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.
| Clayton | 11 | 15 | 12 | 0- | 38 |
| Pennsville | 15 | 8 | 14 | 14- | 51 |
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.
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) | 11 | 14 | 16 | 8- | 49 |
| Woodstown (4-4) | 8 | 4 | 10 | 16- | 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) | 2 | 2 | 2 | 6- | 12 |
| Wildwood (5-4) | 31 | 18 | 14 | 7- | 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) | 1 | 4 | 5 | 9- | 19 |
| Penns Grove (5-2) | 18 | 12 | 12 | 16- | 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) | 20 | 22 | 19 | 16- | 77 |
| Clayton (3-3) | 28 | 25 | 24 | 19- | 94 |
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