to here) Virginia Beach when the conversation turned to the most pressing issue of the preseason.
Holt was lamenting “without a doubt the worst” preseason weather woes he’s seen in 30 years of coaching when the Bobcats’ coach dropped the biggest truth bomb.
“He said it’s just God reminding us that baseball needs to be played during baseball season,” Holt said.
The winter has been particularly harsh on Holt’s Salem CC ballclub. The Mighty Oaks open their season Monday before jumping right into demanding Region 19 play 10 days later with the real possibility of playing their first game without having gotten outside to practice. The Bobcats, meanwhile, will have 11 games in by the time they play Salem.
All you have to do is look out the window to see the problem. The remnants of the biggest snowstorm in a decade two weeks ago are still covering the ground. The roads are clear, but grassy surfaces remain blanketed by the white stuff.
“It’s gonna be tough to get on a baseball field somewhere,” Holt said. “If anything I think we’re gonna look maybe to at least get some work outside in a parking lot or something along those lines.”
They tried to get outside Monday, renting space at the artificial-turfed MSI Sports Complex in Upper Chichester – where they moved last year’s season opener – but work crews hadn’t finished plowing the grounds and the Mighty Oaks had to cancel the session. They’ve even set up a full field behind the snack stand at the Carneys Point Rec Complex where they play, and it dries well back Holt says, but it still has to.
“The last couple years we’ve been fortunate enough to run into 40-, 50-degree days in January and we were able to get outside on those,” Holt said. “In 30 years of doing this, this is without a doubt the worst weather ever to where it’s snowed two weeks ago and we still have that snow on the ground. It’s not supposed to happen.”
They’ve been doing live drills in the fieldhouse with pitchers and hitters, but it’s the fielders who suffer the most. No ground balls on the infield or timing on double plays and no fly-ball reads for the outfielders.
“I’ve talked to the guys and they’re stressing pretty hard about it,” Holt said. “They’ve caught a thousand ground balls and a thousand fly balls in their lifetime and all I’m looking for is them to just keep routine routine.
“We do kind of preach that throughout the entire year, but if we can just keep the routine plays routine … I’m going to expect mistakes and we’re going to expect our defense to maybe be where I think it should be, but I do think as a whole we’re a better defensive team than what we were last year so I’m not worried, but then against doing walk-throughs in the gym doesn’t exactly give you what you need for outside.”
First baseman-pitcher Tyler Hacker said the biggest hurdle to playing without being outside is “getting the feel again.”
“We have our fall season, it’s all outside, and when we come back for spring we expect to be playing outside and get true hops and all that kind of stuff,” he said. “It’s difficult to kind of feel that you’re playing your sport outside free, so it’s definitely more of a mind game than a physical thing and I’d say we’ve adjusted well. We’ve done everything we can do to be inside and we learned how to adapt, as we should.
“There’s obviously going to be some roughs, as there is for every first game, just a different kind. We’ve done live ABs, but we haven’t fielded the live ABs in a while, so I think it’ll be a little rough through there, but it shouldn’t take long.”
For one of the newest Mighty Oaks players, this snow business is a play out of left field. Outfielder Cliff Wysinger is a redshirt freshman from McDonough, Ga., who transferred from Auburn-Montgomery and said what the Mighty Oaks are experiencing is “very different” for him. He said his biggest adjustment to not having been outside is gauging whatever wind they’ll encounter on the trip.
“It’s definitely a concern, but I do think we are ready to play,” he said. “I really don’t have any concern. Coach Holt made a good statement saying we’ve done it a thousand times before, what’s one more time. I think we’re prepared as a team. I think we’ll put up some really good runs as an offense. As a defense, we’ll have our mistakes or whatever, but as long as it’s not big mistakes I think we’ll be good.
“It’s definitely a first time for me. We’re usually on the field by now. It’s very different not being outside and I’m hearing this is like one of the worst winters. It’s definitely different for everybody, but we all played the game. We just got to go out there and compete.”
The weather woes aside, it’s still a little early for Holt to commit to an Opening Day lineup and a pitching rotation for the doubleheader is still “up in the air.” Fortunately, he has a lot of options in both areas.
“I’ve got a lot of good problems this year and one of the main purposes of the Bryant & Stratton series is to give those guys the opportunity to prove who’s going to be that nine,” Holt said. “For me it’s let’s see what we get in these two games and give guys opportunities.
“I would have liked to have had a couple more non-conference (games) before we jump into Ocean, a must-win situation, but I think they’ll have enough opportunity with Bryant Stratton to kind of reassure me what I’m thinking, but I’m going to use (the doubleheader) to figure out who those nine are going to be.”
Salem CC women end their basketball season following the arrest of four players in Pennsville over the weekend
By Al Muskewitz Riverview Sports News
CARNEYS POINT — The Salem Community College women’s basketball program has suspended the remainder of its 2025-26 season following the weekend arrest of four players that athletics department officials say will prevent it from fielding a competitive team.
The players – Raynesecia Q. King, 19; Paula E. Wilson, 19; Tanijya M. Shaw, 18; and Jayda L. Hunter, 19 – were arrested at the Pennsville Walmart Feb. 6 and all charged with concealing merchandise from the store without intent to pay. All listed a Pennsville address as their place of residence although all have out-of-state hometowns on the team roster.
All four had a bail hearing in the Carneys Point/Pennsville Joint Municipal Court and were released on summons.
School officials confirmed the decision to suspend the season after informing all the remaining teams on the schedule. The Mighty Oaks had three games remaining after postponing Tuesday’s game with Morris Club.
Initially, SCC athletics director Bob Hughes confirmed Saturday’s postponement with Middlesex, the first game after the incident, citing only “a personnel issue” that was “player related,” but declined to give details, and Tuesday’s game was removed from the team’s athletic department website.
“I can tell you officially that Salem has decided to discontinue the rest of our women’s basketball season,” Hughes said Monday. “We do not have enough players to field a competitive team at this time.”
Hughes continued to decline comment on the particulars of the weekend issue, citing student privacy concerns. Pennsville police provided the arrest records in response to an Open Public Records request by Riverview Sports News.
Mighty Oaks coach Brian Marsh said Saturday the program was working to reschedule the game, but Hughes said any decision to continue the season wouldn’t be entertained until Monday at the earliest. A despondent sounding Marsh Monday deferred any comment on the season suspension to Hughes.
The Salem women are 3-17 in a season filled with drama and had three games left at the time of the suspension. They had eight healthy players available and are rostered for nine.
”We could not have fielded a competitive team,” Hughes said.
All four players were starters. Shaw, a freshman guard from Arlington, Texas, was their best player statistically, averaging a team-leading 17.6 ppg, 4.7 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 2.7 steals. Hunter, a freshman post who lists Allentown, Pa., as her hometown on the team webpage, was their second-leading rebounder (7.7) while averaging 3.6 ppg. Wilson, a freshman forward from El Paso, averaged 5.7 ppg, 3.6 rpg and had a team-leading 17 blocked shots. King, a sophomore guard from Dallas who also played softball last spring, averaged 5.1 ppg, 3.5 rpg and 2.2 steals.
It wasn’t immediately known if the Mighty Oaks would absorb forfeit for the three remaining games or simply end the year 3-17.
The team has had problems this year. Injuries forced them to reschedule three games earlier this season and sources have said there have been other incidents off the floor.As much a team officials have maintained during the adversity they were committed to playing out the season, this situation was one that was too severe to survive.
”I feel sorry for taking away opportunity for competition from any student-athlete,” Hughes said.
Down 2 starters, third-ranked Salem CC weathers storm, beats No. 13 Union, surpasses last year’s win total
By Al Muskewitz Riverview Sports News
CARNEYS POINT — All year long Salem CC basketball coach Mike Green has been saying his team has a scorebook full of players who not only could start for every other team in Region 19 but be a big piece in their plans. The Mighty Oaks put that theory to the test Tuesday night and delivered on it in a big way.
Down two starters, including their recognized energy guy, the Mighty Oaks weathered the storm and beat No. 13 Union for the second time this season, 96-75.
It was their 27th win of the season, giving them more wins than they had in last year’s historic national tournament season. At 14-1 in Region 19, they hold a one-game lead in the loss column atop the region’s Division III standings and a two-game lead in the loss column on presumably one of the two No. 1 seeds in the region/district tournament.
The Mighty Oaks (27-1) went into what shaped up as one of their sternest tests of the late season without injured sophomore post Stef Phillips (knee) and freshman vocal leader Nasseem Wright (suspended by region rule for picking up a third technical foul in the last game). But their replacements, Idris Rines and Qua Smith, combined for 25 points, 22 rebounds, six assists and four blocked shots.
Smith, making his first college start, didn’t give the Mighty Oaks the scoring they would have gotten from Wright, but he did all the other things. He grabbed 16 rebounds, dealt four assists, blocked three shots and caught the eye of the NCAA Division II scouts in attendance. Rines, making his second straight start, had 18 points and six rebounds in a team-high 35 minutes.
“We just had to pick the energy up (without Wright) because he’s a real big energy guy, so everybody else just had to give a little more than they usually give,” point guard Saaid Lee said. “I think everybody stepped up. Our team is built for the next man to be up, so I think everybody just did their job and did what we had to do.”
Green had some options for Wright’s spot, but went with Smith because of matchups. Besides, if he started Nayeem Johnson, the presumptive pick for the spot based on what he’s been provided in a sixth- or seventh-man role, the Mighty Oaks would have lost the game-changing firepower the Montco transfer provides off the bench.
The game was tight in the first half until the Mighty Oaks plugged in the full-court press with a very specific lineup. Usually they have Wright at the top of it, but with him not available, Green wanted Jahsier Sayles, Smith and Johnson with any other guard. They went into it with 6:11 left in the half, right after Jarrell Little’s two free throws got them within 23-21 and went on a defense-fueled 14-6 run that gave them the lead.
“It was a great pressure group that we went with,” Green said.
The Owls rallied to tie it at 35 with 1:17 left in the half, but the Mighty Oaks outscored them 7-1 to the horn to take a 43-36 halftime lead. Rines capped it with a 3-pointer with 1.3 seconds left after Lee drained the final 22 seconds off the clock.
The Mighty Oaks came out of the break firing. They opened the half with a 17-3 in the first six minutes to take control. Smith was particularly active in the stretch, scoring four points, grabbing three rebounds, blocking a shot and snagging a steal. The steal led to a 3-pointer by Rines, one of the rebounds set Zyaire Gibson on a runout layup and the blocked shot led to a give-and-go with Lee that he finished off with a layup.
“I was just trying to get as many rebounds as I can for the team; that’s really my role, for real,” Smith said. “I was just trying to play my role basically and step up. Definitely big responsibility because we’re playing the No. 13 team in the nation. You’ve got to step up, you’ve got to be ready, and I was ready today.”
“He’s just got to realize doing what we ask him to do is enough, that’s enough,” Green said. “That’s all we want all these guys to realize. Doing what we ask you to do is enough. You’re playing real basketball. You’re not playing JUCO basketball. You’re playing real basketball.”
Salem had only one scorer in double figures at halftime. Because of the way they picked it up after the break, they wound up with five when it was over.
Lee and Little both scored 10 in the second half and finished with 18 and 19, respectively. Little also had eight rebounds and nine assists. Gibson had 14 points and Sayles a career-tying 12. Union’s Nicolas Acosta led all scorers with 27 points (and 16 rebounds).
Phillips is expected to be out another week. Wright will be back for Thursday’s game with Camden. The reserves are expected to be ready all the time, because you never know when their number will be called.
SALEM CC 96, UNION 75 UNION (19-8): Tareak Williams 2-10 6-7 10, Anthony Hicks 5-11 1-1 11, Nicolas Acosta 6-18 15-18 27, Kanye Brown 0-4 3-4 3, Zahkey Jeter 6-13 0-1 12, Aljanai Best 0-3 0-0 0, Jasir Calloway 1-6 5-6 7, James Downing 2-4 0-0 5, Jake Zawacki 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 22-70 30-37 75. SALEM CC (27-1): Jarrell Little 4-8 8-10 18, Saaid Lee 4-8 10-14 19, Qua Smith 3-7 1-3 7, Zyaire Gibson 6-12 1-2 14, Idris Rines 6-10 3-5 18, Jahseir Sayles 4-9 2-2 12, Nayeem Johnson 3-7 0-2 6, Mike Goodwin 1-2 0-1 2. Totals 31-63 25-39 96.
Union
36
39-
75
Salem CC
43
53-
96
3-point goals: Union 1-13 (Williams 0-3, Hicks 0-1, Acosta 0-1, Brown 0-3, Jeter 0-3, Calloway 0-1, Downing 1-1); Salem CC 9-26 (Little 2-6, Lee 1-1, Smith 0-1, Gibson 1-5, Rines 3-5, Sayles 2-6, Johnson 0-2). Rebounds: Union 43 (Acosta 18, Calloway 7); Salem CC 40 (Smith 16, Little 8, Rines 6). Technical fouls: Union coach. Fouled out: Brown, Sayles, Johnson. Total fouls: Union 29, Salem CC 26.
Top photo, Qua Smith (4) and Idris Rines (24) were new starters for Salem CC Tuesday. Rines started last Saturday’s game, but Smith was making his first college start.
Region XIX Standings
DIVISION III
R19
ALL
GSAC
SALEM CC (3)
14-1
27-1
19-1
Northampton (8)
14-2
22-3
Brookdale (RV)
14-3
18-8
12-5
Montgomery (9)
13-3
17-4
Camden
12-3
17-9
12-8
Union (13)
12-5
19-8
11-4
Bergen
10-7
14-12
14-11
Ocean
9-7
14-11
10-9
Atlantic Cape
8-8
12-13
9-8
RCSJ-Cumberland
6-9
9-16
7-12
RCSJ-Gloucester
6-9
10-18
4-15
Thaddeus Stevens
5-10
10-14
Philadelphia
5-10
12-11
Harrisburg Area
5-10
6-16
Delaware County
3-13
5-19
Sussex
2-13
7-21
4-13
Passaic
2-14
4-22
3-15
Luzerne
1-14
4-21
Number in parenthesis is JUCO Division III national ranking
TUESDAY’S GAMES Salem CC 96, Union 75 Harrisburg Area 76, Luzerne 60 Montgomery 88, Atlantic Cape 78 Philadelphia 72, Thaddeus Stevens 66 Mercer 89, Lackawanna 82 Camden 80, RCSJ-Cumberland 70 Bergen 76, Brookdale 73 Raritan Valley at Middlesex Harcum 92, Essex 70 RCSJ-Gloucester70, Sussex 69 Hostos 100, Passaic 75 WEDNESDAY’S GAMES Ulster at Sussex Ocean at Northampton Atlantic Cape at Brookdale Passaic at Middlesex THURSDAY’S GAMES Camden at Salem CC Misericordia at Harcum Northampton at Montgomery Delaware Tech at Frederick Manhattan CC at Bergen Ocean at Brookdale Passaic at Union Delaware County at Philadelphia Raritan Valley at Lackawanna Atlantic Cape at Bergen Harrisburg Area at Thaddeus Stevens RCSJ-Gloucester at RCSJ-Cumberland FRIDAY’S GAME Delaware County at Luzerne SATURDAY’S GAMES Sussex at Salem CC Passaic vs. Finger Lakes Union at Brookdale Atlantic Cape at Harrisburg Area RCSJ-Cumberland at Thaddeus Stevens Northampton at Camden RCSJ-Gloucester at Montgomery Ocean at Luzerne Raritan Valley at Morris Passaic at Roxbury Lackawanna at Delaware Tech Ulster at Middlesex Philadelphia at Passaic Harcum at Mercer
Here is the Salem County sports schedule for the week of Feb. 9-15
MONDAY, FEB. 9 BOYS BASKETBALL Penns Grove at Pennsville, 5:30 p.m. Salem at Paulsboro, 5:30 p.m. Salem Tech at Pitman, 5:30 p.m. Woodstown at Schalick, 5:30 p.m. GIRLS BASKETBALL Pennsville at Penns Grove, 4 p.m. Pitman at Salem Tech, 5:30 p.m. Schalick at Woodstown, 5:30 p.m. INDOOR TRACK Pennsville, Salem at Ocean Breeze, 4:30 p.m.
TUESDAY, FEB. 10 BOYS BASKETBALL Penns Grove at Salem, 5:30 p.m. WRESTLING Delsea girls at Schalick, 5 p.m. Woodstown at Timber Creek, 5 p.m. Penns Grove at Palmyra, 5:30 p.m. Cedar Creek at Schalick, 6 p.m. COLLEGE BASKETBALL Union at Salem CC, 5 p.m. WOMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL Salem CC at Morris, TBA
WEDNESDAY, FEB. 11 BOYS BASKETBALL Pennsville at Pitman, 5:30 p.m. Woodstown at Salem Tech, 5:30 p.m. GIRLS BASKETBALL Oakcrest at Schalick, 4 p.m. Pitman at Pennsville, 5:30 p.m. Salem Tech at Woodstown, 5:30 p.m. WRESTLING Pennsville, Salem at Overbrook Girls Jamboree, 5 p.m. Salem at Willingboro, 5 p.m. Pennsville at Haddon Heights, 6 p.m.
THURSDAY, FEB. 12 GIRLS BASKETBALL Wildwood at Salem, 5:30 p.m. COLLEGE BASKETBALL Camden at Salem CC, 6 p.m.
FRIDAY, FEB. 13 BOYS BASKETBALL TCC Tournament Championship Bracket Clearview at Timber Creek Gloucester Catholic at Deptford Woodstown at Cumberland Penns Grove at Williamstown Postseason Bracket Schalick at Clayton Salem Tech at Wildwood Pennsville at Highland GIRLS BASKETBALL TCC Tournament Championship Bracket Cumberland at Clearview Woodstown at Kingsway Triton at Washington Twp. Postseason Bracket Pitman at Highland Salem Tech at Clayton Penns Grove at Overbrook WRESTLING Schalick, Burlington Twp., Cherry Hill West at Maple Shade, 3:30 p.m.
SATURDAY, FEB. 14 BOYS BASKETBALL Salem Tech at Salem, 10 a.m. Woodstown at Haddonfield, 11:30 a.m. GIRLS BASKETBALL TCC Tournament Pennsville at Delsea WRESTLING Highland, Mainland at Pennsville, 10 a.m. Woodstown, Allentown, Haddon Heights at Delran, 10 a.m. COLLEGE BASKETBALL Sussex at Salem CC, 2 p.m. WOMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL Essex at Salem CC, noon
Salem CC men match last year’s win total; women’s program dealing with serious personnel issue that postponed Saturday’s game
By Al Muskewitz Riverview Sports News
CARNEYS POINT — The engine driving this year’s Salem CC basketball team is the desire to clear the lofty bar raised by last year’s national tournament team.
This year’s team can say it’s at least reached the bar after Saturday’s 100-67 win over CC of Philadelphia. By winning, the third-ranked Mighty Oaks (26-1) have matched last season’s win total — in seven fewer games.
“It just adds more fuel to the fire,” freshman Nasseem Wright said. “I always compare us to the last year’s team because they set a real high bar. Coming into the situation I knew we would have to pick up right where they left off.
“They had some unfinished business. They won the regional, but they left nationals and the conference on the table, so this year I wanted to come and get all three. That’s still the goal.”
He’s not the only one who feels that way.
“I feel like we done better than them right now, but we’re not done until we win the national championship,” leading scorer Jarrell Little said. “Once we solidify the national championship, that’s when I feel like we did better than last year’s team.”
“It’s like bragging rights,” added freshman Idris Rines. “We always try to brag and say like we’re better than last year’s team, so just matching their win total with however many games left just means bragging rights.”
This year’s team is ahead of last year’s historic season in so many ways. They are currently statistically better in at least four major categories. Saturday was the 12th time this team has hit the 100-point mark (last year it was four). They are third in JUCO Division III in scoring (95.0), first in field goal percentage and second in assists.
But Mighty Oaks head coach Mike Green would throttle back the enthusiasm just a bit. He’s glad this year’s team has big goals of its own, but right now they’re talking about two different ballgames.
“26-1 don’t raise no banner; you got to win championships, you gotta win games,” he said. “This team is tough, they’re winning games. They’re doing everything they’re supposed to do, I don’t think it’s got nothing to do with last year’s team. Last year’s team was special in its own way. This year is another special year. It’s not complete so it’s hard to measure those two.”
Little and Wright did all they could to make Saturday happen. They both came within one assist of a triple-double. Little had 20 points and 12 rebounds. Wright had 14 points and 11 rebounds.
They would’ve gotten it, too, Green suggested, had the Mighty Oaks not gone through “a five- or six-minute stall” late in the second half. “Every minute counts,” the coach said.
Wright came close to getting his second triple-double of the season. He went on 2-on-1 break with Nayeem Johnson in the closing seconds, passed it over to Johnson for what would have been an easy layup, but instead of taking the shot, Johnson alley-ooped it to Wright for a game-ended slam.
“It definitely feels good to show my versatility on the floor,” Wright said. “Same thing with Jarrell. A lot of people fall in love with the fact he can score, but there is a bunch of other things he can do. That’s what I try to tell him every day. If you use yourself are way more aspects than just scoring that’s what’s going to elevate your game.”
Green said Thursday the team “got Little back” after his leading scorer’s shooting confidence seemed to return in their win over Harrisburg Area. He didn’t think he was even going to play after hurting his shoulder Thursday, but after going 9-for-14 from the floor Saturday – 7-of-9 for 15 points in the second half – Little proclaimed he was “fully back.”
“At halftime MG told me I had seven rebounds,” Little said. “I didn’t know how many assists I had (three) so I was just playing for the double-double. Once we got at the end of the game they told me you need one more assist. I was trying to get it, but it just didn’t happen. The crazy thing is I wasn’t supposed to play today.”
“That’s Jarrell, man,” Green said. “That’s the kid who early in the year was a player of the year candidate. He’s out of his funk it seems and he’s a weapon.”
Three other players scored in double figures. Idris Rines had a career-high 19 in his first college start, Zyaire Gibson had 14 and Johnson had 18 off the bench. Another interesting stat: They had 33 total assists (for 42 buckets) and only 11 turnovers.
Rines and Johnson have been making big contributions off the bench all year. Rines was the natural choice for the start after when Phillips tweaked his knee early in the HACC game and couldn’t go Saturday.
He looked a little uncomfortable early, but quickly settled into his rhythm. He also had four rebounds, four assists and three steals.
“I started in high school so it wasn’t really anything big for me, but I think it just shows the trust MG (Green) has in me so that gave me a boost of confidence,” Rines said. “It meant a lot, starting any game, especially in college, because college nowadays it’s hard to start. It didn’t hit me until like two minutes in and then I’m like this is a regular basketball game.”
Johnson seemed to make a pitch to be the next second unit player to make a start, hitting three 3s in a row in the first half to help the Mighty Oaks take control of the game.
To Green, there’s no difference between the starters and the backups.
“People get caught up on starters and all that,” Green said. “Idris plays starters minutes, that’s what he should be doing with them. We’ve got nine guys who can start on any other team in this region and they know it.”
SALEM CC 100, PHILADELPHIA 67 PHILADELPHIA (11-11): Buster Fallah 6-18 11-18 23, Robert Perry 4-4 2-2 10, Amaury Hunter 1-5 2-2 4, Jaques Aurel Silue 2-5 2-4 7, Sekou Kamara 0-0 0-0 0, Christopher Jones 1-10 0-0 2, Jonathan Miller 7-15 3-4 18, Marques Robinson-Myricks 1-2 0-0 3. Totals 22-59 20-30 67. SALEM CC (26-1): Jarrell Little 9-14 0-0 20, Saaid Lee 4-10 0-0 9, Zayire Gibson 5-12 1-1 14, Nasseem Wright 6-12 1-1 14, Idris Rines 8-11 2-3 19, Jahseir Sayles 1-4 0-0 2, Qua Smith 2-2 0-0 4, Nayeem Johnson 7-14 1-2 18, Mike Goodwin 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 42-79 5-7 100.
Philadelphia
25
42-
67
Salem CC
44
56-
100
3-point goals: Philadelphia 3-17 (Fallah 0-4, Hunter 0-3, Aurel Silue 1-2, Jones 0-3, Miller 1-4, Robinson-Myricks 1-1); Salem CC 11-33 (Little 2-6, Lee 1-3, Gibson 3-10, Wright 1-3, Rines 1-3, Sayles 0-3, Johnson 3-5). Rebounds: Philadelphia 30 (Miller 8, Fallah 6); Salem CC 47 (Little 12, Wright 11). Technical fouls: Wright, Green. Fouled out: Lee. Total fouls: Philadelphia 13, Salem CC 23.
Top photo: Idris Rines (24), Jarrell Little (1) and Nasseem Wright all played big roles in Salem CC’s win over Philadelphia.
Region XIX Standings
DIVISION III
R19
ALL
GSAC
SALEM CC (3)
13-1
26-1
18-1
Northampton (10)
14-2
22-3
Brookdale (RV)
14-3
18-7
12-4
Montgomery (8)
12-3
16-4
Camden
11-3
16-9
11-8
Union (9)
12-4
19-7
11-3
Bergen
10-7
13-12
13-11
Ocean
8-7
13-11
9-9
Atlantic Cape
8-7
12-12
9-8
RCSJ-Cumberland
6-8
9-15
7-11
RCSJ-Gloucester
6-9
9-18
3-15
Thaddeus Stevens
5-9
10-12
Philadelphia
4-10
11-11
Harrisburg Area
4-10
5-16
Delaware County
3-13
5-19
Sussex
2-12
7-19
4-11
Passaic
2-14
4-21
3-15
Luzerne
1-13
4-20
Number in parenthesis is JUCO Division III national ranking
SATURDAY’S GAMES Salem CC 100, Philadelphia 67 Camden 73, Union 68 Montgomery 70, Bergen 69 Brookdale 87, Luzerne 60 Delaware County 81, Sussex 76 Morris 80, Delaware Tech 77 RCSJ-Cumberland 82, Ocean 77 Essex at Orange County Mercer at Raritan Valley RCSJ-Gloucester 94, Passaic 89 (OT) Penns State LV at Thaddeus Stevens Harcum 101, Lackawanna 69 Northampton 75, Atlantic Cape 72 (OT) Westchester 89, Middlesex 67
Women’s game postponed, issues
CARNEYS POINT — The Salem CC women’s game at Middlesex Saturday was postponed and the remainder of the season in doubt following an incident in Pennsville over the weekend said to involve several players.
Athletics director Bob Hughes confirmed the game’s postponed, citing “a personnel issue” that was “player related,” but declined to give additional details. Pennsville police officials were not immediately available.
Mighty Oaks coach Brian Marsh said they were working to reschedule the game, but Hughes said any decision to continue the season wouldn’t be entertained until Monday at the earliest.
The Salem women are 3-16 and have four games left. The Mighty Oaks don’t play another region game until Saturday, so another postponement is plausible. They are scheduled to play Morris Club on the road Tuesday.
“We don’t play another region game until next Saturday, so if we had to make a decision for Tuesday it would be an easy one just because it’s already a club game because Morris moved to club,” Hughes said. “That’s the most I can say about it. We will evaluate it on Monday.
“Right now we are day by day with this. We could not play the game today due to a personnel issue.”
The team only has eight players so any incident involving multiple players could leave it without enough players to either be competitive or continue altogether. Injuries forced them reschedule three games earlier this season so they would have enough players available to play.
Region XIX Women’s Standings
DIVISION II
R19
ALL
GSAC
Harcum (3)
12-0
21-1
Union (12)
11-2
20-3
8-0
Mercer (14)
10-2
18-3
5-1
Essex
7-5
15-6
4-4
Raritan Valley
4-7
8-15
3-4
Delaware Tech
4-8
8-15
Middlesex
3-9
9-16
0-6
SALEM CC
2-10
3-16
0-5
Lackawanna
1-11
4-15
Morris
0-0
0-7
0-0
Number in parenthesis is JUCO Division II national ranking
SATURDAY’S GAMES Salem CC at Middlesex, ppd. Philadelphia 61, Camden 48 RCSJ-Gloucester 59, Passaic 49 Northampton 77, Atlantic Cape 62 Ocean at RCSJ-Cumberland Essex at Orange County Mercer at Raritan Valley Bergen at Montgomery Harcum 106, Lackawanna 34
Riverview Sports News 