Category: SALEM TECH

Diamond Division showdown

Here are the results and highlights from Monday night’s Salem County sports calendar

BOYS BASKETBALL
Salem 77, Clayton 64
Overbrook 66, Woodstown 51
Schalick 84, Pennsville 30
Penns Grove 65, Glassboro 50
Wildwood 66, Salem Tech 29
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Glassboro 64, Penns Grove 30
Clayton 63, Salem at Clayton 50
Pennsville 57, Schalick 35
Wildwood 53, Salem Tech 22
Woodstown 55, Overbrook 27
SWIMMING
At YMCA of Vineland
Millville 91, Schalick 79

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

WOODSTOWN – The Woodstown junior varsity came back from way downtown in the fourth quarter to win the undercard Monday night. It was the kind of rally that would have electrified the building, but the magic didn’t carry over into the main event for the home team.

The junior Wolverines thrilled the home crowd by coming from 23 down in the fourth to win at the buzzer, but in the main event it was all Overbrook. The Rams led wire-to-wire and although the Wolverines did make a run late left town with a 66-51 win to take the upper hand in the Tri-County Diamond Division.

Both teams were undefeated in the division coming into the game.

“They made things hard for us tonight,” Woodstown coach Ramon Roots said. “Seeing that was incredible by the JV and we had the energy in the locker room when we came out. It came down to great players make big-time plays and we just missed shots. It wasn’t our night.”

Overbrook established its dominance with runs at the start of each half. The Rams (9-2) jumped out 12-3 to start the game and then had the first nine points of the third quarter to set the stage for its 21st straight Diamond Division win.

“I just challenged our kids,” Rams coach Donny Lang said. “It’s a long bus ride, these kids from Woodstown they play hard and I challenged our kids to make sure we matched their energy or came out with more. They did that from the opening tip. They came out with the passion. it’s a division game, we want to win our conference and I credit my kids for coming out with that kind of energy.

“It’s funny. In this game we always say until there’s zeroes on the clock it’s never over. (Woodstown’s Alejandro Vazquez) hit a buzzer beater to cut it to 8 (at halftime). That was a big shot. We knew that kind of gave them some momentum coming into the second half so it was kind of like let’s start over and let’s make sure we win the second half, we’ll win the game.”

Lamar Little and Bilal Robinson, as usual, inflicted the most damage, going for 21 and 20 points, respectively, but the Rams got contributions from throughout the lineup. JR Stanley had nine points and five rebounds, Gavin Cajuste had seven rebounds and Jaden St. John had eight boards off the bench.

Little and Robinson had all but one of the Rams’ points in the 17-point first quarter.

“I’m very fortunate to get coach both of them,” Lang said. “Lamar’s a senior; he’s taken a big step for us. He’s kind of mentored Bilal and Bilal’s grown up fast from his freshman year. He started for us, but his role has changed now. He’s one of our main guys.”

Andrew White and Vazquez led the Wolverines (7-4) with 12 and 10 points, respectively.

The game stayed in the 12- to 15-point range after Overbrook’s opening salvo of the third quarter. The Wolverines really went cold to open the fourth quarter and the Rams were able to stretch the lead.

The varsity Wolverines just didn’t have as much time to work with the deficit as the guys in the first game, but they did put together a nice run late to make it respectable. They made a 13-2 closing run that included a pair of 3s by Connor Miller and one by Jack Hood-McGinley, the hero of the JV win.

“They came in and played hard and made shots, that’s what basketball comes down to,” Roots said. “As coaches we’re going to re-evaluate everything. Guys might get a chance to get more opportunities. That’s the message I gave.”

OVERBROOK (9-2): Lamar Little 7 5-6 21, Bilal Robinson 8 0-0 20, JR Stanley 4 0-2 9, Gavin Cajuste 1 2-6 4, Jaden St. John 3 0-0 6, Rashon Jones 1 0-0 2, Damere Vennie 1 0-0 2, Jayden Wilkerson 1 0-0 2, Kyle Johns 0 0-0 0, Jason Boyd 0 0-0 0, Josh Lewis 0 0-0 0, Josh Schoeb 0 0-0 0
WOODSTOWN (7-4): Eli Caesar 1 4-5 6, Jalen Markward 0 0-0 0, Blake Bialecki 2 1-2 6, Alejandro Vazquez 3 3-4 10, Jack Hood-McGinley 1 2-2 5, Josh King 1 2-2 4, Andrew White 4 2-4 12, Trey Markward 0 0-0 0, Lucas Fulmer 0 0-0 0, Bryce Ayars 0 0-0 0, Frankie Hoerst 1 0-2 2, Connor Miller 2 0-0 6. Totals 15 14-21 51.

Overbrook17161815-66
Woodstown 7181115-51
3-point goals: Overbrook 7 (Little 2, Robinson 4, Stanley); Woodstown 7 (Bialecki, Vazquez, Hood-McGinley, White 2, Miller 2). Rebounds: Overbrook 38 (St. John 7); Woodstown 22 (Hoerst 4, White 4). Total fouls: Overbrook 14, Woodstown 14.

SALEM 77, CLAYTON 64: Fatah Paige has only been with the Salem basketball team a short time, but he made his biggest impact to date in helping the Rams to their seventh straight win.

The McLean (Del.) transfer, after scoring a combined 16 points in his first two games with the Rams, went off for 18 points and 14 rebounds, with four thunderous dunks that brought the crowd to its feet.

Xavier McGriff (11) and Neziah Spence (12) also scored in double figures. Deshaan Williams had eight points and 13 rebounds. Marshall Stephens had eight points and seven boards. And BJ Robbins had six points, seven rebounds and eight assists, picking up the slack without floor general Tymear Lecator in the game.

PENNS GROVE 65, GLASSBORO 50: Roman Gipson went for a team-high 18 points and Carson Pearsall went for a career-high 10 in his first varsity scoring of the season, but all five of the Red Devils’ other scorers had seven to nine points. Pearsall’s previous career-high was nine, last year against Kingsway.

PENNS GROVE (6-4): Roman Gipson 18, Carson Pearsall 10, Haneef Frisby 7, Will Roy 9, Geonni Conrad 7, Zane Thomas 7, Luis Colon 7.
GLASSBORO (2-8): Alex Adeleye 10, William Boggins 18, Cam Parker-Akins 8, Aiden Harris 4, Maurice Davis 10.

Penns Grove14151917-65
Glassboro1271417-50

SCHALICK 84, PENNSVILLE 30: Freshmen Julian Dickerson led Orion Baldwin led five Schalick scorers in double figures with 20 and 18, respectively, as the Cougars won their third straight to get over .500 for the first time this season. For Baldwin, it tied his career high.

Kade Macom, Sherrod Jones and Dylan Sheehan all scored 11 apiece. Mason O’Brien fought through a sore ankle to led Pennsville with 10 points.

PENNSVILLE (1-10): Jake Layfield 1 0-0 2, Gavin Spears 0 0-2 0, Shamir Watkins 1 0-0 3, Mason O’Brien 4 0-0 10, Colt Willis 4 0-0 9, Trey Clevenger 1 0-0 3, Chanler Lindenmuth 1 1-1 3. Totals 12 1-4 30.
SCHALICK (5-4): Orion Baldwin 6 3-5 18, Julian Dickerson 8 0-0 20, Kade Macom 5 0-0 11, Sherrod Jones 3 4-6 11, Dylan Sheehan 5 1-1 11, Cooper Willoughby 1 0-0 2, Jacob Schalick 1 0-0 2, Eian Cirino 2 0-0 5, Braden Iwano 1 0-0 2, Mason Sanchez 1 0-0 2. Totals 44 8-12 84.

Pennsville51177-30
Schalick18212817-84
3-point goals: Pennsville 5 (Watkins, O’Brien 2, Willis, Clevenger); Schalick 10 (Baldwin 3, Dickerson 4, Macom, Jones, Cirino).

WILDWOOD 66, SALEM TECH 29: Chase Pompper led Salem Tech with 10 points. Aiden Bobo had nine.

Salem Tech (1-7)12764-29
Wildwood (3-5)1717239-66

1000-Point Watch

PLAYERTONIGHTTOTAL
Blake Bialecki, Woodstown6 vs. Overbrook864
Tymear Lecator, SalemDNP755

Girls games

PENNSVILLE 57, SCHALICK 35: Sophomore Addie Johnston had the hottest hand of her career, hitting five 3-pointers and going for 22 points as the Eagles (6-3) remained undefeated in the TCC Diamond Division.

She hit four of her treys in the first half while scoring 16 points. She had 10 points in the second quarter as the Eagles erased a five-point deficit and took a 27-16 halftime lead.

“She was just hot in that first half,” Pennsville coach Steve Merritt said. “She missed four layups during the course of the game or could’ve been a really big game for her.”

Johnston hit four 3s twice last season (Haddon Twp. and Wildwood). Her previous career-high scoring was 21 points against Triton.

She had nine 3-pointers this season coming into the game and broke a three-game streak without one when she hit two against Delsea Saturday.

Marley Wood had 15 points, 14 after falling on her wrist in the first quarter. Taylor Bass added 12 points. Izzy Saulin scored eight points, all in the second half.

Willow Davis hit a career-high four 3-pointers for Schalick and matched her career high with 14 points. Neveah Robinson had 12 points.

SCHALICK (5-2): Ava Scurry 2 0-0 4, Neveah Robinson 6 0-0 12, Willow Davis 5 0-0 14, Olivia Vanacker 0 2-3 2, Juelynn Jarmon 0 0-0 0, Vicky Basich 1 1-1 3, Emmalynn Weir 0 0-0 0. Totals 14 3-4 35.
PENNSVILLE (6-3): Taylor Bass 4 3-4 12, Marley Wood 6 2-3 15, Addie Johnston 7 3-4 22, Jaiden Wilson 0 0-0 0, Kylie Harris 0 0-0 0, Izzy Saulin 4 0-0 8, Kylie Weist 0 0-0 0. Totals 21 8-11 57.

Schalick124154-35
Pennsville7201218-57
3-point goals: Schalick 4 (Davis 3); Pennsville 7 (Bass, Wood, Johnston 5). Total fouls: Schalick 11, Pennsville 5.

WOODSTOWN 55, OVERBROOK 27: The Wolverines snapped a five-game losing streak, their longest since the 2018-19 season when they have five- and six-game slides.

GLASSBORO 64, PENNS GROVE 30: Kezia Bracket scored 24 points, grabbed six rebounds, dished four assists and had four steals for the Bulldogs (7-3). Lily Czubas scored seven points and grabbed seven rebounds. Keziah Patterson (14) and Mikayla Washington (12) combined for 26 points for Penns Grove (1-9).

PENNS GROVE (1-9): Keziah Patterson 5 2-2 14, JaNiyah Cummings 1 1-4 3, Mikayla Washington 5 2-4 12, NyAsia Numan 0 1-2 1. Played with with five, but only four scorers reported. Totals 11 6-12 30.
GLASSBORO (7-3): Kezia Brackett 7 9-11 24, Grace Moore 2 1-1 6, Layla Anderson 4 0-0 9, Zoey Bailey 1 0-0 2, Sianna Wedderburn 2 0-0 4, Gianna Askin 1 0-0 3, Marissa Pasquarello 1 0-0 2, Sanaa Thomas 3 1-3 7, Lily Czubas 3 0-1 7, Tatiana Concepcion 0 0-0 0. Totals 24 11-16 64.
Penns Grove11928-30
Glassboro2121166-64
3-point goals: Penns Grove 2 (Patterson 2); Glassboro 5 (Brackett, Moore, Anderson, Askin, Czubas). Rebounds: Glassboro 32 (Wedderburn 7, Czubas 7).

WILDWOOD 53, SALEM TECH 22: Angela Wilber (15) and Rebecca Benichou (12) combined for five 3-pointers while scoring in double figures for the Warriors. The Chargers didn’t hit a 3 in the game or have a scorer in double figures, but Rylee Doerr and Amora Delaine grabbed 15 and 12 rebounds, respectively. Doerr also was credited with four shots.

WILDWOOD (8-4): Angela Wilber 6 0-0 15, Rebecca Benichou 4 2-2 12, Addison Troiano 1 0-0 3, Joelle Murphy 1 2-3 4, Cydnee Kilian 2 0-0 4, Lily Atkinson 1 0-0 3, Julia Ennis 1 0-0 2, Emma Contreras 1 0-0 2, Ellasyn Morey 1 0-0 2, Sabrin Fathi 1 0-0 2, Laila Fathi 2 0-0 4, Antoinette Cooper 0 0-0 0, Sarah Djellal 0 0-0 0, Cara Millard 0 0-0 0. Totals 21 4-5 53.
SALEM TECH (2-6): Tiara Bazemore 1 0-0 2, Amora Delaine 3 0-3 6, Rylee Doerr 2 1-2 5, Shelby Liber 1 3-3 5, Shelby Drummond 2 0-0 4, Rachel Reed 0 0-0 0, Evening Amedee 0 0-0 0, Carmen Mott 0 0-0 0. Totals 9 4-8 22.

Wildwood 1820114-53
Salem Tech 4639-22
3-point goals: Wildwood 7 (Benichou 2, Wilber 3, Troiano, Atkinson). Rebounds: Wildwood 27 (Wilber 5, Murphy 5); Salem Tech 47 (Doerr 15, Delaine 12).

This week’s schedule

Here is the Salem County sports schedule for the week of Jan. 12-17

MONDAY, JAN. 12
BOYS BASKETBALL
Clayton at Salem, 5:30 p.m.
Overbrook at Woodstown, 5:30 p.m.
Pennsville at Schalick, 5:30 p.m.
Penns Grove at Glassboro, 5:30 p.m.
Salem Tech at Wildwood, 5:30 p.m.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Glassboro at Penns Grove, 4 p.m.
Salem at Clayton, 5:30 p.m.
Schalick at Pennsville, 5:30 p.m.
Wildwood at Salem Tech, 5:30 p.m.
Woodstown at Overbrook, 5:30 p.m.
SWIMMING
Schalick vs. Millville, YMCA of Vineland, 3 p.m.
INDOOR TRACK
Salem at Ocean Breeze, Staten Island, 4:30 p.m.
WOMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Salem CC at Hagerstown, 5:30 p.m.

TUESDAY, JAN. 13
WRESTLING
Salem, Holy Spirit at Atlantic City, 4:30 p.m.
Woodstown at Schalick, 5 p.m.
Penns Grove at Cumberland, 6 p.m.
Pitman at Pennsville, 6 p.m.
BOWLING
Salem vs. GCIT at Bolero Lanes, 4 p.m.
Salem Tech vs. Kingsway at Westbrook Lanes
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
RCSJ-Cumberland at Salem CC, 5 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 14
BOYS BASKETBALL
DuPont at Salem, 5:30 p.m.
Pennsville at Penns Grove, 5:30 p.m.
Pitman at Salem Tech, 5:30 p.m.
Schalick at Woodstown, 5:30 p.m.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Penns Grove at Pennsville, 5:30 p.m.
Salem Tech at Pitman, 5:30 p.m.
Woodstown at Schalick, 5:30 p.m.

THURSDAY, JAN. 15
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Medford Tech at Salem Tech, 4 p.m.
Pennsville at Camden Catholic, 5:30 p.m.
Salem at Wildwood, 5:30 p.m.
WRESTLING
Salem at Palmyra, 5:30 p.m.
Penns Grove at Clayton, 6 p.m.
Schalick at Pennsville, 6 p.m.
SWIMMING
Woodstown vs. Gloucester Catholic at GCIT, 5:45 p.m.
Schalick vs. Pitman at GCIT, 7:15 p.m.
Salem vs. Deptford at GCIT, 7:15 p.m.
INDOOR TRACK
State Relays at Bennett Center, Toms River, 4:30 p.m.
BOWLING
Salem Tech vs. Clayton, Wood Lanes, 3:45 p.m.
Salem vs. Gloucester Catholic, Westbrook Lanes, 4 p.m.
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Salem CC at Northampton, 7 p.m.
WOMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Harcum at Salem CC, 5 p.m.

FRIDAY, JAN. 16
BOYS BASKETBALL
Buena at Salem Tech, 5:30 p.m.
Gloucester Catholic at Penns Grove, 5:30 p.m.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Lindenwold at Schalick, 4 p.m.
Paulsboro at Penns Grove, 4 p.m.
Salem at Cumberland, 5:30 p.m.
WRESTLING
Girls Jamboree at Buena, 4 p.m.

SATURDAY, JAN. 17
BOYS BASKETBALL
Penns Grove at Eastern, 10 a.m.
Schalick at Haddon Twp., 10 a.m.
Woodstown at Cedar Creek, 11:30 a.m.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Woodstown at Delsea, 11:30 a.m.
WRESTLING
Woodstown at Buena Quad
Penns Grove, Overbrook, Pitman at Salem, 9 a.m.
Pennsville, Collingswood, Vineland at Sterling, 10 a.m.
Schalick, Haddon Twp., Pemberton at Deptford, 10 a.m.
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Passaic at Salem CC, 2 p.m.
WOMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Middlesex at Salem CC, noon

‘Bop’ breaks out

Salem’s Stephens back with his buddies, has big game in Rams’ fifth straight win; includes boys and girls basketball, wrestling, swimming, track and bowling results

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

SALEM – Marshall Stephens is back playing with his basketing buddies again and he couldn’t be happier.

Stephens enjoyed his best game on the court since returning to Salem Thursday night, and it helped the Rams win their fifth in a row, 61-46 over Glassboro. He scored a career-high 13 points, grabbed 10 rebounds and blocked two shots.

The 6-6 senior post, who took the nickname “Bop” from a character on Barney & Friends and has carried it since his freshman year, scored in 11 games for the Rams’ varsity as a sophomore, but moved to New York the next year and didn’t play basketball because it just didn’t feel right with all his basketball buddies back in Salem. 

The coaches at Evander High School in the Bronx were after him every day to play for them. He missed it not playing and thought about it every day, but he stuck to his guns.

“Everything there was just out of place; it just didn’t feel like home,” he said. “It just didn’t feel right playing with these guys. I can play practice with y’all, I can play with you trying to get better, but as far as being on the team (he wasn’t feeling it). 

“And I knew I was coming back. I’ll just wait until I come back. I was like if I come back to Salem I want to be the best I can for that program. That’s where I see myself playing and I can see myself graduating from.”

Rams coach Anthony Farmer, needing post following Antwuan Rogers’ early departure to play Division I football at Temple, welcomed Stephens back to the court when he returned and the player has been steadily getting comfortable with the game again. He had 10 points and eight rebounds in his first game back against Woodstown, which happened to be coach Anthony Farmer’s 100th career coaching win.

The game Thursday was his first since the opener scoring in double figures and his second in a row with 10 or more rebounds.

“I can say I have gotten comfortable to the point where a game could be starting and I won’t even be nervous; I’ll be excited,” he said. “I’m definitely getting there. The excitement is definitely coming back. I’m just hoping I can keep that momentum going.”

If he does, people will need to start getting his name right. In other media he’s called “Marshall Stevenson.” His name has neither a “son” nor a “v” in it. It’s S-T-E-P-H-E-N-S. You’re welcome.

He looked comfortable enough against the Bulldogs, scoring 10 points in the first quarter as the Rams opened an 18-8 lead. 

“I just wanted to make my coaches proud because they told me be strong off the jump,” Stephens said. “Before the game they said we can get our seventh win and go on a championship run. I’ve got to be more physical on the back end. I’ve got guys looking at me and looking up to me, so I’ve gotta step up.”

Deshaan Williams had 10 points and eight rebounds for the Rams (7-1). Tymear Lecator had 17 points, five rebounds and seven assists. Fatah Paige, a transfer from McKean (Del.), had nine points, eight rebounds and a pair of assists in his Salem debut.

GLASSBORO (2-6): Alex Adeleye 3 6-6 12, Will Goggans 2 0-0 4, Xavier Sabb 4 7-10 17, Maurice Davis 1 3-10 5, Cam Parker-Akins 1 0-0 2, Derreck Robinson 1 0-0 2, Jack O’Connell 0 0-0 0, Lorenz Jones 0 0-0 0, Others 2 0-2 4. Totals 14 16-28 46.
SALEM (7-1): Xavier McGriff 1 0-0 3, Neziah Spence 1 0-0 3, Tymear Lecator 7 0-0 17, Deshaan Williams 3 4-8 10, BJ Robbins 0 2-2 2, Harlem Parsons 1 0-1 2, Marshall Stephens 6 1-1 13, Cole Sayers 0 0-0 0, Kaden Robinson 0 0-2 2, Barnes 1 0-0 2, Santiago 0 0-0 0, Jovanni Rios 9 0-0 0, Fatah Paige 4 1-2. Totals 24 8-16 61.

Glassboro9121213-46
Salem18121219-61
3-point goals: Glassboro 2 (Sabb); Salem 5 (McGriff, Spence, Lecator 3). Rebounds: Salem 41 (Stephens 10, Williams 8, Paige 8). Technical fouls: Santiago 2. Fouled out: Stephens, Santiago. Total fouls: Glassboro 17, Salem 19..

Photo credit: Amo Alleyne

WOODSTOWN 56, WILDWOOD 40: Blake Bialecki and Eli Caesar each hit three 3-pointers and combined for 30 points as the Wolverines won for the seventh time in their last eight games. Bialecki scored 17 points to move within 142 of 1,000 for his career.

WILDWOOD (2-4): Nolan Mawhinney 5 0-0 13, Owen Bannon 1 0-0 3, Gianni Troiano 1 1-2 3, Jordan Dozier 4 0-0 8, Eric Jordan 2 1-2 5, Vinny Sweeney 1 0-0 2, Michael Sciarra 2 0-0 6. Totals 16 2-4 40.
WOODSTOWN (7-3): Eli Caesar 5 0-2 13, Lucas Fulmer 1 0-0 2, Alejandro Vazquez 2 1-2 6, Andrew White 3 2-4 6, Blake Bialecki 6 2-2 17, Frank Hoerst 1 0-0 2, Josh King 3 2-4 8. Totals 21 7-14 56.

Wildwood4101412-40
Woodstown5141918-56
3-point goals: Wildwood 6 (Mawhinney 3, Bannon, Sciarra 2); Woodstown 7 (Bialecki 3, Caesar 3, Vazquez).

PITMAN 51, PENNS GROVE 43: Roman Gipson hit four 3-pointers and led Penns Grove with 18 points. Joey Zubert led a balanced Pitman scoring attack with 10 points. Lucas Razze had nine points, seven assists and five steals.

PENNS GROVE (5-4): Roman Gipson 7 0-0 18, Haneef Frisby 3 1-2 7, Will Roy 4 0-0 8, Geonni Conrad 1 1-2 4, Luis Colon 0 2-4 2, Zane Thomas 1 2-4 4. Totals 16 6-12 43.
PITMAN (4-6): Lucas Razze 2 4-6 8, Parker DeChristipher 3 1-2 9, Joey Zubert 2 4-4 10, Jay Craig 3 2-4 8, Jake Bowen-Ashwin 1 3-4 6, Micah Frost 3 1-2 9. Totals 14 15-22 51.

Penns Grove (5-4)148714-43
Pitman (4-6)10131216-51
3-point goals: Penns Grove 5 (Gipson 4, Conrad); Pittman 8 (Razze, DeChristopher 2, Zubert 2, Bowen-Ashwin, Frost 2).

SCHALICK 60, SALEM TECH 43: Schalick 3-4, Salem Tech 1-6

1000-Point Watch

PLAYERTODAYTOTAL
Blake Bialecki, Woodstown17 vs. Wildwood858
Tymear Lecator, Salem17 vs. Glassboro737

GIRLS BASKETBALL
SCHALICK 48, SALEM TECH 27: Nevaeh Robinson scored 19 points and Willow Davis had 14 as the Cougars got back on the winning track after having its three-game season-opening winning streak snapped last time out. Robinson scored 12 points in the second half. Davis hit three 3-pointers

SALEM TECH (2-5): Rachel Reed 1 0-0 2, Shelby Liber 2 0-0 5, Shelby Drummond 5 0-2 11, Amora Delaine 4 0-0 8, Rylee Doerr 0 1-1 1, Tiara Bazemore 0 0-0 0, Evening Amedee 0 0-0 0, Lydon 0 0-0 0. Totals. 12 1-3 27.
SCHALICK (4-1): Ava Scurry 3 0-0 6 Cali Fisler 2 1-3 5, Nevaeh Robinson 9 1-2 19, Willow Davis 5 1-4 14, Olivia Vanacker 0 0-0 0, Jaclynn Jarmon 2 0-0 4, Vicky Basich 0 0-0 0, Emmalyn Weir 0 0-0 0, Emma O’Neill 0 0-0 0, Bailey Wentz 0 0-0 0. Totals 21 3-9 48.

Salem Tech5598-27
Schalick1591311-48
3-point goals: Salem Tech 2 (Liber, Drummond); Schalick 3 (Davis 3). Total fouls: Salem Tech 7, Schalick 9.

WILDWOOD 63, WOODSTOWN 37: Addison Troiano went 11-of-15 from the foul line on the way to 21 points and Rebecca Benichou hit three 3-pointers on the way to 18 for the Warriors. Lauren Hengel led Woodstown with 11.

WOODSTOWN (4-6): Lauren Hengel 4 1-1 11, Kyia Leyman 2 0-2 6, Emma Perry 3 0-0 6, Kendall Young 3 0-3 5, Mia Waterman 2 0-0 6, Jaelyn McDonald 1 0-0 2. Totals 15 1-5 37.
WILDWOOD (6-4): Angela Wilber 1 0-0 3, Rebecca Benichou 6 3-6 18, Kiana D’Antuono 1 0-0 3, Addison Troiano 5 11-15 21, Joelle Murphy 5 1-2 12, Cydnee Kilian 0 0-0 0, Sarah Djellal 0 0-0 0, Lily Atkinson 0 0-0 0, Laila Fathi 0 0-0 0, Aubrey Bradway 0 0-0 0, Julia Ennis 0 0-0 0, Emma Contreras 0 0-0 0, Ellasyn Morey 0 0-0 0, Sabrin Fathi 1 0-0 3, Cara Millard 0 0-0 0. Totals 19 15-23 63.
Woodstown414109-37
Wildwood20151216-63
3-point goals: Woodstown 6 (Hengel 2, Leyman 2, Waterman 2); Wildwood 6 (Benichou 3, D’Antiuomo, Murphy, S. Fathi). Rebounds: Wildwood 22 (Murphy 8).

WRESTLING
PAULSBORO 42, PENNSVILLE 32
106: Brett Land (PV) tech fall over Ethan Nguyen, 16-0 (2:33)
113: Ben Pacheco (PB) tech fall over Erick Davalos, 26-11 (5:15)
120: Will Cruz (PB) pinned John Sassi, 0:35
126: Antonio Chila (PB) tech fall over Mehki Dicks, 17-2 (5:07)
132: Maximos Efelis (PV) tech fall over Patrick Zold, 21=5 (5:22)
138: Chris Baker (PV) pinned Logan Shipman, 1:30
144: Ben Price (PB) maj. dec. Nathaniel Mason, 16-4
150: Julian Sosa (PB) pinned Travis Hagan, 4:38
157: Gabe Supernavage (PV) tech fall over Grayson Lane, 21-3 (3:10)
165: Robbie McDade (PV) tech fall over Anthony Muniz, 17-1 (5:29)
175: Josias Torres (PB) pinned Juan Velasquez Hernandez, 2:58
190: Frank Damminger (PB) pinned Cristian Blyler, 1:11
215: Jason Yandach (PB) maj. dec. Hunter Coulbourn, 12-1
285: Trevor Waddington (PV) won by forfeit

SWIMMING
Woodstown 120, Highland 41
Cumberland 105, Schalick 65

INDOOR TRACK
(At The Bubble, Toms River)
(Salem County Top 6 finishes)
BOYS
Pole vault: 3. Salvatore Longo, Schalick 11-6
GIRLS
High jump: 2. Kallie Morrison, Pennsville 4-10

BOWLING
LINDENWOLD 4, SALEM TECH 0: Jean Pierre Pozo rolled Salem Tech’s high game (214) and series (563). Lindenwold’s Connor Piotrowski bowled the high game of the match (233).

Welcome to the club

Pennsville’s Bass passes 1,000-point mark in Eagles’ win over Clayton

MONDAY BASKETBALL
GIRLS
Pennsville 51, Clayton 38
Salem 38, Penns Grove 26
Hammonton 49, Woodstown 37
Wildwood 70, Salem Tech 12
BOYS
Penns Grove 58, Salem Tech 19
Clayton 94, Pennsville 77

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

PENNSVILLE – There were no outward signs in the gym before the game that something special was about to happen but everyone knew about the milestone they came to see.

It just might have taken a little longer than anticipated.

Pennsville senior Taylor Bass became the latest player to join the Salem County 1,000-Point Club Monday when she reached the milestone on a three-point play 15 seconds into the fourth quarter of the Eagles’ 51-38 win over Clayton.

She became the 20th Pennsville player all time – boy or girl – to reach the milestone, the third in its girls program in two seasons and the second still active. Her 16 points against the Clippers left her with 1,008 for her career.

“There wasn’t that much anticipation if I’m lying; it was definitely very anticipated,” Bass said. “I was quite anxious I wasn’t going to get it today when everybody was able to pop out because the next game was going to be away.

“I’m glad I got it today. It was definitely killing me waiting all that time until now.”

It probably should have come last year, when senior Nora Ausland and junior Marley Wood both reached the milestone, but the early part of Bass’ career was beset by injuries. There was a thought she would get it Dec. 27, when she needed only 14 points, but was held to six by Haddon Twp.’s tenacious face guarding.

The balloons and posters came out after halftime and were stashed behind the bench, but, honestly, it was looking like the celebration might be delayed another day as foul trouble kept her on the bench for the better part of two quarters.

She picked up her third foul early in the second quarter after scoring only five points and her fourth in the first minute of the second half that put her on the bench the rest of the third quarter. She still needed three points for the milestone.

“I definitely kept getting frustrated, not with anybody else, but myself because I just kept fouling and fouling,” Bass said. “I was scared a little I wasn’t going to get it, but there was still a whole ‘nother quarter left; I knew I had it.”

She wanted to go back in even with the foul trouble, but coach Steve Merritt didn’t want to run the risk of losing his biggest threat with the game still very much in doubt.

“I told her I love you dearly and if it were up me I’d adopt you, but nobody in his right mind would put you back in the game in the third period with four fouls. Nobody,” Merritt said. “She come over and said can I go back in. I said no. There was anger, I could read that look, but I could not do it.

“I rolled the dice years ago and got lucky to get away with it but I wasn’t going to do it tonight. Not when she was that close. It was absurd.”

Bass reentered the game to start the fourth quarter with the Eagles down 38-37 and immediately went to work. The first time she got the ball she drove hard to the basket and was fouled. The layup for points 998 and 999 gave the Eagles the lead. The free throw that followed gave her 1,000 points on the dot and made it 40-38.

“I never really thought I was going to get a three-point play,” she said. “I wanted some points … because I was not having a good game. I was not playing too good today.

“I’ve never been so scared standing on the foul line (for the milestone and-one) before. I was so nervous. My hands were like shaking.”

The three-point play took the lid off everything. Bass scored eight more points in the quarter, the Eagles seemed to play more relaxed and they held the Clippers scoreless the entire quarter to win by double digits.

“It was like a weight lifted off of all of us,” Bass said. “It obviously wasn’t just me that wanted it. They wanted it for me and when I finally got it we were like OK let’s go, we all just got real excited. Our adrenaline was pushing and everything.”

“That was a very important moment and let’s celebrate that, great, but we still have another important moment ahead of it, let’s go win this thing,” Merritt said. “And they came out and played inspired defense for the first time all season. I told them if you continue to do that the game is yours.”

With Bass struggling early and sitting later, the Eagles needed to find some offense somewhere. Addi Johnson got them going early, scoring six points in the first quarter and 11 in the first half. Then with Bass sitting in third, Izzy Saulin got them back in the game scoring six points, diving for loose balls and grabbing several rebounds.

“I think I just focused in,” Saulin said. 

NOTES: Bass also had seven rebounds and five steals … Wood added five points to her career total, but she also grabbed nine rebounds, dished 11 assists and blocked three shots.

PENNSVILLE 51, CLAYTON 38
CLAYTON (1-6): Deondria Simon 1 2-4 5, Janice Blair 0 0-4 0, India Bryant 8 2-2 23, India Williams 3 0-1 6, Gabby Searle 0 0-0 0, Lenaya Carr 1 2-4 4. Totals 13 6-15 38.
PENNSVILLE (4-2): Taylor Bass 7 2-5 16, Marley Wood 2 1-4 5, Addison Johnston 5 1-1 12, Jaiden Wilson 2 0-0 5, Kylie Harris 0 0-0 0, Izzy Saulin 3 1-2 7, Jaida Burns 3 0-0 6. Totals 22 5-12 51.

Clayton1115120-38
Pennsville1581414-51
3-point goals: Clayton 6 (Simon, Bryant 5); Pennsville 2 (Johnston, Wilson). Total fouls: Clayton 10, Pennsville 13.
Pennsville’s Taylor Bass (1) gets carried off the floor by her teammates after reaching the 1,000-point plateau Monday night.

SALEM 38, PENNS GROVE 26: MVP Madison Dixon filled up the box score with 13 points, eight rebounds, four steals and four assists and did a defensive job on Penns Grove’s hottest hand, leading the Rams to the Battle for the Bridge title at Xfinity Mobile Arena.

Salem coach Kemp Carr and MVP Madison Dixon.

It was the Rams’ third win of the season, matching their win total of all of last year. 

“We’re working, we’re working hard as a group,” coach Kemp Carr said. “The coaches, the players, they’re bought in …. to all the mentality type factors that weren’t there last year.”

The Rams (3-2) weren’t intimidated by the bright lights and the NBA floor.

Freshman Dyaira Anderson had 15 points, nine rebounds, a blocked shot and three steals. Carlysia Pierce had 11 rebounds and six steals.

As the game’s MVP, Dixon will have the opportunity to hand the game ball to the refs prior to the 76ers game against Milwaukee Jan. 27.

HAMMONTON 49, WOODSTOWN 37: The Wolverines (4-4) lost to an undefeated opponent for the second straight game. Gabriella Stevenson led Hammonton with 17 points and 13 rebounds. Lauren Hengel led Woodstown with 15 points.

Hammonton (7-0)1114168-49
Woodstown (4-4)841016-37

WILDWOOD 70, SALEM TECH 12: The Warriors hit seven 3-pointers and got scoring from 12 players. Angela Wilber (14), Rebecca Benichou (11) and Joelle Murphy (11) scored in double figures.

Salem Tech (2-3)2226-12
Wildwood (5-4)3118147-70

Boys games

PENNS GROVE 58, SALEM TECH 19: The Red Devils (5-2) got balanced scoring from 11 players and held the Chargers (1-4) to one point in the first quarter at the Xfinity Mobile Arena. Jerry Wooton, Ahkeen Edwards and Luis Colon had eight points apiece. Jeremy Costacamps had seven and three others scored six apiece.

“That’s kind of what we are,” coach Damian Ware said. “No super star, just balanced across the board.”

Salem Tech (1-4)1459-19
Penns Grove (5-2)18121216-58

CLAYTON 94, PENNSVILLE 77: Mason O’Brien scored a career-high 37 points as the Eagles enjoyed their highest scoring game in two seasons, but it still wasn’t enough to overcome the Clippers’ firepower. James Fritz led Clayton with 18 points, six rebounds, four assists and five steals. Jack Venuto had 12 points, five rebounds and seven assists. Michael Bull had 10 points and six boards.

Pennsville (1-7)20221916-77
Clayton (3-3)28252419-94

This week’s schedule

Here is the Salem County sports schedule for the week of Jan. 5-10, highlighted by Penns Grove’s basketball doubleheader at Wells Fargo Center and Pennsville’s Taylor Bass’ bid for 1000 (both Monday), and No. 1 Salem CC’s return vs. No. 7 Union

MONDAY, JAN. 5
BOYS BASKETBALL
Penns Grove vs. Salem Tech at Wells Fargo Center, 2:30 p.m.
Pennsville at Clayton, 5:30 p.m.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Penns Grove vs. Salem at Wells Fargo Center, 1 p.m.
Hammonton at Woodstown, 5:30 p.m.
Clayton at Pennsville, 5:30 p.m.
BOWLING
Salem vs. Overbrook at Wood Lanes, 4 p.m.
SWIMMING
Schalick vs. West Deptford at River Winds, 3:45 p.m.

TUESDAY, JAN. 6
BOYS BASKETBALL
Clayton at Salem Tech, 5:30 p.m.
Glassboro at Schalick, 5:30 p.m.
Overbrook at Penns Grove, 5:30 p.m.
Woodstown at Pennsville, 5:30 p.m.
Salem at Pitman, 7 p.m.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Penns Grove at Overbrook, 4 p.m.
Glassboro at Schalick, 4 p.m.
Pennsville at Woodstown, 5:30 p.m.
Pitman at Salem, 5:30 p.m.
Salem Tech at Clayton, 5:30 p.m.
BOWLING
Salem Tech vs. Gloucester Catholic at Westbrook Lanes, 3:45 p.m.
Salem vs. Lindenwold at Wood Lanes, 4 p.m.
INDOOR TRACK
Penns Grove, Schalick at Cherokee Throwdown
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Union at Salem CC, 5 p.m.
WOMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Monroe-Bronx at Salem CC, 7 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 7
WRESTLING
Deptford at Woodstown, 5 p.m.
Schalick at Gloucester Catholic, 5 p.m.
Penns Grove at Pennsville, 6 p.m.

THURSDAY, JAN. 8
BOYS BASKETBALL
Glassboro at Salem, 5:30 p.m.
Penns Grove at Pitman, 5:30 p.m.
Schalick at Salem Tech, 5:30 p.m.
Wildwood at Woodstown, 5:30 p.m.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Pitman at Penns Grove
Salem at Glassboro, 5:30 p.m.
Salem Tech at Schalick, 5:30 p.m.
Woodstown at Wildwood, 5:30 p.m.
WRESTLING
Pennsville at Paulsboro, 6:30 p.m.
SWIMMING
Woodstown vs. Highland at GCIT, 7 p.m.
Schalick vs. Cumberland at GCIT, 8:30 p.m.
INDOOR TRACK
Pennsville, Schalick at Bennett Complex, 5 p.m.
BOWLING
Salem Tech vs. Lindenwold at Wood Lanes, 3:45 p.m.

FRIDAY, JAN. 9
BOYS BASKETBALL
Buena at Schalick, 5:30 p.m.
Salem at LEAP, 5:30 p.m.
Triton at Pennsville, 5:30 p.m.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Penns Grove at Kingsway, 4 p.m.
Schalick at Buena, 5:30 p.m.
WRESTLING
Pennsville, Salem at TCC Girls Jamboree, Kingsway, 5 p.m.

SATURDAY, JAN. 10
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Delsea at Pennsville, 11:30 a.m.
Woodstown at Haddonfield, 1 p.m.
WRESTLING
Deptford at Penns Grove, 9 a.m.
Woodstown at Cinnaminson, 9:30 a.m.
Salem, Gloucester at Washington Twp., 10 a.m.
Schalick, Cumberland, Timber Creek at Buena, 10 a.m.
Pennsville, Millville, Oakcrest at Overbrook, 10 a.m.
INDOOR TRACK
Woodstown at Bennett Center, Toms River
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Salem CC at RCSJ-Gloucester, 2 p.m.
WOMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Salem CC at RCSJ-Gloucester, 5 p.m.

Back to his old self

Saturday basketball roundup: Lecator getting back into form, just in time for Salem to make a run; Cherokee bombards Woodstown with 3s, and more

BOYS GAMES
Salem 51, St. Joseph 45
Cherokee 65, Woodstown 50
West Deptford 50, Salem Tech 27
Maple Shade 47, Pennsville 36 (OT)
GIRLS GAME
Cinnaminson 56, Woodstown 34

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

SALEM – When Tymear Lecator is at the top of his game Salem basketball coach Anthony Farmer is convinced he’s one of the better guards in South Jersey.

The junior hasn’t been quite up to his form of last season – and there are reasons for that – but Saturday he looked like the Lecator of old. Even he said it was the first time this year he felt like his old self.

Lecator exerted himself early, beating his season high in points by halftime. But he didn’t stop there. Even with foul trouble that kept him out most of the third quarter, he still had 19 points, six rebounds and four assists to lead the Rams past St. Joe’s of Hammonton 51-45.

“I definitely wanted to get back to what I was last year and I knew I was being short of myself and I was hurting the team so I tried to come back,” he said. “I’ve been in the gym consistently getting shots up so that definitely played a big part (in Saturday’s success). I was just ready to go today. I was amped up.”

He didn’t waste any time showing it. He scored the first basket of the game and had nine of the Rams’ 11 first-quarter points. Then he scored six in the 14-0 second-quarter run that gave the Rams an eight-point halftime lead.

That’s 15 points in the half. His best game this year before Saturday was 13 in the season opener against Woodstown.

It was only his third game this season scoring in double figures; he did it 19 times last year, including a triple-double against Clayton. But he also has been dealing with some things he didn’t face last year, either. He underwent off-season wrist surgery and missed most of the Pleasantville game after rolling his ankle.

“I was down on myself for a little bit but I knew I was going to bounce back,” he said. “I wasn’t too hard on myself because I knew what I’m capable of. I just knew I had to let the pieces come together and now I’m back.”

Farmer is glad to see him starting to come around.

“Hopefully this gets him going, he finds his groove,” Farmer said. “We need him to be at full tilt because if we’re going to be the team we need to be down the stretch to try to lock up the 1 seed in Group 1 we need him to be playing at his best.”

Lecator isn’t the only Rams player making his way back. Senior Marshall Stephens is back on the floor after not playing basketball last year in New York. 

Providing the Rams the post presence they need with Antwuan Rogers graduating early to join Temple football in the spring, Stephens went for eight points, eight rebounds and four blocked shots against the Wildcats. In six games this year he’s averaging five points, 6.5 rebounds and has 14 blocks. He’s had 26 rebounds and 10 blocks in his last three games.

“I’m still getting back to myself,” he said, “but I feel like when it’s the middle of the season, when stuff really starts to go down, I’ll be back in my element.”

SALEM 51, ST. JOSEPH (H) 45
ST. JOSEPH (4-3): Caden Banks 3 2-2 8, Zehkiy DeJesus 4 0-0 9, Ayden Santiago 0 0-0 0, Chris Hill 2 1-1 6, CJ Mitchell 0 0-0 0, Eddie Drummond 8 2-4 22. Totals 17 5-7 45.
SALEM (5-1): Marshall Stephens 4 0-0 8, Xavier McGriff 0 2-2 2, Neziah Spence 3 4-4 10, Tymear Lecator 8 2-3 19, BJ Robbins 3 0-0 6, Deshaan Williams 2 2-6 6, Kyvion Parsons 0 0-0 0, Harlem Parsons 0 0-0 0, Cole Sayers 0 0-0 0. Totals 20 10-15 51.

St. Joseph134199-45
Salem11141016-51
3-point goals: St. Joseph 6 (DeJesus, Hill, Drummond 4); Salem 1-16 (Lecator). Rebounds: Salem 27 (Williams 9). Fouled out: Stephens. Total fouls: St. Joseph 12, Salem 15.
Salem’s Marshall Stephens (30) stands his ground in the post, challenging anyone to come into his lane. Top photo, Tymear Lecator (3) doesn’t give St. Joe’s CJ Mitchell much room to work.

It’s raining 3s

WOODSTOWN — Cherokee’s Johnny Comito set up in the left corner for the first shot of the second half. He let it fly and it found the bottom of the net for yet another 3. 

Woodstown coach Ramon Roots just turned away and dropped his head. He’d seen this movie throughout the first half and it was starting all over again.

The Chiefs ended Woodstown’s five-game winning streak Saturday 65-50 under the weight of a season-high 11 3-pointers.

At halftime the Chiefs (6-1) had more points on 3s than the Wolverines (5-3) had points, a trend that carried until midway through the third quarter.

Cherokee’s previous season-high from behind the arc was seven, in the season opener against Cherry Hill West, but they hit six twice thereafter.

Louis Galasso had the hottest hand, hitting six 3s, tying his season high, on the way to 26 points. Tony Fuscia hit three.

“I knew they could get hot,” Roots said. “Everything was going in tonight for them. They shot the ball very well.”

The Chiefs led wire-to-wire. They hit the first two buckets of the game and never trailed. Every time Woodstown got close, they’d hit another 3.

“They shot very well,” Wolverines senior guard Eli Caesar said. “We could’ve contested their shots better, but they were hitting them. It’s kind of hard to defend it when they’re just hitting them. Even when you’re closing out they’re still making them.”

The Wolverines got into the act in the second half. They hit four 3s in the third quarter to keep up – but just to keep up. It helped them score 19 points in the quarter to stay within the seven they trailed by at halftime.

Caesar had three in the quarter and had a career-high six in the game to finish with a game- and career-high 28 points.

“I feel like we’re a good 3-point shooting team, we’re pretty confident shooters,” Caesar said. “I felt like I had to get us back in the game. They went on an 8-0 run to start the third quarter, so I knew we had to flip the switch.”

The Wolverines got within four on a 3-pointer by Alejandro Vazquez with 4:35 to play, but then Galasso hit another 3 and the Chiefs closed it out from the free throw line. In that final stretch Galasso hit two 3s and the Chiefs went 10-for-12 from the foul line.

“I know we have the ability to do that,” Roots said. “We’ve seen it, both of our losses, Woodbury and Salem, coming back in the game, but it’s all about putting ourselves in the hole. We’ve got to stop putting ourselves in the hole. If we weren’t in that hole, we wouldn’t have to come back.”

CHEROKEE 65, WOODSTOWN 50
CHEROKEE (6-1): Louis Galasso 9 2-2 26, John Comito 3 3-4 10, Tony Fuscia 3 3-4 12, Tom Cieslik 4 2-2 11, Chris Walters 2 0-0 4, Jeremiah Shields 1 0-0 2, Josh Shields 0 0-0 0. Totals 22 10-12 65.
WOODSTOWN (5-3): Eli Caesar 9 4-5 28, Blake Bialecki 3 3-3 10, Alejandro Vazquez 3 0-0 8, Josh King 0 0-0 0, Andrew White 2 0-1 4, Lucas Fulmer 0 0-0 0, Connor Miller 0 0-0 0. Totals 17 7-9 50.

Cherokee13111922-65
Woodstown1251914-50
3-point goals: Cherokee 11 (Galasso 6, Comito, Fuscia 3, Cieslik); Woodstown 9 (Caesar 6, Bialecki, Vazquez 2). Rebounds: Cherokee 24 (Je. Shields 6, Walters 6, Fuscia 5); Woodstown 15 (Caesar 6). Technical fouls: Walters. Fouled out: Caesar. Total fouls: Cherokee 8, Woodstown 12.

WEST DEPTFORD 50, SALEM TECH 27
SALEM TECH (1-3): Chase Pompper 1 2-2 4, Brody Kroll 2 0-2 4, Aiden Bobo 2 1-3 5, Keidyn Robinson 1 1-3 3, Larry Pompper 3 0-0 9, Sterling Lewis 1 0-0 2. Totals 10 4-10 27.
WEST DEPTFORD (2-5): Curtis Pearson 2 1-2 5, Kyle Eason 3 4-6 10, Aaron Benson 1 0-0 2, Carter Watson 5 0-0 11, Anthony Martello 2 2-2 7, Michael Garcia 1 2-3 4, Cameron Hoang 0 0-0 0, Michael Joseph 1 1-4 3, Zamir Davis 0 0-0 0, Talib Bogar 1 0-2 2, Cole Stanish 3 0-1 6. Totals 19 10-20 50.

Salem Tech56106-27
West Deptford1171418-50
3-point goals: Salem Tech 3 (L. Pompper 3); West Deptford 2 (Watson, Martello). Rebounds: West Deptford 36 (Joseph 7). Notes: Eason had four steals and three assists. The Eagles ended a four-game losing streak, while extending the Chargers’ slide to three.

MAPLE SHADE 47, PENNSVILLE 38

Maple Shade (2-8)11815310-47
Pennsville (1-6)984161-38
NOTES: Maple Shade’s Jayden Robinson had 15 points and 18 rebounds.

Girls game
A tough lesson

WOODSTOWN – The scoreboard showed a 22-point loss to an undefeated opponent every bit as good as their record indicated. But Woodstown girls coach Matt Smart believes in the long run the Wolverines will have done far better for themselves playing this game than beating an easier opponent by the same margin or more.

The Wolverines took one on the chin Saturday, losing to undefeated Cinnaminson 56-34, but in the immediate analysis of a game otherwise better left alone, Smart did find some positives for his team to take away that will serve them well down the road.

“That’s kind of been our theory all year,” Smart said. “We’ll play whoever, wherever, whenever. We always want to challenge the girls and we always want to try to continue to get better and better and better.

“Each game I’ve had to say let’s focus on us, let’s focus on us getting better. I don’t care what the scoreboard says, if we’re up by 30, if we’re down by 30, whatever, we just want to continue to focus on us getting better as a team and as a unit. The scoreboard doesn’t reflect a win today, but I think we truly got a lot better today.”

Smart said there were “a lot of things” the Wolverines did well. Among them were being more patient with the ball than they’ve been in past games, making smart decisions with the ball, looking for open players, spreading out the floor and keeping up their defensive intensity.

The Wolverines (4-3) actually came out of the first quarter with a lead. It was a one-point game early in the second quarter before the Pirates (7-0) started pulling away. The visitors used a 7-0 run to establish control, then ended the half with another seven-point run to take a 14-point halftime lead.

Gabby Harvey had eight of her 16 points in the second quarter and Shiloh Moore had seven of her game-high 17 there. Harvey hit her four 3-pointers across the second and third quarters. 

The Wolverines focused on getting the ball inside and didn’t have a 3-pointer in the game. Kyia Leyman was their leading scorer with 14 points.

CINNAMINSON 56, WOODSTOWN 34
CINNAMINSON (7-0): Shiloh Moore 7 3-5 17, Norah Quinn 2 0-4 4, Mia Pacetti 2 0-0 5, Gabby Harvey 6 0-0 16, Mia Szlenderowicz 2 1-2 5, Stevie Ormsby 1 0-0 2, Emily Reynolds 1 2-2 4, Chloe Fudala 1 1-2 3, Julia Latevnas 0 0-0 0, Jaci Cichonoski 0 0-0 0, Ella Repsher 0 0-0 0, Tyler Davis 0 0-0 0. Totals 22 7-15 56.
WOODSTOWN (4-3): Kyia Leyman 7 0-0 14, Kendall Young 4 0-2 8, Emma Perry 2 0-0 4, Talia Guardascione 1 2-2 4, Lauren Hengel 2 0-0 4, Mia Waterman 0 0-0 0, Ava White 0 0-0 0, Kaylin Kennedy 0 0-0 0, Gina Murray 0 0-0 0, Jaelyn McDonald 0 0-0 0, Autumn Paleschic 0 0-0 0. Totals 16 2-4 34.

Cinnaminson1024148-56
Woodstown12886-34
3-point goals: Cinnaminson 5 (Harvey 4, Pacetti). Rebounds: Cinnaminson 20
Woodstown 26 (Hengel 6, Waterman 6, Leyman 7). Total fouls: Cinnaminson 6, Woodstown 10.

1000-Point Watch

PLAYERTODAYTOTAL
Blake Bialecki, Woodstown10 vs. Cherokee824
Tymear Lecator, Salem19 vs. St. Joseph732
Taylor Bass, PennsvilleDNP992




This week’s schedule

Here is the Salem County sports schedule for the week of Dec. 28-Jan. 3

SUNDAY, DEC. 28
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Penns Grove vs. Vineland at Audubon, 11 a.m.
WRESTLING
Salem in Middletown South Tournament
Pennsville, Schalick in Overbrook Girls Tournament

MONDAY, DEC. 29
BOYS BASKETBALL
Woodstown Holiday Tournament
Camden Tech vs. Camden Prep, 10 a.m.
Haddon Heights at Woodstown, 11:30 a.m.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Woodstown vs. Moorestown Friends, Haddonfield, 10 a.m.
Salem at New Egypt (tournament), 1 p.m.

TUESDAY, DEC. 30
BOYS BASKETBALL
Woodstown vs. Collingswood at Overbrook Classic, 10 a.m.
Salem vs. Rancocas Valley at Delsea, 11 a.m.
Pennsville at Gateway, 11:30 a.m.
West Deptford at Schalick, noon
Penns Grove vs. Westhampton Tech at Delsea, 5:30 p.m.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Maple Shade at Schalick, 10 a.m.
Salem at New Egypt Tournament
WRESTLING
Audubon, Long Branch, Northern Burlington at Woodstown, 10 a.m.

SATURDAY, JAN. 3
BOYS BASKETBALL
Cherokee at Woodstown, 11:30 a.m.
Salem Tech at West Deptford, 11:30 a.m.
St. Joe at Salem, 4 p.m.
Maple Shade at Pennsville, 5:30 p.m.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Cinnaminson at Woodstown, 1 p.m.
WRESTLING
Woodstown at Collingswood Duals, 9 a.m.
Northern Burlington, Manasquan, Holy Spirit at Salem, 10 a.m.
Pennsville at Hammonton Duals, 10 a.m.
Schalick, Haddon Heights, Mainland at Overbrook, 10 a.m.
INDOOR TRACK
Penns Grove, Woodstown at Ott Center, Philadelphia

Friday sports report

Salem County action in boys, girls basketball and more

FRIDAY’S GAMES
BOYS BASKETBALL
Schalick 67, Maple Shade 46
Pennsville at Salem Tech
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Woodstown 37, GCIT 27
Pennsville 51, West Deptford 40
Salem 45, Salem Tech 13
WRESTLING
Pennsville at William Penn (Del.) Tournament

1000-Point Watch

PLAYERFRIDAYTOTAL
Taylor Bass, Pennsville20 vs. GCIT956
Blake Bialecki, WoodstownDNP750
Tymear Lecator, SalemDNP674

By Riverview Sports News

WOODSTOWN — Woodstown is a different kind of team this season than it’s been in the past and as such is having to learn to make its own way. Everyone is watching to see how the Wolverines handle things with their two dynamic scorers gone to the next level and Friday night they took a big step in that direction.

Facing adversity for the first time this season, the Wolverines played their way back into the game in the second quarter and went on to defeat GCIT 37-27.

“It was a tough game,” Woodstown coach Matt Smart said. “It’s the first game all year we started down, but I’m super proud of how the girls responded to adversity.”

The Wolverines (3-0) didn’t have a double-figure scorer, but they let defense be their guide. They held GCIT to seven field goals and 17 points over the final three quarters.

“The first quarter didn’t go our way, but we were taking good shots that just weren’t falling,” Smart said. “The girls never lost confidence in their game and each other.

“At the end of the first quarter I challenged the girls to match GCIT’s physicality, to be honest, with the basketball and to continue to play as a cohesive unit. They did that and more.”

Mia Waterman led the Wolverines with nine points – all on 3-pointers. Lauren Hengel had eight points, while drawing the defensive assignment on GCIT’s Averie Clement. Miya Leyman also scored eight points. Talia Guardascione only scored three points, but it was a three-point play in the third quarter that got everyone on the Woodstown side excited.

“We have a group of girls who are willing to work and learn together,” Smart said. “I’m grateful to be able to coach a tight knit group of girls that are willing to learn and develop as a team.”

GCIT (1-3): Maggie Duer 4 0-0 9, Averie Clement 3 0-2 7, Nathalie Pagan 4 2-5 11, Ingrid Giannone 0 0-0 0, Addison Tinges 0 0-0 0, Reilly McShane 0 0-0 0, Naomi Woods 0 0-0 0. Totals 11 2-7 27.
WOODSTOWN (3-0): Lauren Hengel 3 1-2 8, Miya Leyman 3 2-4 8, Emma Perry 1 0-2 2, Kendall Young 2 2-2 6, Mia Waterman 3 0-0 9, Talia Guardascione 1 1-1 3. Totals 13 6-11 37.

GCIT10557-27
Woodstown61696-37

3-point goals: GCIT 3 (Duer, Clement, Pagan); Woodstown 5 (Hengel 2, Waterman 3). Total fouls: GCIT 12, Woodstown 11.

PENNSVILLE 51, WEST DEPTFORD 40: Taylor Bass moved another 20 points closer to 1,000 and Marley Wood added 13 to her list already in the 1000-Point Club for Pennsville.

Bass and Wood combined for 11 in the second quarter as the Eagles (2-1) pulled away from a 10-10 tie to take a 287-17 halftime lead. Bass tweaked her ankle during the game and coach Steve Merritt lifted her with a little more than a minute to play for her protection or she likes would have 21 for the third game in a row. She currently sits on 956 career points.

WEST DEPTFORD (1-2): Addison Fronza 2 2-6 7, Carleen Connelly 2 0-0 4, Reyanna Jamison 1 0-2 3, Deanna Lawrence 5 0-1 11, Paige Clipper 0 0-0 0, Julia Barger 0 0-0 0, Mia Morrell 0 0-0 0, Alyssa Taylor 3 0-0 9, Rayanna Mujahid 3 0-1 6, Kara Christy 0 0-0 0. Totals 16 3-10 40
PENNSVILLE (2-1): Taylor Bass 9 1-1 20, Marley Wood 4 5-10 13, Isabella Saulin 1 0-0 2, Jaida Burns 2 1-2 5, Addison Johnston 3 0-0 8, Jaiden Wilson 1 0-0 3. Totals 20 7-13 51.

West Deptford107710-40
Pennsville10171113-51

3-point goals: West Deptford 6 (Fronza, Jamison, Lawrence, Taylor 3); Pennsville 4 (Bass. Johnston 2, Wilson). Fouled out: Jamison. Total fouls: West Deptford 16, Pennsville 14.

SALEM 45, SALEM TECH 13: Kemp Carr got the Salem football team back on a winning track and now as the seasons changed he’s looking to do the same with the Rams’ girls basketball team.

Dyalra Anderson posted a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds and Carlysia Pierce filled the box score with 12 points, six rebounds, four assists and four steals, leading the Rams over Salem Tech 45-13 for their first win of the season and first under new coach Carr.

“I’m happy how hard our girls play,” Carr said.

The Wolverines showed improvement from their season-opening loss to Woodstown, reducing their missed layups and turnovers. Their in-your-face defense held the Chargers scoreless in the second quarter.

Thirteen players played and eight scored. In addition to the double-figure scorers, Timmiyah Simmons added eight points and four rebounds, and Shyla Parsons grabbed six boards.

Salem Tech3037-13
Salem171495-45


BOYS BASKETBALL
PITTSGROVE — Orion Baldwin and Julian Dickerson scored 18 points apiece to lead Schalick to its first win of the season, 67-47 over Maple Shade.

After a tight first half, the Cougars pulled away in the third quarter and then put it away with a 20-7 fourth. Kade Macom gave them three double-figure scorers when he popped for 11.

MAPLE SHADE (0-3): Jaden Hawkins 7 0-0 17, James Waibel 1 0-0 2, Jaylen Robinson 5 1-3 11, Donovan Overby-Washington 2 0-0 4, Feranmi Odu 5 2-3 11, Hezekiah Delvalle 1 0-0 2. Totals 21 3-8 47.
SCHALICK (1-2): Orion Baldwin 5 5-9 18, Julian Dickerson 6 4-5 18, Dylan Sheehan 3 0-0 6, Justin Iacona 3 0-0 7, Kade Macom 4 1-1 11, Cooper Willoughby 2 0-0 4, Kenny Bartee 1 0-0 3. Totals 24 10-15 67.

Maple Shade1512137-46
Schalick15141820-67

3-point goals: Maple Shade 3 (Hawkins 3); Schalick 9 (Baldwin 3, Dickerson 2, Iacona, Macom 2, Bartee).

WRESTLING

NEW CASTLE, Del. – Schalick’s Emma Cain won two matches and scored seven team points in the consolation round of the Girls Beast of the East Tournament at William Penn High School. The 115-pounder scored both her wins with pins before being pinned in the fifth consolation round.went 3-2 in the Girls Beast of the East

Dominating defense

Schalick, Woodstown girls both deliver dominating defensive performances, includes all Salem County games, 1000-point watch

THURSDAY BASKETBALL
GIRLS GAMES
Pennsville 50, Glassboro 35
Woodstown 54, Penns Grove 10
Schalick 35, Overbrook 16
BOYS GAMES
Overbrook 84, Schalick 53
Glassboro 66, Pennsville 26
Salem 82, Salem Tech 25
Woodstown 63, Penns Grove 55

By Riverview Sports News

PINE HILL – Navaeh Robinson went off for 17 points and Schalick held Overbrook scoreless the entire first half on the way to a 35-16 victory.

The Cougars (2-0) jumped out to a 16-0 halftime lead before the Rams finally scored on a 3-pointer in the third quarter. They have allowed just 51 points in winning their first two games for the first time in more than 15 years.

“We have had shutout quarters in the past but never a full half,” Schalick coach John Whalen said. “We told the girls in the beginning of the season we were making our mark on the defensive end this year.

“As always, we emphasize effort. It’s the one thing you always have control over. To their credit, they have bought in and taken pride in their effort. It has fueled our start to the season and I know they will continue to work to get better.”

SCHALICK (2-0) – Ava Scurry 2 1-2 5, Nevaeh Robinson 7 1-2 17, Cali Fisler 2 1-2 5, Willow Davis 1 1-4 5, Olivia Vanacker 1 0-0 2, Vic Basich 1 0-0 2, Jaelynn Jarmon 0 0-0 0, Emma O’Neill 0 0-0 0, Bailey Wentz 0 0-0 0, Emmalyn Weir 0 0-0 0. Totals 14 4-10 35.
OVERBROOK (1-2) – Leslies Rosario 0 0-0 0, Gianna Simon 1 3-3 5, Alexis Washington 0 0-0 0, Heaven Williams 0 0-0 0, Rosetta Loibman 1 0-0 3, Annalise Bosco 2 0-0 4, Kiya Townsend 0 0-0 0, Leigha Muff 1 1-2 4, Talia Wiggins 0 0-0 0. Totals 5 4-5 16.

Schalick             11        5          11        8-         35
Overbrook        0          0          7          9-         16
3-point goals: Schalick 3 (Robinson 2, Davis); Overbrook 2 (Loibman, Muff). Fouled out: Loibman. Total fouls: Schalick 5, Overbrook 9.

WOODSTOWN 54, PENNS GROVE 10: The Wolverines put together a balanced scoring attack and another strong defensive effort to defeat its second straight in-county opponent to open the season.

Eleven different players scored for the Wolverines, led by Lauren Hengel’s 11 points and 10 from Kendall Young. Their defense held the Red Devils (0-2) scoreless in the second quarter and without a field goal in the fourth.

The Wolverines also had good ball movement, collecting 17 assists on their 22 field goals. Young had five assists and Mia Waterman had four. Kyia Leyman had three assists to go with nine points, six rebounds and two blocked shots.

Woodstown’s girls have now won 39 straight against Salem County competition.

PENNS GROVE (0-2) – JaNiyah Cummings 1 0-2 2, Keziah Patterson 1 0-0 2, NyAsia Numan 0 0-0 0, Mikayla Washington 0 2-6 2, Torres 0 0-0 0, Blackston 1 2-4 4, Colon 0 0-0 0, Cruz 0 0-0 0. Totals 3 4-12 10.
WOODSTOWN (2-0) – Lauren Hengel 4 1-2 11, Emma Perry 2 1-2 5, Kyia Leyman 4 0-2 9, Kendall Young 4 0-0 10, Mia Waterson 2 0-0 5, Talia Guardascione 1 0-0 3, Kailyn Kennedy 0 0-0 0, Maddie Roback 0 0-0 0, Ava White 1 0-0 3, Jaelyn McDonald 1 0-2 2, Gina Murray 0 0-0 0, Autumn Paleschic 0 0-0 0, Gabriella Maldonado 1 0-0 2, Kamiya Brunson 1 0-1 2, Cecelia Nachbar 1 0-0 2. Totals 22 2-9 54.

Penns Grove     5          0          4          1-         10 
Woodstown      17        17        14        6-         54
3-point goals: Woodstown 8 (Hengel 2, Leyman, Young 2, Waterman, Guardascione, White). Fouled out: Cummings. Total fouls: Penns Grove 7, Woodstown 11.

PENNSVILLE 50, GLASSBORO 35: Marley Wood had a double-double with 15 points and 13 rebounds and Taylor Bass scored 21 points for the second game in a row as the Eagles won their first game of the season.

The teams were locked in a close game at halftime, but the Eagles outscored Glassboro 30-18 in the second half to win the game. Bass had 13 in the second half, including a 3-pointer at the end of the third quarter that got everyone’s attention, and Wood had 11. Addison Johnston had their other six points in the half on two of her three 3-pointers.

Bass and Wood also combined for nine assists and four steals. Jaiden Wilson grabbed eight rebounds and Jada Burns had five rebounds and four assists.

GLASSBORO (1-1) – Sanaa Thomas 2 2-4 6, Kezia Brackett 2 0-2 5, Grace Moore 3 0-2 6, Lily Czubas 4 1-2 9, Sianna Wedderburn 4 1-2 9, Laila Anderson 0 0-0 0, Tatianna Concepcion 0 0-0 0, Marissa Pasquarello 0 0-0 0, Cierra Garrison 0 0-0 0, Zoey Bailey 0 0-0 0. Totals 15 4-10 35. 
PENNSVILLE (1-1) – Taylor Bass 7 5-7 21, Marley Wood 6 3-4 15, Jaiden Wilson 0 1-2 1, Jada Burns 1 0-0 2, Addison Johnston 3 0-0 5, Isabelle Saulin 0 0-0 0, Kylie Harris 1 0-0 2. Totals 18 9-13 50.

Glassboro         8          9          9          9-         35
Pennsville         9          11        14        16-       50
3-point goals: Glassboro 1 (Brackett); Pennsville 5 (Bass 2, Johnston 3). Rebounds: Glassboro 40 (Czubas 13, Wedderburn 10); Pennsville 32 (Wood 13, Wilson 8). Fouled out: Wilson. Total fouls: Glassboro 13, Pennsville 13.

BOYS GAMES

WOODSTOWN 63, PENNS GROVE 55: After dropping nail-biters in their first two games, the Wolverines broke out with their first win of the season. Alejandro Vazquez hit three 3-pointers first half and finished with 19 points. Elijah Caesar had 16 and Lucas Fulmer added 13 with three second-half 3s.

The Wolverines trailed 33-28 at halftime, but used a 17-7 third quarter to take the lead. 

“We could easily be 3-0; just a couple plays away,” Woodstown coach Ramon Roots said. “It feels good to get that first one, though.”

Penns Grove’s Zane Thomas led all scorers with 26 points.

WOODSTOWN (1-2) – Elijah Caesar 6 4-7 16, Blake Bialecki 0 2-2 2, Alejandro Vazquez 7 1-2 19, Joshua King 2 2-7 6, Lucas Fulmer 5 0-0 12, C Miller 0 0-0 0, Andrew White 3 1-2 7. Totals 23 10-20 63.
PENNS GROVE (2-1) – Roman Gipson 0-0-0, Haneef Frisby 0-1-1, William Roy 4-2-13, Geonni Conrad 4-1-12, Zane Thomas 11-3-26, Mishawn Brantley 0-1-1, Luis Colon 1-0-2, Jeremy Costacamps 0-0-0. Totals 

Woodstown      20        8          17        18-       63
Penns Grove     16        17        7          15-       55
3-point goals: Woodstown 7 (Vazquez 4, Fulmer 3); Penns Grove 5 (Roy, Conrad 3, Thomas). Fouled out: Roy. Total fouls: Woodstown 13, Penns Grove 17.

GLASSBORO 66, PENNSVILLE 26: The Eagles had a tough time of it in Ray Heine’s debut as head coach. They fell behind 20-8 in the first quarter and never recovered. Mason O’Brien was their leading scorer with nine points. Glassboro’s Xavier Sabb outscored Pennsville by himself by a point.

PENNSVILLE (0-1) – Daniel Knight 7, Mason O’Brien 9, Gavin Spears 4, Chanler Lindenmuth 2, Jake Layfield 2, Aidan Clark 2.
GLASSBORO (1-2) – Xavier Sabb 27, Alex Adeleye 2, Maurice Davis 17, William Boggans 12, Derreck Robinson 2, Cam Parker-Akins 4, Lorenz Jones 2.

Pennsville         8          5          11        2-         26
Glassboro         20        21        16        9-         66

SALEM 82, SALEM TECH 25: The Rams jumped out to a 28-6 lead in the first quarter and never looked back. Neziah Spence led the Rams with 16 points and Deshaan Williams had another monster game, going for 15 points and 10 rebounds.

Salem               28        24        11        19-       82
Salem Tech       6          7          3          9-         25

OVERBROOK 84, SCHALICK 53: Lamar Little knocked down eight 3-pointers and scored 36 points to lead the Rams. Bilal Robinson added 17 points. The Rams (2-0) had 12 3s in the game. Orion Baldwin and Julian Dickerson scored 14 points, respectively, for Schalick (0-2).

1000-Point Watch

PLAYERTONIGHTTOTAL
Taylor Bass, Pennsville21 vs. Glassboro936
Blake Bialecki, Woodstown2 vs. Penns Grove750
Tymear Lecator, Salem8 vs. Salem Tech674

Monday prep report

Salem Tech boys win basketball season opener for first time since 2021; Roy leads Penns Grove with a career high

BOYS BASKETBALL
Salem Tech 58, Cape May Tech 42: The Chargers got their season off to a positive start behind 13 points from Ayden Myers and nine from Aiden Bobo. They pulled away with an 18-6 second quarter and slammed the door with a 16-9 fourth. It’s their first win in a season opener since 2021.

Penns Grove 57, St. Joseph 48: William Roy III went off for a career-high 16 points and Roman Gipson had 12 as the Red Devils won their second straight. Roy’s previous career high was 15 against Pennsville last season.

GIRLS BASKETBALL
Salem Tech at Cape May Tech

SWIMMING
Woodstown 100, West Deptford 70: Nixon Mikaela won two events (200 IM, 100 breast) and three of the four members of the Wolverines’ three winning relays also won an individual event. won individual events. Matt Roser won the 50 free, Matthew Melniczuk won the 100 free and Bailey Wells won the 100 back. Noah Chui completed the relay teams.

BOWLING
Salem vs. Salem Tech at Wood Lanes