Holiday tournaments highlight the schedule for Salem County teams for the week of Dec. 25-30
DEC. 26 BASKETBALL Girls Battle of the Boards Wildwood Convention Center Salem vs. Millville, 1 p.m.
DEC. 27 BASKETBALL Girls Battle at Buena Pennsville vs. Pemberton, 11 a.m.
Battle of the Boards Wildwood Convention Center Salem vs. Oakcrest, 11:30 a.m.
ACIT Tournament Salem Tech vs. Camden Tech, 10 a.m. GCIT vs. ACIT, 1 p.m.
Boys Battle at Buena Pennsville vs. Camden Academy Charter, 1 p.m.
ACIT Tournament Salem Tech vs. Camden Tech, 11:30 a.m. GCIT vs. ACIT, 3:30 p.m.
Bayonne Tournament Salem vs. Charlestown, 4 p.m. West Orange at Bayonne, 5:30 p.m.
Warrior Classic, New Egypt Pinelands at New Egypt, 3:30 p.m. Woodstown vs. Steinert, 5:30 p.m. WRESTLING Audubon, Northern Burlington at Woodstown, 10 a.m.
INDOOR TRACK Woodstown at Ocean Breeze Complex, Staten Island, N.Y.
DEC. 28 BASKETBALL Girls Battle at Buena Pemberton vs. Buena Pennsville vs. Camden Academy
ACIT Tournament Consolation: Salem Tech vs. GCIT, 10 a.m. Championship: Camden Tech vs. ACIT, 1 p.m.
Wolverine Holiday Tournament at Woodstown Highland vs. Paulsboro, 10 a.m. Bridgeton vs. Woodstown, noon
Boardwalk Classic Wildwood Convention Center Penns Grove vs. St. Dominic, 5:45 p.m.
Boys Penns Grove vs. Vineland at Delsea, 4 p.m. Battle at Buena Pennsville vs. Buena Camden Academy vs. LEAP
Warrior Classic, New Egypt Pinelands vs. Steinert Woodstown vs. New Egypt
ACIT Tournament Consolation: Salem Tech vs. ACIT, 11:30 a.m. Championship: Camden Tech vs. GCIT, 3:30 p.m.
Salem in Bayonne Tournament Consolation: Salem vs. West Orange, 2 p.m. Championship: Charlestown (Mass.) vs. Bayonne, 3:30 p.m. WRESTLING Pennsville in Overbrook Tournament Schalick in Clayton Classic
DEC. 29 BASKETBALL Girls Wolverine Holiday Tournament at Woodstown Consolation game, 10 a.m. Championship game, noon WRESTLING Pennsville vs. Barnegat
DEC. 30 BASKETBALL Girls Boardwalk Classic Wildwood Convention Center Penns Grove vs. Ocean City, 2:30 p.m. Boys Boardwalk Classic Wildwood Convention Center Penns Grove vs. Lower Cape May, 5:45 p.m.
Penns Grove has been shuffling lineups all season in hopes of finding the right combination; freshman’s defense sparks Pennsville’s fourth-quarter comeback, Woodstown wins, Schalick falls
THURSDAY’S BOYS SCORES LEAP 52. Schalick 44 Penns Grove 69, Salem Tech 56 Pennsville 61, GCIT 52 Woodstown 59, Cumberland 24
By Al Muskewitz Riverview Sports News
WOODSTOWN – Damian Ware is still trying to get a handle on his young Penns Grove basketball team and that usually means a plethora of starting lineups before hitting on the one that sticks for the rest of the year.
Ware rolled out his fourth different starting lineup in as many games Thursday night and it produced the Red Devils’ second win of the season, 69-56 over Salem Tech.
“We’re just tooling around with stuff early in the season, plus giving guys an opportunity to play who really haven’t played that many minutes yet,” Ware said. “I’m figuring guys out. I’m figuring out who can play well with who. I’m figuring out whether we should play with two bigs or one big.
“It’s all experimental at this point in the season. It’s really an extended preseason of sorts. I just want to see what all my guys got. I got 14 guys on the team, so I want to see what all of them got in extended minutes, so that’s what we were all about today.”
Up to now, Ware has been starting any combination of four guards with one big. One game he started all guards. The lineup against Thursday featured two bigs for the first time and it gave the Red Devils a defensive bent against their hosts. They held the Chargers to 16 points in the first half while building a 34-16 halftime lead.
The same group started the second half.
The new starter in this mix was Jaden Sorrell, a 6-4 senior who “did a decent job” playing the 5 alongside 6-3 senior Willie Slocum. Sorrell scored four points — all in the second half — grabbed a couple rebounds and blocked a couple shots before fouling out in the fourth quarter. Slocum scored 11 points and grabbed nine rebounds.
“It was good because I had more opportunities because I was the 4,” Slocum said. “Other games I was the 5, so it was nice.
“We’ve just got to find the five toughest guys. To me, if I’m not playing that way, the next man up. If somebody else is not playing that way, next man up. We’ve got to five tough guys.”
As that search continues, Ware said it was “very possible” the Red Devils will start even another combination when they host Cherokee Saturday afternoon.
Salem Tech coach Bryan Riley expected to see Roman Gipson among their starters as he was when Riley saw them in the all-guard lineup in person last Saturday, but he didn’t sweat it. He still had to send his guys out there against whomever was on the floor.
The Chargers fell behind 55-30 after three quarters, but they brought it back in the fourth against the Red Devils’ young reserves. Haneef Frisby led the charge with 13 of his game-high 21 points.
“He and Antoine Robinson go back and forth,” Riley said. “We just played Gloucester Catholic, Antoine was the guy that game (16 points). The game before we played GCIT, Haneef was the guy (14). We played Schalick for opening day, Antoine was the guy (19). So, those two just go back and forth.
“I need them both on the same level and once we get that it’s going to be special.”
3-point goals: Penns Grove 3 (Conrad, Spence, Robbins); Salem Tech 2 (Hayes, Robinson). Fouled out: Sorrell. Total fouls: Penns Grove 25, Salem Tech 17. Officials: Woody, McGough.
PENNSVILLE 61, GCIT 52: If you’re occupying a seat on the Pennsville varsbench you’re expected to contribute when your name is called.
Eagles coach Joe Mecholsky called upon Mason O’Brien for a very specific task in the fourth quarter and the freshman delivered in a veteran way.
It was O’Brien’s job to put a wrench in GCIT scoring machine Mark Hallman as the “one” in the rare box-and-one the Eagles threw out there when nothing else seemed to work. O’Brien held Hallman scoreless the entire quarter and it helped the Eagles rally from five points down to snap a two-game losing streak.
“We put freshman Mason O’Brien on him and we said, ‘Son, you’ve got one job – lock him down,’” Mecholsky said. “He held the kid scoreless in the fourth quarter, let us get our feet and then we came down and executed on offense.
“I went with him because he’s fast afoot, he knows the game of basketball. He’s a freshman by grade … but he’s a little bit older than a freshman (in game sense), but we made it very simple for him. We said stay between (Hallman) and the ball and he was awesome.”
Hallman, who went for 30 against Salem Tech on Monday and was averaging 19.5 coming into the game, had 14 points with four 3-pointers over the first three quarters, but he got nothing in the fourth. Pennsville, meanwhile, outscored GCIT in the quarter 26-12 to beat the Group IV Cheetahs and gain a lot of valuable power points.
“(Mecholsky) told me to do one thing and not allow him to score a point,” O’Brien said. “I tried my best and I exactly did what he asked me to do.
“I just had to stay really close to him, had to follow him around. I tried my best not to let him get the ball. He didn’t do anything against me.”
O’Brien didn’t get a lot of playing time in the first half, but the Eagles were getting players in foul trouble and needed a fresh body. With Chase Burchfield out with a separated shoulder, O’Brien was the next man up.
“It felt great because I’m a freshman and people don’t think I’m that good or anything and I cone through and helped my team get a big win in the early-season going to Christmas break,” he said. “It felt amazing helping my team and my teammates out today.”
O’Brien’s older brother, Peyton, had a three-point play in the rally that extended the Eagles’ lead to five. They were his only points for the game, but he ripped down 14 rebounds. Jayden Thomas led the Eagles with a career-high 17 points, 10 coming in the fourth quarter.
Pennsville had been mired in a shooting slump during its two-game losing streak, but broke out in this one. The Eagles were 18-for-42 from the field (2-of-12 from 3-point range) and 23-for-31 from the foul line, a product of their attacking the rim.
PENNSVILLE 61, GCIT 52 GCIT (2-3) – Trent Phillips 4 3-4 11, Michael Stanwood 8 0-0 17, Mark Hallman 5 0-0 14, Charles Donaldson 1 0-2 2, Patrick Monaghan 1 0-0 2, Carl Schmidt 0 0-0 0, Ian Malgapo 2 0-0 6, Brady Johnson 0 0-0 0. Totals 21 3-6 52 PENNSVILLE (2-2) – Luke Wood 5-5-15, Cohen Petrutz 1-3-5, Peyton O’Brien 1-1-3, Daniel Saulin 2-3-7, Jayden Thomas 6-13-17, Malik Rehmer 1-7-9, Mason O’Brien 2-1-5. Totals 18 23-31 61.
WOODSTOWN 59, CUMBERLAND 24: Rocco String started fast, scoring eight in the first quarter and 10 in the first half, as the Wolverines built a 15-point halftime lead and added to it.
String, a 6-6 junior, was among three Wolverines to score in double figures and had his second double-double in as many games with 13 points and 10 rebounds. Blake Bialecki had 14 points, six rebounds, three assists and three steals and Max Webb had 10 points, seven boards and five assists.
WOODSTOWN 59, CUMBERLAND 24 WOODSTOWN (2-0) – Manny Ortega 0 0-0 0, Blake Bialecki 6 0-0 14, Alejandro Vasquez 1 0-0 2, M.J. Hall 3 0-0 9, Garrett Leyman 3 0-0 6, Anthony Bokolas 0 0-0 0, Lucas Fulmer 1 0-0 3, Max Webb 4 0-0 10, Rocco String 5 3-6 13, Zyaire Caesar 0 0-0 0, Elijah Caesar 1 0-0 2. Totals 24 3-6 59. CUMBERLAND (0-2) – Kaleb Green 3 2-2 9, D.J. Mosley 3 0-0 6, Stephen Wilchensky 1 2-2 4, Jalen Stewart 0 0-0 0, Marcus Fortune 0 0-0 0, Deshaan Williams 0 2-2 2, Dumajze Cartwright 0 0-0 0, James Guaciaro 0 0-0 0, Khalif Dawkins 1 0-0 3, Kevin Fiorani 0 0-0 0, Kam Fiorani 0 0-0 0. Totals 8 6-6 24.
Woodstown’s Garrett Leyman (10) puts up a shot in the lane against the pressure of two GCIT defenders. (Photo by Ellen Sickler)
LEAP 52, SCHALICK 44: LEAP Academy hasn’t won many games in recent years, so any victory is reason to celebrate.
The Lancers won only two games last season, but they won their second game this season with their come-from-behind victory over the Cougars.
Schalick had an early lead in the game, but LEAP rallied and seized control in the second quarter. Xavion Ayala led LEAP with 22 points. Nylan and Nasir Simmons led Schalick with 12 points apiece.
WOODSTOWN – Kara Straughn and her dad, longtime Woodstown coach Dave Wildermuth, have spent a lot of time over the years just talking ball. Most of the time it’s been father to daughter, coach to player, head coach to assistant, but now they’ve got some common ground.
Wildermuth has won a mountain of games in various sports as a head coach and an assistant, but now when they talk about coaching legacies his daughter can speak with a similar frame of reference having experienced victory as a head coach.
Straughn won her first game as a head coach Tuesday night when she guided the Woodstown girls basketball team to an easy 60-18 victory over Schalick.
“It’s over, I did it,” she said while gathering her things by the bench well after the gym had cleared. “I like that I did it at home. I grew up on this court, I played on this court, so it was nice to get my first win as a head coach on this court.”
And she did it with her former basketball coach, current Woodstown AD Joe Ursino, and about a dozen former players and teammates in the stands and her dad at her side.
Wildermuth has coached a number of sports in a variety of capacities at Woodstown for 21 years. Just as a head coach alone he won 50 games in four seasons as the boys basketball coach (2018-2022) and he’s working on 35 wins as the Wolverines head softball coach the last two years (42, if you count his year at Salem).
There’s no telling how many games he’s won in various sports as the JV and freshmen coach. And Straughn has been around for most if not all of them.
“I grew up watching him coach, so it’s always been the goal to coach and then become half the coach that he was,” Straughn said. “He’s like, well, you’re gonna beat my record … and it’s only going to take you half as much time. That’s been like the joke: When you get to how many games that I won then we can talk.”.
Well, she’s only 49 away now and she’s gunning for it.
“I can do that,” she said. “I can chip away at that goal.”
The players were glad to have delivered the first one.
“I’m just very happy that she’s the coach and she truly wanted to be and I’m really happy to get a win under her,” junior Megan Donelson said. “I know she’s happy about it.”
First-year Woodstown girls basketball coach Kara Straughn makes in-game adjustments in the huddle as he dad and assistant coach Dave Wildermuth looks on from the side.
The Wolverines missed the first chance to give Straughn her first win Friday when they lost their season opener at Gloucester Catholic. They took the drama out of this one early.
They scored on their first three possessions – two on offensive rebounds – and opened a 16-0 lead in the first four minutes of the game. They scored the game’s first 22 points before Carley Vicente’s 3-pointer with 1:51 left in the quarter put Schalick on the board. It was 27-3 at the end of the quarter after Donelson hit a 3 at the buzzer.
Donelson had 11 points in the quarter and finished with 14 points, four assists and eight steals. Talia Battavio was their leading scorer with 15 points, three steals and four blocked shots.
“Our main goal is to come out strong,” Battavio said. “Like what Wildo likes to say, the first four minutes is the most important part of the game, so I think we try to bring all we’ve got and get off to a good start.”
“I was proud of the fact we executed on offense,” Straughn said. “Friday night we couldn’t piece together enough, but tonight I said we really have to focus our offense and running the plays and moving the ball effectively and utilizing all five of us getting the ball in the post, not just relying on jump shots. They executed all the little things, I was really proud of them for that.”
There were a lot of other firsts in the game. It was Straughn’s first win over a Salem County opponent and extended the Wolverines’ winning streak against county opponents to 23 games. Sophomore Jala Thomas, who’d only scored one basket all last season, scored her first points of the year and raised her hands over her head as she raced back to her defensive position and sophomore Lizzy Daly and freshman Kendall Young both scored the first points of their varsity careers.
PENNSVILLE 65, OVERBROOK 35: The Eagles bounced back from a rough season-opening loss on the road to play one of their best games of the season. They looked sharp in all areas and hit shots from long range.
Salem transfer Nora Ausland hit seven 3-pointers and scored 25 points. Marley Wood had three 3s and finished with 22.
“The girls shot the lights out tonight,” Pennsville coach Sam Trapp said. “The offense looked good, running plays a lot more smoothly and creating an offensive threat in the half court just by identifying open space, finding good cuts and lots of pick-and-roll.
“Defensively we had a lot of good stops and grabbed several rebounds, minimizing two or three possessions in one trip down the court. Without a doubt there’s still plenty of room for growth, but the girls really bounced back and played very well tonight.”
Wood tied her career-high with the fifth 20-point game of her career. She had 22 last year against Salem. The Eagles are 7-2 when Wood scorers 18 points or more.
Ausland’s seven 3s were a career high, topping the five she had in a game against Clayton as a freshman. The 25 points were the second-best of her career.
“After I made the first 3 and then the second I knew I was going to be on tonight,” said Ausland, who hit 61 3s in the two years she spent at Salem. “When I’m hitting my 3s, my coach and my team do a great job of getting me the ball and keeping me hot.”
PENNS GROVE 66: GLASSBORO 41: The Red Devils got off to a quick start and never let the visitors get back in the battle of early-season unbeatens.
Meely Horace and RaNiyah Wilson combined for 21 points in the first quarter as Penns Grove sprinted to a 26-9 lead. Horace finished with a team-high 24 points, giving her 771 for her career, and Wilson scored a career-high 23. Wilson’s previous best was 21 last December against Hammonton when she was playing at Kingsway.
Glassboro’s Tamia Smith led all scorers with 29 points.
PENNS GROVE 66, GLASSBORO 41 GLASSBORO (3-1) – Sanaa Thomas 1 5-8 7, Tamia Smith 12 5-14 29, Kimora Miles 1 0-2 2, Anye Davis 0 0-0 0, Sianna Wedderburn 1 0-0 2, Grace Moore 0 0-0 0, Jayde Darling 0 0-0 0, Samyra Lane 0 1-2 1, Naveah Cox-Clement 0 0-0 0. Totals 15 11-26 41. PENNS GROVE (3-0) – RaNiyah Wilson 11 1-3 23, Meely Horace 10 1-2 24, Brianna Robbins 5 2-6 12, Amani Taylor 1 0-0 3, Rolande Delva 0 0-0 0, Syanna Robbins 0 0-0 0, Arianna Dowe 0 0-0 0, Zoey Caesar 1 0-0 2, Semijah Hines 0 0-0 0, Jamira Lewis 0 0-0 0, JaNiyah Cunnings 1 0-0 2. Totals 29 4-11 66.
Glassboro
9
9
7
16 –
41
Penns Grove
26
11
10
19 –
66
3-point goals: Glassboro 0; Penns Grove 4 (Horace 3, Taylor). Technical foul: Penns Grove coach. Total fouls: Glassboro 3, Penns Grove 13.
GLOUCESTER CATHOLIC 65, SALEM TECH 14: The Rams took control early, opening a 35-2 halftime lead, and had three scorers with as many or more points than Salem Tech scored in the game.
Julianna DiFebbo scored a game-high 15 points, while Jahzara Green and Talia Schumate had 14 apiece. Morgan VanDover was the Chargers’ leading scorer with six points on a pair of 3-pointers.
3-point goals: Gloucester Catholic 2 (DiFebbo, Schumate); Salem Tech 2 (VanDover 2). NOTE: Five make a team, but only players who scored are listed in available box score.
Boys roundup: Woodstown opens its season with a win at Schalick, Pennsville, Penns Grove and Salem Tech all lose
TUESDAY’S BOYS SCORES Glassboro 71, Penns Grove 32 Gloucester Catholic 85, Salem Tech 53 Overbrook 67, Pennsville 35 Woodstown 61, Schalick 27
By Al Muskewitz Riverview Sports News
PENNSVILLE – When you’re playing a team expected to be one of the best in Group II – even without its full complement of players that will make it even better later in the season – it takes a complete game to have a shot.
Pennsville played what coach Joe Mecholsky considered pretty good defense against Overbrook in its Diamond Division opener Tuesday night, but the Eagles were cold from the field for the second game in a row and fell 67-35.
“We played really good defense, we just couldn’t convert,” Mecholsky said. “Every time we did a (defensive) stand we’d go down and miss a basket. We made probably three D stands and then they’d make the fourth.
“It was 14-8 at the end of first quarter and we missed 10 shots, but we played great 2-3 (defense), we ran them off the 3-point line. They hit a 3 at the (halftime) buzzer or we hold them to 24 points in the first half; that’s something to hang your hat on. We did what we wanted to do, we were happy … we just couldn’t put the ball in the daggone basket.”
The Eagles (1-2) were just 13-for-55 from the field, 3-of-21 from 3-point range. They scored only four points in the second quarter. The Rams (3-0) eventually hit 11 3s and placed four scorers in double figures.
In its last two losses, Pennsville has shot 31-of-120 from the field, 7-of-46 from behind the arc. They hit five 3s in their season-opening victory over Clayton.
“A lot of balls were on the rim, in the rim, out of the rim; we’re just gonna say it was one of those nights,” Macholsky said. “I don’t count Saturday as part of our slump because it was off a back-to-back after running up and down with Clayton (the night before). Tonight, in our own gym, the ball just wouldn’t go in.”
Luke Wood led the Eagles with 11 points. Daniel Saulin had 10 points and 11 rebounds. Peyton O’Brien grabbed 10 boards. Overbrook’s Amare Kee led all scorers with 17 points.
OVERBROOK 67, PENNSVILLE 35 OVERBROOK (3-0) – Shaun Mills 4 1-1 10, Zair Green 5 1-3 12, Amare Kee 6 0-0 17, Lamar Little 5 0-0 14, Kevin Satchell 1 0-0 2, Xavier Wright 3 0-0 6, Elvin Santiago 1 0-0 2, Tory Scott 2 0-0 4. Totals 27 2-4 67. PENNSVILLE (1-2) – Luke Wood 4 2-2 11, Peyton O’Brien 1 2-3 5, Daniel Saulin 4 2-6 10, Jayden Thomas 1 0-0 2, Malik Rehmer 1 0-0 2, Cohen Petrutz 2 0-0 5. Totals 13 6-11 35.
Woodstown’s Max Webb brings the ball up the floor against Schalick’s Jordan Johnson (2) and Daniel Lis (23). (Photo by Ellen Sickler)
WOODSTOWN 61, SCHALICK 27: The Wolverines were the last team in Salem County to open their basketball season and they looked like a team that couldn’t wait to get on the court for real.
Rocco String had 13 points and 11 rebounds, the Wolverines (1-0) placed four scorers in double figures and held the Cougars (1-1) scoreless in the second quarter while opening a 25-7 halftime lead. Blake Bialecki, M.J. Hall and Max Webb each added 11 points to the effort and had all four of the Wolverines’ 3-pointers.
Woodstown’s defense collected 19 steals, with String and Garrett Leyman getting four apiece.
GLASSBORO 71, PENNS GROVE 32: Charles Graves (26) and Clinton Suggs (24) combined to outscore the Red Devils by themselves.
Graves and Suggs combined for 30 points in the first half. Michael Dougherty joined the fun with all four of his 3-pointers in the second quarter. It added up to a 44-16 Glassboro lead at the break.
3-point goals: Penns Grove 1 (Conrad); Glassboro 7 (Graves, Suggs, Dougherty 4, Buff). Total fouls: Penns Grove 14, Glassboro 14.
GLOUCESTER CATHOLIC 85, SALEM TECH 53: The Chargers hit 10 3-pointers in the game to keep up with Jack Mustaro’s game-high 30 points, but the Rams had too many other weapons.
Six players hit at last one 3 for the Chargers (0-3), with Josh Muntz hitting 3 on his way to a team-high 15 points.
The Chargers trailed by only two after the first quarter, then Mustaro really got going and erupted for 22 points over the next two quarters to help the Rams pull away. The junior guard is averaging 23 points a game this season.
Cover photo: Woodstown’s Blake Bialecki fires up a shot from the top of the key in the Wolverines’ season opener against Schalick. (Photo by Ellen Sickler)
Tough day for the four Salem County basketball teams in action Monday; also includes track and swimming report
MONDAY’S BASKETBALL SCORES GIRLS Pitman 45, Salem 36 GCIT 38, Salem Tech 12 BOYS GCIT 75, Salem Tech 41 Wildwood Catholic 72, Salem 53
By Riverview Sports News
WOODSTOWN – Salem Tech focused on putting the wraps on GCIT’s Mark Hallman, but by the time the defense settled in, it was too late.
Hallman hit five 3-pointers and scored 23 of his 30 points in the first quarter as Gloucester Tech handled a Chargers team still trying to find itself, 72-53. The junior hit seven 3-pointers in the game. He is averaging 21.7 points with 14 3-pointers in the Cheetahs’ first three games.
“I prioritized our defense to slow him down, but by that time the lead was too big,” Chargers coach Bryan Riley said.
Haneef Frisby, playing point guard for the first time for injured Antoine Robinson, led Salem Tech with 14 points. Tyler Zampino had 10 points with all three of his team’s 3-pointers and Chase Wills had eight steals.
“We’re a young team trying to figure things out,” Riley said. “Last year we had Brandon Bermudez, who was our leading scorer, and him graduating we have to find our identity. Somebody’s got to step up and score.”
GCIT 75, SALEM TECH 41 GLOUCESTER TECH (2-1) – Trent Phillips 0 0-0 0, Michael Stanwood 5 3-4 13, Carl Schmidt 5 0-0 13, Mark Hallman 10 3-7 30, James Donahue 0 0-0 0, Patrick Monoghan 2 1-1 5, Brady Johnson 0 0-3 0, Gavin Shaneline 1 0-2 2, Amad Traeore 1 0-0 3, Ian Malgapo 3 0-0 9, Charles Donaldson 0 0-0 0. Totals 27 7-14 75. SALEM TECH (0-2) – Chase Wills 3 0-1 6, Josh Muntz 2 1-1 5, Tyler Zampino 3 1-2 10, Haneef Frisby 5 4-8 14, Joseph Hayes 0 2-2 2, Gio Holmes 0 0-0 0, Daviontae Russell 0 0-4 0, Chase Ayars 2 0-1 4. Totals 15 8-19 41
GCIT
28
17
19
11 –
75
Salem Tech
7
14
10
10 –
41
3-point goals: GCIT 14 (Schmidt 3, Hallman 7, Traeore, Malgapo 3); Salem Tech 3 (Zampino 3). Fouled out: Monoghan. Total fouls: GCIT 16, Salem Tech 14.
Wildwood Catholic 72, Salem 53: Freshman Tymear Lecator had a breakout game leading three Salem scorers in double figures with three 3-pointers and a career-high 16 points, but Wildwood Catholic played hard, physical on the glass and steadily pulled away. Jabez DeJesus had 12 points and Paul Weathers 11 for the Rams.
“Going on the road is never easy,” Salem coach Anthony Farmer said. “We have to go back and watch film and figure out to to learn from it.”
GIRLS Pitman 45, Salem 36: Miya Villari scored 20 points and grabbed nine rebounds to lead the Panthers. Ryann Foote led Salem with 11 points and nine rebounds. QwenNazha Johnson-Logan had nine points, eight boards and four blocked shots for the Rams.
3-point goals: Salem 1 (Bower); Pitman 1 (Villari).
Gloucester Tech 38, Salem Tech 12: Ava Friel scored 10 points and Sophia Molinari and Maggie Duer combined for 15 points on five 3-pointers to lead GCIT.
TOMS RIVER – Salem’s girls finished third in three relays (shuttle hurdle, sprint medley, 4×200) and finished tied for sixth in SJTCA’s third winter meet Monday. Dominique Lewis and Ryann Mulhorn finished fourth and sixth, respectively, in the girls shot put. Schalick was 11th.
Swimming
Woodstown 96, West Deptford 74: The Wolverines (2-0) won three individual events and all three relays. Thomas Boyles won the 50 free and swam legs on all three relays. Sabastian Smith won 100 back and 100 free and swam leadoff on the 200 medley and 400 free relays.
Here is the Salem County high school sports calendar for the week of Dec. 18-23
MONDAY BASKETBALL Girls Penns Grove at Paulsboro, 4 p.m. Pennsville at Kingsway, 5:30 p.m. Pitman at Salem, 5:30 p.m. Salem Tech at GCIT, 5:30 p.m. Boys GCIT at Salem Tech, 5:30 p.m. Salem at Wildwood Catholic, 6 p.m. WRESTLING Millville at Schalick, 5 p.m.
INDOOR TRACK Salem, Schalick in SJCTA Meet, Toms River
SWIMMING Woodstown vs. West Deptford at Riverwinds, 3:30 p.m.
BOWLING Salem vs. Lindenwold, Wood Lanes, 4 p.m.
TUESDAY BASKETBALL Girls Glassboro at Penns Grove, 4 p.m. Gloucester Cath. at Salem Tech, 5:30 p.m. Pennsville at Overbrook, 5:30 p.m. Schalick at Woodstown, 5:30 p.m. Boys Overbrook at Pennsville, 5:30 p.m. Penns Grove at Glassboro, 5:30 p.m. Woodstown at Schalick, 5:30 p.m. Salem Tech at Gloucester Cath., 5:30 p.m.
BOWLING Salem Tech at Gloucester City, 4 p.m.
WEDNESDAY BASKETBALL Pitman at Salem, 7 p.m.
WRESTLING Schalick, Salem, Egg Harbor Twp. at Pennsville, 5 p.m. Penns Grove at Clayton, 6 p.m.
WINTER TRACK Penns Grove, Salem in Polar Bear Meet, Pennsville, 3:30 p.m.
BOWLING Salem in Holiday Tournament, Laurel Lanes, 3:30 p.m.
THURSDAY BASKETBALL Girls Schalick at LEAP, 4 p.m. Clearview at Woodstown, 5:30 p.m. Pennsville at Gloucester Tech, 5:30 p.m. Salem Tech at Penns Grove, 4 p.m. Boys Gloucester Tech at Pennsville, 5:30 p.m. LEAP at Schalick, 5:30 p.m. Penns Grove at Salem Tech, 5:30 p.m. Woodstown at Cumberland, 5:30 p.m.
SWIMMING Schalick vs. Gloucester Cath. at GCIT, 4:45 p.m. Salem vs. Triton Regional at GCIT, 7:15 p.m.
SATURDAY BASKETBALL Boys Cherokee at Penns Grove, 1 p.m.
WRESTLING Pennsville, Penns Grove, Schalick in Cumberland Duals Woodstown, Seneca, St. Joseph at Mainland, 9 a.m.
Pennsville’s boys follow a plan to combat Clayton, Schalick wins first season opener since 2015, Penns Grove challenged by strong competition FRIDAY BOYS SCORES Pennsville 80, Clayton 66 Pitman 69, Penns Grove 41 Schalick 65, Salem Tech 43
By Al Muskewitz Riverview Sports News PENNSVILLE – Clayton came into David Salberg Gym Friday night having scored 96 points the night before and the reputation for firing 3-pointers at will. That made the Clippers a dangerous opening-night opponent for anyone.
But Pennsville coach Joe Mecholsky had a plan – guard the 3, rebound and play tight man defense.
It proved to be the winning formula as the Eagles clipped their visitors 80-66, missing by just one point the score the coach had predicted before the game.
“We knew coming in that their game is to shoot the 3 and give us the 2,” Mecholsky said. “We tried to be very diligent guarding the 3-point shot. At one point to start the fourth quarter I told the boys let them drive, give up the 2. They want to shoot the 3 to get back in this game.
“That’s just their system. When it’s working that’s a much tighter game. When the system doesn’t work we ended up with a favorable outcome. They’ve got a South Jersey title with that system, his kids love playing that system, but I think tonight it just came down to we were the better team.”
Clayton came out firing – and missing. The Clippers missed their first 11 shots from the field – most of them 3s – and Pennsville ran out to a 12-2 lead despite not being very sharp themselves. The Clippers, 9-of-30 from behind the arc in their opener at Pennsauken Tech, were 1-for-10 from behind the arc in the first quarter against the Eagles, 4-for-18 in the half and 10-for-38 for the game..
Instead of going into the locker room at halftime to discuss strategy, the Clippers spent the entire halftime on the floor putting up shots. They shot a better percentage in the second half, but never got closer than eight points and that was early in the third quarter.
The more they missed, the more the Eagles rebounded. Danny Saulin, a 6-foot-7 senior starting in his final season opener, pulled down 14 rebounds to go with 17 points, many off putbacks.
“We have a saying – long shot, long rebound,” Saulin said. “When you’re jacking it up from 3 you just have to know you have to back up and get ready to box out and jump up for the ball. For them not playing so much in the paint it made it easier for us to score 2-pointers, made it easier for the whole team to score.”
Saulin wasn’t the only one clearing the boards. Peyton O’Brien, who spelled Saulin off the bench, grabbed 13 rebounds. The Eagles had 49 rebounds in the game.
“He was so noticeable out there,” Mecholsky said. “When Danny comes out and Peyton can control the boards like that, that’s a big relief as a coach. Not only can he grab the boards, he starts the transition. He can turn and go.”
“I just try to contribute the best I can,” O’Brien said. “It feels good just to know I contributed some way to the win.”
The Clippers hit their only 3 of the first quarter with 2:13 left and it touched off a flurry that got them to 12-11 with a chance to tie. They missed the free throw on a potential three-point play, Saulin made a bucket on the other end and that started a 14-0 Pennsville run across two quarters that put the Eagles safely back in front for good.
“It’s an old cliché,” Mecholsky said, “the better team should win the game and tonight we were the better team.”
In most areas they were. One that left Mecholsky wiping his brow was the 24 turnovers charged to his team.
“We were incredibly lucky tonight that they didn’t shoot well; let’s be honest,” he said. “I didn’t see what Clayton shot from the field but we had 20-plus turnovers. How many games do you win when you turn the ball over 20 times? To have 24 turnovers you just start shaking your head and say all right we got one tonight.” PENNSVILLE 80, CLAYTON 66 CLAYTON (1-1) – Dillon Jones 3 1-2 8, Princeton Sackor 5 1-1 14, Nazir Davis 1 0-0 2, John Carter 1 0-0 3, Khamari Farley 7 0-0 17, Demetris Williams 4 0-0 8, Jon Cox 0 0-2 0, Cristan Scott 0 0-2 0, A’Shaud Hine-Pope 3 0-1 6, Nasir Carter 3 0-0 8, Jayden Prince 0 0-0 0. Totals 27 2-8 66. PENNSVILLE (1-0) – Mason O’Brien 1 0-0 3, Luke Wood 10 2-4 24, Cohen Petrutz 5 0-0 11, Chase Burchfield 7 0-1 14, Peyton O’Brien 2 0-0 4, Jayden Thomas 3 0-2 7, Malik Rehmer 0 0-0 0, Daniel Saulin 8 1-1 17. Totals 36 3-8 80.
Clayton
11
18
15
22 –
66
Pennsville
19
19
22
20 –
80
3-point goals: Clayton 10 (Jones, Sackor 3, J. Carter, Farley 3, N. Carter 2); Pennsville 5 (Wood 2, M. O’Brien, Petrutz, Thomas). Total fouls: Clayton 10, Pennsville 16.
SCHALICK 65, SALEM TECH 43: The Cougars won only three games a year ago, but got their new season off to a rousing start – 25-4 in the first quarter and 39-11 at halftime – and won their season opener for the first time since 2015.
Reggie Allen led the way with 17 points. Daniel Lis had 12 and Ryan Johnson had 10. Junior Nylan Sutton added five points for the Cougars, and had one of the night’s biggest highlights when he threw down the first dunk of his career in the fourth quarter.
“I think it is meaningful for our program overall,” Schalick coach James Turner said. “It’s nice to finally open up the season with a win and for these guys to carry that same winning mentality from one season to the next, which was what our goal was, and they did a good job today.”
The Cougars got off to what Turner called “a great start.” Their press forced several turnovers that led to some transition baskets and they held the Chargers without a field goal in the first quarter.
“The game plan going in was to put pressure on them and try to get up early,” Turner said. “We tried our best to keep them from getting set in their offense.”
The Cougars didn’t secure their first win last season until after the first of the year. It’s the earlier they’ve gotten a win since beating Collingswood at home on Dec. 15, 2018 – Turner’s second game as their coach.
The last time they opened a season with a win, they beat Clearview 57-42 in 2015 and went on to go 22-8. They’ve won 22 games the previous five seasons combined.
“I think it was just a little bit of a relief, to say OK we got that first win out of the way, we got that first game out of the way,” Turner said. “I’d just say it was a feeling of relief because of what we’ve gone through the last few years.”
Salem Tech’s Antoine Robinson led all scorers with 19 points.
SCHALICK 65, SALEM TECH 43 SALEM TECH (0-1) – Antoine Robinson 5 8-11 19, Chase Wills 3 2-4 9, Josh Muntz 1 0-0 3, Tyler Zampino 1 0-0 3, Haneef Frisby 3 0-0 6, Joseph Hayes 0 1-4 1, Gio Holmes 0 0-0 0, Daviontae Russell 1 0-0 2, Chase Ayers 0 0-0 0. Totals 14 11-19 43. SCHALICK (1-0) – Reggie Allen 6 2-6 17, Daniel Lis 5 1-3 12, Sherrod Jones 1 0-0 2, Justin Iacona 0 0-0 0, Nylan Sutton 2 1-4 5, Nasir Sutton 3 2-9 8, Ryan Johnson 4 2-2 10, Jordan Johnson 2 1-2 5, Jake Siedlecki 2 0-0 4, Jase Volovar 1 0-1 2. Totals 26 9-27 65.
Salem Tech
4
7
20
12 –
43
Schalick
25
14
8
18 –
65
3-point goals: Salem Tech 4 (Robinson, Wills, Muntz, Zampino); Schalick 4 (Alllen 3, Lis). Fouled out: Frisby, J. Johnson, Siedlecki. Total fouls: Salem Tech 21, Schalick 21.
PITMAN 69, PENNS GROVE 41: Some days you play well and some days you learn well. Red Devils coach Damian Ware hopes his team is learning to see what takes to play at a high level because they’ve seen those teams that do twice since practice began.
The Red Devils got their second dose of it Friday and the Panthers put their skill and experience together to show them how the other half lives.
“For our guys the difference in the game was the intensity of the game,” Ware said. “It was actually a good learning lesson and that’s why I told the guys. I said now you see what it looks like to be a contender. If you want to be a contender this is the level you have to play to.”
They got a taste of it last week when they played Egg Harbor Twp., but that was a scrimmage so when they came up short in that one it was no harm, no foul. Friday night’s game counted in the standings.
Penns Grove was in it early and only trailed 15-12 after the first quarter, but then Pitman’s Elijah Crispin and Michael Fisicaro started hearing up and the Panthers started pulling away. Crispin hit three 3s from NBA range and the lead started to grow. It was 16 at halftime, 25 after three quarters.
Crispin led all scorers with 17 points. Fisicaro had 15. Crispin hit three 3s, Fisicaro hit four. Meanwhile, Penns Grove was 0-for-16 from behind the arc.
Roman Gipson led the Red Devils with 13 points off the bench and he may have earned himself a promotion.
“He’s the first sub off the bench, he’s our sixth man, which actually might change,” Ware said. “I might put him in the starting lineup, we’ll see.
“In two of the three scrimmages he came off the bench and did some work there. I’m trying to give guys a little bit of rope to see what they do, but when these young guys come up ,you can’t deny them. You’ve got to let them play.”
The first chance for that possibility is Saturday when they play Lindenwold in the nightcap of their own Red Devil Classic. Pitman opens the event against Burlington City at 11 a.m., followed by Salem and Woodbury. Both Penns Grove teams play in the evening session.
PITMAN 69, PENNS GROVE 41 PITMAN (1-0) – Porter Kostiuk 5-3-13, Stephen Devanney 4-1-10, Hudson Rue 4-0-8, Elijah Crispin 6-2-17, Chris Wyllie 2-0-4, Michael Fisicaro 6-1-15, Greg Petersen 1-0-2, Jake Epting 0-0-0, Trey Tinges 0-0-0. Totals 27-7-69. PENNS GROVE (0-1) – Roman Gipson 5-3-13, Camren Thompson 0-1-0, Giomar Conrad 2-8-12, Mehki Ballard 1-0-2, Willie Slocum 1-2-4, Brandin Robbins 2-0-4, KaRon Ceaser 2-0-4, Luis Colon 0-1-1. Totals 13-15-41.
Regular season for basketball, wrestling gets underway for teams in Salem County for the week of Dec. 11-16; x-indicates scrimmages
MONDAY BASKETBALL Girls x-Palmyra at Pennsville, 4 p.m. x-Penns Grove at Kingsway, 4 p.m. Boys x-Kingsway at Penns Grove, 4 p.m. x-Maple Shade at Woodstown, 4 p.m. x-Pennsville at Palmyra, 4 p.m. x-Schalick at Bridgeton, 4 p.m.
TUESDAY BASKETBALL Girls x-Burlington Tech at Salem, 3:45 p.m. x-Penns Grove at Pleasantville, 4 p.m. x-Woodstown at Kingsway, 4 p.m. Boys x-Gloucester Christian at Penns Grove, 4 p.m.
SWIMMING Schalick vs. Millville at YMCA of Vineland, 3 p.m.
INDOOR TRACK Pennsville, Salem in SJTCA Meet, Toms River
BOWLING Salem vs. Salem Tech, Wood Lanes, 4 p.m.
WEDNESDAY BOWLING Salem Tech at Washington Twp., 4 p.m.
THURSDAY WRESTLING Palmyra at Pennsville, 5 p.m.
SWIMMING Salem vs. Pitman at GCIT, 6 p.m.
BOWLING Salem vs. Clayton, Bolero Lanes, 4 p.m.
FRIDAY BASKETBALL Girls Glassboro at Salem, 5:30 p.m. Overbrook at Salem Tech, 5:30 p.m. Penns Grove at Clayton, 5:30 p.m. Pennsville at Wildwood, 5:30 p.m. Schalick at Pitman, 5:30 p.m. Woodstown at Gloucester Catholic, 5:30 p.m. Boys Clayton at Pennsville, 5:30 p.m. Pitman at Penns Grove, 5:30 p.m. Salem Tech at Schalick, 5:30 p.m.
WRESTLING Pennsville in Howdy Duncan Invitational at William Penn, 4:15 p.m. Woodstown at West Deptford, 5 p.m.
SWIMMING Schalick at Camden Co. Tech, 3:30 p.m.
SATURDAY BASKETBALL Girls Audubon at Pennsville, noon Red Devil Classic Bridgeton at Penns Grove, 4:30 p.m.
Boys Pennsville at Deptford, noon Red Devil Classic At Penns Grove Pitman vs. Burlington City, 11 a.m. Woodbury vs. Salem, 1 p.m. Lindenwold at Penns Grove, 6:30 p.m.
WRESTLING Pennsville in Howdy Duncan Invitational at William Penn, 10 a.m. Penns Grove in Schalick Tournament (with Haddon Heights, Mainland, Oakcrest, Pt. Pleasant Beach, WW-P North, WW-P South) Woodstown in Delaware Valley (Pa.) Tournament
INDOOR TRACK Woodstown at Bennett Center, Toms River
Riverview Sports News 