Category: SALEM

Salem County Saturday

Here are the scores and highlights from Saturday’s Salem County sports calendar

Girls basketball

DELSEA 39, PENNSVILLE 38
DELSEA (4-6): Kaiah Braxton 1 1-2 3, Peyton Parker 5 5-8 15, Ayres Maitland 2 4-12 8, Madi Barndt 4 1-2 13, Rayleigh Madden 0 0-0 0. Totals 12 11-24 39.
PENNSVILLE (5-3): Taylor Bass 2 3-7 7, Marley Wood 6 8-10 21, Addi Johnston 3 0-0 8, Izzy Saulin 1 0-0 2, Jaida Burns 0 0-0 0, Jaiden Wilson 0 0-0 0. Totals 12 11-17 38.

Delsea127614-39
Pennsville913610-38
3-point goals: Delsea 4 (Barndt 4); Pennsville 3 (Wood, Johnston 2).

HADDONFIELD 45, WOODSTOWN 26
WOODSTOWN (4-7): Lauren Hengel 3 2-4 10, Kyia Leyman 1 1-2 3, Kendall Young 2 0-0 6, Mia Waterman 1 0-0 3, Talia Guardascione 2 0-0 4. Totals 9 3-6 26.
HADDONFIELD (8-2): Molly Mulligan 1-0-3, Marlina Kadar 2-0-3, Harper Fasolo 4-3-11, Sara Guveiyian 3-2-9, Quinn Langel 2-0-6, Avery Sinnes 3-2-9, Chloe Russ 1-2-4. Totals 16-9-45.

Woodstown13526-26
Haddonfield1612710-45
3-point goals: Woodstown 5 (Hengel 2, Young 2, Waterman); Haddonfield 6 (Mulligan, Kadar, Guveiyian, Langel 2, Sinnes).

Wrestling

BUENA QUAD
SCHALICK 66, BUENA 10
106: John Sutton (B) pinned Victor Fenske, 4:27
113: Nicholas Latona (S) pinned Alex Alicia, 1:23
120: E’Shion Underwood (S) pinned Logan Cossaboon, 0:32
126: Caleb Jenkins (S) won by forfeit
132: Jacob Potts (S) pinned Eric Aparicio, 0:08
138: Thomas Hann (B) maj. dec. Coliin Bittle, 12-4
144: Michael Baisch (S) pinned Zach Cohen, 5:45
150: Mason Hollywood (S) dec. Donato Vai, 7-1
157: Ayden Jenkins (S) pinned Gage Forvour, 0:37
165: Anthony Deaver (S) pinned Billy Haslam, 0:37
175: Ricky Watt (S) tech fall over Matt Cohen, 18-2 (1:56)
190: Evan Elliott (S) pinned Larry Spellman, 0:28
215: James Cook (S) maj. dec. Anthony Trainor, 9-1
285: Ezequiel Garcia-Cruz (S) pinned Mason Zaak, 0:54

CUMBERLAND 48, SCHALICK 26
120: Elvis Lima (CR) def. E’Shion Underwood, DQ
126: Kolton Sheppard (CR) pinned Caleb Jenkins, 3:30
132: Jacob Potts (S) pinned Logan Smith
138: Coliin Bittle (S) pinned Matthew Lucas
144: Anthony Aponte (CR) pinned Michael Baisch, 3:06
150: Chase Sooy (CR) pinned Mason Hollywood, 1:05
157: Ayden Jenkins (S) maj. dec. Chase Williams, 17-4
165: Anthony Deaver (S) dec. David Seeger, 15-8
175: Ricky Watt (S) dec. Gary Albert, 4-1
190: Ralph Hitchner (CR) pinned Nicholas Leonard, 3:12
215: Gerardo Felipe (S) maj. dec. Davauhn Petty, 10-0
285: Steve Williams (CR) pinned Ezequiel Garcia-Cruz, 1:20
106: Geno DiJoseph (CR) pinned Victor Fenske, 1:16
113: DeAnthony Harden (CR) pinned Nicholas Latona, 0:47

SCHALICK 43, TIMBER CREEK 27
113: Nicholas Latona (S) won by forfeit
120: E’Shion Underwood (S) tech fall over Dylan Klotz, 24-5 (1:53)
126: Noah Carr (TC) dec. Caleb Jenkins, 8-7
132: Jacob Potts (S) tech fall over Seth Redman, 17-2 (1:51)
138: Coliin Bittle (S) pinned Jaire Williams, 0:38
144: Michael Baisch (S) pinned Alexander Dang, 0:23
150: Mason Hollywood (S) dec. Benjamin Voll, 13-10
157: Ayden Jenkins (S) dec. Matt Cordova, 10-3
165: Anthony Deaver (S) dec. Quasir Pettit, 3-0
175: Ricky Watt (S) pinned Ian Chandler, 3:04
190: Elijah Green (TC) over Evan Elliott, MFFL
215: Julian McCray (TC) won by forfeit
285: Roland Green (TC) pinned Ezequiel Garcia-Cruz, 0:44
106: Jimmy Boone pinned Victor Fenske, 3:13

PENNS GROVE QUAD
COLLINGSWOOD 75, PENNS GROVE 6
106: Robbie Penman (CO) pinned Jose Santiago, 2:54
113: Dominic VanZandt (CO) won by forfeit
120: Brody Marks (CO) won by forfeit
126: Kenny Olsen (CO) tech fall over Adam Gonzales, 19-2 (4:30)
132: Sean Byrd (CO) pinned Nyla West, 1:07
138: Julian Carty (CO) won by forfeit
144: Iasah Cruz (CO) pinned Abdul Muta’Ali Ibn Abdul Halim Tart, 2:29
150: Eddie Wittwer-Jordan (CO) pinned Angel Ocasio, 3:21
157: Parker Hackl-Gerenstein (CO) won by forfeit
165: Semaj Trotman (CO) won by forfeit
175: Brett Davis (CO) maj. dec. Richard Simmons, 16-4
190: Julian Maxwell (CO) won by forfeit
215: Chase Miller (CO) pinned Zaviyen Veney, 1:47
285: Antonio Cooper (PG) pinned Rocco Angelucci, 1:37

DEPTFORD 74, PENNS GROVE 0
120: Dennis Ayubzai (D) won by forfeit
126: Aiden Speigel (D)tech fall over Adam Gonzales, 17-0
132: Derek Foy (D) pinned Nyla West
138: Amir Barnes (D) won by forfeit
144: Quentin Boyce (D) dec. Abdul Muta’Ali Ibn Abdul Halim Tart, 7-3
150: Gavyn Henderson (D) pinned Angel Ocasio
157: Odesa Myers (D) won by forfeit
165: Dmitri Campbell (D) won by forfeit
175: Shawn McLaughlin (D) pinned Richard Simmons
190: Double forfeit
215: Dayne McDermott (D) pinned Zaviyen Veney
285: Daniel Maguire (D) pinned Antonio Cooper
106: John Gigante (D) pinned Jose Santiago
113: Corey Hoffman (D) won by forfeit

OVERBROOK QUAD
PENNSVILLE 45, MILLVILLE 28
106: Brett Land (P) pinned Aiden Fowler, 0:43
113: Erick Davalos (P) won by forfeit
120: John Sassi (P) won by forfeit
126: Ruben Cruz (M) maj. dec. Mehki Dicks, 17-5
132: Chase Baker (P) pinned Eziar Allen, 3:43
138: Joshua Roman (M) won by forfeit
144: Vincent Grether (P) won by forfeit
150: Double forfeit
157: Patrick Tull (M) pinned Gabe Supernavage, 5:53
165: Robbie McDade (P) dec. Jared Hoffman, 8-4
175: Cristian Blyler (P) won by forfeit
190: Kyelle Corley (M) pinned Stephen Pangle, 1:52
215: Tyshawn English (M) pinned Hunter Coulbourn, 1:07
285: Jacob Hand (P) pinned Andrew Pinnock, 6:34

PENNSVILLE 52, OAKCREST 20
113: Erick Davalos (P) pinned Giovanni Taylor
120: Mason Sanchez (O) maj. dec. Earl Wynn, 12-7
126: Joseph Sanchez (O) pinned Mehki Dicks, 2:00
132: Chase Baker (P) maj. dec. Heriberto Curtidor, 14-3
138: Vincent Grether (P) pinned Keagan Santana
144: Erick Montas-Arias (O) won by forfeit
150: Travis Hagan (P) pinned Aiden Xayaphachan
157: Gabe Supernavage (P) pinned Gavin Gabriel
165: Robbie McDade (P) dec. Adrienn Aponte, 17-11
175: Malik Hughes (O) maj. dec. Cristian Blyler, 14-6
190: Stephen Pangle (P) pinned Gunnar Olivieri
215: Hunter Coulbourn (P) won by forfeit
285: Trevor Waddington (P) dec. Youssef Nosair, 1-0
106: Brett Land (P) won by forfeit

PENNSVILLE 62, OVERBROOK 8
132: Maximos Efelis (P) won by forfeit
138: Vincent Grether (P) tech fall over Jaden Marshall, 15-0
144: Dalton Ammon (P) dec. Matt Kamara, 7-2
150: Double forfeit
157: Gabe Supernavage (P) won by forfeit
165: Robbie McDade (P) won by forfeit
175: Xyon Marshall (O) tech fall over Cristian Blyler, 17-0
190: Jayden Devan (O) dec. Stephen Pangle, 6-3
215: Hunter Coulbourn (P) pinned Shyer Scarborough
285: Trevor Waddington (P) pinned Giovanni Carbarnaro
106: Brett Land (P) won by forfeit
113: Erick Davalos (P) won by forfeit
120: Earl Wynn (P) pinned Kayden Branco
126: Mehki Dicks (P) pinned Alan Marcos

CINNAMINSON DUALS
LOWER CAPE MAY 62, WOODSTOWN 16
150: Gabe Tosto (L) pinned Josh Woronicak, 0:58
157: Daniel Byrne (L) pinned Tyrell West, 1:09
165: Ashton Ray (L) pinned Ricky Watts, 0:17
175: Greyson Hyland (WO) maj. dec. Shane Morrell, 14-2
190: David Douglass (L) over Asher Fitzpatrick, inj.
215: Bradley Snitcher (WO) pinned Caden Britton, 1:44
285: Mateo Vinciguerra (WO) pinned John Hearon, 0:36
106: Abraham Caballero (L) pinned T.J. Conto, 0:46
113: Tristan Rosemeyer (L) pinned Jadon Middlemiss, 0:16
120: Bryce Paley (L) dec. Carson Bradway, 7-2
126: Nolan Mormello (L) pinned Hunter Allen, 1:10
132: Ryan Morgan (L) tech fall over Barry Coverly, 19-3
138: Eli Glover (L) pinned Luke Woronicak, 1:10
144: Andrew Brant (L) pinned Nehemiah Carter, 0:41

HADDONFIELD 49, WOODSTOWN 26
157: William Barker (H) tech fall over Tyrell West, 17-2
165: Hutch Rhyne (H) tech fall over Logan Warfield, 15-0
175: Greyson Hyland (WO) pinned Parker Bawidamann
190: Rafael Lyle (H) won by forfeit
215: Logan Rhea (H) maj. dec. Bradley Snitcher, 18-4
285: Mateo Vinciguerra (WO) pinned John Talton
106: Michael Scocca (H) tech fall over T.J. Conto, 22-5
113: Jadon Middlemiss (WO) tech fall over Cole Spence, 16-0
120: Carson Bradway (WO) pinned Harrison Carroll
126: Ethan Shevchenko (H) pinned Keanan Houtz
132: Michael Lamb (H) pinned Barry Coverly
138: Pierce Hoffman (H) pinned Luke Woronicak
144: Nehemiah Carter (WO) dec. Charles Miller, SV-1, 6-3
150: William Dietz (H) pinned Josh Woronicak

PAULSBORO 48, WOODSTOWN 34
165: Josias Torres (P) pinned Ricky Watts, 3:11
175: Greyson Hyland (WO) pinned Malachi Harris, 1:23
190: Frank Damming (P) won by forfeit
215: Bradley Snitcher (WO) pinned Jason Yandach, 0:56
285: Mateo Vinciguerra (WO) won by forfeit
106: Ethan Nguyen (P) pinned T.J. Conto, 0:52
113: Jadon Middlemiss (WO) maj. dec. Ben Pacheco, 17-8
120: Will Cruz (P) won by forfeit
126: Carson Bradway (WO) pinned Patrick Hold, 0:28
132: Antonio Chila (P) pinned Luke Woronicak, 3:10
138: Barry Coverly (WO) won by forfeit
144: Ben Price (P) pinned Nehemiah Carter, 1:11
150: Julian Sosa (P) pinned Josh Woronicak, 2:23
157: Grayson Lane (P) pinned Tyrell West, 0:34

WASHINGTON TWP. QUAD
WASHINGTON TWP. 75, SALEM 6
106: Frank Albright (WT) won by forfeit
113: Zylan Hetzel (WT) won by forfeit
120: Colin Hoopes (WT) pinned Zachary Tortella
126: Christian Hoopes (WT) pinned Hayden Stauble
132: Colton Hagerty (WT) pinned Hayden Stauble
138: Samuel Estrada (WT) pinned Brodie Parker
144: Giovanni Goffredo (WT) pinned Joseph Goetaski
150: Michael Horn (WT) pinned Christian VanTonder
157: Jacob Gledhill (WT) pinned Ziyon Moore
165: Gio Zurzolo (WT) pinned Jordan Brown
175: Landon Stone (WT) pinned Jaivion Sydnor
190: Kaleb Ewald (S) won by forfeit
215: Jaylen Suarez (WT) won by forfeit
285: Gunner McFall (WT) dec. Abdullah Jenkins, 2-1

Indoor track

SCTA MEET 11
Bennett Center, Toms River
(Salem County top 6)
BOYS
55: 5. Kyle Reitz, Woodstown 6.80
SMR: 2. Woodstown (Karson Chew, Ben Lippincott, Kyle Reitz, Josh Crawford) 3:39.54
DMR: 4. Woodstown (David Farrell, Pacey Hutton, Tortsen Duva, Jacob Marino) 11:30.22
4×800: 6. Woodstown (Jacob Marino, David Farrell, Tortsen Duva, Nicolas Law) 8:49.63
4:400: 1. Woodstown (Kyle Reitz, Karson Chew, Jacob Marino, Josh Crawford) 3:34.45
Shot put: 3. Aiden Taulane, Woodstown 43-6.5
GIRLS
SHR: 4. Woodstown (Kami Casiano, Josephine Federando, Arianna Mott, Lia Covely) 38.73
DMR: 4. Woodstown (Aubree Covely, Angelina Lindenmuth, Lia Covely, Abby Marino) 14:00.60
High jump: 4. Kami Casiano, Woodstown 5-0

Friday roundup

Triton buries Pennsville under a barrage of early 3s, Salem gets past LEAP for sixth straight win, Schalick beats Buena to get to .500; on the girls side, Schalick stifles Buena early, Kingsway handles Penns Grove

BOYS BASKETBALL
Triton 65, Pennsville 53
Salem 44, LEAP 41
Schalick 64, Buena 42
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Kingsway 53, Penns Grove 20
Schalick 45, Buena 16

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

PENNSVILLE — Long bus rides aren’t necessarily good for a basketball player’s legs, but the Triton Mustangs didn’t seem to have any trouble with it Friday night.

The Mustangs spent 45 minutes on the bus getting here, then came out and hit nine 3-pointers in the first half like they were layups to open a big lead on Pennsville before bringing home a 65-53 victory.

The Mustangs hit their first five 3s to open a 15-point lead and were 6-of-7 in the first quarter if you discount the heave they launched from midcourt at the buzzer. They hit three more in the second quarter and then added their 10th of the game early in the third.

At that point they were 10-of-13 from beyond the arc.

“I don’t ever expect that, but I know we have the ability to shoot well as a team,” Mustangs coach Andrew Canzanese said. “Early in the season we did and then we’ve been kind of going through a little bit of a rough patch recently.

“The other day, in Wednesday’s practice, we spent a lot of time from the ground up working on our feet. Our feet were all kinds of wrong, so we built it from the ground up and just got those shots back.

“Last night when we played Gloucester Catholic we got it back and we played more the way I knew we could and it carried into tonight, especially in the first half.”

The Mustangs (4-5) hit 10 treys in that game, too, and that energy clearly carried over to this one.

Joel Almarez-Olivares hit three in the first quarter and four in the game to finish with 14 points. Michael Revero hit one in the first quarter and led the Mustangs with 18 points. Noah Karwowski, who had five against Gloucester Catholic, and Chase Potts each had two, and Scott Cave had the other one.

The early barrage caught new Pennsville coach Ray Heine a little off guard.

“There are teams out there (that can shoot it like that), but I didn’t see that coming from them,” Heine said. “I’d seen two games they played and neither one of them I don’t think they broke 50. They certainly didn’t shoot it like that.

“We just don’t have the horses to play man-to-man. We don’t have the knowledge or the horses. We’ve got to play zone.”

Pennsville’s Mason O’Brien led all scorers with 24 points, but came off the floor limping at the end of the game. The junior guard went for 37 in a game earlier this week and is averaging 17.9 a game, but teams are starting to realize he’s the Eagles only game-changer and are starting to play him accordingly.

The 10 3-pointers were the difference in the Mustangs’ big lead. They led 58-30 going into the fourth quarter before the Eagles (1-9) cut it back against the Triton reserves.

“I appreciate the effort in the last four or five minutes when we could have kind of rolled over and just played dead,” Heine said. “We did continue to play.”

TRITON (4-5): Michael Revero 7 3-3 18, Noah Karwowski 2 0-0 6, Chase Potts 3 0-0 8, Scott Cave 2 3-3 8, Laron Sims 1 1-4 3, Myles Searles 1 0-0 2, Gio Salguero 0 0-0 0, Aiden Rivera 0 0-0 0, Metzgerdy Lamy 3 0-0 6, Rudra Vaghela 0 0-0 0, Joel Almarez-Olivares 5 0-0 14, Ibn Wynn 0 0-0 0. Totals 24 7-10 65.
PENNSVILLE (1-9): Danny Knight 1 4-4 7, Mason O’Brien 9 3-6 24, Jake Layfield 1 1-1 3, Trey Clevenger 0 0-0 0, Shamir Watkins 1 0-0 2, Jake Farina 2 1-1 5, Gavin Spears 1 0-0 2, Aidan Clark 3 0-0 6, Colt Willis 1 0-0 2, Chanler Lindenmuth 1 0-0 2. Totals 20 9-12 53.

Triton2717147-65
Pennsville1171223-53
3-point goals: Triton 10 (Revero, Karwowski 2, Potts 2, Cave, Almarez-Olivares 4); Pennsville 4 (Knight, O’Brien 3). Total fouls: Triton 14, Pennsville 9.

SALEM 44, LEAP 41: Big players make big plays in big games and that certainly applied to Tymear Lecator. The Salem junior guard scored 18 points, grabbed four rebounds and dished four assists as the Rams won the battle of top four teams in the South Jersey Group I power points standings.

The Rams (8-1) trailed by one at halftime, but took a four-point lead into the fourth quarter.

Marshall Stephens had eight points and his third straight 10-rebound game. Deshaan Williams had nine points and seven rebounds. Fatah Paige had seven points and eight boards.

It was LEAP’s second game since the NJSIAA ruled Wednesday to ban the Lancers from the state playoffs as the result of a benches-clearing brawl involving players, coaches and spectators in the second quarter of their game with St. Joseph (Hammonton) Tuesday. St. Joe also was banned from the playoffs.

1000-Point Watch

PLAYERTODAYTOTAL
Blake Bialecki, WoodstownDNP858
Tymear Lecator, Salem18 vs. LEAP755

SCHALICK 64, BUENA 42: Freshman Julian Dickerson had the second-best game of his career, scoring 19 points to lead three Schalick scorers in double figures. He has gone for 16, 18 and 19 in his last three games and is now averaging 15.0 for the season.

Kade Macom hit three 3-pointers and scored 13 points and Dylan Sheehan had 10.

BUENA (1-7): Elwood Taylor 4 3-4 12, Richie Wilson 4 0-3 8, Ricky Bessix 6 0-0 12, Zack Mick 3 0-0 6, Nathan Nieves-Medina 1 0-0 2, Max Kline 1 0-1 2. Totals 19 3-9 42.
SCHALICK (4-4): Orion Baldwin 3 0-3 7, Julian Dickerson 8 1-4 19, Kade Macom 4 2-2 13, Sherrod Jones 4 1-2 9, Dylan Sheehan 4 2-2 10, Cooper Willoughby 3 0-0 6. Totals 26 6-13 64.

Buena1012911-42
Schalick2319166-64
3-point goals: Buena 1 (Taylor); Schalick 6 (Baldwin, Dickerson 2, Macom 3).

Girls games

SCHALICK 45, BUENA 16: The Cougars put together another big defensive first half to take control. They held their hosts to three points in the first half while building a 26-3 lead. In their five wins this season, the Cougars have held their opponents to 10 points in the first quarter and 29 in the first half.

Schalick’s Neveah Robinson led all scorers with 17 points. Willow Davis scored all nine of her points in the first half.

SCHALICK (5-1): Ava Scurry 4 0-0 8, Cali Fisler 1 0-2 2, Neveah Robinson 8 1-1 17, Willow Davis 4 0-3 9, Olivia Vanacker 1 0-2 2, Jaelynn Jarman 0 1-2 1, Vicky Basich 2 0-0 4, Emmalynn Weir 0 2-2 2, Emma O’Neill 0 0-0 0, Bailey Wentz 0 0-0 0, Paige Sparks 0 0-0 0, Eve Berger 0 0-0 0. Totals 20 4-12 45.
BUENA (2-5): Athena Bradley 0 1-3 1, Isabella Adkins 0 0-0 0, Kayla Lafferty 1 0-0 2, Ava Cornew 0 0-0 0, Sykes-Hicks 1 0-0 2, Anaiyah Torres-Boyce 3 0-2 6, Julia Futty 0 0-0 0, Isabella Acevedo 0 0-0 0, Leylani Muniz 1 2-2 5, Malia Brown 0 0-0 0. Totals 6 3-7 16.

Schalick1412145-45
Buena2158-16
3-point goals: Schalick 1 (Davis); Buena 1 (Muniz). Total fouls: Schalick 12, Buena 6.

KINGSWAY 53, PENNS GROVE 20: Annika Dohlen came out with the hot hand, scoring 10 of her game-high 14 points in the first quarter to help the Dragons take control. Penns Grove’s Janiyah Cummings hit three 3-pointers and led Penns Grove with 11 points.

PENNS GROVE (1-8): Janiyah Cummings 4 0-0 11, Mikayla Washington 2 1-4 5, Nyasia Numan 0 0-0 0, Keziah Patterson 2 0-0 4, Jamira Lewis 0 0-0 0, Yeichelyn Rodriguez 0 0-0 0, Armani Blackstone 0 0-0 0, Domari Torress 0 0-0 0. Totals 8 1-4 20.
KINGSWAY (6-4): Alessia Lenten 1 4-4 6, Bella Archer 1 0-0 2, Annika Dohlen 6 1-2 14, Liv Myers 1 0-0 3, Ojonile Gabriel 1 2-4 4, Chloe McNeill 3 2-2 8, Gia Baus 3 0-0 6, Gab Scaffidi 0 0-0 0, Ellie Farro 0 0-0 0, Lila Storms 3 2-2 8, Jayah Love 1 0-0 2. Totals 20 11-14 53.
Penns Grove6338-20
Kingsway1715174-53
3-point goals: Penns Grove (Cummings 3); Kingsway 2 (Dohlen, Myers). Total fouls: Penns Grove 10, Kingsway 9.

‘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).

Opportunity to shine

Six Salem football players heading to Texas this weekend to participate in a national high school combine

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

One of Kemp Carr’s greatest joys of being a high school football coach is getting his players exposure to the next level of the game and this weekend six of his Salem players will get a lot of it on one of the biggest and most competitive stages.

They’ll be participating in the Navy All-American Bowl Combine in San Antonio. None of them will play in the game Saturday at the Alamodome, but they all will take part in the drills and testing to see where they measure up against the top players in the country with the results available to every college coach in the land. They’re leaving Thursday.

The group includes juniors Mahkye Murray, Wyatt Irvine, Kamal Chatum and KaiSiere Muhammad and freshmen Cashmir Parsley and Kyvion Parsons. They earned the opportunity not only by being a quality player but by making a 3.2 or better GPA in the first grading period.

“Everything is earned, not just given,” Carr said. “I’m always trying to build an opportunity I would want if I was a high school student. Then they get to do it on the grand stage. Nothing like doing it on the grand stage.

“But you’ve got to earn it. You have to qualify as a football player and you had to qualify as a student. And this is the way it’s always been. I just don’t pick guys at random and go, you’ve got to earn it and these kids have done a good job of doing that. I expected a bigger group next year because some guys see they got left behind.”

Carr has been taking players to the Combine every year since 2017. He estimated 90 percent of them have gone on to play college football with about a half dozen going to Division I programs. 

He said some of the players going this year have “sat at the table already with college coaches,” but this trip opens the door to a world of recruiting possibilities.

They’ve already seen firsthand what it can do for a player’s future. Edge rusher Antwuan Rogers went last year and the experience got him the looks that landed him at Temple. He leaves for the North Philly campus this week to prepare for his first college spring practice.

“It’s bigger than just the opportunity to get looked at,” Carr said. “Here’s a kid who changed the complexity of who he was, the identity of who he was, by getting on a plane and having an opportunity to fly to be around the game of football.

“He says he’s never been out of the Tri-State area, so he looked at it as an opportunity that if I do the right thing maybe this can become a lifestyle. So from a mental standpoint it gives them an opportunity to see if you do the right thing how far a game can take you.”

Former Salem and recently named Deptford head coach Montrey Wright will be coaching in the game. He will be coaching the East squad’s defensive line.

Photo: Mahkye Murray (9) will be one of six Salem players participating in this weekend’s Navy All-American Bowl Combine in Texas. He’s shown here pulling down KIPP running back Torey Jones on the first defensive play of their South Jersey Group I playoff game. (Photo by Julliana Love)

Mission statement

Pennsville holds off Woodstown, ending Wolverines’ long-standing hold on Salem County girls basketball; Salem’s girls use big fourth quarter to down Pitman; Penns Grove gets first win; Salem boys pick up big South Jersey Group I win over Pitman, and more

GIRLS BASKETBALL
Penns Grove 44, Overbrook 39
Glassboro 33, Schalick 15
Pennsville 47, Woodstown 46
Salem 59, Pitman 52
Clayton 62, Salem Tech 24
BOYS BASKETBALL
Clayton 90, Salem Tech 42
Glassboro 63, Schalick 60
Overbrook 62, Penns Grove 45
Woodstown 56, Pennsville 24
Salem 55, Pitman 44
BOWLING
Salem Tech vs. Gloucester Catholic
Lindenwold girls 4, Salem 0
INDOOR TRACK
Penns Grove, Schalick at Cherokee Throwdown

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

WOODSTOWN – The balance of power in Salem County girls basketball shifted seismically Tuesday night.

Over the last five-plus years no one in Salem County has beaten the Woodstown girls, but that run came to an end when Pennsville jumped way out early and then held off a hard change in the fourth quarter to beat the Wolverines 47-46.

Woodstown had won 39 straight (and 46 of 47) against in-county competition before the Eagles knocked them off. Pennsville was the last county team to beat the Wolverines – way back on Feb. 22, 2020.

The win also gave the Eagles (5-2) the early upper hand in the Tri-County Diamond Division and dropped Woodstown below .500 (4-5) for the first time since dropping their 2023-24 season opener.

“I gave the girls T-shirts that were screened, ‘On a Mission,'” Pennsville coach Steve Merritt said. “We want to update our championship banner so beating Diamond Division opponents is critical. They thrashed us twice last season and if we hadn’t become so careless with the ball late a greater margin would have been salve on that wound.”

It started out to be a tight game. The teams battled to a 12-12 tie through a barrage of 3-pointers the first quarter, but the Eagles pulled away in the second quarter and extended their halftime lead to 12 entering the fourth quarter. Pennsville hit all nine of its 3-pointers in the first three quarters.

The Wolverines turned up the defensive pressure in the fourth quarter and used it to fuel their comeback. They hit a 3-pointer in the closing seconds to make it a one-point final.

“I couldn’t be prouder of our kids and the way they competed,” Woodstown coach Matt Smart said. “To be down 15 and continue to believe, continue to defend and continue to play for one another says a lot about the culture we’re trying to build here.

“We didn’t hang our heads, we didn’t splinter, and we gave ourselves a chance late, which is all you can ask for in a game like that.”

Marley Wood led the Eagles with 23 points, five 3-pointers, 10 rebounds and five assists. Taylor Bass, who joined Wood in Pennsville’s 1000-Point Club on Monday, had eight points and six steals.

In seven career games against Woodstown, Wood is averaging 16.0 ppg. She had her career high (27) against the Wolverines as a sophomore.

Lauren Hengel led Woodstown with 14 points. Kyia Leyman and Mia Waterman had 12 points apiece. All of Waterman’s points came on 3s.

Smart said he wasn’t aware of the length of Woodstown’s in-county winning streak, but he wasn’t losing sleep over its ending.

“Obviously, we didn’t get the result we wanted, but there’s value in games like this when you’re building something,” he said. “Our kids are learning how to respond to adversity, how to handle pressure, and how to fight until the final horn. The resiliency is something we can build on moving forward.

“For us, this is another step in the process. We said from the beginning of the year that this year was going to be different but different can be good. We are still trying to figure some things out offensively and defensively, but we are progressing. Our standard is high and nights like this where you’re tested are part of laying the foundation for sustained success.”

PENNSVILLE 47, WOODSTOWN 46
PENNSVILLE (5-2): Taylor Bass 3 2-2 8, Marley Wood 6 6-10 23, Addi Johnston 3 0-0 7, Izzy Saulin 0 0-0 0, Jaida Burns 1 0-0 2, Jaiden Wilson 2 0-0 6. Totals 15 8-12 47.
WOODSTOWN (4-5): Lauren Hengel 5 1-2 14, Kyia Leyman 4 4-6 12, Emma Perry 1 0-0 2, Kendall Young 1 2-2 4, Mia Waterman 4 0-0 12, Talia Guardascione 1 0-0 2, Gina Murray 0 0-0 0. Totals 16 7-10 46.

Pennsville1217108-47
Woodstown127819-46
3-point goals: Pennsville 9 (Wood 5, Johnston 2, Wilson 2); Woodstown 7 (Hengel 3, Waterman 4).
Rebounds: Pennsville 27 (Wood 10), Total fouls: Pennsville 9, Woodstown 13.

SALEM 59, PITMAN 52: Freshman Dyaira Anderson scored 15 of her career-high 26 points in 21-point fourth quarter that lifted the Rams (4-2) to a victory that surpassed their win total of a year ago. She also pulled down a career-high 14 rebounds to complete her first career double-double.

Madison Dixon had 13 points. Carlysia Pierce had eight points, eight rebounds, five assists and five steals.

The Rams fell behind 17-4 then went to work.

“I’m proud of the way they won tonight,” Carr said.

PENNS GROVE 44, OVERBROOK 39: The Red Devils (1-5) jumped out to a 25-13 halftime lead on the way to giving coach Daja Cook her first win with the program.

GLASSBORO 43, SCHALICK 15: Too much Kezia Brackett and too many self-inflicted turnovers conspired to send Schalick (3-1) to its first loss of the season. Brackett had 17 points and seven rebounds for Glassboro (6-3).
Glassboro149137-43
Schalick2175-15

Boys games

SALEM 55, PITMAN 44: Cole Sayers came off the bench and gave the Rams nine points and seven rebounds as they continue their march towards a No. 1 seed in South Jersey Group I.

Deshaan Williams was their leading scorer with 15 points. Marshall Stephens grabbed a team-high 10 rebounds. Xavier McGriff had 10 points and Tymear Lecator dished eight assists.

GLASSBORO 63, SCHALICK 60: Xavier Sabb scored 34 points, but the Bulldogs barely got by the Cougars. Dylan Sheehan led Schalick with 20 points. Julian Dickerson had 14 and Kenny Bartee had 12.

OVERBROOK 62, PENNS GROVE 35: Overbrook’s Lamar Little led all scorers with 17 points. Haneef Frisby led Penns Grove with 11.

CLAYTON 89, SALEM TECH 42: The Clippers put four scorers in double figures, led by James Fritz’ 17. Keidyn Robinson led Salem Tech with 10. Larry Pompper had eight.

WJFL all shook up

As previously reported by Riverview Sports News, the WJFL Diamond Division is shaken up with Glassboro, Woodstown, Penns Grove all out, Pennsville in; 76 teams in different divisions than a year ago

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

The Diamond Division of the West Jersey Football League may look a lot different than it has in the past, but it still appears to be just as strong as it’s ever been.

The ”SEC West” of Group I football is still no country for old men.

Two-time reigning state champion Glassboro may have been moved out in the latest two-year shakeup of WJFL division alignments, but there is still a lineup of heavy hitters residing there.

All six teams in the new division lineup were playoff teams in 2025. But the biggest takeaway locally is both Woodstown and Penns Grove are out, vanquished to the Independence Division. They had been Diamond Division teams since the inception of the WJFL in 2010.

“No problem for us,” Woodstown coach Frank Trautz said Monday, the day the league formally announced the alignments. “The name of the division doesn’t mean anything; they change every two years and teams are constantly moving. The goal is always the same. We want to try and position ourselves the best we can for the post season.”

The new Diamond Division has Pennsville, Schalick, Salem, Burlington City, Overbrook and Paulsboro. The new Independence Division is Penns Grove, Woodstown, Buena, Clayton, Pitman and Woodbury.

Schalick was 5-7, but played in the sectional title game for the third year in a row. Pennsville (5-5, Patriot) was a South Jersey Group I quarterfinalist and Salem (6-5) and Paulsboro (9-2) played in the Group I semifinals. Burlington City, which won an appeal to come out of the Constitution Division and replaces Gloucester in the Diamond reshuffle, was the No. 2 finisher in the South Jersey Group I UPR and No. 1 seed in the Central Jersey bracket and Overbrook (6-4, Patriot) was a playoff team in Group II.

The WJFL granted five of the 11 appeals it heard. More than 20 were said to be filed. Fifteen teams changed divisions from the pre-appeal alignment. Seventy-six of the league’s 96 teams will be playing in different divisions than they did in the 2024-25 realignment.

In the new Independence Division, only Clayton (5-5) had a non-losing record and Woodbury (3-7) was the only team that made the playoffs. Penns Grove went 0-9 and is looking for a new coach, and Woodstown went 3-7 in a season beset by injuries.

“We feel like our division will be challenging, but we must challenge ourselves to get better,” Pennsville athletics director Jamy Thomas said. “We are familiar with the teams in our division and we are getting back a few Salem County rivals.”

Teams are now awaiting word on their scheduling crossovers. The new alignments may make filling schedules easier.

It has been rare that all five Salem County teams played in the same division. Pennsville plays an annual trophy game with Penns Grove. The last time the Eagles played all four of the other Salem County teams in the same season was 2019.

“(It) would be nice if the scheduling committee added Woodstown as one of our cross-overs so we would once again play all of the Salem County schools during the regular season,” Thomas said.

The WJFL said it was hoping to have the schedules and crossovers in place by mid-January.

WEST JERSEY FOOTBALL LEAGUE
DIAMOND: Burlington City, Overbrook, Paulsboro, Pennsville, Salem, Schalick.
INDEPENDENCE: Buena, Clayton, Penns Grove, Pitman, Woodbury, Woodstown.
AMERICAN: Winslow, Washington Twp., Kingsway, St. Augustine, Atlantic City, Millville.
CLASSIC: Camden, Glassboro, Mainland, Cedar Creek, Holy Spirit, Ocean City.
COLONIAL: Cherokee, Shawnee, Rancocas Valley, Burlington Twp., Pleasantville, Delsea.
CONSTITUTION: Paul VI, Delran, Haddonfield, Seneca, West Deptford, Willingboro.
CONTINENTAL: Cherry Hill East, Eastern, Lenape, Northern Burlington, Williamstown, Pennsauken.
FREEDOM: Camden-Eastside, Cherry Hill West, Cinnaminson, Gloucester, Moorestown, Triton.
MEMORIAL: Absegami, ACIT, Egg Harbor Twp., Hammonton, Lower Cape May, Oakcrest.
LIBERTY: Bridgeton, Cumberland, Timber Creek, St. Joe’s (Hamm.), Vineland, Highland.
CAPITOL: Allentown, Ewing, Hightstown, Hopewell Valley, Princeton, Trenton.
VALLEY: Hamilton, Lawrence, Notre Dame, Nottingham, Robbinsville, Steinert.
NATIONAL: Audubon, Bishop Eustace, Collingswood, Gateway, Haddon Heights, Sterling.
PATRIOT: Bordentown, Camden Catholic, Florence, KIPP, Maple Shade, Riverside.
ROYAL: Clearview, Deptford, Holy Cross, Mastery, Pemberton, WW-Plainsboro.
UNITED: Gloucester Catholic, Haddon Twp., Lindenwold, Middle Twp., Palmyra, Wildwood.

Salem County WJFL History

YEARSCHALICKPENNS GROVEPENNSVILLESALEMWOODSTOWN
2026DiamondIndependenceDiamondDiamondIndependence
2025DiamondDiamondPatriotDiamondDiamond
2024DiamondDiamondPatriotDiamondDiamond
2023HorizonDiamondRoyalDiamondDiamond
2022HorizonDiamondRoyalDiamondDiamond
2021UnitedDiamondUnitedDiamondDiamond
2020UnitedDiamondUnitedDiamondDiamond
2019DiamondDiamondDiamondDiamondDiamond
2018DiamondDiamondDiamondDiamondDiamond
2017ClassicDiamondDiamondDiamondDiamond
2016ClassicDiamondDiamondDiamondDiamond
2015DiamondDiamondClassicClassicDiamond
2014DiamondDiamondClassicClassicDiamond
2013DiamondDiamondClassicClassicDiamond
2012DiamondDiamondClassicClassicDiamond
2011DiamondDiamondClassicClassicDiamond
2010DiamondDiamondClassicClassicDiamond

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.

Saturday roundup

Results and highlights from Saturday’s wrestling, indoor track action involving Salem County teams

Wrestling

HAMMONTON DUALS
GATEWAY/WOODBURY 51, PENNSVILE 20
106: Mike Graham (GW) pinned Brett Land, 5:53
113: Vincent Toner (GW) maj. dec. Erick Davalos, 14-3
120: Leo Butler (GW) pinned John Sassi, 1:24
126: Christian Snyder (GW) tech fall over Mehki Dicks, 15-0 (2:45)
132: Chase Baker (P) tech fall over Aiden Barbato, 15-0 (4:34)
138: Cameron Torres (GW) pinned Vincent Grether, 4:28
144: Stephen Ericsson (GW) dec. Nathaniel Mason, 11-4
150: Travis Hagan (P) pinned Dylan Letzgus, 2:54
157: Gabe Supernavage (P) pinned Gio Alvarez, 0:27
165: Robbie McDade (P) dec. Daniel Rivera, 12-8
175: Josh Reynolds (GW) won by forfeit
190: Josiah Bradshaw (GW) pinned Cristian Blyler, 1:15
215: Shane Young (GW) won by forfeit
285: Ahmad Fears (GW) dec. Jacob Hand, 3-2

PENNSVILLE 59 WINSLOW 14
113: Christopher Steed (WI) maj. dec. Erick Davalos, 9-1
120: John Sassi (P) won by forfeit
126: Mehki Dicks (P) pinned Alverse Cannon, 5:24
132: Chase Baker (P) pinned Nathan Downey, 4:51
138: Noah Young (WI) maj. dec. Vincent Grether, 9-1
144: Nathaniel Mason (P) dec. Nathan Smalls, 7-4
150: Travis Hagan (P) pinned Joshua Martinez, 1:54
157: Gabe Supernavage (P) pinned Chase Hamilton, 0:47
165: Robbie McDade (P) pinned Luke Vigorito, 0:26
175: Cristian Blyler (P) tech fall over Pablo Hernandez, 16-0 (5:35)
190: Caleb Walderrama (WI) won by forfeit
215: Hunter Coulbourn (P) won by forfeit
285: Trevor Waddington (P) dec. Izuchukwu Ugwuzor, 6-4
106: Brett Land (P) won by forfeit

PENNSVILLE 53, BUENA 28
120: John Sassi (P) won by forfeit
126: Mehki Dicks (P) pinned Konner Raynor, 4:40
132: Chase Baker (P) won by forfeit
138: Thomas Hann (B) pinned Vincent Grether, 1:55
144: Zach Cohen (B) maj. dec. Nathaniel Mason, 14-3
150: Travis Hagan (P) pinned Gionni Sharkey, 2:55
157: Gabe Supernavage (P) pinned Gage Forvour, 1:10
165: Robbie McDade (P) pinned Billy Haslam, 0:44
175: Matt Cohen (B) won by forfeit
190: Larry Spellman (B) pinned Cristian Blyler, 2:40
215: Anthony Trainor (B) won by forfeit
285: Jacob Hand (P) pinned Mason Zaak, 1:40
106: Brett Land (P) pinned John Sutton, 3:28
113: Erick Davalos (P) tech fall over Alex Alicia, 19-2 (5:42)

DAN TRAINER COLLINGSWOOD DUALS
WOODSTOWN 65, CAMDEN/CAMDEN EASTSIDE 6
106: T.J. Conto (WO) won by forfeit
113: Jadon Middlemiss (WO) pinned Fahim Bright, 0:47
120: Carson Bradway (WO) won by forfeit
126: Walker Battavio (WO) pinned Adrian DeJesus, 1:44
132: Barry Coverly (WO) tech fall over Iyzuhs Abreu, 19-4 (4:33)
138: Luke Woronicak (WO) won by pin, 1:31
144: Unknown
150: Unknown
157: Ahmad Clossen (CCE) pinned Mathias Ellis, 3:25
165: Logan Warfield (WO) pinned Nekai Underdue, 3:20
175: Greyson Hyland (WO) pinned Levar Wilson-Morant, 1:05
190: Asher Fitzpatrick (WO) pinned Terrance Rothmiller, 3:41
215: Bradley Snitcher (WO) pinned Gabriel Marshall
285: Mateo Vinciguerra (WO) pinned Anthony Nelson

CHERRY HILL WEST 41, WOODSTOWN 29
106: Aiden Sanchez (CHW) pinned T.J. Conto, 0:08
113: Caden Rossi (CHW) dec. Jadon Middlemiss, 4-0
120: Carson Bradway (WO) dec. Aeden Wynne, 6-0
126: Walker Battavio (WO) pinned Mason Hare, 1:34
132: Barry Coverly (WO) tech fall over Jamir Jackson, 16-1 (4:00)
138: Brandon Darling (CHW) pinned Luke Woronicak, 3:16
144: Mason Mahan (CHW) maj. dec. Nehemiah Carter, 14-6
150: Angel Mena-Martinez (CHW) pinned Josh Woronicak, 3:31
157: Jakob Ubarry (CHW) pinned Mathias Ellis, 0:34
165: Gabe Jones (CHW) pinned Logan Warfield, 0:40
175: Clayton Tyson (CHW) maj. dec. Greyson Hyland, 11-3
190: Asher Fitzpatrick (WO) over Praise Okereafor (SV-1 5-2)
215: Bradley Snitcher (WO) pinned Nick Fareas, 0:52
285: Mateo Vinciguerra (WO) pinned Anthony Vanella, 0:20

GLOUCESTER 57, WOODSTOWN 16
106: Connor Frenetic (G) tech fall over T.J. Conto, 15-0 (2:00)
113: Jacob Vazquez (G) tech fall over Jadon Middlemiss, 16-0
120: Ethan Santiago (G) pinned Carson Bradway, 2:26
126: Gavin Lee (G) pinned Walker Battavio, 4:17
132: Barry Coverly (WO) vs. Alexander Ekimoglou
138: Aidan Johnson (G) pinned Luke Woronicak, 0:17
144: Darrian Smith (G) pinned Nehemiah Carter, 0:17
150: Greg Harris (G) tech fall over Josh Woronicak, 17-2 (2:49)
157: Michael Eller (G) pinned Mathyias Ellis, 2:46
165: Derek Scruggs (G) pinned Ricky Watts, 3:39
175: Greyson Hyland (WO) maj. dec. Harry Ulmer, 8-0
190: Ashton Wall (G) pinned Asher Fitzpatrick, 1:31
215: Bradley Snitcher (WO) pinned Bryce Busan, 1:07
285: Mateo Vinciguerra (WO) pinned Alex Anderson, 0:36

OVERBROOK QUAD
SCHALICK 72, OVERBROOK 12
120: E’Shion Underwood (S) won by forfeit
126: Caleb Jenkins (S) won by forfeit
132: Jacob Potts (S) won by forfeit
138: Colin Bittle (S) pinned Jaden Marshall, 1:53
144: Michael Baisch (S) won by forfeit
150: Mason Hollywood (S) pinned Karter Reed, 0:45
157: Ayden Jenkins (S) won by forfeit
165: Anthony Deaver (S) won by forfeit
175: Xyon Marshall (O) won by forfeit
190: Jayden Devan (O) won by forfeit
215: James Cook (S) pinned Augustus Guzman, 5:21
285: Gerardo Felipe (S) pinned Shyer Scarborough, 1:13
106: Victor Fenske (S) won by forfeit
113: Nicholas Latona (S) won by forfeit

SCHALICK 47, HADDON HEIGHTS 32
113: Aniello Napolitano (H) tech fall over Nicholas Latona, 21-5 (3:59)
120: Cole Denning (H) pinned E’Shion Underwood, 1:18
126: Caleb Jenkins (S) pinned Joseph DeRosa, 3:30
132: Jacob Potts (S) pinned Gavin Gilliss, 1:11
138: Colin Bittle (S) pinned Brennan Albright, 0:46
144: Michael Baisch (S) pinned Michael Fitter, 0:48
150: Ryan Bailey (H) pinned Mason Hollywood, 2:32
157: Ayden Jenkins (S) pinned Matthew Boone, 3:51
165: Jayden Bonilla (H) pinned Ayden Hubbard, 5:29
175: Andrew Gutkin (H) pinned Ricky Watt, 1:44
190: Evan Elliott (S) pinned Shawn Thompson, 1:16
215: James Cook (S) pinned Cameron Mayo, 0:59
285: Nathan Lelionis (H) dec. Gerardo Felipe, 8-6
106: Victor Fenske (S) tech fall over Andrew Hanchey, 19-3 (3:59)

SCHALICK 59, MAINLAND 12
106: Victor Fenske (S) won by forfeit
113: Nicholas Latona (S) won by forfeit
120: E’Shion Underwood (S) pinned Jaxon Serra, 0:42
126: Mario DiBartolo (M) dec. Caleb Jenkins, 4-0
132: Justin Mazur (M) dec. Jacob Potts, 3-1
138: Colin Bittle (S) tech fall over Archer Burns, 21-5 (3:58)
144: Daniel McKinnon (M) def. Michael Baisch, 12-8
150: Mason Hollywood (S) pinned Yehor Leusenko, 1:32
157: Ayden Jenkins (S) won by forfeit
165: Anthony Deaver (S) won by forfeit
175: Vincent Hoag (M) dec. Ricky Watt, 4-2
190: Evan Elliott (S) won by forfeit
215: James Cook (S) won by forfeit
285: Gerardo Felipe (S) won by forfeit

SALEM QUAD
HOLY SPIRIT 37, SALEM 36
120: Zachary Tortella (S) won by forfeit
126: Nathaniel Quinones-Perez (S) won by forfeit
132: Guilherme Quintanilha (S) pinned Seamus Crowder, 1:30
138: Carmine Lovallo (HS) pinned Christian VanTonder, 2:51
144: Anthony Lovallo (HS) pinned Joseph Goetaski, 1:51
150: Gavin Mensch (HS) pinned Zion Moore, 0:46
157: Patrick Voss (HS) won by forfeit
165: Mason Sproles (HS) won by forfeit
175: Austyn Franklin (S) won by forfeit
190: Kaleb Ewald (S) won by forfeit
215: Double forfeit
285: Abdur Jenkins (S) won by forfeit
106: Double forfeit
113: Ryan Eykyn (HS) won by forfeit
NOTE: Holy Spirit won the tiebreaker.

MANASQUAN 76, SALEM 3
126: Gustavo Ramirez Ortiz (M) pinned Nathaniel Quinones-Perez
132: Donovan Havard (M) pinned Guilherme Quintanilha
138: Padraig Tracey (M) won by forfeit
144: Jaden Sanders (M) pinned Joseph Goetaski
150: Ryan McNulty (M) tech fall over Christian VanTonder, 16-1
157: Torrin Tracey (M) tech fall over Zion Moore, 16-1
165: David Dawson (M) pinned Jordan Brown
175: Ryder Boyle (M) pinned Jaivion Sydnor
190: Abnel Roman Del-Rio (M) pinned Kaleb Ewald
215: Domenic Incolla (M) won by forfeit
285: Abdur Jenkins (S) dec. Ambrose Masons, 8-3
106: Myles Byrne (M) won by forfeit
113: Jack Thomas (M) won by forfeit
120: Liam Cavanagh (M) pinned Zachary Tortella

NORTHERN BURLINGTON 76, SALEM 6
132: Roco Giangeruso (NB) tech fall over Guilherme Quintanilha, 17-1 (2:08)
138: Kellan Bolos (NB) won by forfeit
144: Michael Mayhew (NB) won by forfeit
150: Julian Morgan (NB) won by forfeit
157: Nathan Hyman (NB) pinned Zyion Moore, 3:43
165: Nathanael Beteta-Perez (NB) pinned Jordan Brown, 5:17
175: Logan Berck (NB) pinned Jaivion Sydney, 1:33
190: Aadil Rehman (NB) pinned Kaleb Ewald, 0:53
215: Kody Phillips (NB) won by forfeit
285: Abdur Jenkins (S) won by forfeit
106: Maddox Millan (NB) won by forfeit
113: Niccolo Carnassale (NB) won by forfeit
120: Ryan Thatcher (NB) tech fall over Zachary Tortella, 17-0 (1:56)
126: Jason Marasco (NB) pinned Adrien Morales, 0:56

Indoor Track

PHILADELPHIA — Woodstown’s Karson Chew had a big day at the SJTCA Meet at the Ott Center Saturday.

Chew ran a leg on the winning 4×800 relay team that beat their best time in the building last year by three seconds and blasted his PR by eight seconds in winning the 1600.

“Overall pretty happy about how the day went,” he said. “The 1600 was a really good breath of fresh air. I haven’t had a PR in that event since last indoor season and I felt as though because I ran a 28 lap lap that I totally had more in the tank.”

Joining Chew on the first 4×8 of the indoor season were returnees Josh Crawford and Jake Marino and newcomer David Farrell.

“Overall everyone did pretty well in the first 4×8 of the season,” Chew said. “And although we still have some things to clean up, we’re well on our way for a great season in the relay.”

SJTCA MEET 8
OTT CENTER, PHILADELPHIA
(Top 6 finishes)

BOYS
1600: 1. Karson Chew, Woodstown 4:36.46
Distance medley: 2. Woodstown 10:56.71
4×800: 1. Woodstown 8:20.31
Long jump: 6. Davine Banks, Penns Grove 18-4.75

GIRLS
1600: 4. Abby Marino, Woodstown 5:31.70
High jump: 3. Kami Casiano, Woodstown 34-10
Triple jump: 3. Arianna Dowe, Penns Grove 32-0.75


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