Hall of Famer Mason returns to the coaching ranks, takes the Woodstown track team for the spring
By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News
When Tom Mason coached his last indoor track meet in 2019 to pursue other interests in the sport, he was done with that side of the game unless some “special circumstance” drew him back.
The special circumstance surfaced.
Intrigued by a query from team trainer Dan Evans following a mid-season coaching change, Mason looked into the Woodstown track coach’s position. On Wednesday, the longtime Penns Grove coach and state track official confirmed he was getting back in the game as the Wolverines’ coach for the spring season.
He met with Woodstown athletics director Joe Ursino and then superintendent Chris Meyrick, a former Penns Grove administrator and four-year anchor on Buena’s 4×400 relay that battled Mason’s Penns Grove teams back in the day. He starts Monday, the day after the winter Wolverines return from the indoor Meet of Champions.
“I told them there were two reasons as to why I’m accepting,” Mason said. “One is your senior boys. I just love those senior boys. What great people. You take the running ability aside, they are just outstandingly class people. And my second reason was because of (Meyrick) being the superintendent.
“The Woodstown senior boys and the girls and both teams, to be honest with you, I was very impressed with how they were such class people, especially those seniors, and I did not want those seniors for their last year to have to go through a major change. My thinking is veteran coach comes in, can kind of just guide them and help them to get success.”
Mason brings Hall of Fame credentials to the job. In Mason’s 45-year high school coaching career (126 total seasons) includes 396 wins, four state team titles, six South Jersey sectional titles, 15 Salem County crowns and nearly 70 individual and relay state champions. He was inducted into the Salem County Sports (2011) and New Jersey Scholastic Coaches (2016) hall of fames and recently was approved as the cross-country assistant at Salem Community College.
He’s well aware of the Wolverines’ unparalleled strength in the middle distances, he’d like bring hurdles, sprinters and jumpers into the fold to enhance their depth.
“In Salem County history this group is the best in terms of middle distance,” Mason said. “No school in my memory of Salem County sports has had this many star middle distance runners. It’s unheard of.”
The appointment was met with excitement by the Wolverines.
“I’m very excited for this amazing honor to have a Hall of Fame coach for my final high school season,” said senior 800 specialist Josh Crawford, the anchor on the Wolverines’ decorated 4×800 relay team. “I’ll always appreciate the coaches who helped my team and I find our strides and who shaped us to be ready for this next step.
“I’m honored for what’s ahead and grateful for who got me here. I can’t wait to meet him and I couldn’t be more grateful that he is willing to step up and make our senior year memorable.”
Category: TRACK
Salem CC adds 4
Mighty Oaks bring in new, familiar faces to join their coaching staffs as assistants
By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News
CARNEYS POINT – Salem CC cross country coach Ashley Johnson remembers sharing a bus with Tom Mason when their Pennsville and Penns Grove high school teams competed in the same faraway championship meets. Now, they’re back on the bus together as coaching colleagues.
Mason, longtime Salem County track and cross country coach, has been approved as Johnson’s assistant coach for the coming season.
Call it a double full-circle moment because Mason started the Salem CC cross country program when “I had hair” during the college’s first run sponsoring athletics.
“It is full circle,” he said. “It’s bringing me back, the circle’s complete, but the main I took the job was Ashley, because what a fantastic person she is and what a great experience I had coaching against her. It’s going to be fun to get back to it.”
Mason’s 44-year high school coaching career (126 seasons) includes nearly 400 wins, four state team titles, six South Jersey sectional titles, 15 Salem County crowns and nearly 70 individual and relay state champions. He was inducted into the Salem County Sports (2011) and New Jersey Scholastic Coaches (2016) hall of fames. He also once served on the Salem CC board of trustees and is currently a member of the Pennsville School Board.
On Wednesday, he confirmed his acceptance of the Woodstown High School spring track coaching job, which won’t conflict with the Salem CC post. It’ll give him a chance to impart his wisdom on the Wolverines’ dominant middle distance runners and resume the run for 400 wins (he needs four).
“Coaching in Salem County was one of the best coaching memories I’ve had and the coaching world in Salem County seemed like family,” Johnson said. “Working with the best — Geoff Shute, John Maniglia and Justin Simmons — at Pennsville turned into becoming friendly with Tom … All the coaches I’ve coached with and against became family.
“The best part is when I left I remained in touch with those coaches and seeing them months or even years later we picked up where we left off. Before I took over Salem CC the first person that came to mind was Tom Mason. He started this program, he’s a Salem County and New Jersey legend, and I had to reach out. I am beyond excited to be work with him. We click, he’s got a ton of energy and a very impressive resume.”
And he’s always been there at her biggest moments.
“Tom came to Pennsville when one of our runners was signing to run for him at SCC (in 2019),” Johnson recalled. “I’ll never forget that day because immediately after the signing Geoff Shute and athletic director Adam Slusher drove me home because a few hours later I gave birth to my daughter, Scarlett.”
Mason was one of four new assistants the Salem CC board of trustees approved at its Feb. 19 meeting.
Courtney Gallo and Mike Kerns will join Andrea Bartlett’s volleyball staff. Gallo is a former Chestnut Hill player and Kerns is the swim coach at Camden Academy Charter.
Angel Velez is back with the baseball team after two seasons as a player. The catcher-DH was the Mighty Oaks’ hottest hitter in the second half of last season.
This week’s schedule
Here is the Salem County sports schedule for the week of March 2-7
MONDAY MARCH 2
BOYS BASKETBALL
South Jersey Group I Tournament
Woodstown at Salem, 5 p.m.
Glassboro at KIPP, 6 p.m.
New Egypt at Penns Grove, 5:30 p.m.
Audubon at Palmyra, 6 p.m.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
South Jersey Group I Tournament
Woodbury at Haddon Twp., 5:30 p.m.
Palmyra at Glassboro, 4 p.m.
Woodstown at Audubon, 4 p.m.
Gateway at Wildwood, 5 p.m.
TUESDAY, MARCH 3
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Salem CC at Delaware Tech, 3 p.m.
COLLEGE SOFTBALL
Lackawanna at Salem CC, 1 p.m.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4
BOYS BASKETBALL
South Jersey Group I Semifinals
Woodstown-Salem vs. Glassboro-KIPP
New Egypt at Penns Grove vs. Audubon-Palmyra
GIRLS BASKETBALL
South Jersey Group I Semifinals
Woodbury-Haddon Twp. vs. Palmyra-Glassboro
Woodstown-Audubon vs. Gateway-Wildwood
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
NJCAA Division III Selection Show, 6 p.m.
THURSDAY, MARCH 5
COLLEGE SOFTBALL
Salem CC at RCSJ-Gloucester (2), 3 p.m.
FRIDAY, MARCH 6
WRESTLING
Region Tournament
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Salem CC at Brookdale, 3:30 p.m.
COLLEGE SOFTBALL
Sussex at Salem CC (2), 1 p.m.
SATURDAY, MARCH 7
BOYS BASKETBALL
South Jersey Group I Championship
GIRLS BASKETBALL
South Jersey Group I Championship
WRESTLING
Region Tournament
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Brookdale at Salem CC (2), noon
COLLEGE SOFTBALL
Monroe-Bronx at Salem CC (2), noon
SUNDAY, MARCH 8
INDOOR TRACK
Meet of Championship, Ocean Breeze, Staten Island
WRESTLING
Girls Region Tournament
It’s their title time
Woodstown boys win 4×400 relay to clinch indoor track title, their first state title in track program’s history
By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News
TOMS RIVER – When Josh Crawford hit the finish line in the final even of the day, he not only brought the Woodstown boys a 4×400 relay title, he delivered a state championship.
The Wolverines won the Group I indoor track championship Saturday – their first track title in school history – with a strong showing in the running events. Their first-place win in the relay gave them 35 points, seven ahead of a Ramsey team that had them by three entering the final race of the meet.
“We didn’t need to win the 4×400 to win the meet, but it was a great cap to a great season,” Wolverines coach Alex Dominy said. “Overall this season has been hard with snow days, difficult in terms of flu and colds and Arctic blasts, but these boys continue to improve despite barriers to a more typical season. I couldn’t be happier.
“Going into states with only six boys in events and not being the favorite was very daunting, but everyone performed amazingly and did their job to the fullest,” senior Karson Chew said.
“It was a big accomplishment in general for six guys to beat schools that have tons of people to choose from,” added Crawford.
The relay team of Jacob Marino, Chew, Anthony Costello and Crawford came home in 3:31.03, 22-hundreths of a second ahead of race runner-up New Providence.
Marino was subbing in the 4×4 for Kyle Reitz, another casualty of the postponement, and was a late scratch in the 3200 to focus on the relay and helped bring them through.
He got the Wolverines off and running while not exactly a 400 specialist. Chew got them back up to second and Costello kept them there, maybe even closing the gap. Crawford still had “a hefty gap” (about two seconds) to make up when he took the baton, but when he passed the New Providence runner who jammed him up in the 400 right before the finish he knew they had it won.
“With the meet being moved we weren’t able to run our usual 4×400 with Kyle Reitz,” Dominy said. “Being that Jacob was doing the two mile, we opted to have him scratch and focus on holding it down in the 4×400. Seeing that we won with less than a second it was a great choice.”
Marino also finished second in the 1600 (4:28.65). Crawford also won the 800 (1:57.52) with Chew finishing third (1:58.87) and got points in the 400.
From the time they clinched, their phones were blowing up with congratulatory messages from Woodstown track alums from various generations. They got to take a victory lap around the track and they were welcomed back into town by an escort of fire engines.
“That was just a great feeling,” Costello said of the victory lap. “We saw other teams do it before after they snuck it out in front of us so we said all right it’s our time now, we’re going to do it and we’re going to take it all in while we can.”
Schalick’s Sal Longo finished second in the boys pole vault, topping out at 12-6. He was beaten out for gold by Ramsey’s Luciano Zizza in a jump off at 13 feet.
Four jumpers made it to 12-6 and Longo and Zizza cleared that bar on their first attempts. Haddon Twp.’s Bobby McIlvaine joined them on his final attempt while Bound Brook’s Jake Markey fell out. All three missed three shots at 13-0, but Longo and Zizza advanced to the jump off with fewer misses and Zizza got it on the first extra attempt.
“It means a lot to me,” Longo said. “To get second place at the group championship meet today, it was very relieving to know that the hard work I put in this season is finally paying off.
“Going for the gold was very exciting. I was so close to getting that height on my last jump, I just need to tweak my technique. Overall, it was probably one of the funnest competitions I’ve been involved in.”
Ramsey’s 1-5 finish in the pole vault set the stage for the drama in the relay. The 12 points vaulted the Rams into the lead, but they didn’t have an entry in the relay. The Wolverines had to finish second to pass them and not be caught by third-place Glen Rock.
“Every 5-10 minutes (we were) checking scores, just trying to feel it out,” Costello said. “We knew it was going to come down to the wire, so were like all right we need to do this and we’re not going to worry about the scores anymore. It just got to that point where we’re just going to go out and win the thing.”
The top two finishers in each event and the top wildcards all advance to next week’s Meet of Champions.
GROUP I INDOOR TRACK CHAMPIONSHIP
(Event winners and Salem County point-scorers)
BOYS
Team scores (top 15): Woodstown 35, Ramsey 28, Glen Rock 28, Haddon Twp. 20, Camden 20, New Providence 18, Glassboro 18, Manville 17, Hasbrouck Heights 10, New Milford 8, Pascack Hills 8, Wood-Ridge 8, Dayton 8, Shore 8, Buena 8, Schalick 8. Also, Penns Grove 2, Salem 1.
400: 1. Giorgio Bruttini, Ramsey 50.67; 6. Josh Crawford, Woodstown 51.83
1600: 1. Shaun Maloney, Haddon Twp. 4:27.28; 2. Jacob Marino, Woodstown 4:28.65
55 Hurdles: 1. Jaleel Dickerson-Dempsey, Camden 7.73
800: 1. Josh Crawford, Woodstown 1:57.62; 3. Karson Chew, Woodstown 1:58.87
55 Dash: 1. Michael Napolitano, Hasbrouck Heights 6.49
3200: 1. Jayran Rodriguez, Manville 9:31.74
4×400: 1. Woodstown (Jacob Marino, Karson Chew, Anthony Costello, Josh Crawford) 3:31.03
High Jump: 1. Moses Robles, Glassboro 6-4
Pole Vault: 1. Luciano Zizza, Ramsey 13-0; 2. Sal Longo, Schalick 12-6
Shot Put: 1. Evan Yuzon, Glen Rock 58-7.75; 5. JaKai Ingram, Penns Grove 46-7; 6. Jailon Fletcher-Wilson, Salem 45-6
GIRLS
Team scores (top 10): Audubon 44, Ramsey 37, Methuchen 37, Glen Rock 18, Verona 18, Glassboro 18, Dumont 12, Mountain Lakes 12, Shore 12, Haddon Twp. 12.
400: 1. Makenna Bruns, Metuchen 58.85
55 Hurdles: 1. Iza Samu, Glen Rock 8.56
1600: 1. Riley Fayer, Audubon 5:02.97
55 Dash: 1. Audrey Moreta, Newton 7.45
800: 1. Gwendolyn Neale, Verona 2:16.94
3200: 1. Alexandra Klein, Shore 10:40.25
4×400: 1. Metuchen 4:11.10
High Jump: 1. Riley Wright-Phillips, Whippany Park 5-2
Pole Vault: 1. Jenna Monaco, Dumont 12-0
Shot Put: 1. Sunny Moore, Glassboro 39-0
This week’s schedule
Here is the Salem County sports schedule for the week of Fev. 23-28; all events subject to the weather; first-round South Jersey Group I basketball tournament games now on Friday
WEDNESDAY, FEB. 25
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Region XIX/North Atlantic District A Tournament
Ocean at Salem CC
THURSDAY, FEB. 26
BOWLING
NJSIAA Top 100, Lucky Strikes, North Brunswick
FRIDAY, FEB. 27
BOYS BASKETBALL
South Jersey Group I Tournament
Riverside at Salem, 5 p.m.
Paulsboro at Woodstown, 5 p.m.
Glassboro at Burlington City, 6:30 p.m.
Wildwood at KIPP, 6 p.m.
New Egypt at Haddon Twp., 7:30 p.m.
Pitman at Penns Grove, 4 p.m.
Audubon at Woodbury, 5:30 p.m.
Gateway at Palmyra, 6 p.m.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
South Jersey Group I Tournament
Paulsboro at Haddon Twp.
Burlington City at Woodbury
New Egypt at Palmyra
Cape May Tech at Glassboro
Salem at Audubon, 5 p.m.
Woodstown at Pennsville, 5 p.m.
Schalick at Gateway, 5 p.m.
Clayton at Wildwood
BOWLING
Group I Championship
At Lucky Strikes, North Brunswick
Salem vs. Kinnelon, 9 a.m.
Middlesex vs. Rutherford, 9 a.m.
Title match to follow
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Ocean at Salem CC, 3 p.m.
SATURDAY, FEB. 28
INDOOR TRACK
NJSIAA Group I Championship, Toms River
WRESTLING
NJSIAA District Tournament
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Region XIX/North Atlantic District A&B finals, Northampton CC
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Salem CC at Ocean (2), noon
Oh so close
Woodstown boys win 4×400 relay in record time, but it left them one point short of winning the South Jersey Group I indoor sectionals; the difference was Glassboro’s third-place finish by 0.10 seconds
By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News
TOMS RIVER – Blink your eyes. That’s how close it was to determining the South Jersey Group I boys indoor track sectionals champion Sunday.
As these meets always seem to do lately, it came down to the final race between Woodstown and Glassboro in the 4×400 relay.
Woodstown had to win it and have Glassboro finish fourth or worse – or some other combination of a six-point swing – to win it all at the Bubble.
The Wolverines did what they needed to do, winning the race in a PR meet record (3:30.30), but Glassboro raced to third (3:37.78), a scant 0.10 seconds ahead of fourth-place Gateway, to grab just enough points to win the team title by one point.
Glassboro scored 54.60 points overall to Woodstown’s 53.60.
The Wolverines relay team of Karson Chew, Anthony Costello, Kyle Reitz and Josh Crawford obliterated the old 4×400 record of 3:32.09, set by Woodbury last year. Salem finished second in the race.
“We knew going into the 4×4 that we needed two things to happen,” Chew said. “We needed to win and Glassboro couldn’t get third or better. Unfortunately, only one of those things was in the cards for us.
“Everyone ran a great race and we all did the best we could with what we could control. Now it just comes down to regaining our confidence and going into states with a good mentality.”
Through five events both teams were lagging behind leader Haddon Twp., but after the completion of the high jump and 800, the Wolverines had pulled in front, bringing Glassboro with them. The margin was seven points..
Glassboro made a big move in the 3200, the next-to-last event in the meet. Top-seeded Bulldog Joseph Saicic won the race and Jaeden Wesley, the 18th-seeded runner, finished fourth. Jacob Marino gave Woodstown its only points in the race, finishing sixth.
Salem County produced three individual champions. Crawford won the 400 (51.13) and 800 (1:59.87, going 1-2 with Chew), and Woodstown’s Kami Casiano won the girls high jump (5-0). In addition, there were four other runner-ups — Penns Grove’s Kylee Goodson (400), Woodstown’s Aiden Taulane (shot put), Woodstown’s Lia Covely (girls 55 hurdles) and Pennsville Kallie Morrison (girls high jump).
In all, Salem County qualified 28 individuals and three relays to the state group championships back here on Feb. 22.
This is the second major win for Casiano this year. She won the Tri-County Showcase with a jump of 5-2. She started the new year with a third-place finish in Penn’s Ott Center on Jan. 3 (4-10) and finished fourth in a batch meet here on Jan. 10 (5-0).
“I’m so happy about winning sectionals today,” Casiano said. “A big goal I had for myself this season was consistency. I’m getting past my nerves and giving it my all.”
Here are the event winners and Salem County qualifiers to the state group championships. The top six in each event score points and qualify for state.
This story will be updated.
SOUTH JERSEY GROUP I SECTIONALS
BOYS
TEAM SCORES: Glassboro 54.60, WOODSTOWN 53.60, Haddon Twp. 36, Camden 32.60; SALEM 29.60, Gateway 22, PENNS GROVE 20, Audubon 17, Woodbury 14, Burlington City 12, Palmyra 8.60, SCHALICK 6, West Deptford 2, Buena 2.
400: 1. Josh Crawford, Woodstown 51.13; 2. Kylee Goodson, Penns Grove 52.07; 4. Timothy Gregory, Salem 52.41.
1600: 1. Joseph Saicic, Glassboro 4:33.47; 4. Jacob Marino, Woodstown 4:36.50; 6. David Farrell, Woodstown 4:42.96
55 Hurdles: 1. Jaleel Dickerson-Dempsey, Camden 7.83; 4. Timothy Gregory, Salem 8.42; 5. Gradin Buzby, Salem 8.64
55 Dash: 1. Donte Davis, Burlington City 6.55; 3. Jelani Beverly, Salem 6.70; 6. Kyle Reitz, Woodstown 6.81
800: 1. Josh Crawford, Woodstown 1:59.87; 2. Karson Chew, Woodstown 2:00.56
3200: 1. Joseph Saicic, Glassboro 9:52.30; 6. Jacob Marino, Woodstown 10:14.36
4×400: 1. Woodstown (Kyle Reitz, Karson Chew, Anthony Costello, Josh Crawford) 3:30.30 (meet record, old record 3:32.09, Woodbury 2025); 2. Salem (Quimere Bergen, Gradin Buzby, RaShar Stevenson, Jerry Seals) 3:37.61
High Jump: 1. Moses Robles, Glassboro 6-2; 3. Tommy White, Penns Grove 5-6; T5. Jerry Seals, Salem 5-2; T5. Anthony Costello, Woodstown 5-2
Pole Vault: 1. Bobby McIlvaine, Haddon Twp. 12-0; 3. Salvatore Longo, Schalick 11-0; 4. Gradin Buzby, Salem 11-0
Shot Put: 1. Kyle Stephens, Haddon Twp. 47-9; 2. Aiden Taulane, Woodstown 46-2.5; 3. JaKai Ingram, Penns Grove 45-7; 6. Jailon Fletcher-Wilson, Salem 43-2
GIRLS
TEAM SCORES: Audubon 90, Glassboro 47, Haddon Twp. 46, West Deptford 32, WOODSTOWN 31, Buena 20, Woodbury 12, PENNSVILLE 8, Lower Cape May 8, SALEM 5, PENNS GROVE 4, Palmyra 2, Burlington City 2, Gateway 2
400: 1. Kayla Romanoski, West Deptford 1:00.72
1600: 1. Riley Fayer, Audubon 5:08.61; 4. Abby Marino, Woodstown 5:29.58
55 Hurdles: 1. Casey Birdwell, Haddon Twp. 8.83; 2. Lia Covely, Woodstown 9.40
55 Dash: 1. Kathryn McGuire, Audubon 7.60
800: 1. Kayla Romanoski, West Deptford 2:19.05
3200: 1. Riley Fayer, Audubon 11:20.98; 3. Abby Marino, Woodstown 11:58.23
4×400: 1. Audubon 4:18.72; 4. Salem (Dynastie Tucker, Brooklynn Jackson, Amaia Massengill, Alysha Williams) 4:24.47; 6. Woodstown (Maria Holmes, Angelina Lindenmuth, Abby Marino, Lia Covely) 4:38.23
High Jump: 1. Kami Casiano, Woodstown 5-0; 2. Kallie Morrison, Pennsville 4-10
Pole Vault: 1. Morganna Makuszewski, Audubon 9-0
Shot Put: 1. Sunny Moore, Glassboro 37-6.75; 4. Zoey Caesar, Penns Grove 30-11.25; 5. Sara Lodge, Woodstown 30-5.75; 6. Ava Rodgers, Salem 29-10.5
Long time coming
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 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.
PENNSVILLE 65, PENNS GROVE 25
PENNSVILLE (14-6): Taylor Bass 8 1-5 18, Marley Wood 3 0-2 6, Addie Johnston 7 1-2 18, Izzy Saulin 4 2-2 10, Jaida Burns 3 0-0 6, Jaiden Wilson 0 0-0 0, Kylie Harris 1 0-0 2, Kylie Weist 1 0-0 3, Reagan Sipps 0 0-0 0, Makayla Griffith 1 0-0 2. Totals 28 4-11 65.
PENNS GROVE (2-18): Janiyah Cummings 6 3-4 16, Keziah Patterson 1 2-2 5, Yeichelyn Rodriguez 0 0-0 0, Domari Torres 1 0-0 3, Yanet Cruz 0 0-0 0, Mikayla Washington 1 0-0 2, Armahni Blackston 0 0-0 0, Yasmin Cruz 0 0-0 0. Totals 9 5-6 26
| Pennsville | 23 | 10 | 19 | 13- | 65 |
| Penns Grove | 7 | 8 | 4 | 7- | 26 |
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.
SCHALICK (14-5): Ava Scurry 1 2-4 4, Cali Fisler 1 6-10 8, Olivia Vanacker 3 0-0 6, Nevaeh Robinson 3 3-6 10, Willow Davis 6 2-2 18. Totals 14 13-22 46.
WOODSTOWN (9-13): Lauren Hengel 3 0-0 8, Emma Perry 0 1-2 1, Kendall Young 4 0-0 10, Talia Guardascione 0 1-2 1, Gina Murray 2 0-0 5. Totals 9 2-4 25.
| Schalick | 10 | 15 | 8 | 13- | 46 |
| Woodstown | 8 | 6 | 8 | 3- | 25 |
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.
PITMAN (4-13): Marlee Adams 4 1-4 9, Emery Sharpnack 4 0-0 8, Audrey Duffield 7 5-8 19, Bella Pramov 2 0-0 4, Jocelyn O’Brien 4 0-0 8. Totals 21 6-12 48.
SALEM TECH (2-13): Amora Delaine 3 1-6 7, Shelby Liber 5 0-4 13, Rachel Reed 0 0-0 0, Shelby Drummond 1 0-0 2, Evening Amedee 0 1-2 1, Olivia Lydon 0 0-0 0, Carmen Mott 0 0-0 0, Tiara Bazemore 1 1-2 3. Totals 10 3-14 26.
| Pitman | 10 | 18 | 13 | 7- | 48 |
| Salem Tech | 5 | 7 | 9 | 4- | 26 |
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 |
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.”
SALEM (17-4): Donnie Weathers 2 1-2 5, Xavier McGriff 1 0-0 2, Neziah Spence 0 2-4 2, Tymear Lecator 5 8-10 21, Fatah Paige 1 0-0 2, Deshaan Williams 3 3-4 9, BJ Robbins 4 0-0 9, Marshall Stephens 3 0-1 6, Darrelle Johnson 0 4-6 4. Totals 19 18-27 60.
PAULSBORO (9-10): Malakai McKenzie 4 11-14 21, Jeremiah Carr 3 4-9 10, Jeff Taylor 2 0-0 6, LaShawn Clay 2 0-0 5, Dayvon Kersey 1 1-2 4, Jamal Robinson 1 1-2 3, Khalil Streater 1 1-2 3, Jakai Bennett 0 2-4 2. Totals 14 20-33 54.
| Salem | 13 | 9 | 20 | 18- | 60 |
| Paulsboro | 13 | 17 | 8 | 16- | 54 |
| 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.
WOODSTOWN (14-8): Elijah Caesar 7 0-0 14, Blake Bialecki 4 2-2 12, Lucas Fulmer 0 2-2 2, Andrew White 2 2-4 7, Frank Hoerst 0 0-0 0, Alejandro Vazquez 2 0-2 5, Josh King 3 0-0 6, Jalen Markward 0 0-0 0. Totals 18 6-10 46.
SCHALICK (9-11): Julian Dickerson 4 0-0 10, Orion Baldwin 1 0-0 3, Dylan Sheehan 1 0-0 2, Kade Macom 6 2-2 16, Jase Volovar 1 0-0 2. Totals 13 2-2 33.
| Woodstown | 13 | 12 | 8 | 13- | 46 |
| Schalick | 12 | 12 | 2 | 7- | 33 |
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.
| Salem Tech | 3 | 12 | 3 | 13- | 31 |
| Pitman | 19 | 11 | 18 | 4- | 52 |
Indoor track
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).
This week’s schedule
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
SUNDAY, FEB. 15
INDOOR TRACK
NJSIAA Sectionals at Bennett Complex, 9 a.m.
Monday sports report
Glassboro denies Bialecki bid for 1000, Salem takes control of division, Schalick girls set up Willoughby for special Senior Night experience and more
BOYS BASKETBALL
Gateway 64, Salem Tech 31
Glassboro 71, Woodstown 49
Salem 55, Wildwood 43
Schalick 54, Cape May Tech 40
West Deptford 58, Pennsville 15
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Millville 46, Woodstown 39
Penns Grove at Paulsboro
Overbrook 55, Salem Tech 35
Schalick 34, Cape May Tech 16
WRESTLING
Schalick 65, Salem 12
By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News
GLASSBORO — The banner had been prepared and was folded neatly in the car. The plan was to bring it in sometime during the second half if Blake Bialecki was getting close to the milestone.
The Woodstown senior has been closing in on the 1,000-point barrier, but Glassboro — and Mekhi Parker — were determined not to have it happen on their watch.
The Bulldogs played what their coach, Lynell Payne, called “one of our better” defensive games of the season. They held Bialecki to nine points and stuffed the “sleepwalking” Wolverines, 71-49.
The nine points left Bialecki with 986 for his career. His nine points came on three 3-pointers – one in each of the last three quarters – and moved him within four of breaking the school’s all-time record for 3s, currently held by Talia Battavio (186).
“We made it a point,” Payne said. “He was sitting at 977 and I told the guys we don’t let anybody get that 1,000th point on us, so they collectively took it upon themselves and said OK we’re going to have some pride. We’re playing at home, we’ve been up and down all year ,so today we’re going to have some pride and definitely stop him because he torched us last time.”
Bialecki went for 25 when the teams played right before Christmas. He needed almost that many Monday to reach the milestone, but was held to single digits for just the fifth time this season and the first time in six games.
“When you look at our games people have been scoring on us,” Payne continued. “The LEAP guy (Gabriel Shoultz) had 30. Last week, the guy from Camden County Tech (Charles Barbour) had like 25. So, we’ve got to take some pride on defense and not let anybody score on us and I think tonight we actually locked in and did that.”
Actually, they’ve had an opposing player go for at least 25 in three of their previous four games.
The assignment to keep Bialecki in check fell to Parker. The 6-foot-4 sophomore never let his man get more than arm’s length away and held him to 3-for-16 shooting.
“When I said we cannot let this guy go off on us, he said, ‘Coach, I got him,’” Payne said of Parker “That’s what I look for. I can assign any of you, but whoever’s comfortable and you don’t want to let your brothers down, you guard him. And then he said ‘I got him’ and we all trusted him.”
“They definitely played very good defense on me today,” Bialecki said. “They did a really good job. My shot was rushed, took away my confidence kind of.”
Meanwhile, the Bulldogs dictated the pace. Xavier Sabb led all scorers with 19 points. Parker had 16 and Will Boggans 10. Alejandro Vazquez was the only Woodstown scorer in double figures. He hit three 3s and finished with 14.
The Wolverines held a 14-12 lead at the end of the first quarter, then starting going the other way. They were outscored 13-5 in the second quarter and 46-30 in the second half. Sabb, Parker and Maurice Davis combined for 33 points in the second half.
“Sleepwalking,” Woodstown coach Ramon Roots said. “We were sleepwalking. They played tougher. They played stronger. That’s what it came down to. (His team) didn’t play tough tonight.”
Bialecki’s next shot at the milestone is Tuesday, when the Wolverines — and the banner — travel to Cherry Hill West. He’s not pushing it.
“I’m going to do whatever I can to help us win,” he said. “If that comes, it comes.”
WOODSTOWN (11-7): Eli Caesar 1 0-0 2, Jalen Markward 1 2-4 4, Blake Bialecki 3 0-0 9, Alejandro Vazquez 5 1-3 14, John Hood-McGinley 0 0-0 0, Josh King 1 0-0 2, Andrew White 2 2-2 7, Trey Markward 0 0-0 0, Lucas Fulmer 1 0-0 2, Bryce Ayars 0 0-0 0, Frankie Hoerst 0 0-2 0, Connor Miller 3 2-2 9, Brian Booker 0 0-0 0. Totals 17 7-13 49
GLASSBORO (5-12): Xavier Sabb 7 5-8 19, Mehki Parker 7 0-2 16, Will Boggans 5 0-0 10, Riley Brown-Dispensa 1 4-4 6, Marley Crowl 3 2-2 8, Maurice Davis 3 3-4 10, Wolfgang Donoway 0 0-0 0, Cam Parker-Akins 0 1-2 1, David Gillis 0 0-0 0, Lorenzo Jones 1 0-0 2. Totals 27 15-22 71.
| Woodstown | 14 | 5 | 14 | 16- | 49 |
| Glassboro | 12 | 13 | 23 | 23- | 71 |
Top photo: Glassboro’s Mekhi Parker (5) keeps a close eye on Woodstown’s Blake Bialecki during Monday’s game.
SALEM 55, WILDWOOD 43: The Rams solidified their hold on the Tri-County Classic Division lead by completing their season sweep of the Warriors.
The game was tight throughout, but the Rams carried a four-point lead into the fourth quarter, never lost it and closed it out with six straight Tymear Lecator free throws in the final minute. Lecator was 8-for-8 from the line in the game — all in the fourth quarter — and finished with 28 points.
“I believe we’re starting to become a more disciplined team down the stretch,” Rams coach Anthony Farmer said. “That has helped us come out on the other side of some really tough games. I’m proud of my guys.”
The Rams, still No. 2 in the South Jersey Group I power points standings, are the only undefeated team in the Classic with three divisions games to play. They hold a two-game lead in the loss column over Wildwood, which has one division game left, and a three-game lead in the loss column over Clayton, which has three division games left.
SALEM (14-3): Tymear Lecator 8 8-8 28, Deshaan Williams 3 2-7 8, Neziah Spence 2 0-0 6, Marshall Stephens 2 0-0 4, Xavier McGriff 1 0-2 2, Donnie Weathers 2 1-3 5, Darrelle Johnson 0 2-2 2, BJ Robbins 0 0-0 0, Harlem Parsons 0 0-0 0. Totals 18 13-22 55.
WILDWOOD (7-11): Owen Bannon 7, Gianni Troiano 1, Jordan Dozier 4, Trevor Troiano 14, Nolan Mawhinney 12, Michael Sciarra 3, Vinny Sweeney 2.
| Salem | 16 | 9 | 8 | 22- | 55 |
| Wildwood | 13 | 12 | 4 | 14- | 43 |
GATEWAY 64, SALEM TECH 31: Evan Haase hit five of the Gators’ 11 3-pointers and scored a game-high 15 points.
SALEM TECH (2-13): Chase Pompper 3 2-4 9, Ayden Myers 4 0-0 9, Luke Kroll 2 0-2 4, Brody Kroll 1 0-0 3, Raphael Busch 1 0-0 2, Micah Cavanaugh 1 0-0 2, Sterling 1 0-0 2. Totals 13 2-6 31.
GATEWAY (8-9): Evan Haase 5 0-0 15, DJ Bink 4 3-4 13, Eddie Coryell 3 0-0 8, Naqwon Langston 3 0-0 7, Ben Runner 3 0-0 6, Ben Cook 2 0-0 4, Devin Forman 2 0-0 5, Tamil James 3 0-0 6, Pierce Kaeferie 0 0-0 0, Max Hohl 0 0-0 0, JaQuahn Smith-Carney 0 0-0 0. Totals 25 3-4 64.
| Salem Tech | 8 | 4 | 6 | 13- | 31 |
| Gateway | 17 | 16 | 18 | 13- | 64 |
WEST DEPTFORD 58, PENNSVILLE 15: Michael Joseph scored 13 points and West Deptford got points from 11 players. West Deptford opened a 24-3 lead in the first quarter.
PENNSVILLE (3-15): Danny Knight 2 1-2 5, Shamir Watkins 1 0-0 2, Gavin Spears 1 0-0 3, Colt Willis 1 1-3 3, Aidan Clark 1 0-2 2. Totals 6 2-7 15.
WEST DEPTFORD (6-12): Curtis Pearson 3 0-2 6, Kyree Eason 2 0-0 4, Thomas Cross 2 2-2 7, Carter Watson 2 0-0 5, Yasmine Abdel-Hamid 1 0-0 2, Anthony Martello 2 1-2 5, Michael Garcia 1 0-0 2, Michael Joseph 6 1-3 13, Zamir Davis 1 0-2 2, Talib Bogar 1 3-4 5, Cole Stanish 3 1-1 7. Totals 24 8-16 58.
| Pennsville | 3 | 5 | 4 | 3- | 15 |
| West Deptford | 24 | 11 | 19 | 4- | 58 |
| 1000-POINT WATCH | TODAY | TOTAL | NEXT |
| Blake Bialecki, Woodstown | 9 vs. Glassboro | 986 | at CHW, Tues. |
| Tymear Lecator, Salem | 28 vs. Wildwood | 905 | vs. Pitman, Tues |
Girls games: Special moment
PITTSGROVE — Schalick recognized its seniors Monday night and orchestrated a special moment for one of them.
Abby Willoughby hasn’t been able to play this basketball season while recovering from an injury during the soccer season, but the but the Cougars gave her a chance to score one more time in their 34-16 win over Cape May Tech.
It came right out of the gate. They positioned Willoughby under the basket, Ava Scurry directed the opening tip to Vicky Basich, who then passed to Willoughby for a layup.
“It was a special moment for her as I know she has missed being on the court,” Cougars coach John Whelan said. “Abby has been a big part of this program the last four years and she without a doubt earned this moment. I’m glad she was able to celebrate it with her teammates and family.”
After the bucket the Cougars subbed her out and allowed CMT to get the points back.
“Cape May Tech showed great sportsmanship and we truly appreciate their understanding,” Whelan said.
She played in 65 of 69 games over her first three years and wraps her high school career with 158 points, 242 rebounds and 138 steals.
The game was tight in the first half, but the Cougars (12-3) pulled away in the second for their seventh straight win. They outscored their visitors 22-5 in the second half.
Olivia Vanacker scored seven of her team-high nine points in the second half. Scurry had six of her eight and Cali Fisler five of her seven in the half.
CAPE MAY TECH (6-11): Sam Cabral 0 0-0 0, Bobbi Fashaw 2 0-2 4, Camryn James 2 0-0 4, Sofia Alegre 0 0-0 0, Bella Culican 0 0-0 0, Hayli Estes 1 0-0 2, Kiley Dicta 0 0-0 0, Aryanna Crawley 0 0-0 0, Emma Oravits 2 0-0 6, Olivia Kiser 0 0-0 0, Riley Puvilla 0 0-0 0. Totals 7 0-2 16.
SCHALICK (12-3): Abby Willoughby 1 0-0 2, Cali Fisler 1 5-10 7, Ava Scurry 4 0-0 8, Vicky Basich 2 0-0 4, Emma O’Neill 0 0-0 0, Nevaeh Robinson 1 0-0 2, Willow Davis 0 0-0 0, Emmalyn Weir 1 0-0 2, Jaelynn Jarmon 0 0-0 0, Olivia Vanacker 4 0-2 9. Totals 14 5-12 34.
| Cape May Tech | 7 | 4 | 3 | 2- | 16 |
| Schalick | 8 | 4 | 12 | 10- | 34 |
MILLVILLE 46, WOODSTOWN 39: The Wolverines had everything going on early, jumping out to a 10-2 lead, then the game completely changed. Millville’s Naomi Burkhart scored a game-high 20 points. Lauren Hengel and Kendall Young led Woodstown with 10 points each.
WOODSTOWN 8-11): Lauren Hengel 5 0-0 10, Kyia Leyman 3 3-8 9, Kendall Young 5 0-0 10, Talia Guardascione 3 2-5 8, Jaelyn McDonald 1 0-4 2. Totals 17 5-17 39.
MILLVILLE (7-10): Kamya Smith 1 1-2 3, Rahnasia Casper 3 5-7 11, Naomi Burkhart 6 7-8 20, Angeliya Cephas 2 1-3 5, Aphrea Robinson 0 0-0 0, Brielle Rivera 2 2-4 7, Anya Davis 0 0-0 0. Totals 14 16-24 46.
| Woodstown | 10 | 6 | 10 | 13- | 39 |
| Millville | 2 | 13 | 16 | 15- | 46 |
OVERBROOK 54, SALEM TECH 37: Gianna Simon had 23 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Rams. She also had five assists and four steals.
| Salem Tech (2-11) | 9 | 5 | 18 | 5- | 37 |
| Overbrook (4-13) | 8 | 14 | 15 | 17- | 54 |
Wrestling
SCHALICK 65, SALEM 12
106: Victor Fenske (SC) won by forfeit
113: Nicholas Latona (SC) won by forfeit
120: E’Shion Underwood (SC) pinned Adrien Morales, 0:30
126: Caleb Jenkins (SC) tech fall over Zachary Tortella, 17-2 (2:30)
132: Guilherme Quintanilha (S) dec. Jacob Potts, 11-6
138: Aiden Piernikowski (SC) pinned Brodie Parker, 0:23
144: Michael Baisch (SC) pinned Joseph Goetaski, 1:30
150: Ziyon Moore (S) pinned Gabriel McFeeley, 3:30
157: Mason Hollywood (SC) won by forfeit
165: Anthony Deaver (SC) pinned Jordan Brown, 3:30
175: Ricky Watt (SC) pinned Josthen Jimenez, 1:16
190: Gerardo Felipe (SC) pinned Kaleb Ewald, 0:56
215: James Cook (SC) won by forfeit
285: Abdullah Jenkins (S) dec. Jeff Edmonds, 7-0
Tough finish, great time
Woodstown 4×800 relay finishes seventh at Millrose Games, runs sub-8:00, were first and fourth at various stages of the race
By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News
NEW YORK — It wasn’t quite the placing they were shooting for, but you’ll get no argument from Woodstown’s boys 4×800 relay team over the time they posted.
The Wolverines turned in Salem County’s best indoor time ever in the event and finished seventh in the 13-team Peter Diamond 4×800 at the 118th Millrose Games in The Armory in Washington Heights this afternoon.
Running under the banner of Woodstown TC, the team of Karson Chew, Jacob Marino, David Farrell and Josh Crawford ran a 7:55.62. They had hoped to finish fifth. Union Catholic won the race in 7:37.96, a facility and meet record and a second and a half off the national high school record.
“None of us were upset, none at all,” Crawford said. “We’re all happy for one another. Each one of us did our jobs, ran great legs. We dropped five seconds from our school record. A 7:55 is nothing to fret over. We’re all really happy with it.”
“Honestly, it couldn’t get better than that for us,” added Chew. “It just showed how well we can stick with the bigger competition and those big, huge school teams that are just bringing powerhouses every year.
“The target was fifth or better, but the fact we ran 7:55 I think that kind of counteracts it, like, OK we got seventh, but we ran a pretty damned good time.”
The Wolverines led the race three times in the first 600 meters of Chew’s opening leg and were second behind IMG Elite after he pulled in at 1:56.42, his fastest relay split ever. Marino ran 2:01.39 in the second leg, but they were in sixth at the exchange and were eighth after Farrell’s leg (2:03.40).
“I ended up opening a little flow,” Chew said. “I got out in front, which is definitely what needed to happen; I needed to solidify the position up front for a little bit to be able to hold my position.
“I knew going into it I had the ability to beat every single person on that track, given the day, given the time. I went into it knowing I was just as nervous as everybody else on that track and I was just as adrenaline high as everybody else on that track. I took the lead like I wanted to and tried to hold it the best I could until IMG took over towards the end.”
Crawford ran a 1:54.42 anchor leg and got all the way back to fourth with 200 meters to go, then his body started to rebel down the stretch and he began losing track position. His split was a half-second faster than his open 800 indoor PR, run in the Dr. Sander Scorcher here last week.
“My coach going into this told me that sometimes I have to take risks and this is the stage to take those type of risks,” Crawford said. “Taking the baton I saw I was in eighth, but I knew I could get up to fourth or whatever it was, but I just think I did it a little bit too quick.
“I ran 25 my first lap, 27 my second lap and for a 400 split that’s a 52; that’s what the pros are running. I got a little ahead of myself and tried to run what the pros were running just so I could catch up to that (lead) group of kids, which ended up nipping me in the butt the last 50 meters.
“I got ahead until the back straightaway and the lactic acid just built up. I was ahead and then I just started dropping places. I just locked up. It’s really only like a hundred-meter improvement that I’ve got to do and when I find that endurance that I need I think I’ll definitely be able to run some great times.”
| PETER DIAMOND 4X800 | FINAL |
| Union Catholic (NJ) | 7:37.96 |
| IMG Elite (FL) | 7:38.47 |
| St. John’s College (DC) | 7:48.43 |
| McCallie (TN) | 7:52.95 |
| Hickory Hawks (VA) | 7:54.00 |
| Haverford Twp. (PA) | 7:54.35 |
| WOODSTOWN (NJ) | 7:55.62 |
| State College (PA) | 7:59.37 |
| East Side Prep (MD) | 8:00.49 |
| North Hunterdon (NJ) | 8:02.95 |
| Northport (NY) | 8:03.80 |
| Manhasset (NY) | 8:03.80 |
| Bronx Science (NY) | 8:12.64 |
TCC Showcase
TOMS RIVER — Here are the athletes who scored points during Saturday’s rescheduled Tri-County/Olympic Showcase at The Bubble.
BOYS
Team scores: Williamstown 57, SCHALICK 37, Timber Creek 35, Highland 33, Glassboro 28, PENNS GROVE 25, Cumberland 24, Kingsway 22, SALEM 21, Clearview 16, WOODSTOWN 5, Deptford 4, Wildwood 2, PENNSVILLE 1.
(Salem County scorers)
55 Dash: 4. Jelani Beverly, Salem 6.72; 5. David Stewart, Schalick 6.73; 6. Kylee Goodson, Penns Grove 6.79
400: 1. Kylee Goodson, Penns Grove 51.14; 4. Tommy White, Penns Grove 53.76
800: 4. Steve Chomo, Schalick 2:06.53
1600: 6. Tortsen Duva, Woodstown 4:59.21
55 Hurdles: 4. Timothy Gregory, Salem 8.39; 6. Gradin Buzby, Salem 8.71
4×400: 1. Schalick (Jacob Carter, Steve Chomo, David Stewart, Salvatore Longo) 3:39.93; 4. Woodstown (Maximus Csaezar, Michael Turner, Ben Lippincott, Anthony Costello) 3:43.42
Long jump: 4. Jerry Seals, Salem 20-1.5; 5. Ahmad Tucker, Salem 19-10
Pole vault: 1. Salvatore Longo, Schalick 11-6; 2. Gradin Buzby, Salem 11-0; 6. Josh Weiner, Schalick 9-0
Shot put: 1. Ethan McLean, Schalick 44-4.5; 2. JaKai Ingram, Penns Grove 42-4.5; 5. Raymond Brown, Penns Grove 40-11; 6. Connor Wariwanchik, Pennsville 40-5
GIRLS
Team scores: Kingsway 94, Glassboro 56, Williamstown 47, Clearview 25, WOODSTOWN 18, Cumberland 15, Deptford 12, Highland 11, SALEM 10, SCHALICK 10, PENNS GROVE 9, Pitman 2.
(Salem County scorers)
55 Dash: 5. Dynastie Tucker, Salem 7.72
400: 4. Brooke Valentine, Schalick 1:05.23
1600: 3. Abby Marino, Woodstown 5:35.33
Mixed 3200: 2. Abby Marino, Woodstown 12:17.84
55 Hurdles: 6. Josephine Federanko, Woodstown 10.61
4×400: 3. Schalick (Sarah Torpey, Brooke Valentine, Emma Wilbur, Helen Lillia) 4:42.79
High jump: 1. Kami Casiano, Woodstown 5-2
Long jump: 3. Ramiyah Jones, Salem 16-0.5; 4. Dynastie Tucker, Salem 15-2.5; 5. Arianna Dowe, Penns Grove, 15-0.75
Shot put: 4. Zoey Ceasar, Penns Grove, 30-2.5; 5. Sara Lodge, Woodstown 29-10.75
Riverview Sports News 