Here is the Salem County sports schedule for the week of Feb. 15-22
SUNDAY, FEB. 15 INDOOR TRACK South Jersey Group I Sectionals at Bennett Complex, 9 a.m.
MONDAY, FEB. 16 WRESTLING Cedar Creek at Salem, 10 a.m. NJSIAA Team Tournament At Paulsboro Buena vs. Paulsboro, 5:30 p.m. Pennsville vs. Schalick, 5:30 p.m. Winners to follow At Audubon Haddon Twp. vs. Woodstown, 5 p.m. Maple Shade vs. Audubon, 5 p.m. Winners to follow COLLEGE BASEBALL Salem CC at Bryant & Stratton (Va.)
TUESDAY, FEB. 17 BOYS BASKETBALL TCC Tournament Championship Bracket Timber Creek at Kingsway Deptford at Overbrook Cumberland at Delsea Williamstown at Salem, 5 p.m. Consolation game Woodstown at Penns Grove, 5:30 p.m. Postseason Bracket Clayton at GCIT Glassboro at Triton Wildwood at Pitman Highland at Washington Twp. GIRLS BASKETBALL TCC Tournament Championship Bracket Delsea at Gloucester Catholic Clearview at Timber Creek Kingsway at Glassboro Washington Twp. at Wildwood Consolation game Woodstown at Triton, 5:30 p.m. Postseason Bracket Pitman at Schalick Salem at Williamstown Clayton at GCIT Penns Grove at Deptford
WEDNESDAY, FEB. 18 WRESTLING Pennsville at Pennsauken, 6 p.m. Team Sectional Finals BOYS BOWLING South Jersey Group I Tournament Salem vs. Doane Academy, Wood Lanes, 3 p.m. Asbury Park at Camden Catholic
THURSDAY, FEB. 19 BOYS BASKETBALL TCC Tournament Championship Bracket Timber Creek-Kingsway vs. Deptford-Overbrook Cumberland-Delsea vs. Williamstown-Salem Postseason Bracket Clayton-GCIT vs. Glassboro-Triton Wildwood-Pitman vs. Highland/Washington Twp. GIRLS BASKETBALL TCC Tournament Championship Bracket Delsea-Gloucester Catholic vs. Clearview-Timber Creek Kingsway-Glassboro vs. Washington Twp.-Wildwood Postseason Bracket Pitman-Schalick vs. Salem-Williamstown Clayton-GCIT vs. Penns Grove-Deptford Consolation game Cumberland at Pennsville, 4 p.m. WRESTLING Salem at New Egypt, 5 p.m.
FRIDAY, FEB. 20 BOYS BASKETBALL Camden County Tech at Salem Tech, 5:30 p.m. GIRLS BASKETBALL Medford Tech at Salem Tech, 4 p.m. WRESTLING St. Joseph (Hamm.) at Salem, 5 p.m. Penns Grove at Cherry Hill West, 6 p.m. State Team Semifinals
SATURDAY, FEB. 21 BOYS BASKETBALL TCC Championship, Washington Twp., 11 a.m. GIRLS BASKETBALL TCC Championship, Washington Twp., 1 p.m. BOYS BOWLING South Jersey Group I Championship WRESTLING Pennsville, Ewing at Pt. Pleasant Beach, 10 a.m.
SUNDAY, FEB. 22 TRACK NJSIAA Group Championships, Bennett Center, 9 a.m.
Scores, details and projected playoff pairings highlight the Saturday Salem County sports report; Salem projected to pull down No. 1 boys seed in South Jersey Group 1; will be updated with more
SATURDAY, FEB. 14 BOYS BASKETBALL Salem 66, Salem Tech 44 Steinert 55, Schalick 30 Haddonfield 49, Woodstown 44 GIRLS BASKETBALL Middle Twp. 55, Schalick 26 TCC Tournament Delsea 47, Pennsville 30 WRESTLING Highland, Mainland at Pennsville Woodstown at Delran Quad
By Al Muskewitz Riverview Sports News
SALEM — All year long the carrot Salem’s boys basketball team had been chasing was the No. 1 seed in the South Jersey Group I tournament. It appears the Rams have claimed their prize.
After dispatching Salem Tech 66-64 on Saturday’s final day of power points qualifying, the Rams (19-4) appear to have secured the No. 1 seed by nearly two full points over No. 2 Palmyra. If the tournament were seeded as of 5 p.m. Saturday night, they would host No. 16 Riverside in the opening round of the playoffs.
It’s the first time an Anthony Farmer-coached Salem team is No. 1 in South Jersey. The Rams went to the South Jersey finals in his first season as the No. 2 seed.
“We’ve been taking care of business all season long, we’ve been finding ways to win, so this is the result,” Farmer said. “We’re excited about being the 1 seed and having everything come through Salem and having home court advantage. Now we’ve just got to get to work and see how far we can go with this thing.”
Here are the top 16 South Jersey Group I boys qualifers (and projected matchups) based on the power points standings at press time:
1. Salem (19-4), 2. Palmyra (17-6), 3. Haddon Twp. (20-5), 4. KIPP (15-6), 5. Burlington City (12-11), 6. Penns Grove (15-10), 7. Woodbury (11-14), 8. Woodstown (15-10), 9. Paulsboro (11-11), 10. x-Audubon (12-12), 11. Pitman (10-14), 12. Glassboro (7-15), 13. Wildwood (12-11), 14. New Egypt (11-13), 15. Gateway (13-11), No. 16 Riverside (9-14). x-LEAP, No. 10 in the power points standings, is ineligible for the playoffs.
Projected pairings based off those seeds: Riverside at Salem, Paulsboro at Woodstown, Glassboro at Burlington City, Wildwood at KIPP, New Egypt at Haddon Twp., Pitman at Penns Grove, Audubon at Woodbury, Gateway at Palmyra.
Projected pairings based off those seeds: Clayton at Haddon Twp., Burlington City at Woodbury, New Egypt at Palmyra, Riverside at Glassboro, Cape May Tech at Audubon, Woodstown at Pennsville, Schalick at Gateway, Salem at Wildwood.
In Farmer’s mind, having the home court is the biggest advantage to being the No. 1 seed.
“That is the big deal,” he said. “Kids have a tendency to get behind the home crowd and play with more energy and play better at home. Salem has a lot of support, our fans come out, so it’s great for us to be at home.”
The Rams were home Saturday and sent their seniors off in style. Farmer played the seniors on Senior Day and they made it happen.
Donnie Weathers led them with 13 points. Xavier McGriff had 12, and Kaden Robinson and Marshall Stephens had 10 apiece. All the players will be available for their next start, Tuesday against Williamstown in the Tri-County Tournament quarterfinals..
“We’ve been playing good basketball the last few weeks, I’m excited where we are,” Farmer said. “You want to be playing your best basketball around this time and I feel like we’re more disciplined, we have a better understanding of who we are as a group, so I’m excited about the run we’re going to make.”
HADDONFIELD 49, WOODSTOWN 44: The Wolverines cut a nine-point fourth-quarter deficit to three with five seconds left, but couldn’t come all the way. Haddonfield missed a free throw with 4.7 seconds left and the Wolverines had the ball, but couldn’t get the tying shot to fall and the Bulldogs escaped with their 11th straight win.
Blake Bialecki led Woodstown with 12 points, but was held without a 3-pointer for the first time in 21 games and the first time at home since last year’s opening-round win in the South Jersey Group I tournament. He remains at 199 for his career. He had a good look at one with about 30 seconds left and the Wolverines down five, but rattled the rim three times before falling out. Elijah Caesar and Alejandro both hit two 3s and both finished with 10 points.
Chris Beane led Haddonfield (21-3) with 12 points, seven rebounds and three assists. Chase Stadler hit three 3s and finished with 10. The Bulldogs are the projected No. 1 seed in South Jersey Group 2.
HADDONFIELD (21-3): Mike Douglas 2 1-6 6, John Scipione 1 2-4 5, Chris Beane 4 4-8 12, Jack McKeever 1 0-0 2, Mike Mooney 3 1-4 7, Ryan Guyeiyian 1 5-9 7, Chase Stadler 3 1-4 10. Totals 15 14-35 49. WOODSTOWN (15-10): Elijah Caesar 4 0-0 10, Andrew White 3 0-3 6, Blake Bialecki 6 6-7 12, Alejandro Vazquez 3 2-3 10, Josh King 1 4-4 6. Totals 17 12-17 44.
STEINERT 55, SCHALICK 30: The Spartans from Mercer County dominated the first and third quarters to take control of the game. Steinert’s Michael Shaklin hit four 3-pointers and led all scorers with 18 points. Christian Guagliardo went 6-of-9 from the line and added 10. Julian Dickerson led Schalick with 14 points.
Steinert
16
18
15
6-
55
Schalick
9
13
3
5-
30
Girls games
DELSEA 47, PENNSVILLE 30: Peyton Parker scored 22 points and the Crusaders held Pennsville’s top two scorers to a combined 13 points to win in the final game of the opening round of the Tri-County Conference Championship Bracket. The loss snapped Pennsville’s seven-game winning streak and was the Eagles’ first in the six games since changing coaches Feb. 2.
Taylor Bass was Pennsville’s leading scorer with 10 points. Marley Wood was held to three. She tried to play through illness in the first half, but sat out the second.
“Delsea came out to play,” Eagles coach Robin Efelis said. “They were aggressive and played well. We had a few days of good practices, but it wasn’t enough.”
MIDDLE TWP. 55, SCHALICK 26: The Panthers went looking for a last-minute game addition to enhance its power points position and the Cougars answered the call to test themselves against the projected No. 1 team in South Jersey Group 2.
Middle (21-4) jumped out quickly and held the Cougars (15-6) to two points in each of the first two quarters. Interestingly, the Panthers didn’t put a scorer in double figures, but had 11 players scored. Vicky Basich led Schalick with eight points. Nevaeh Robinson had seven points and 10 rebounds.
Schalick benefitted from the game as well. The Cougars earned enough power points to project to No. 10 in the South Jersey Group 1 standings, the second-highest team from Salem County.
Penns Grove takes down Willingboro, Salem Tech falls in TCC bracket; Salem bowling reaches sectional semis
BOYS BASKETBALL
PENNS GROVE – The reason teams try to schedule games late in the cutoff week is to make a last-minute move up the power points standings.
Penns Grove gained a lot of power points in its hope to move into the South Jersey Group 1 top four and potentially two home playoff games Thursday with its 69-58 win over Willingboro.
The Red Devils (15-9) jumped out front early and stayed in control. Geonni Conrad and Roman Gipson led their usually balanced scoring attack with 16 and 14, respectively.
The Chimeras had three scorers in double figures, led by Yasin Hogue’s 25 points, but Penns Grove had eight players hit the scoring column, with half of them scoring at least seven points.
Wildwood 68, Salem Tech 31: Trevor Troiano hit three 3-pointers and scored a game-high 15 points to lead the Warriors in the first round of the Tri- County Postseason Bracket. Raphael Busch led the Chargers with 11. Wildwood now plays at Pitman in the quarterfinals.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Wildwood 59, Salem 27: The Warriors (17-6) roared to a 23-4 first-quarter lead and cruised to a third straight victory. Wildwood’s Rebecca Benichou led all scorers with 23 points. Angela Wilber dished 10 assists. Dyaira Anderson led the Rams (8-9) with 16 points.
BOYS BOWLING SJ GROUP 1 QF Salem 2, Maple Shade 0: Troy Carey rolled two games of 266 for the day’s high series (532) and Jacob Puni rolled games of 242 and 228 to lead the second-seeded Rams (10-3) into the sectional semifinals. They’ll face sixth-seeded Doane Academy (8-10) Wednesday at Wood Lanes. The winner gets Camden Catholic or Asbury Park in the Feb. 21 finals.
SJ GROUP 2 QF Lindenwold 2, Salem Tech 1: Second-seeded Lindenwold (14-1-1) won the rubber game 842-789 to reach the sectional semifinals. Cooper Rappa bowled the high game (216) and high series (550) for the Chargers (6-8).
GIRLS BOWLING SJ GROUP 1 QF Camden Catholic 2, Salem Tech 1: The fourth-seeded Irish (14-1) won the rubber game 686-614 to reach the semifinals. Naomi Hess rolled a high-game 181 in Game 3 for the Chargers (9-2-1), but the Irish had four games 145 or better. Hess also had the high series for the match (512).
Here are the scores and highlights from Wednesday night’s Salem County sports schedule BOYS BASKETBALL Pitman 53, Pennsville 16 Woodstown 64, Salem Tech 15 GIRLS BASKETBALL Schalick 37, Oakcrest 24 Pennsville 49, Pitman 21 Woodstown 67, Salem Tech 16 WRESTLING Willingboro 33, Salem 30 Pennsville 63, Haddon Heights 10
By Riverview Sports News
GIRLS BASKETBALL WOODSTOWN 67, SALEM TECH 16: Emma Perry just missed her career-high on her Senior Night, 12 players scored and the Wolverines rolled in their final regular-season game. Perry scored 17 points, one shy of tying her career high she set two weeks ago. Lauren Hengel, another senior, added 12 points and 10 other Wolverines scored.
The Wolverines celebrated their Senior Night, then shutout the Chargers in the first quarter 26-0.
“It was a very good night,” Woodstown coach Matt Smart said. “We have had a tough season this year and the girls continued to work hard every practice and every game.
“There have never been any complaints all year from the girls. They enjoy the game of basketball and they enjoy being around each other. There are countless conversations and jokes happening all the time with this group.
“The best part of the game for me as a coach was seeing the smiles on the girls’ faces. They were out there having fun. Yes, we care about wins and losses, but you play a sport because you have fun doing it. We often forget that and the girls did not forget about that tonight.”
The team’s four seniors — Perry, Hengel, Kyia Leyman and Kailyn Kennedy — all scored in the game. They combined for 39 points, 22 rebounds and 12 assists. In addition to her points, Perry had five rebounds and five assists. Hengel had eight rebounds and seven assists, Leyman had five rebounds and Kennedy had four rebounds.
“This senior class is a very special class,” Smart said of the group that has been a part of 70 wins in four years and played for three head coaches. “(They) all work extremely hard all of the time. They are a tight-knit group, but a very selfless group; you could see that tonight. We gave up good shots for better shots and moved the ball well. Seeing that on over half the shots we made tonight there was an assist is a very special thing.
“I’m going to miss this group so much. They are very special and you can tell how much they mean to the rest of the team based off of tonight’s Senior Night festivities. Luckily, our journey isn’t over yet.”
3-point goals: Salem Tech 4 (Liber 3, Bazemore); Woodstown 4 (Hengel 2, Perry, Young). Rebounds: Woodstown 52 (Maldonado 8, Hengel 8, Young 6). Total fouls: Salem Tech 4, Woodstown 4.
SCHALICK 37, OAKCREST 24: Nevaeh Robinson hit four 3-pointers and scored a game-high 17 points to lead the Cougars (15-5) to their third straight win. She also grabbed 11 rebounds. The sophomore hit a 3-pointer in each quarter. Ava Scurry added six rebounds to run her career total to 612 and blocked five shots (226). Liv Vanacker had seven rebounds and seven assists.
Top photo: Schalick’s Ava Scurry is joined by her teammates to commemorate her 600th career rebound. (Submitted photo).
PENNSVILLE 49, PITMAN 21: Taylor Bass pumped in 23 points to surpass 1200 for her career, Marley Wood scored 16 (to go over 1,300) and the Eagles held Pitman scoreless in the third quarter to win their seventh straight. It’s their longest winning streak since they won seven straight in the 2019-20 season. It was their fifth straight win since the coaching change.
BOYS BASKETBALL WOODSTOWN 64, SALEM TECH 15: The Wolverines spread the wealth, getting scoring from 12 players, and held the Chargers to three points in the second half to win its third in a row — all over Salem County competition. Andrew White led the way with 13 points. Connor Miller had eight and Frank Hoerst had seven. Blake Bialecki hit two more 3-pointers and is now four away from extending his school record to 200 for his career. He has hit at least one trey in each of his last 19 games.
3-point goals: Woodstown 9 (Bialecki 2, Hood-McGinley, White, Fulmer 2, Hoerst, Miller 2). Total fouls: Woodstown 6, Salem Tech 8.
PITMAN 53, PENNSVILLE 16: Jay Craig had his third double-double in his last six games and the Panthers hit eight 3-pointers as a team to roll past the Eagles. Craig had 11 points and 11 rebounds. Jake Bowen-Ashwin also scored 11 points and Parker DeChristopher had 12. Lucas Razze had eight of the Panthers’ 21 steals.
WILLINGBORO 33, SALEM 30 106: Double forfeit 113: Double forfeit 120: Fahad Irshad (WI) pinned Adrien Morales, 0:47 126: Zachary Tortella (S) pinned Demarco Edwards, 4:47 132: Guylherme Quintanilha (S) pinned Michael Barker, 0:51 138: Yiornniel Cordero (WI) dec. Brodie Parker, 9-6 144: Joseph Goetaski (S) won by forfeit 150: Roatan Alleyne (WI) won by forfeit 157: Ziyon Moore (S) dec. Deryck Montoya, 9-3 165: Precious Bankole (WI) won by forfeit 175: Dovonte Ruiz (WI) won by forfeit 190: Toren Schoners (WI) pinned Kaleb Ewald, 1:53 215: Abdur Jenkins (S) def. Lebron Martin, SV-1 4-1 285: Abdullah Jenkins (S) won by forfeit
PENNSVILLE 63, HADDON HEIGHTS 10 106: Aniello Napolitano (H) pinned Brett Land, 5:53 113: Erick Davalos (P) pinned Andrew Hanchey, 1:22 120: Maximos Efelis (P) won by forfeit 126: Michael Ferraro (H) maj. dec. Mehki Dicks, 13-3 132: Chase Baker (P) pinned Brennan Albright, 2:15 138: Nathaniel Mason (P) pinned Gavin Gilliss, 4:58 144: Vincent Grether (P) pinned Leo Falco, 3:57 150: Gabe Supernavage (P) tech fall over Ryan Bailey, 18-3 (5:03) 157: Travis Hagan (P) pinned Ian Bomgardner, 1:30 165: Robbie McDade (P) maj. dec. Andrew Gutkin, 10-2 175: Cristian Blyler (P) dec. Shawn Thompson, 10-3 190: Stephen Pangle (P) won by forfeit 215: Hunter Coulbourn (P) pinned Cameron Mayo, 1:51 285: Jacob Hand (P) dec. Nathan Lelionis, 7-2
Crowd rushes the floor after Salem’s Tymear Lecator reaches 1,000-point plateau, Woodstown wrestling wins division title in coach’s final regular-season home match, also ncludes scores and highlights from Tuesday night’s Salem County sports calendar
BOYS BASKETBALL Salem 71, Penns Grove 52 WRESTLING Delsea girls 46, Schalick 21 Woodstown 58, Timber Creek 24 Penns Grove at Palmyra Schalick 45, Cedar Creek 33
By Al Muskewitz Riverview Sports News
SALEM – Tymear Lecator had known for a while what was going to happen if he scored his 1000th career point at home. When the milestone came, he just let it come to him.
The sellout crowd rushed the floor after the Salem junior guard hit the number Tuesday night on a free throw with 2:22 left in the Rams’ 71-52 win over rival Penns Grove.
When he swished the historic shot, they came out of the stands. They came from the other side of the floor. They came in waves. But instead of running away from crush of humanity, Lecator just let the love envelop him. He backed off the foul line, raised his arms in triumph and let the crowd carry him all the way to the far baseline.
“It’s been talked about in school since Monday,” he said. “I didn’t get away from it. I just stood them and let everybody just run into me. I knew they were coming so I just stood there.
“(Scoring 1000 points) has been on my mind since I was a freshman and I knew I had a high chance of getting it, especially in the role I’ve been playing on this team since my freshman year.
“It means a lot because not a lot of guys do it as a junior. Everybody usually gets it their senior year. It means everything because I know how much work I’ve put in over the years. I’m just proud I hit the milestone.”
Lecator is the 18th player in the boys program’s history to join the 1000-Point Club and the first since Anthony Farmer, the son of coach Anthony Farmer, did it in January 2024.
Ironically, they did it against the same team, on the same floor, under similar circumstances and from the same free throw line.
Farmer needed 35 on his night to reach the milestone; he scored 36. Lecator needed 22; he scored 23.
Farmer got it on a free throw in the fourth quarter. Lecator hit the mark on a free throw in the fourth quarter.
The crowd rushed the floor for Farmer. They did the same for Lecator.
“It brought back some good memories,” the elder Farmer said.
It took about 10 minutes to clear the floor after the celebration. And the player still had another free throw to make.
In some ways it was easier to nail that one down than the first one.
“Honestly, it was 10 times easier to make the second one than the first one,” he said. “The first one everybody was standing up getting ready to run on the court, so I was definitely real nervous. The second one was nothing compared to the first one.”
Needing 22 to reach the milestone wasn’t as big an ask as Farmer’s target number against Penns Grove, but it was lofty nonetheless. But Lecator wasn’t worried about getting it. He scored 20 or more 15 times in his career and six times each of the last two seasons, including Monday night at Paulsboro to get close.
“I’m used to scoring 20 … so I was like that ain’t that crazy. I could get that today,” he said. “I just made the right reads and I let the game come to me, and luckily I hit enough shots to score the 22.”
NOTES: Lecator also had eight rebounds and four assists. Deshaan Williams had his sixth double-double of the season (14 points, 10 rebounds). Marshall Stephens and Fatah Paige also grabbed 10 rebounds apiece. Penns Grove’s typical balanced scoring attack was led by Carson Pearsall’s 14 points … Salem remains the No. 1 team in the South Jersey Group 1 power points standings by nearly two full points over Haddon Twp. Saturday is the cutoff date.
SALEM 71, PENNS GROVE 52 PENNS GROVE (14-9): Roman Gipson 3 2-4 9, Geonni Conrad 2 2-3 6, Naheef Frisby 2 0-0 5, Will Roy 2 0-0 4, Mishawn Brantley 1 0-4 2, Jameel Horace 2 0-0 4, Carson Pearsall 4 5-9 14, Zane Thomas 3 2-2 8. Totals 19 11-22 52. SALEM (18-4): Tymear Lecator 9-4-23, Marshall Stephens 3-0-6, Neziah Spence 3-1-8, Fatah Paige 2-0-4, Darrelle Johnson 2-0-4, Deshaan Williams 5-4-14, BJ Robbins 1-2-4, Xavier McGriff 2-1-6, Kyaire Parsons 1-0-2. Totals 28-12-71.
Penns Grove
10
18
11
13-
52
Salem
11
26
17
17-
71
3-point goals: Penns Grove 3 (Colson, Fritby, Pearsall); Salem 3 (Lecator, Spence, McGriff). Rebounds: Penns Grove 24 (Frisby 7, Thomas 7); Salem 55 (Stephens 10, Paige 10, Williams 1o).
Wrestling
BOYS SCHALICK 45, CEDAR CREEK 33 106: Sincere Wilcox (CC) pinned Victor Fenske, 0:46 113: Galel Solano-Lopez (CC) pinned Nicholas Latona, 1:35 120: E’Shion Underwood (S) pinned Luke Sess, 0:40 126: Hector Villarrubia-Torres (CC) pinned Caleb Jenkins, 1:39 132: Gavin Marcasciano (CC) maj. dec. over Jacon Potts, 14-3 138: Masen Cruz (CC) tech fall over Gabriel McFeeley, 15-0 (2:50) 144: Michael Baisch (S) pinned Kyle Smith 1:27 150: Mason Hollywood (S) pinned Jakob Dase, 1:16 157: Ayden Jenkins (S) tech fall over Jake Hardiman, 16-0 165: Anthony Deaver (S) pinned Cole Burton, 3:30 175: Ricky Watt (S) pinned Xavier Villarubia-Torres, 3:06 190: Gerardp Foe;o[e (S) maj. dec. Giovanni Carnes, 8-0 215: James Cook (S) won by forfeit 285: Slayton D’Amico (CC) pinned Jeff Edmonds, 1:08
WOODSTOWN 58, TIMBER CREEK 24 106: Jimmy Boone (TC) pinned TJ Conto, 0:19 113: Jadon Middlemiss (WO) won by forfeit 120: Carson Bradway (WO) pinned Dyllan Klotz, 2:43 126: Walker Battavio (WO) pinned Seth Redman, 1:12 132: Barry Coverly (WO) won by forfeit 138: Chase Icon (WO) won by forfeit 144: Nehemiah Carter (WO) won by forfeit 150: Mathyias Ellis (WO) won by forfeit 157: Matt Cordovz (TC) pinned Tyrell West, 4:24 165: Ricky Watts (WO) pinned Nathaniel Collazo, 3:25 175: Greyson Hyland (WO) maj. dec. Zyeir Green, 12-4 190: Elijah Green (TC) pinned Asher Fitzpatrick, 3:43 215: Julian McCray (TC) pinned Bradley Snitcher, 2:27 285: Mateo Vinciguerra (WO) pinned Roland Green, 0:52
GIRLS DELSEA 46, SCHLAICK 21 100: Isabella Gjini (D) won by forfeit 107: Karleigh Six (D) won by forfeit 114: Ava Baldino (D) won by forfeit 120: Nevaeha Chaney (S) won by forfeit 126: Olivia Guzman (D) pinned River Wojcik, 0:29 132: McKenna Thomas (D) won by forfeit 138: Angelia Deaver (S) dec. Ellie Fanz, 7-3 145: Elizabeth Ostoyic (D) maj. dec. Haley Batista, 11-0 152: McKayla Rutledge (D) won by forfeit 165: Ranae Scurry (S) pinned Kyleigh Dotzel, 0:42 185: Lydia Gilligan (S) pinned Samaiya Figueroa, 5:11 235: Jessica Fantini (S) won by forfeit
Pennsville girls basketball ends long title drought by clinching share of Diamond Division, plus the rest of Monday’s Salem County sports calendar GIRLS BASKETBALL Pennsville 65, Penns Grove 25 Pitman 48, Salem Tech 26 Schalick 46, Woodstown 25 BOYS BASKETBALL Penns Grove 80, Pennsville 16 Salem 60, Paulsboro 54 Pitman 52, Salem Tech 31 Woodstown 46, Schalick 33 INDOOR TRACK Pennsville, Salem at Ocean Breeze
By Al Muskewitz Riverview Sports News
PENNS GROVE — Pennsville assistant coach Ryan Wood stood before the girls basketball team after the game and gave the day its historical context in a way uniquely his own.
The Eagles had just clinched a share of its first division title since 1988 Monday when they bashed Penns Grove 65-25 in Rudy Baric Gym and Wood let them know just how long ago that was.
“Forty years ago,” he said rubbing his hands over his thinning scalp, “I had a full head of hair.”
And if you don’t believe it, his daughter, senior guard Marley Wood, has the proof.
“I’ve seen pictures, him and my brother (Luke) look the exact same, which is really weird,” she said.
The girls basketball banner at Pennsville High will soon get an update to reflect the latest division title.
The Eagles’ sixth straight win — and fourth since the coaching change — left them 9-1 in the TCC Diamond Division and a share of their first division title since 1988 with Glassboro. The teams split in the regular season.
“We’ve all worked very hard for this,” senior forward Taylor Bass said. “A lot of sweat, blood and tears have gone into it.”
There’s a banner in the far left corner of Pennsville’s Salberg Gym that commemorates the team’s last division title. After the boys soccer team won its first division title in 32 years in October, it left girls basketball with the school’s longest championship drought among teams that have won a championship. The boys basketball program has never won one. The girls track team is now on the clock (2011).
“Every year we get reminded that it’s been a while, so getting to do with my team my senior year and my dad in the back with us is great,” Marley Wood said.
The Eagles (14-6) had control of this one from the start. They built a 33-15 halftime lead, then opened the third quarter with 16 straight points to put it out of reach.
Bass and Addie Johnston led the offense with 18 points apiece. Since the coaching change that elevated Robin Efelis to head coach and brought Ryan Wood back to the bench, Johnston has scored 52 points and hit eight 3-pointers.
“It’s just been good games, good days,” the sophomore said. “My shooting’s been good, my confidence overall has been high. Just been coming out hot every day.”
Wood had six points, but grabbed 10 rebounds and dished 12 assists. Already the second-leading all-time girls scorer in school history, she needs one point for 1,300 and four assists for 500. That would put her in the 1300-500-500 Club since she already has 521 rebounds.
3-point goals: Pennsville 5 (Bass, Johnston 3, Weist); Penns Grove 3 (Patterson, JCummings, Torres). Total fouls: Pennsville 6, Penns Grove 6.
SCHALICK 46, WOODSTOWN 25: The Cougars put together one of their best defensive efforts of the season in a year filled with big defensive efforts and ended a 13-game losing streak against the Wolverines. It was almost seven years to the day the last time they won in the series, Feb. 12, 2019.
“This one feels good,” Schalick coach John Whelan said. “The girls were ready for this game and they put together four full quarters of good basketball. It was a signature win as we come to the end of there egular season. It will be a great momentum builder as we head into the playoffs.”
The Cougars (14-5) held their hosts to single digits in all four quarters. They led 10-8 after the first quarter, then took control in the second quarter. They closed Woodstown out with a 15-3 fourth quarter. They are averaging a shade under 24 points against in their 14 wins this season.
“As always we build off our defense,” Whelan said. “It was an outstanding defensive performance where the girls took pride in winning on that side of the court. That aggressiveness translated to playing downhill on the offensive end. Everyone played a part.”
Ava Scurry anchored the defense. She had 14 rebounds, including the 600th of her career, five steals and seven blocked shots. Cali Fisler had four steals and Olivia Vanacker had eight rebounds, a career-high nine assists and three steals.
Willow Davis led the offense with four 3-pointers and a career-high 18 points. Nevaeh Robinson had 10. Kendall Young was Woodstown’s leading scorer with 10 points.
The Wolverines, who once had a 39-game winning streaks against Salem County opponents, have now won lost two in a row to in-county foes.
PITMAN 48, SALEM TECH 26: Audrey Duffield scored 19 points and three other players had at least eight as the Panthers snapped a six-game losing streak that followed their last win over the Chargers. Shelby Liber led Salem Tech with 13 points. Amora Delaine had seven points and eight rebounds.
3-point goals: Salem Tech 3 (Liber 3). Rebounds: Salem Tech 35 (Delaine 8, Mott 7).
Boys games
PENNS GROVE 80, PENNSVILLE 16: The Red Devils went out 17-0 in the first five minutes and got scoring from 13 players.
Will Roy led the assault with 13 points, nine in the first quarter. Zane Thomas and Geonni Conrad had 11 apiece, and Jameel Horace had 10.
“That’s what we’re looking for,” Penns Grove coach Damien Ware said. “We have 10 to 12 guys who can play, contribute for us, so that’s really what we want to do on a night-in, night-out basis. If we can just play together. I tell them (to) play consistent.
“We’ve been playing good in stretches. We play good for five minutes and play bad for five minutes. Once we get to the point where we’re playing consistently good basketball we’re going to be tough to beat. We’re pretty deep. We have a lot of guys who can play, so we’ll be tough to deal with.”
PENNS GROVE (14-8): Roman Gipson 0 0-0 0, Carson Pearsall 4 0-0 9, Haneef Frisby 1 0-0 2, Will Roy 6 0-0 13, Mishawn Brantley 3 0-0 6, Geonni Conrad 5 0-0 11, Luis Colon 2 0-0 4, Jameel Horace 5 0-0 10, Jeremy Costacamps 1 0-0 2, Jerry Wooten 1 1-1 3, Ahkeen Edwards 1 0-0 2, Messiah Allah 0 2-2 2, Eli Pearsall 1 0-0 3, James Minor 0 2-2 2, Zane Thomas 4 3-3 11. Totals 34 8-8 80. PENNSVILLE (3-17): Jake Layfield 0 0-0 0, Shamir Watkins 1 0-0 2, Gavin Spears 0 0-0 0, Danny Knight 1 0-0 3, Jake Farina 2 0-0 6, Trey Clevinger 2 0-0 5, Colin Keenan 0 0-0 0, Liam Crane 0 0-0 0. Totals 6 0-0 16.
Penns Grove
25
25
20
10-
80
Pennsville
3
5
6
2-
16
3-point goals: Penns Grove 4 (Pearsall, Roy, Conrad, E. Pearsall); Pennsville 4 (Knight, Farina 2, Clevinger). Total fouls: Penns Grove 3, Pennsville 4.
SALEM 60, PAULSBORO 54: Tymear Lecator scored 21 points to inch closer to 1,000 career points and hit two free throws in a one-point game to keep the Red Raiders at arm’s length. The junior guard needs 22 points to hit the milestone going into Tuesday’s game with Penns Grove. He also had eight rebounds, five assists and four steals.
Deshaan Williams and BJ Robbins added nine points apiece for the Rams (17-4), the No. 1 team in the South Jersey Group I power points standings and No. 2 seed in the upcoming Tri-County Conference Tournament. Marshall Stephens and Donnie Weathers both grabbed 10 rebounds Stephens also blocked three shots.
The Rams came from eight down at halftime to take a four-point lead into the fourth quarter. The Red Raiders got within 54-53, then Lecator hit two free throws to stretch the lead and the Rams (17-4) closed it out from the line. They were 18-of-27 from the line in the game as a team, Lecator was 8-for-10.
When the milestone comes, he’ll be the 18th Salem player on the Salem County boys 1,000-point list.
“I’m not anxious, I know what work I put in and that never lies,” he said. “I’m just looking at it like another game and it’ll definitely be a blessing to hopefully reach the milestone tomorrow.”
3-point goals: Salem 4 (Lecator 3, Robbins); Paulsboro 6 (McKenzie 2, Taylor 2, Clay, Kersey). Rebounds: Salem (Lecator 8, Williams 7, Johnson 7, Stephens 10, Weathers 10); Paulsboro 30 (Carr 7, Bennett 7).
1000-POINT WATCH
TODAY
TOTAL
NEXT
Tymear Lecator, Salem
21 vs. Paulsboro
978
vs. Penns Grove, Tues.
WOODSTOWN 46, SCHALICK 33: The teams played even for a half, but Woodstown came out of the break in a strong defensive posture and pulled away. The Wolverines held them hosts to two points in the third quarter to pull ahead, then kept the pressure on in the fourth quarter.
“No special adjustment,” Woodstown coach Ramon Roots said. “We just played harder in the second (half),.”
Elijah Caesar led Woodstown’s offense with 14 points. Blake Bialecki added 12, including his 194th career 3-pointer, and went over 200 career assists. Kade Macom led the Cougars with a career-tying 16 points.
PITMAN 52, SALEM TECH 31: The Panthers controlled the game by dominating the first and third quarters. Peter DeChristopher led the effort with 16 points, four 3-pointers and six rebounds. Lucas Razze had six points, seven assists and five steals. Aiden Bobo led the Chargers’ offense with 10 points.
SALEM TECH (2-16): Chase Pompper 2 1-2 5, Luke Kroll 2 0-0 6, Ayden Myers 1 0-0 3, Raphael Busch 2 0-0 4, Sterling Lewis 1 1-2 3. Totals 12 3-6 31. PITMAN (9-13): Lucas Razze 2 1-2 6, Parker DeChristopher 6 0-0 16, Joey Zubert 4 0-0 9, Jake Bowen-Ashwin 1 1-2 3, Jay Craig 4 0-0 8, Oliver Spier 3 0-0 8, Micah Frost 0 0-0 0, Michael Aubrey 0 0-0 0, Kiernan Clark 0 0-0 0, Liam Etter 1 0-0 2, Brady Green 0 0-0 0, Brayden Geary 0 0-0 0. Totals 21 2-4 52.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Salem’s Amiyah Jones and Pennsville’s Aubrey Manorowitz both posted Top 10 finishes in jumping events to headline the Salem County performers at the SJTCA Meet at the Ocean Breeze Track & Field Facility.
Jones was fourth in the girls long jump (15-7) and eighth in the girls triple jump (30-9.75). Manorowitz placed fifth in the girls high jump (4-10).
Salem pulls down No. 2 seed in boys championship bracket; Kingsway No. 1 boys seed, Gloucester Catholic No. 1 girls seed; tournament starts Friday
By Al Muskewitz Riverview Sports News
Salem’s approach of playing anybody, anywhere, any time and having some success in it landed it the No. 2 seed among the boys and five total Salem County teams made their respective championship brackets in the Tri-County Conference tournament that starts Friday.
The 16-4 Rams, the TCC Classic Division champions and current South Jersey Group 1 No. 1, drew a first-round bye with the other three division winners when the tournament pairings dropped Monday and are the highest seeded Salem County team in either field. They will host the Penns Grove-Williamstown winner in the quarterfinals next Monday.
“We have been able to take care of business during the regular season to put ourselves in this position,” Rams coach Anthony Farmer said. “Now we have to go finish the job.”
Kingsway (No. 1), Delsea and Overbrook are the other three boys top seeds. Gloucester Catholic (No. 1), Wildwood, Glassboro and Timber Creek are the top four seeds in the girls bracket.
Penns Grove (No. 10) and Woodstown (No. 11) are the other two Salem County teams in the boys championship bracket. Pennsville (No. 9) and Woodstown (No. 11) are the two county teams in the girls championship bracket.
All the other county teams were placed in what the conference is calling the “post-season bracket.” Teams that lose in the opening round can play a second game unless they mutually opt out of the matchup.
Anthony Farmer has the Salem Rams No. 1 in the South Jersey Group I power points standings and the No. 2 seed in the Tri-County Tournament. The boys championship bracket is in the top photo.
TCC officials seeded the top 12 teams in each championship bracket according to South Jersey power points, rewarding the four division winners with first-round byes. Other tiebreakers were in place for divisions not decided by Sunday’s deadline and teams could jump seed if they had the head-to-head edge over the team immediately above them in the rankings.
Pennsville and Glassboro are currently tied for the Diamond Division girls lead – Pennsville can clinch a share of its first division title since 1988 today at Penns Grove – but Glassboro got the bye with a better overall record (and power points), and Wildwood overtook the Bulldogs for the 2 seed by virtue of winning their regular-season meeting.
Teams that finished 13 through 23 in the power points standings went to the post-season bracket. Schalick’s girls had the best luck of the local teams on the bubble. The Cougars (13-5) came in at 13 overall, but grabbed the No. 1 seed in their bracket with a first-round bye.
All games in the post-season bracket will be played at the higher seed. The first three rounds of the championship bracket will be played at the higher seed with the finals played in a boys-girls doubleheader at Washington Twp. Feb. 21.
“We are excited to be in a position to have the tournament run through Pittsgrove,” Schalick coach John Whelan said. “It’s another step in the right direction for this team.
“The girls have earned this opportunity and they are excited about having home court advantage. Our parents, fans and student section have been great recently creating a fun atmosphere to play in.
“Coach (Les) Berry and I are proud of the girls for everything they’ve accomplished so far and we are excited to see where this opportunity takes us.”
The girls Championship Bracket for the Tri-County Basketball Tournament.
TCC BOYS TOURNAMENT Championship Bracket Friday’s games Game 1: No. 9 Clearview (9-13) at No. 8 Timber Creek (10-10) Game 2: No. 12 Gloucester Catholic (8-14) at No. 5 Deptford (18-4) Game 3: No. 11 Woodstown (13-8) at No. 6 Cumberland (15-8) Game 4: No. 10 Penns Grove (13-8) at No. 7 Williamstown (13-8)
Feb. 17 Game 5: Clearview-Timber Creek winner at No. 1 Kingsway (14-9) Game 6: Gloucester Catholic-Deptford winner at No. 4 Overbrook (16-6) Game 7: Woodstown-Cumberland winner at No. 3 Delsea (12-9) Game 8: Penns Grove-Williamstown at No. 2 Salem (16-4)
Feb. 19 (at higher seed) Game 9: Game 5 winner vs. Game 6 winner Game 10: Game 7 winner vs. Game 8 winner
Feb. 21 At Washington Twp. HS Championship game, 11 a.m.
Postseason Bracket Friday’s games Game 1: No. 9 Schalick (9-10) at No. 8 Clayton (7-12) Game 2: No. 5 Glassboro (6-13) bye Game 3: No. 11 Salem Tech (2-15) at No. 6 Wildwood (13-8) Game 4: No. 10 Pennsville (3-17) at No. 7 Highland (5-16)
Feb. 17 Game 5: Schalick-Clayton winner at No. 1 GCIT (10-10) Game 6: Glassboro at No. 4 Triton (7-14) Game 7: Salem Tech-Wildwood winner at No. 3 Pitman (8-13) Game 8: Pennsville-Highland winner at No. 2 Washington Twp. (7-15)
Feb. 19 (at higher seed) Game 9: Game 5 winner vs. Game 6 winner Game 10: Game 7 winner vs. Game 8 winner
Feb. 21 (at higher seed) Championship game
TCC GIRLS TOURNAMENT Championship Bracket Friday’s games Game 2: No. 12 Cumberland (10-11) at No. 5 Clearview (13-8) Game 3: No. 11 Woodstown (9-12) at No. 6 Kingsway (14-8) Game 4: No. 10 Triton (11-10) at No. 7 Washington Twp. (12-8) Saturday’s games Game 1: No. 9 Pennsville (13-6) at No. 8 Delsea (12-9)
Feb. 17 Game 5: Pennsville-Delsea winner at No. 1 Gloucester Catholic (17-3) Game 6: Cumberland-Clearview winner at No. 4 Timber Creek (12-7) Game 7: Woodstown-Kingsway winner at No. 3 Glassboro (15-6) Game 8: Triton-Washington Twp. winner at No. 2 Wildwood (14-6)
Feb. 19 (at higher seed) Game 9: Game 5 winner vs. Game 6 winner Game 10: Game 7 winner vs. Game 8 winner
Feb. 21 At Washington Twp. HS Championship game, 1 p.m.
Postseason Bracket Friday’s games Game 1: No. 9 Pitman (3-13) at No. 8 Highland (2-19) Game 2: No. 5 Salem (8-8) bye Game 3: No. 11 Salem Tech (2-12) at No. 6 Clayton (7-11) Game 4: No. 10 Penns Grove (2-17) at No. 7 Overbrook (4-16)
Feb. 17 Game 5: Pitman-Highland at No. 1 Schalick (13-5) Game 6: No. 5 Salem at No. 4 Williamstown (4-15) Game 7: Salem Tech-Clayton winner at No. 3 GCIT (5-16) Game 8: Penns Grove-Overbrook winner at Deptford (8-13)
Feb. 19 Game 9: Game 5 winner vs. Game 6 winner Game 10: Game 7 winner vs. Game 8 winner
Here is the Salem County sports schedule for the week of Feb. 9-15
MONDAY, FEB. 9 BOYS BASKETBALL Penns Grove at Pennsville, 5:30 p.m. Salem at Paulsboro, 5:30 p.m. Salem Tech at Pitman, 5:30 p.m. Woodstown at Schalick, 5:30 p.m. GIRLS BASKETBALL Pennsville at Penns Grove, 4 p.m. Pitman at Salem Tech, 5:30 p.m. Schalick at Woodstown, 5:30 p.m. INDOOR TRACK Pennsville, Salem at Ocean Breeze, 4:30 p.m.
TUESDAY, FEB. 10 BOYS BASKETBALL Penns Grove at Salem, 5:30 p.m. WRESTLING Delsea girls at Schalick, 5 p.m. Woodstown at Timber Creek, 5 p.m. Penns Grove at Palmyra, 5:30 p.m. Cedar Creek at Schalick, 6 p.m. COLLEGE BASKETBALL Union at Salem CC, 5 p.m. WOMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL Salem CC at Morris, TBA
WEDNESDAY, FEB. 11 BOYS BASKETBALL Pennsville at Pitman, 5:30 p.m. Woodstown at Salem Tech, 5:30 p.m. GIRLS BASKETBALL Oakcrest at Schalick, 4 p.m. Pitman at Pennsville, 5:30 p.m. Salem Tech at Woodstown, 5:30 p.m. WRESTLING Pennsville, Salem at Overbrook Girls Jamboree, 5 p.m. Salem at Willingboro, 5 p.m. Pennsville at Haddon Heights, 6 p.m.
THURSDAY, FEB. 12 GIRLS BASKETBALL Wildwood at Salem, 5:30 p.m. COLLEGE BASKETBALL Camden at Salem CC, 6 p.m.
FRIDAY, FEB. 13 BOYS BASKETBALL TCC Tournament Championship Bracket Clearview at Timber Creek Gloucester Catholic at Deptford Woodstown at Cumberland Penns Grove at Williamstown Postseason Bracket Schalick at Clayton Salem Tech at Wildwood Pennsville at Highland GIRLS BASKETBALL TCC Tournament Championship Bracket Cumberland at Clearview Woodstown at Kingsway Triton at Washington Twp. Postseason Bracket Pitman at Highland Salem Tech at Clayton Penns Grove at Overbrook WRESTLING Schalick, Burlington Twp., Cherry Hill West at Maple Shade, 3:30 p.m.
SATURDAY, FEB. 14 BOYS BASKETBALL Salem Tech at Salem, 10 a.m. Woodstown at Haddonfield, 11:30 a.m. GIRLS BASKETBALL TCC Tournament Pennsville at Delsea WRESTLING Highland, Mainland at Pennsville, 10 a.m. Woodstown, Allentown, Haddon Heights at Delran, 10 a.m. COLLEGE BASKETBALL Sussex at Salem CC, 2 p.m. WOMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL Essex at Salem CC, noon
Here are the scores and details from Saturday’s Salem County sports calendar; includes basketball, wrestling BOYS BASKETBALL Deptford 68, Penns Grove 62 Woodstown 66, Pennsville 21 Battle by the Bay, Atlantic City Cherry Hill East 73, Salem 56
By Riverview Sports News
ATLANTIC CITY — Salem had hoped to get off to a hot start in its highly charged Battle By The Bay matchup with Cherry Hill East. Instead, the Rams fell behind out of the gate and although they played even in the second half fell 73-56.
It was a battle between the No. 2 teams in the South Jersey Group I power points standings against the No. 1 in SJ Group 4.
The Cougars (19-2) ran out to an 11-1 lead and held the Rams (16-4) without a field goal until Deshaan Williams’ put back with 3:22 left in the first quarter. It was 17-9 after the first quarter and 39-22 at halftime.
The Cougars were aware of the damage Salem guard Tymear Lecator could inflict and held him to nine points, the first time he’s been out of double figures in 12 games. The junior guard is now 43 points shy of 1,000 for his career.
Neziah Spence led Salem with 21 points, tying his career high, set earlier this year against A.I. duPont.
Chris Delgado led CHE with 19 points. Justin Farber had 15 points and Chris Abreu 14. The Cougars hit nine 3-pointers in the game. Salem was 3-of-13 from behind the arc.
CHERRY HILL EAST 73, SALEM 56 CHERRY HILL EAST (19-2): Chris Abreu 4 5-7 14, Chris Delgado 7 3-3 19, Justin Farber 5 3-4 15, Noah’s Marciano 2 0-0 5, Rya Olson 1 0-0 2, Noah Johnson 3 1-4 9, Kristian Glenn 3 0-0 7, Jaden Green 1 0-0 2. Totals 26 12-18 73 SALEM (16-4): Marshall Stephens 1 0-2 4, Xavier McGriff 1 2-2 4, Neziah Spence 6 6-7 21, Tymear Lecator 3 3-3 9, Deshaan Williams 2 1-2 5, BJ Robbins 1 0-2 2, Darrelle Johnson 2 0-0 4, Fatah Paige 2 1-4 5, Donnie Weathers 2 0-0 4. Totals 20 13-24 56.
Cherry Hill East
17
22
15
19-
73
Salem
9
13
14
20-
56
3-point goals: CHE 9 (Abreu, Delgado 2, Farber 2, Marciano, Johnson 2, Glenn); Salem 3 (Spence 3). Rebounds: CHE 27 (Marciano6, Abreu 6); Salem 42 (Weathers 9Paige 7, Johnson6).
1000-POINT WATCH
TODAY
TOTAL
NEXT
Tymear Lecator, Salem
9 vs. Cherry Hill East
957
at Paulsboro, Monday
WOODSTOWN 66, PENNSVILLE 21: Alejandro Vazquez tied his season-high with four 3-pointers and scored 18 points, Lucas Fulmer hit three 3s and scored a career-high 17 points, and the Wolverines opened a big halftime lead. Vazquez scored 15 points in the first half as the Wolverines opened a 45-9 lead. Danny Knight had 13 of the Eagles’ 21 points.
PENNSVILLE (3-17): Jake Layfield 0 0-0 0, Gavin Spears 0 0-0 0, Aidan Clark 0 0-2 0, Danny Knight 4 2-4 13, Jake Farina 2 0-0 6, Shamir Watkins 0 0-0 0, Keevan 0 0-0 0, Trey Clevinger 0 0-0 0. Totals 6 2-6 21. WOODSTOWN (13-8): Eli Caesar 1 0-0 2, Jalen Markward 3 1-3 7, Blake Bialecki 3 0-0 8, Alejandro Vazquez 7 0-0 18, John Hood-McGinley 0 0-0 0, Josh King 1 0-0 2, Andrew White 2 0-0 5, Trey Markward 1 0-0 2, Lucas Fulmer 6 1-2 16, Bryce Ayers 1 0-2 2, Brian Booker 0 0-0 0, Frank Hoerst 1 0-0 2, Connor Miller 1 0-0 2. Totals 27 2-7 66.
DEPTFORD 68, PENNS GROVE 62: Both teams had three scorers in double figures, but the Spartans’ trio outscored Penns Grove’s 52-41. Deptford’s Jordan Williams led all scorers with 24 points, Luke Vilary had 17 and Kenny Cockrell had a double-double (11/10 assists). The Red Devils got 15 points apiece from Roman Gipson and Geonni Conrad. Carson Pearsall had 11.
PENNS GROVE (13-8): Roman Gipson 7 1-1 15, Haneef Frisby 4 0-0 8, Geonni Conrad 5 5-7 15, Mishawn Brantley 2 0-0 5, Carson Pearsall 4 2-3 11, Jameel Horace 3 2-2 8, Will Roy 0 0-0 0, Luis Colon 0 0-0 0. Totals 25 10-13 62. DEPTFORD (18-4): Luke Vilary 7 0-0 17, Brian Orio 1 0-0 2, Jordan Williams 11 0-0 24, Kenny Cockerill 3 5-5 11, Mike Yankowski 2 1-2 5, Antoine Sims 1 0-0 2, Bryce Tull 3 0-0 7. Totals 28 6-7 68.
Penns Grove
17
14
17
14-
62
Deptford
20
17
17
14-
68
3-point goals: Penns Grove 2 (Brantley, Pearsall); Deptford 7 (Vilary 3, Williams 2, Tull 2).
Wrestling
WILLIAMSTOWN 40, WOODSTOWN 30 106: Ayden Danley (WI) pinned TJ Conto, 0:44 113: Jadon Middlemiss (WO) won by forfeit 120: Carson Bradway (WO) dec. Maddox Slotnick, 4-2 126: Freedom Neff (WI) pinned Walker Battavio, 5:52 132: Joseph Lascala (WI) dec. Barry Coverly, 7-3 138: Jayden Hennessy (WI) tech fall over Luke Woronicak, 18-1 (3:25) 144: Ahmed Valverde (WI) pinned Nehemiah Carter, 2:32 150: Ryan Douk tech fall over Mathyias Ellis, 15-0 (5:54) 157: Jack Masterson (WI) pinned Chance Bayonne, 2:17 165: Logan Warfield (WO) dec.Aiden Garcia, SV-1, 19-12 175: Greyson Hyland (WO) pinned Aiden Garcia, 4:37 190: Karlens Borgart (WI) dec. Asher Fitzpatrick, 6-4 215: Bradley Snitcher (WO) pinned Bernardo DeJesus, 1:37 285: Mateo Vinciguerra (WO) pinned Logan Kennedy, 0:19
PENNSVILLE QUAD CLEARVIEW 48, PENNSVILLE 24 106: Brett Land (P) won by forfeit 113: Johnathan Contravo (CL) dec. Erick Davalos, 5-4 120: Michael Lloyd (CL) dec. Earl Wynn, 10-6 126: Jason Hughes (CL) dec. Mehki Dicks, 11-6 132: Landon Wright (CL) maj. dec. Chase Baker, 11-3 138: Ethan Calhoun (CL) pinned Vincent Grether 144: Lucas Gandy (CL) tech fall over nathaniel Mason, 18-2 150: Travis Hagan (P) pinned Logan Wright 157: Elijah Beatty (CL) pinned Gabe Supernavage 165: Tyler Trovato (CL) pinned Robbie McDade 175: Julian Malatesta (CL) pinned Cristian Blyler 190: Stephen Pangle (P) pinned Antonio Green 215: Aaron Veytsman (CL) won by forfeit 285: Jacob Hand (P) won by forfeit
OAKCREST QUAD OAKCREST 70, SALEM 12 106: Giovanni Taylor (O) won by forfeit 113: Mason Sanchez (O) won by forfeit 120: Joseph Sanchez (O) tech fall over Zachary Tortella, 17-2 126: Keagan Santana (O) tech fall over Jesiyah Tomlinson, 18-2 132: Nikoloz Tchikadze (O) won by forfeit 138: Brodie Parker (S) pinned Kevin Longo 144: Aiden Xayaphachan (O) pinned Joseph Goetaski 150: Ziyon Moore (S) pinned Gavin Gabriel 157: Malik Hughes (O) won by forfeit 165: Adrienn Aponte (O) pinned Jordan Brown 175: Gunnar Olivieri (O) won by forfeit 190: Nyree Montford (O) won by forfeit 215: Nicholas Bellace (O) won by forfeit 285: Youssef Nossair (O) pinned Abdullah Jenkins
STERLING 65, SALEM 15 113: Gavin Kangas (ST) won by forfeit 120: Lucas Romano (ST) tech fall over Zachary Tortella, 19-4 126: Chris Gallucci (ST) pinned Jesiyah Tomlinson, 1:32 132: Guylherme Quintanilha (SA) pinned Ryan Pleis, 0:35 138: Marlon Williams (ST) pinned Brodie Parker, 0:56 144: Joseph Goetaski (SA) dec. Sebastian Adams, 11-10 150: Chase Szpargowski (ST) won by forfeit 157: Mason Marvin (ST) won by forfeit 165: Victor Romano (ST) pinned Jordan Brown, 1:31 175: Rene Camacho (ST) won by forfeit 190: Julian O’Donnell (ST) won by forfeit 215: Liam Crawford (ST) won by forfeit 285: Abdullah Jenkins (SA) won by med. forfeit 106: Luciano Pizzo (ST) won by forfeit
PENNS GROVE QUAD LINDENWOLD 35, PENNS GROVE 24 106: Jose Santiago (P) won by forfeit 113: Double forfeit 120: Double forfeit 126: Adan Gonzalez (P) won by forfeit 132: Nyla West (P) won by forfeit 138: Joshua Knight (L) pinned Cristian Garcia, 1:04 144: Brandon Caro (L) won by forfeit 150: Ravon Jackson (L) tech fall over Angel Ocasio, 25-10 157: AbdulMuta’Alie IbnAbdulHailm Tart (P) pinned Kane Castner, 2:49 165: Angel Ramos (L) pinned Rogelio Fraga-Martinez, 0:23 175: Raheem Johnson (L) won by forfeit 190: Double forfeit 215: Julian Sanchez (L) dec. Antonio Cooper, 6-3 285: Mekhi Collins (L) dec. Maliq Reddick, 5-1
VINELAND 57, PENNS GROVE 22 120: Joseph Ruberti (V) won by forfeit 126: Nick Garreffi (V) dec. Adan Gonzalez , SV-1 17-14 132: Donnie Tharp (V) pinned Nyhla West, 1:15 138: Jayden Minkowski (V) pinned Cristian Garcia, 0:41 144: Angel Ocasio (P) pinned Joel Acosta, 1:15 150: Ismael Rodriguez (V) won by forfeit 157: AbdulMuta’Alie IbnAbdulHailm Tart (P) won by forfeit 165: Cameron Herman (V) pinned Rogelio Fraga-Martinez, 0:11 175: Cris Lopez Perez (V) won by forfeit 190: Ethyn Mercado (V) won by forfeit 215: Antonio Cooper (P) won by forfeit 285: Brian McCarter (V) pinned Maliq Reddick, 3:51 106: Jose Santiago (P) maj. dec. Jeremiah Rosa, 23-10 113: Santino Machinsky (V) won by forfeit
WINSLOW 66, PENNS GROVE 18 113: Christopher Steed (WI) won by forfeit 120: Aaden King (WI) won by forfeit 126: Alverse Cannon (WI) pinned Adan Gonzalez, 0:49 132: Nathan Downey (WI) pinned Nyhla West, 0:35 138: Noah Young (WI) pinned Cristian Garcia, 0:50 144: Nathan Smalls (WI) pinned Angel Ocasio, 5:03 150: Chase Hamilton (WI) won by forfeit 157: AbdulMuta’Alie IbnAbdulHailm Tart (P) pinned Luke Virogito, 1:36 165: Emilian Sanchez-Thompkins pinned Rogelio Fraga-Martinez, 1:57 175: Pablo Hernandez (WI) won by forfeit 190: London Brown (WI) won by forfeit 215: Antonio Cooper (P) pinned Make Coney, 1:22 285: Izuchukwu Ugwuzor (WI) pinned Maliq Reddick, 0:43 106: Jose Santiago (P) pinned Jason Green, 0:58
Salem boys clinch TCC Classic division title in big way; Pennsville girls settling in with new coach, win second with Efelis; also scores and highlights from the rest of Thursday night’s Salem County sports calendar
BOYS BASKETBALL Penns Grove 66, Glassboro 52 Salem 110, Clayton 77 Schalick 63, Pennsville 33 Overbrook 51, Woodstown 46 Buena 57, Salem Tech 42 GIRLS BASKETBALL Glassboro 65, Penns Grove 31 Salem 54, Clayton 40 Woodstown 54, Overbrook 16 Pennsville 52, Schalick 35 WRESTLING Oakcrest 67, Salem 9
By Al Muskewitz Riverview Sports News
PITTSGROVE – The second time around was a little bit easier for Robin Efelis and the Pennsville girls basketball team.
With a lot less chaos and a bit more preparation, the Eagles won their second game in three days under their new coach Thursday night, topping Schalick 52-35 to remain on pace for a Tri-County Conference Diamond Division crown.
“They named Ryan Wood assistant coach, so with his knowledge and skill it made it a lot easier,” Efelis said. “Right now I’m just trying to get used to the thought (of being head coach). The girls are good. They’re handling it well, all the changes this week. They just pushed and pushed tonight and they did really good.
“I was just letting the girls be the girls. We had a few things that we tweaked here and there, but for the most part this week we were just letting them play.”
Efelis was installed as the Eagles’ interim head coach Monday night, less than 24 hours before they took on their biggest county rival in a game that could have derailed their title hopes. They beat Woodstown that night, but Efelis admitted “I was just a little bit overwhelmed. Everything happened so fast. I don’t mind stepping up, but I kind of miss my partner, too.”
She was promoted following the abrupt resignation of coach Steve Merritt after Monday’s practice. It’s her first time as a head coach in basketball, although she spent two seasons as the Pennsville track coach earlier in her career.
Neither Merritt nor Pennsville athletics director Jamy Thomas would comment on the internal nature of the resignation when the news broke. And neither would Efelis, except to express loyalty and appreciation for the coach she aided both years of his tenure.
“Steve’s heart was in the game,” Efelis said. “He had basketball in his heart. My opinion is not going to change.”
The Eagles (12-6) are a veteran team so Efelis wasn’t worried about them being able to handle the adversity. They got off to a slow start Thursday, falling behind 14-7 in the first quarter, but the fortunes swung on the last two minutes of the second quarter and first two minutes of the third. It was Pennsville’s fourth straight win.
Taylor Bass and Marley Wood led the offense with 18 and 17 points, respectively. Bass had 13 in the second half. Addie Johnston, who hit five 3-pointers in the Woodstown game, hit three more against the Cougers (12-5) and finished with 11 points. Jaida Burns and Izzy Saulin played key roles defensively.
Nevaeh Robinson and Ava Scurry led Schalick with 11 points apiece. Robinson hit a pair of 3-pointers in the Cougars’ first-quarter surge, but was held to five the rest of the night.
“The Pennsville girls kind of ran the show tonight,” Efelis said. “They got it together. They were a little lax the first quarter and then they took off.
“My coaching thing is I’m in it for the girls. I love watching them play. I love everything. Whether they lose or whether they win, I love seeing them compete. Tonight was a good night for us.”
They don’t time to rest on it. They have another emotional game Friday, hosting Millville for Senior Night.
SALEM 54, CLAYTON 40: Dyaira Anderson scored 16 points and grabbed 17 rebounds for her ninth double-double of the season, Carlysia Pierce scored 16 points and Jaryn Weathers had 10 as the Rams won their second straight and got back to .500 (8-8) on the season. Pierce also had eight rebounds, six steals and two blocked shots.
WOODSTOWN 54, OVERBROOK 16: The Wolverines got balanced scoring and played a tough defense that held the Rams to two points in three of the four quarters. Kendall Young led Woodstown’s offense with 14 points. Lauren Hengel had 10. Kemma Perry and Autumn Paleschic had eight apiece. For Paleschic, a sophomore in her first year on varsity, it was a career-high and doubled her season point total.
GLASSBORO 65, PENNS GROVE 31. Keziah Patterson scored 20 points for Penns Grove, but Glassboro got 27 from Kezia Brackett and 19 from Lily Czubas to remain on track with Pennsville to tie for the TCC Diamond Division crown,
Boys games: Salem clinches
CLAYTON — Salem scratched off a big box on their to-do list Thursday night, clinched its first Tri-County Classic Division title in five years and did it in a most emphatic way.
The Rams placed five scorers in double-figures, got double-doubles from Tymear Lecator and Marshall Stephens, and scored the most points in a game under coach Anthony Farmer, outgunning Clayton 110-77.
With their fourth straight win, the Rams (16-3) opened a two-game lead on Wildwood with one division game to play.
“It’s one of the first goals that you try to accomplish as you move forward to the ultimate goal, which is winning a state title,” Farmer said. “The first one you’ve got to get is the division. So, definitely a good feeling for the boys and the program to claim a division again, but there’s more work to be done.”
It was the second time this season and fifth time in Farmer’s five-year tenure the Rams have scored 100 or more in a game. Four of those games were against Clayton.
Lecator led the Rams with 17 points, 11 assists and six rebounds. Stephens had 11 points, 11 rebounds and four blocked shots. Xavier McGriff (15), Neziah Spence (15) and Deshaan Williams (14) also scored in double figures. All of Spence’s points came on 3-pointers. Clayton’s James Fritz led all scorers with 30 points.
The Rams led 46-34 at halftime, then erupted for 38 points in the third quarter to give themselves a chance at 100.
“That’s what our pregame was about, mentally preparing for the task at hand and going to play the right way,” Farmer said. “We have been playing better lately and we wanted to keep it rolling. We know Clayton forces you into some bad things and some bad habits with their style of play, so we wanted to be conscious of the things we’ve been working on and continuing to take steps forward. I’m proud of the way they finished today.”
It was another big game for Lecator. The junior moved to within 52 points to becoming a 1,000-point scorers. He’s scored 71 points in three games this week and he’s been averaging 20.7 in the 11 games since Pitman held him to seven points on Jan. 6. He’s also had 63 assists in the same stretch.
“Ty is a true student of the game,” Farmer said. “He’s a hard worker so I’m proud as coach to see those type of guys rewarded. He’s a heck of a player and he’s improving day by day. The sky’s the limit for that kid if he continues to listen and do the right things. He’s just gotten better each year.”
The Rams have a big test in their next game, facing SJ Group 4 No. 1 Cherry Hill East (18-2) Saturday in the Battle by the Bay in Atlantic City.
3-point goals: Salem 10 (McGriff, Spence 5, Lecator 3, Robbins); Clayton 9 (Venuto, Fritz 2, Carter, Ke. Mosley 3, Rehm, Ki. Mosley). Rebounds: Salem 58 (Stephens 11).
1000-POINT WATCH
TODAY
TOTAL
NEXT
Tymear Lecator, Salem
17 vs. Clayton
948
vs. CHE, Saturday in Atlantic City
PENNS GROVE 66, GLASSBORO 52: The Red Devils jumped out to a 10-0 lead in the first 3:30 of the game and maintained the lead. Penns Grove’s three double-digits scorers outscored Glassboro’s three by 13 points. Roman Gipson led Penns Grove with a season-high 21 points and Haneef Frisby scored 16, his best game in a Penns Grove uniform. Geonni Conrad added 10. Glassboro was led by Xavier Sabb’s 13.
OVERBROOK 51, WOODSTOWN 46: Newly minted 1,000-point scorer Blake Bialecki had 12 points and hit four 3-pointers to set Woodstown’s all-time record for career treys and Elijah Caesar had 10, but the Wolverines couldn’t overcome three double-digit scorers by the Rams. Bialecki now has 1,013 career points and 190 career 3-pointers.
SCHALICK 63, PENNSVILLE 33: Danny Knight had 22 points for Pennsville.
Wrestling
OAKCREST 67, SALEM 9 106: Giovanni Taylor (O) won by forfeit 113: Mason Sanchez (O) won by forfeit 120: Joseph Sanchez (O) tech fall over Zachary Tortella, 23-4 (4:00) 126: Romas Rivera (O) dec. Hayden Stauble, 15-11 132: Heriberto Curtidor (O) tech fall over Guylherme Quintanilha, 18-3 (4:00) 138: Kevin Longo (O) pinned Brodie Parker, 4:00 144: Aiden Xayaphachan (O) won by forfeit 150: Joseph Goetaski (S) pinned Gavin Gabriel 157: Roberth Quiroz (O) won by forfeit 165: Malik Hughes (O) won by forfeit 175: Gunnar Olivieri (O) won by forfeit 190: Nyree Montford (O) won by forfeit 215: Nicholas Bellace (O) won by forfeit 285: Abdullah Jenkins (S) dec. Youssef Nosair, 7-2.
tech fall over Mathyias Ellis, 15-0 (5:54)
Riverview Sports News 