Category: WOODSTOWN

SJ Group I boys

Woodstown boys fall to Haddon Twp. in South Jersey Group I semifinals; got within 1 three times in second half, but couldn’t get the lead

SOUTH JERSEY GROUP I
Tuesday’s boys semifinals
Haddon Twp. 57, Woodstown 49
Woodbury 60, Pitman 50
Friday’s championship game
(5) Woodbury (16-14) at (3) Haddon Twp. (21-9), 7:30 p.m.

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

WESTMONT – M.J. Hall stood in a vacant part of a quiet Woodstown locker room, leaned back against the lockers and pinched his fingers into his eyes to dab away the tears. This one hurt.

There might not have been a lot of people who expected the Wolverines to get this far in the South Jersey Group I basketball playoffs, but there they were Tuesday night, into the game to the end before ultimately falling to third-seeded Haddon Twp., 57-49.

And then it hit him. Not only did it hurt they came up short, it also was the end of his high school career.

“Just knowing you’ll never be able to play with the same boys again that you’ve grown up with is just something you never want to imagine,” Hall said. “I played with everything I had, not just for me and the other seniors, but (for) the coaching staff and all the rest of the boys.”

In another part of the dressing room Eli Caesar was feeling the same sense of loss. He and Hall were the Wolverines’ leading scorers with 17 and 16 points, respectively.

“We worked really hard all season,” Caesar said. “Nobody expected us to make this this far, but we did. To come up short in the semifinals, it sucks.”

The Wolverines went into the season with a first-year head coach and without the benefit of a summer program, but they put together one of their winningest seasons in years that included the program’s first playoff win since 2020. They knocked off the No. 2 seed on the road in the quarterfinals and were oh-so-close to taking down another upper seed on this night.

They were down by eight midway through the third quarter, but Hall hit six straight points to get them back within two with two minutes left in the period. The continued to fight back and actually took a one-point lead with 5:23 to play after an odd six-point play.

While Eli Caesar was hitting a 3-pointer out on the perimeter, Haddon Twp. was called for a foul away from the ball. The Wolverines got the bucket and the ball and Garrett Leyman promptly hit a 3-pointer to put them up 44-43.

But whenever the Hawks needed a basket, Jaden Haltiwanger seemed to always be there to deliver. He made a nice move in the lane and dropped in a layup that put the Hawks back on top for good.

Haltiwanger led the Hawks with 18 points and 13 rebounds. He had seven points and six rebounds in the fourth quarter.

The Wolverines’ comeback was fueled by their ability to attack inside, but they lost that edge late in the game when both big men, Leyman and first-team Diamond Division pick Rocco String, fouled out.

They did get within one on Caesar’s 3-pointer with 1:50 to go, but Nate Keating snuck behind the Woodstown defense while Haddon Twp. worked the clock for a layup and then hit two free throws to make it a five-point game with a minute to play.

A basket by Hall with 50 seconds left made it 52-49, but he missed the and-one and the Wolverines never got closer. The Hawks then closed it out at the free throw line.

“You hate losing more than you love winning,” Wolverines coach Ramon Roots said. “It’s about getting better. It’s a process, a journey. We came a long way since that Salem game (season opener) and just got better and better and better.

“They played hard tonight, we just left a couple plays out there. We fought and fought and we just needed to make that one play to take it over the top. We just didn’t make that one extra play.”

HADDON TWP. 57, WOODSTOWN 49
WOODSTOWN (17-10): Elijah Caesar 7 1-1 17, Blake Bialecki 1 0-0 3, Alejandro Vazquez 1 2-2 5, M.J. Hall 6 2-3 16, Garrett Leyman 1 0-0 3, Rocco String 2 1-2 5, Jalen Markward 0 0-0 0. Totals 18 6-8 49.
HADDON TWP. (21-9): Jaden Haltiwanger 7 4-7 18, Axel Mohr 0 3-6 3, Sean Crawford 1 2-2 5, Peter Black 1 1-1 3, Nate Keating 5 4-4 16, Collin Feeley 3 0-0 6, Eamonn Sheehan 2 0-0 5, Cavan McGovern 0 1-2 1, Joseph Sheehan 0 0-0 0. Totals 19 15-22 57.

Woodstown9141511-49
Haddon Twp.10181217-57
3-point goals: Woodstown 7 (Caesar 2, Bialecki, Vazquez, Leyman, Hall 2); Haddon Twp. 4 (Crawford, Keating 2, Sheehan). Rebounds: Woodstown 22 (Caesar 7, Bialecki 5); Haddon Twp. 25 (Haltiwanger 13, Keating 6). Fouled out: String, Leyman, Hall. Total fouls: Woodstown 22, Haddon Twp. 9.


SJ Group I girls

Woodstown girls fall at Haddon Twp. in South Jersey Group I basketball semifinals

SOUTH JERSEY GROUP I
Tuesday’s Girls Semifinals
Haddon Twp. 46, Woodstown 44
Wildwood 54, Clayton 38
SJ Group I Championship
Friday’s Game
(3) Wildwood (22-7) at (1) Haddon Twp. (27-3)

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

WESTMONT – The Woodstown girls basketball team has been using the last three seconds of last year’s South Jersey Group I championship game as nuclear fuel for this entire season. You know, the kind of fuel that runs hot and never runs out.

That’s about how close they came to getting another crack at what they missed out on last March.

The Wolverines needed to get past top-seeded Haddon Twp. Tuesday night to set up a finals rematch with Wildwood. They were in it all the way to the end, too, but just came up short, 46-44.

“We played our heart out and I’m going to miss playing with all these girls,” Wolverines senior Talia Battavio said. “We made some really good memories.

“We thought we had it just like anyone else would, but it wasn’t the outcome we wanted.”

The Wolverines (19-7) had their chances. They led by seven at halftime and were up by five with 3:40 to play and just couldn’t close the deal.

The Hawks (27-3) came out of a timeout in the fourth quarter and scored the next 10 points – the last seven by Kiersten Callahan – to flip the script. Battavia and Lauren Hengel brought the Wolverines back with buckets to make it a one-point game with 10 seconds to go. Callahan made the second of two free throws with five-tenths of a second left to make it 46-44.

As long as there was time on the clock the Wolverines still had a chance. They were going to have to get something quick, but never got a shot. Their inbounds pass for Battavio was too long and Battavio never got a hand on it. 

“They’re a very tough and talented team that we knew wasn’t going to give up til the end,” Woodstown coach Matt Smart said. “I’m just very proud of our girls as well for not giving up. There were shots that were missed, there were things that’s could have changed, but that’s the game of basketball and that’s the game of life.

“I’m super proud of everything we’ve accomplished this year. It sucks that it ends like this, but when we look back, hopefully we look back on this year with fond memories.”

The loss closes the book on the careers of two of the most prolific scorers in Salem County history.

Battavio, with 1,620 career points, and Megan Donelson, with 1,588, leave as the top two scorers in Woodstown girls basketball history and fifth and sixth, respectively, on the Salem County all-time girls list. They are ninth and 11th on the county scoring list regardless of gender.

The Wolverines were 81-28 in their four years with the program (11-4 in the playoffs) and reached as least the South Jersey semifinals all four years. They won the South Jersey Group I title as sophomores in 2023 and played in the final last year.

“It’s been a lot of memories,” Battavio said. “It was very … great.”

“It was a blast from my freshman year up to now,” Donelson said. “I love my teammates. Especially having three different coaches; I had bonds with all of them. I had a blast.”

“They should be proud of everything that they’ve accomplished,” Smart said. “None of that comes without hard work.”

The Wolverines played off their two stars throughout the game, but circumstances separated their collective threat. Battavio was slow to start, but Donelson was there to pick up the slack and scored seven of her 12 points in the final three minutes of the first quarter. 

Donelson was on track for a big day, but got in foul trouble and when she came out after picking up her third with 3:35 to go in the second quarter it was Battavio’s turn to go to work. She scored seven of her team-high 17 in the final 2:43 of the second quarter to help the Wolverines open a 25-18 halftime lead.

“I had to do a lot more,” Battavio said. “Having Megan out there makes it a lot easier. She’s such a great player and it helps me be a better player and nice versa.”

Regardless who was doing their scoring, the Wolverines had their way with the Hawks in the first half. They shot 10-of-25 from the floor in the half, compared to 7-of-27 by the Hawks, and outrebounded their hosts a whopping 22-8.

“They were killing us on the glass in the first half; that’s really what we talked about in the first half,” Hawks coach Mark Petito said. “We showed what we were all about (in the second half). “We’re all guts. We play tough. If you’re going to come in and play us it’s going to be very hard for you. 

“We didn’t defend real well first half, we didn’t rebound well, and that hurt us, but we got back to what we are and that’s a tough, defensive, gritty team.”

Donelson picked up her fourth 51 seconds into the third quarter and came out for the rest of the period. That’s when the Hawks got back into it, holding the Wolverines to three points in the quarter and forging a 28-all tie heading into the fourth.

“I don’t like being in foul trouble, no one likes being in foul trouble,” Donelson said. “It’s definitely hard to get out of my head to not foul. It was definitely a challenge for me. I love a challenge.”

She was back in the game to start the fourth quarter and the foul trouble didn’t stop her from playing her usual aggressive style. In one particular stretch she hit a free throw, missed the second, rebounded the miss and turned it into a layup to give the Wolverines a five-point lead. Then she dove for a loose ball on the floor, got possession and called time before the refs could call a jump ball.

“Whenever I’m out on that court I give it my all.,” Donelson said. “I do it for my teammates. I do it for myself. I do it for my coaches. I just five it my all. It doesn’t matter how many fouls I have.”

The Hawks called time with 2:48 to play. Abby Wiedeman came out of the break and immediately hit a 3-pointer. Callahan then pulled a loose ball out of a scrum and scored a layup to tie the game at 40. Then she hit a 3-ball from the left corner with 1:24 left and the Hawks never trailed again.

Callahan scored eight of her 13 points in the fourth quarter when the Hawks needed her most.

“In the first half I wasn’t hitting my shots like I normally do, but I knew I had to keep my head up and stay confident and that’s what I did in the second half,” she said. 

HADDON TWP. 46, WOODSTOWN 44
WOODSTOWN (19-7): Talia Battavio 6 3-4 17, Megan Donelson 4 2-4 12, Lauren Hengel 2 1-2 5, Kyia Leyman 3 0-4 6, Gianna Maiorini 2 0-2 4, Ryann Foote 0 0-0 0, Emma Perry 0 0-0 0. Totals 17 6-16 44.
HADDON TWP. (27-3): Alli Kamulda 3 0-2 7, Abby Wiedeman 6 1-2 17, Kiersten Callahan 4 3-6 13
Madi Kamulda 2 3-4 7, Kaitlyn Martin 1 0-2 2, Sammy Martin 0 0-0 0. Totals 16 7-16 46.

Woodstown1510316-44
Haddon Twp.1171018-46
3-point goals: Woodstown 4 (Battavio 2, Donelson 2); Haddon Twp. 7 (Callahan 2, Wiedeman 4, A. Kamulda). Rebounds: Woodstown 40 (Hengel 8, Battavio 7, Leyman 7); Haddon Twp. 28 (Wiedeman 8, Callahan 6, Martin 6). Total fouls: Woodstown 17, Haddon Twp. 15.

Meet of Champions

STATEN ISLAND – Salem’s Anthony Parker had the busiest day and best showing among the Salem County athletes at the NJSIAA Indoor Meet of Champions Sunday when he placed fourth in the boys long jump.

Parker posted a best jump of 22-5 and just missed a Top 3 finish by half an inch. He also ran in the 55-meter hurdles, but didn’t qualify for the finals, placing 17th in the preliminaries (7.78).

Pennsville’s Megan Morris finished tied for ninth in the girls pole vault (10-6).

Among the athletes who didn’t finish in their respective Top 10s …

Woodstown’s Josh Crawford was 14th in the boys 800 with a PR of 1:57.65, shaving nearly two seconds off his state championship winning time of a week ago

Woodstown’s Jaime Deal went PR sub-60 in her final girls 400 high school race, running 59.69 to place 18th.

Schalick’s Jordan Hadfield was 17th in the girls 3200 (11:05.62) and the Cougars’ David Stewart ran 23rd in the 55-meter dash prelims (6.67).

MEET OF CHAMPIONS
Ocean Breeze Complex, Staten Island
GIRLS
400: 18. Jaime Deal, Woodstown, 59.89
3200: 17. Jordan Hadfield, Schalick, 11:05.62
Pole Vault: T-9. Megan Morris, Pennsville, 10-6 
BOYS
55 Dash (prelims): 23. David Stewart, Schalick, 6.67
800: 14. Josh Crawford, Woodstown, 1:57.65
55 Hurdles (prelims): 17. Anthony Parker, Salem, 7.78
Long Jump: 4. Anthony Parker, Salem, 22-5

A pair for AC

Woodstown’s Vinciguerra, Hyland headed to Atlantic City after finishing top 3 in region; Vinciguerra repeats as region champion

By Riverview Sports News

MONROE – Mateo Vinciguerra has a message for the good folks down in Atlantic City. He’s coming for you.

The Woodstown heavyweight won his second straight region title Saturday when he majored Clifford Dirkes of Ocean City 10-0 to win the Region 8 285 crown for a return trip to the state tournament in Atlantic City.

Last year Vinciguerra went as the region’s 215 champion and this year he defeated the defending heavyweight champion to get there.

“This year is different than last because I’m on a whole ‘nothing level this year than last year,” he said. “The plan for AC is that I’m coming for it all.”

Vinciguerra and Woodstown teammate Greyson Hyland are the only two Salem County wrestlers advancing to AC this year. Hyland finished third at 175.

Vinciguerra won three matches this weekend, including the 100th of his career in Friday’s quarterfinals. He’s the second Woodstown wrestler to hit the milestone this season. Travis Balback did two weeks ago.

On Saturday, he pinned Alex Grippo of Delsea in the semifinals before taking down Dirkes.‘Going into the finals I just knew to trust my work I’ve put in and get to my stuff,” he said.

Hyland went 4-1 in the tournament, including a pair of overtime wins that added about 20 grey hairs to his coach and father’s temples. He lost an 8-4 decision in his semifinal match Saturday, then wrestled back and claimed his spot in Atlantic City by winning an ultimate tie breaker over Vincent Hoag of Mainland.

“I’m really proud of both their performances,” Woodstown coach Adam Hyland said. “Greyson had to gut out two gritty overtime matches to place third and Mateo completely dominated the entire tournament pinning his first two and winning 10-0 over the defending Region 8 heavyweight champion.”

Salem County did have several other placers in the tournament. Schalick’s Ayden Jenkins placed fifth at 150, Penns Grove’s Clinton Bobo was fifth at 175 and Woodstown’s Walter Carter was fifth at 215.

Camden Catholic won the team title, edging Delsea by a point. Woodstown finished tenth with 56 points. Schalick was 22nd (9.5) and Penns Grove 23rd (9.0).

‘Special moment’ ahead

Woodstown boys, girls teams headed to semifinal showdowns at Haddon Twp.; Pennsville’s historic girls season ends under barrage of Wildwood 3s

SOUTH JERSEY GROUP I
Girls Quarterfinals
Haddon Twp. 35, Glassboro 25
Woodstown 46, Audubon 38
Wildwood 75, Pennsville 55
Clayton 56, Palmyra 38
Boys Quarterfinals
Pitman 61, Burlington City 38
Woodbury 62, Audubon 55
Haddon Twp. 47, Palmyra 43
Woodstown 53, KIPP Cooper 49
TUESDAY’S GAMES
Girls Semifinals
(4) Woodstown at (1) Haddon Twp., 5:30 p.m.
(7) Clayton at (3) Wildwood
Boys Semifinals
(5) Woodbury at (1) Pitman, 6 p.m.
(7) Woodstown at (3) Haddon Twp., 7:30 p.m.

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

WOODSTOWN – The Woodstown boys and girls basketball teams have taken different roads to success under first-year head coaches this season, but now their paths converge in the same place, against the same opponent, on the same day with a big prize on the line.

The Wolverines’ travel expenses will be reduced greatly Tuesday when both teams travel to Haddon Twp. to play their respective South Jersey Group I semifinals games.

The girls will play at 5:30 p.m. after taking down Audubon 46-38 Saturday. The boys will follow at 7:30 after holding off and upsetting second-seeded KIPP Cooper Norcross Academy on the road 53-49.

“I think it’s a special moment,” Wolverines boys coach Ramon Roots said.

“It’s a very neat and unique experience and we’re looking forward to it,” girls coach Matt Smart agreed.

The two coaches got to know each other working on the Wolverines football staff in the fall and they’ve since admired each other’s work during the basketball season. And the teams have become fans of each other, with the boys Saturday cheering loudly behind the girls’ bench before heading up the highway for their own game and the girls sticking around to watch the boys Tuesday after their game had finished.

The boys plan on leaving a little earlier Tuesday so they can watch the girls play.

“We talked about this in the first round when I heard it was like a chance,” Roots said. “I really wasn’t looking ahead, but now it’s a great feeling.

“It’s great for the school, great for the program. I feel like both teams really have a chance. It’s going to be a great atmosphere. I’m just excited for the city of Woodstown. It would’ve been better if we were both in Woodstown, but I’m glad we’re in the same location. We’re definitely going to be there to support them. Hopefully we both get the win and can go to the South Jersey championship.”

What the boys saw Saturday was the girls take control of their game with a defensive-minded second quarter that saw them hold the Green Wave to four points and take a 24-16 halftime lead. 

Megan Donelson took a charge in a big moment, Ryann Foote and Emma Perry grabbed some big defensive rebounds and the Wolverines were on their way.

“We talked at the end of the first quarter to the defense not letting back-door cuts, finding open shooters, playing good help defense, the things we talked about in practice all week and I think the girls took that with stride,” Smart said. “It was about boxing out and rebounding and not letting second- and third-shot opportunities happen.”

With the Green Wave focusing on stopping Woodstown all-time leading scorers Talia Battavio and Donelson, it was imperative for the Wolverines get points from the other players on the floor. Donelson scored 17 to pass Tori Smick as Woodstown’s second all-time leading scorer – with Smick in the stands and later visiting the pair that passed her – but they also got 10 points from Lauren Hengel and seven points and 13 rebounds from Kyia Leyman.

“Coming into the game we figured they were going to triangle-and-two us,” Smart said. “So all week after Gateway our talk was our other three on the court have to produce. If they’re going to try to shut down Megan and Talia, it’s those other three girls’ time to shine and Kyia took advantage of being down low.

“What we’ve talked about with Kyia all year is confidence. She’s a great player. She had a rough go the past two years (with knee injuries), but this is the year she has to shine and she’s improved each and every day in practice and each and every game and we’re very proud of her.”

In the boys game, the seventh-seeded Wolverines took down the No. 2 seed in the bracket, but don’t call it an upset. Roots wouldn’t.

The Wolverines opened up a comfortable lead through three quarters by playing tough defense. When they had a 15-point lead with three minutes left it looked like they were going to cruise into the semifinals, but the Titans didn’t make it easy on them.

They took their press and trap up a notch and quickly began knocking back the deficit and Woodstown had no time outs let some of the steam off. The Titans got it to one with 30 seconds left. The Wolverines went back up two, then Alejandro Vazquez hit a pair of free throws with 10 seconds left to ice it.

Vazquez was 6-for-6 from the free throw line – all in the second half. He finished with a team-high 12 points.

“They definitely played us tough, we knew they wouldn’t quit,” Roots said. “I think we were just pressing it too much, eager to get the ball down the court and it caused a lot of turnovers. I wasn’t really worried. I trusted the guys.

“We knew it was going to be a dogfight and when the fourth quarter came they were going to take their best shot. (His team) did a great job overcoming adversity. They did a great job on us, but we definitely did a good job responding.”

GIRLS GAME
WOODSTOWN 46, AUDUBON 38
AUDUBON (19-7) – Ashley Flynn 3 1-3 7, Emma Speyerer 3 3-4 10, Giavanna Hellter 5 1-2 11, Sophia Homa 3 1-3 8, Molly Sullivan 1 0-0 2, Peyton Marrone 0 0-0 0, Kylie Cannaday 0 0-0 0, Vivian Edwards 0 0-0 0. Totals 15 6-12 38.
WOODSTOWN (19-6) – Talia Battavio 3 0-0 6, Megan Donelson 5 5-6 17, Gianna Maiorini 2 0-0 4, Kyia Leyman 3 1-1 7, Lauren Hengel 4 0-0 10, Emma Perry 1 0-0 2, Ryann Foote 0 0-0 0. Totals 18 6-7 46.

Audubon1241210-38
Woodstown14101111-46
3-point goals: Audubon 2 (Speyerer, Homa); Woodstown 4 (Donelson 2, Hengel 2). Rebounds: Woodstown 38 (Leyman 13, Foote 6).

BOYS GAME
WOODSTOWN 53, KIPP COOPER NORCROSS 49
WOODSTOWN (17-9) – Elijah Caesar 3 0-0 7, Garrett Leyman 2 0-0 5, Rocco String 1 5-7 7, Blake Bialecki 3 2-3 11, Jalen Markward 1 0-0 2, Alejandro Vazquez 2 6-6 12, M.J. Hall 3 0-1 9. Totals 16 13-17 53.
KIPP COOPER (15-11) – Troy Morton 1 0-0 2, Maleake Kelly 2 3-6 7, Noel Campbell 0 0-2 0, TaJon Chambliss 0 1-2 1, Gabe Paul 1 0-0 2, Jeremiah Shelton 6 3-4 17, Tahmir Dixon 7 6-10 20. Totals 17 13-24 49.

Woodstown1617119-53
KIPP Cooper86520-49
3-point goals: Woodstown 8 (Caesar, Leyman, Bialecki 3, Vazquz 2, Hall); KIPP 2 (Shelton 2). Fouled out: M. Hall, Chambliss. Total fouls: Woodstown 24, KIPP Cooper 21.

Girls game

WILDWOOD 75, PENNSVILLE 55: Wildwood hit a season-high 19 3-pointers, outscoring Pennsville from behind the arc alone – to advance to the South Jersey Group I semifinals and end the Eagles’ historic season.

Macie McCracken and Angela Wilber each hit six treys for the Warriors (21-7), while Rebecca Benichou hit five. McCracken scored a game-high 27 points, Wilber had 19 and Benichou 15. McCracken also had 12 rebounds and seven assists.

The 19 3s were the most the Warriors have hit in a game since draining in 21 against Woodstown on Jan. 25, 2024. McCracken and Wilber each had seven in that game.

“How do you defend a team that makes 19 3-point baskets,” Pennsville coach Steve Merritt said. “The only baskets they made in the first half were 3-point baskets and yet we were closer at half today than we were the first time we played them. Zones or man-to-man, it didn’t matter.”

The one thing that worked in Pennsville favor was its transition/fast break offense. When the Eagles were able to spring her, Taylor Bass ran the floor and converted the layup. She led the Eagles with 18 points to finish her junior year with 894 career points. Since Feb. 1 Bass has averaged 18.3 ppg.

Addie Johnston hit four 3-pointers for the Eagles and added 14 points. Nora Ausland scored nine to finish her high school career with 1144 points – exactly the same number her brother Gate scored before graduating Salem in 2020.

After the game the Pennsville player had a visit from former Wildwood coach Dave Troiano, who won more than 600 games in nearly 40 years as a coach. He praised them for their grit and determination and told them not to be too disheartened – he saw a number of good things, just not enough of them.

“High praise from a man who should know,” Merritt said.

The loss ended the program’s winningest season in nearly 40 years. At one point they won six in a row, their longest winning streak in five years. They had two players pass the 1,000-point barrier.

“It was a great year and all 12 members of the squad deserve the credit,” Merritt said. “Those who didn’t get a lot or any varsity play still came to practice, participated in drills and contributed to their teammates’ and the team’s success. True team players.

“I am unabashedly proud of the season, but even more proud of how they performed. Grateful and thankful to have been given the opportunity to coach (Pennsville’s girls team). I’m looking forward to next year eagerly.”

PENNSVILLE (18-10) – Taylor Bass 7 4-4 18, Marley Wood 2 2-6 6, Nora Ausland 3 2-4 9, Addie Johnston 5 0-0 14, Izzy Saulin 2 0-0 4, Jaida Burns 2 0-2 4. Totals 21 8-16 55.
WILDWOOD (21-7) – Macie McCracken 10 1-1 27, Angela Wilber 5 1-2 19, Bebecca Benichou 5 0-0 15, Addison Troiano 3 2-7 8, Kiana D’Antuono 0 0-0 0, Laila Fathi 1 0-0 3, Julia Ennis 1 0-0 3. Totals 26 4-10 75.

Pennsville1012249-55
Wildwood18152418-75
3-point goals: Pennsville 5 (Ausland, Johnston 4); Wildwood 19 (McCracken 6, Wilber 6, Benichou 5, Fathi, Ennis). Rebounds: Wildwood 32 (McCracken 12, Troiano 9).



Salem County spring 2025

Here is the master schedule for spring sports in Salem County; schedules provided by the schools; events begin at 4 p.m. unless noted; x-scrimmage (missing Salem, Salem Tech); for additions or corrections reply to al.muskewitz@gmail.com

MARCH 1
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Salem CC at Brookdale CC (2), noon
COLLEGE SOFTBALL
Monroe-Bronx at Salem CC, noon

MARCH 7
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Salem CC at Delaware County CC, 3 p.m.
COLLEGE SOFTBALL
Sussex County CC at Salem CC, noon

MARCH 8
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Delaware County CC at Salem CC (2), noon

MARCH 10
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Salem CC vs. Alexandria (Minn.) Tech & CC (2), 2:45 p.m.
COLLEGE SOFTBALL
Salem CC at Southeastern CC-Whiteville (N.C.), 1 p.m.

MARCH 11
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Salem CC vs. Prairie State (Ill.) (2), 1:15 p.m.
COLLEGE SOFTBALL
Salem CC at Wake Tech (N.C.), 1 p.m.

MARCH 12
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Salem CC vs. Northland (Minn.) C&TC (2), 2 p.m.
COLLEGE SOFTBALL
Salem CC at Fayetteville (N.C.) Tech, 3 p.m.

MARCH 14
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Salem CC vs. North Dakota State/Science, 9 a.m.
Salem CC vs. Oakton (Ill.)  CC, 1:45 p.m.

MARCH 15
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Salem CC vs. SUNY Niagara (2), 9 a.m.

MARCH 16
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Salem CC vs. Westchester CC (2), 10 a.m.

MARCH 17
BASEBALL
x-Williamstown at Pennsville
SOFTBALL
x-Pennsville at Williamstown

MARCH 18
SOFTBALL
x-Pennsville at Cedar Creek
TENNIS
x-Palmyra at Woodstown
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Luzerne County CC at Salem CC, 3:30 p.m.

MARCH 19
BASEBALL
x-Pennsville at Holy Spirit

MARCH 20
TENNIS
x-Pennsville at West Deptford
BOYS LACROSSE
x-Woodstown at Delran
COLLEGE SOFTBALL
Brookdale CC at Salem CC, 3:30 p.m.

MARCH 21
BASEBALL
x-Gloucester City at Schalick
x-Woodstown at Deptford
SOFTBALL
x-Schalick at Gloucester City
x-Woodstown at Deptford
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Salem CC at RCSJ-Cumberland, 3:30 p.m.

MARCH 22
SOFTBALL
x-Gateway at Woodstown, 10 a.m.
GIRLS LACROSSE
x-Woodstown at Mainland, 9 a.m.
BOYS LACROSSE
x-Camden Catholic at Woodstown, 10 a.m.
COLLEGE BASEBALL
RCSJ-Cumberland at Salem CC (2), noon

MARCH 23
COLLEGE SOFTBALL
Salem CC at Delaware Tech, noon
MARCH 24
BASEBALL
x-Highland at Schalick
TENNIS
x-Gateway at Pennsville

MARCH 25
BASEBALL
x-Woodstown at Cumberland
SOFTBALL
x-Cumberland at Woodstown
TRACK
x-Penns Grove, Salem at Bridgeton
BOYS TENNIS
x-Gateway at Schalick
GOLF
Pennsville vs. Haddon Heights, Tavistock CC
GIRLS LACROSSE
x-Woodstown at Haddon Twp.
COLLEGE SOFTBALL
Raritan Valley CC at Salem CC, 3:30 p.m.

MARCH 26
BASEBALL
x-Penns Grove at Lindenwold
GOLF
Pennsville vs. Salem Tech, Sakima CC
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Mercer County CC at Salem CC, 3:30 p.m.

MARCH 27
BASEBALL
x-Schalick at Collingswood
SOFTBALL
x-Timber Creek at Schalick
GOLF
Pennsville vs. Woodstown, Town & Country GL
TENNIS
x-Clearview at Woodstown

MARCH 28
BASEBALL
x-GCIT at Woodstown
x-Schalick at Timber Creek
GOLF
Clearview vs. Schalick, Centerton CC
Pennsville vs. Haddon Twp., Sakima CC
BOYS TENNIS
x-Schalick at Triton
Pennsville at Clearview
GIRLS LACROSSE
x-Timber Creek at Woodstown
BOYS LACROSSE
Woodstown at Ocean City
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Salem CC at Montgomery County (Pa.) CC, 3:30 p.m.
COLLEGE SOFTBALL
Howard CC at Salem CC, 11 a.m.

MARCH 29
BASEBALL
Woodstown at Gateway, 10 a.m.
Bridgeton at Penns Grove, 11 a.m.
Penns Grove at Gateway, 2 p.m.
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Montgomery County (Pa.) CC at Salem CC (2), noon
COLLEGE SOFTBALL
Salem CC at CC of Morris, noon

MARCH 30
COLLEGE SOFTBALL
Bucks County CC at Salem CC, noon

MARCH 31
BASEBALL
Glassboro at Schalick
Penns Grove at Woodstown
Salem at Wildwood
SOFTBALL
Gloucester Catholic at Pennsville
Schalick at Glassboro
Woodstown at Penns Grove
GOLF
Schalick girls vs. Williamstown, Scotland Run
TENNIS
Clayton at Schalick
Glassboro at Penns Grove
Wildwood at Pennsville
LACROSSE
St. Joseph at Woodstown

APRIL 1
GOLF
Pennsville vs. Pitman, Pitman CC
Schalick vs. Wildwood, Union League GC
GIRLS LACROSSE
Haddonfield at Woodstown
COLLEGE SOFTBALL
Lackawanna at Salem CC 3 p.m.

APRIL 2
BASEBALL
LEAP at Penns Grove
Pennsville vs. Pitman, Alcyon Park
Woodstown at Schalick
SOFTBALL
Pitman at Pennsville
Woodstown at Schalick
GOLF
Schalick girls vs. Clearview, Centerton CC
TENNIS
Pennsville at Overbrook
TRACK
Glassboro at Penns Grove
Schalick at Pennsville
Woodstown at Overbrook

APRIL 3
GOLF
Pennsville vs. Cumberland, Sakima CC
TENNIS
Pennsville vs. Clayton, Williamstown MS
Penns Grove at Woodstown
Schalick at Glassboro
Woodstown at Triton
COLLEGE SOFTBALL
Salem CC at Camden CC, 3:30 p.m.

APRIL 4
BASEBALL
Haddon Heights at Woodstown
Pennsville vs. Gloucester Catholic, Parsippany
Schalick at Delran
SOFTBALL
Schalick at Delsea
Woodstown at Haddon Heights
GOLF
Pennsville vs. Cedar Creek, Sakima CC
Schalick vs. Overbrook, Centerton CC
TENNIS
Pennsville at Bridgeton
Vineland at Schalick
Vineland at Woodstown
LACROSSE
Lower Cape May at Woodstown
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Salem CC at Middlesex, 3:30 p.m.

APRIL 5
SOFTBALL
Pennsville at Millville Tournament, 9 a.m.
TRACK
Pennsville at Deptford Twp., 9 a.m.
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Middlesex at Salem CC (2), noon
COLLEGE SOFTBALL
Mercer County CC at Salem CC, noon

APRIL 7
BASEBALL
Woodstown at Pennsville
Schalick at Haddon Heights
SOFTBALL
Pennsville at Woodstown
GOLF
Schalick vs. Williamstown, Scotland Run GC
Schalick girls vs. Cumberland, Running Deer GC
TENNIS
Deptford at Woodstown
Glassboro at Pennsville
Penns Grove at Wildwood
Schalick at West Deptford, River Winds TC
GIRLS LACROSSE
West Deptford at Woodstown

APRIL 8
BASEBALL
Clayton at Schalick
Pennsville at Overbrook
Salem at Penns Grove
Woodstown at Wildwood
SOFTBALL
Overbrook at Pennsville
Schalick at Clayton
Woodstown at Wildwood
GOLF
Pennsville vs. Clayton, The Birches
Schalick vs. Cumberland, Running Deer GC
TENNIS
Woodstown at Kingsway
TRACK
Glassboro at Woodstown
Penns Grove at Pennsville
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Northampton CC at Salem CC, 3:30 p.m.
COLLEGE SOFTBALL
Salem CC at Sussex County CC, 3:30 p.m.

APRIL 9
SOFTBALL
Woodstown at Maple Shade
GOLF
Pennsville vs. Triton, Sakima CC
Schalick girls vs. Kingsway, Centeron CC
TENNIS
Delsea at Pennsville
Haddon Heights at Woodstown
Overbrook at Schalick
Timber Creek at Penns Grove
GIRLS LACROSSE
Kingsway at Woodstown
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Salem CC at Northampton CC, 3:30 p.m.

APRIL 10
Clayton at Pennsville
Glassboro at Penns Grove
Salem at Pitman
Schalick at Overbrook
Woodstown at Gloucester City
SOFTBALL
Gloucester City at Woodstown
Pennsville at Clayton
GOLF
Pennsville vs. Schalick, Centerton CC
TENNIS
Triton at Woodstown
LACROSSE
Woodstown at Holy Spirit

APRIL 11
BASEBALL
Pennsville at Haddon Heights
SOFTBALL
Haddon Heights at Pennsville
Haddon Heights at Woodstown
TENNIS
Penns Grove at Clayton
Schalick at Wildwood
Woodstown at Highland
LACROSSE
Woodstown at Moorestown Friends
GIRLS LACROSSE
Haddon Heights at Woodstown
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Camden CC at Salem CC, 3:30 p.m.
COLLEGE SOFTBALL
Cecil at Salem CC, 3:30 p.m.

APRIL 12
BASEBALL
Schalick at Gloucester City
Woodstown at Buena, 10 a.m.
TRACK
Pennsville at West Deptford, 9 a.m.
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Salem CC at Camden CC (2), noon
COLLEGE SOFTBALL
Delaware Tech at Salem CC, noon

APRIL 13
COLLEGE SOFTBALL
Salem CC at Orange County CC, noon

APRIL 14
BASEBALL
Clayton at Salem
Overbrook at Woodstown
Penns Grove at Schalick
Wildwood at Pennsville
SOFTBALL
Schalick at Penns Grove
Wildwood at Pennsville
Woodstown at Overbrook
GOLF
Pennsville at Overbrook, Sakima CC
Schalick vs. Woodstown, Town & Country GL
Schalick girls vs. Clearview, Pitman GC
TENNIS
Schalick at Gateway
Triton at Pennsville
LACROSSE
Woodstown at Mainland

APRIL 15
GOLF
Schalick girls vs. Washington Twp., The Birches
TENNIS
Schalick at Pennsville
Woodstown at Timber Creek
GIRLS LACROSSE
Woodstown at Timber Creek
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Salem CC at Luzerne County CC, 3:30 p.m.
COLLEGE SOFTBALL
Bergen CC at Salem CC 3:30 p.m.

APRIL 16
BASEBALL
Overbrook at Penns Grove
Salem at Pennsville
Woodstown at Glassboro
SOFTBALL
Pennsville at Salem
Woodstown at Glassboro
GOLF
Schalick vs. Washington Twp., Centerton CC
Woodstown vs. Pennsville, Sakima CC
TENNIS
Millville at Pennsville
Overbrook at Penns Grove
Wildwood at Woodstown
TRACK
Glassboro at Pennsville
Woodstown at Schalick
LACROSSE
Cinnaminson at Woodstown
GIRLS LACROSSE
Woodstown at Clearview
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Salem CC at Mercer County CC, 3:30 p.m.

APRIL 17
BASEBALL
Cumberland at Pennsville
Northern Burlington at Schalick
SOFTBALL
Pennsville at Cumberland
GOLF
Schalick girls vs. OLMA, Centerton CC
TENNIS
Delsea at Woodstown
Pennsville vs. Pitman, Shertle Park
Penns Grove at Schalick

APRIL 18
SOFTBALL
West Deptford at Schalick
TENNIS
Pitman at Penns Grove
LACROSSE
Rancocas Valley at Woodstown
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Bergen CC at Salem CC, 3:30 p.m.

APRIL 19
BASEBALL
Woodstown at Sterling, 11 a.m.
TRACK
Pennsville at Woodbury Relays
LACROSSE
Paul VI at Woodstown
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Salem CC at Bergen CC (2), noon
COLLEGE SOFTBALL
Salem CC at Mercer County CC, noon

APRIL 21
BASEBALL
Pennsville at Williamstown
SOFTBALL
Williamstown at Pennsville
TENNIS
Pitman at Woodstown
Triton at Schalick

APRIL 22
BASEBALL
Pennsville at Penns Grove
Schalick at Pitman
Woodstown at Salem
SOFTBALL
Pennsville at Penns Grove
Salem at Woodstown
GOLF
Pennsville vs. Cumberland, Running Deer CC
Schalick vs. Overbrook, Pinelands GC
Schalick girls vs. Delsea, White Oaks CC
TENNIS
Overbrook at Woodstown
Penns Grove at Pennsville
Schalick vs. Pitman, Shertle Park
TRACK
Salem County Championships, Pennsville
LACROSSE
Woodstown at Kingsway
GIRLS LACROSSE
Kingsway at Woodstown
COLLEGE BASEBALL
RCSJ-Gloucester at Salem CC, 3:30 p.m.
COLLEGE SOFTBALL
CC of Morris at Salem CC, 3:30 p.m.

APRIL 23
BASEBALL
Collingswood at Woodstown
SOFTBALL
Kingsway at Woodstown
GOLF
Pennsville vs. West Deptford, River Winds GC
GIRLS LACROSSE
Woodstown at Haddonfield
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Salem CC at RCSJ-Gloucester, 3:30 p.m.

APRIL 24
BASEBALL
Schalick at Glassboro
Woodstown at Penns Grove
SOFTBALL
Glassboro at Schalick
Pennsville vs. Gloucester Catholic, Stauffer Fields
Woodstown at Penns Grove
GOLF
Pennsville vs. Kingsway, River Winds GC
Schalick vs. Cumberland, Centerton CC
Schalick girls vs. Williamstown, Centerton CC
TENNIS
Clayton at Pennsville
Haddon Heights at Schalick
Mainland at Woodstown
LACROSSE
Woodstown at Washington Twp.
COLLEGE SOFTBALL
Lackawanna at Salem CC 3:30 p.m.

APRIL 25
SOFTBALL
Gloucester City at Schalick
TENNIS
Schalick at Clayton
Williamstown at Penns Grove
GIRLS LACROSSE
Woodstown at West Deptford
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Salem CC at Union, 3:30 p.m.

APRIL 26
BASEBALL
Woodstown at Camden Co. Tech, 10 a.m.
LACROSSE
Woodstown at Bishop Eustace, 10 a.m.
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Union at Salem CC (2), noon
COLLEGE SOFTBALL
Salem CC at Raritan Valley CC, noon

APRIL 28
BASEBALL
Penns Grove at Paulsboro
TENNIS
Penns Grove at Glassboro
Pennsville at Wildwood

APRIL 29
GOLF
Schalick vs. Pennsville, Sakima CC
LACROSSE
Egg Harbor Twp. at Woodstown

APRIL 30
BASEBALL
Penns Grove at Pitman
GOLF
Schalick girls vs. Cumberland, Centerton CC
TENNIS
Glassboro at Schalick
Woodstown at Penns Grove
TRACK
Pennsville at Overbrook

MAY 1
BASEBALL
Penns Grove at Bridgeton
Wildwood at Salem
GOLF
Carl Arena Tournament, River Winds 
Pennsville vs. Gloucester Catholic, Sakima CC

MAY 2
BASEBALL
LEAP at Penns Grove
TENNIS
Penns Grove at Wildwood
Pennsville at Glassboro
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Salem CC at Ocean CC, 3:30 p.m.

MAY 3
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Ocean CC at Salem CC (2), noon

MAY 5
BASEBALL
Overbrook at Schalick
Penns Grove at Glassboro
Pennsville at Clayton
Salem at Pitman
SOFTBALL
Clayton at Pennsville
Schalick at Overbrook
TENNIS
Pennsville at Burlington Twp., Green Acres Park
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Salem CC at Atlantic Cape CC, 3:30 p.m.

MAY 6
BASEBALL
Schalick vs. Woodstown, Elmer LL, 6:30 p.m.
SOFTBALL
Schalick vs. Woodstown, Elmer LL, 6:30 p.m.
GOLF
Schalick vs. Delsea, Centerton CC
Schalick girls vs. Kingsway, River Winds
TENNIS
Highland at Woodstown
Wildwood at Schalick
Wildwood at Penns Grove
TRACK
Woodstown at Penns Grove

MAY 7
BASEBALL
Pitman at Pennsville
SOFTBALL
Pennsville at Pitman
TENNIS
Deptford at Woodstown
Vineland at Pennsville
TRACK
Tri-County Conference Meet, Delsea
GIRLS LACROSSE
Clearview at Woodstown

MAY 8
BASEBALL
Pennsville at Wildwood
Salem at Clayton
Schalick at Penns Grove
Woodstown at Overbrook
SOFTBALL
Overbrook at Woodstown
Penns Grove at Schalick
GOLF
Salem Tech vs. Pennsville, Sakima CC
Schalick vs. Gloucester Catholic, Centerton CC
Schalick girls vs. Washington Twp. Centerton CC
TENNIS
GCIT at Pennsville
Schalick at Washington Twp.
Williamstown at Penns Grove

MAY 9
BASEBALL
Millville at Pennsville
South Hunterdon at Penns Grove
SOFTBALL
Delsea at Woodstown
Schalick at Haddonfield
TENNIS
Schalick at Woodstown
LACROSSE
Vineland at Woodstown
GIRLS LACROSSE
Woodstown at Washington Twp.

MAY 10
BASEBALL
Lee Ware Tournament, Woodstown
SOFTBALL
Woodstown in Williamstown Tournament

MAY 12
BASEBALL
Clayton at Woodstown
Pennsville at Glassboro
Salem at Schalick
Wildwood at Penns Grove
SOFTBALL
Glassboro at Pennsville
Schalick at Salem
Woodstown at Clayton
GOLF
Schalick vs. Pennsville, Sakima CC
Schalick girls vs. OLMA, Eastlyn GC
TENNIS
Penns Grove at Pitman
Pennsville at Schalick
Timber Creek at Woodstown
TRACK
Schalick at Penns Grove
GIRLS LACROSSE
Maple Shade at Woodstown

MAY 13
BASEBALL
Woodstown at Delran
GOLF
Schalick vs. West Deptford, River Winds
TENNIS
Woodstown at Collingswood
TRACK
Pennsville at Woodstown
LACROSSE
Clearview at Woodstown

MAY 14
BASEBALL
Glassboro at Woodstown
Penns Grove at Overbrook
Pennsville at Salem
Schalick at Cumberland
SOFTBALL
Maple Shade at SchalickSalem at Pennsville
Woodstown at Glassboro
GOLF
Schalick girls vs. Delsea, Centerton CC
TENNIS
Pitman at Pennsville
Schalick at Penns Grove
Woodstown at Delsea

MAY 15
BASEBALL
Buena at Schalick
Pennsville at Triton
SOFTBALL
Schalick at Buena
Triton at Pennsville
GOLF
Schalick vs. Hammonton, Pinelands GC
TENNIS
Rancocas Valley at Pennsville
GIRLS LACROSSE
Woodstown at Eastern

MAY 16
SOFTBALL
Triton at Woodstown
GOLF
Pennsville vs. Millville, Sakima CC
TENNIS
Pennsville at Penns Grove
Woodstown at Overbrook
TRACK
NJSIAA Sectionals
LACROSSE
Woodstown at Millville
GIRLS LACROSSE
Millville at Woodstown

MAY 17
BASEBALL
Schalick at Paulsboro
TRACK
NJSIAA Sectionals

MAY 19
BASEBALL
Penns Grove at Clayton
Schalick at Pennsville
Woodstown at Pitman
SOFTBALL
Pennsville at Schalick
Pitman at Woodstown
TENNIS
Woodstown at Cumberland
LACROSSE
Williamstown at Woodstown, 7 p.m.
GIRLS LACROSSE
Triton at Woodstown

MAY 20
BASEBALL
Pennsville vs. Tome, Frawley Stadium, 7 p.m.
GOLF
Schalick vs. Pitman, Pitman GC

MAY 21
BASEBALL
Woodstown at Cedar Creek
Schalick at Wildwood
SOFTBALL
Palmyra at Schalick
Woodstown at Ocean City
LACROSSE
West Deptford at Woodstown

MAY 22
BASEBALL
Collingswood at Schalick
SOFTBALL
Schalick at OLMA

MAY 27
GOLF
TCC Showcase, Pitman
GIRLS LACROSSE
Woodstown at Williamstown

MAY 30
TRACK
State Meet

MAY 31
TRACK
State Meet

JUNE 1
TRACK
Meet of Champions, Pennsauken

SJ Group I boys

Woodstown snaps out of state tournament slump, the only Salem County boys team to win in the opening round; Penns Grove has heart broken in final second of overtime

WEDNESDAY’S GAMES
South Jersey Group I Tournament
Pitman 58, Wildwood 50
Burlington City 59, Penns Grove 58
Woodbury 57, Glassboro 56
Audubon 40, Paulsboro 39
Haddon Twp. 74, Clayton 68
Palmyra 59, Salem 50
Woodstown 71, New Egypt 52
KIPP Cooper Norcross 62, Maple Shade 15

SATURDAY’S QUARTERFINALS
(9) Burlington City at (1) Pitman
(5) Woodbury at (4) Audubon
(6) Palmyra at (3) Haddon Twp.
(7) Woodstown at (2) KIPP Cooper Norcross

WOODSTOWN 71, NEW EGYPT 52: Rocco String led three Woodstown scorers in double figures with 18 points as the Wolverines beat New Egypt for the second time this season to win its first South Jersey tournament game in five years.

The Wolverines’ last win in the South Jersey Group I tournament came in 2020 when they beat Maple Shade in the opening round.

In addition to String’s exploits, M.J. Hall pumped in 17 points and Elijah Caesar tied his career high with 11.

The Wolverines (16-9) now travel to No. 2 seed KIPP Cooper Norcross in Saturday’s quarterfinals.

“I’m just proud of the boys for the commitment and hard work they put in,” Woodstown coach Ramon Roots said. “They never shy away from getting better and they battle for me and their teammates each and every day. We didn’t have any offseason. It has just been non-stop work every day.

“Some games we may only have like a seven- or eight-man rotation, but those other guys from the JV and varsity bench are so key. They came to practice and made each other better each day.

“This is the first playoff win since 2020 and we are motivated to keep getting better and better. At the end of the day they trust their work, give 110 percent and live with the results. That’s all you can ask from your team. We have built a family and I’m proud to be their coach.”

NEW EGYPT (12-13): Nolan Arnold 5 11-12 22, Clyde Ferris 7 1-2 16, Evan Goldberg 3 0-0 8, Lucas Burgos 0 2-4 2, Dylan Harper 2 0-2 4. Totals 17 14-20 52.
WOODSTOWN (16-9): Trey Markward 1 0-0 2, Elijah Caesar 3 4-4 11, Garrett Leyman 1 2-4 4, Rocco String 9 0-1 18, Blake Bialecki 4 1-1 9, M.J. Hall 7 2-4 17, Jalen Markward 2 1-1 5, Alejandro Vazques 2 1-1 5. Totals 29 11-16 71..

New Egypt671821-52
Woodstown12171428-71
3-point goals: New Egypt 4 (Arnold, Ferris, Goldberg 2); Woodstown 2 (Caesar, Hall).

PALMYRA 59, SALEM 50: Palmyra placed five scorers in double figures, jumped out to a 10-point first-quarter lead and ended the Rams’ season with coach Anthony Farmer sitting on 99 career wins.

The Rams had the margin to four and the ball with a minute to play, but suffered a turnover and then gave up a three-point play.

Jesahi Robinson led Palmyra with 14 points. Sam Adams and Jaleel Laitmore each had 12, DaShon Edmonds chipped in 11 and John Latimore added 10. Robinson also grabbed six rebounds and dealt six assists.

Salem (14-13)7171214-50
Palmyra (15-13)17141612-59

BURLINGTON CITY 59, PENNS GROVE 58 (OT): The Red Devils staged a furious second-half rally to force overtime and had a three-point lead with 90 seconds left in the extra period only to have Chase Downs hit the go-ahead layup with nine-tenths of a second left to break their heart.

Zane Thomas’ put back with 13.3 seconds left gave the Red Devils a 58-57 lead before Downs drove the length of the floor for the game-winner.

Downs also hit a 3-pointer with 45 seconds left in regulation to tie the game at 52, but neither team could deposit the winning shot. Penns Grove had two shots under the basket with 20 seconds left that didn’t fall and had the ball out of bounds with 3.2 seconds left and couldn’t get a shot.

Thomas, a sophomore just back from a knee injury, led all scorers with a career-high 19 points. He had scored only seven points all season prior to the game. B.J. Robbins had 17 points and KaRon Ceaser had 10.

“I’m proud of how we fought back,” Penns Grove coach Damian Ware said. “We were down 14 in the third quarter and battled and kept scraping back. For a young team it showed a lot of courage and toughness. And all these guys will be back next yer to make a title run.”

BURLINGTON CITY (10-15): Chase Downs 5-1-12, Jason Brown 7-3-17, Jamie Lambing 2-0-5, Corey Degree 2-0-4, Piper Comiso 2-0-6, Rashard Newark 6-3-15. Totals 24-7-59.
PENNS GROVE (11-14): B.J. Robbins 7-0-17, Roman Gipson 2-2-6, KaRon Ceaser 4-1-10, Jameel Horace 2-0-4, Luis Colon 1-0-2, Zane Thomas 9-1-19. Totals 25-4-58.

Burlington City (10-15)131213147-59
Penns Grove (11-14)13814176-58
3-point goals: Burlington City 4 (Downs, Lambing, Comiso 2); Penns Grove 4 (Robbins 3, Ceaser).

SJ Group I girls

Two Salem County teams, Woodstown and Pennsville, advance to the second round of tournament

WEDNESDAY’S GAMES
South Jersey Group I Tournament
Haddon Twp. 56, (8) Schalick 13
Glassboro 51, Penns Grove 37
Audubon 58, Cape May Tech 20
Woodstown 52, Gateway 24
Wildwood 77, Riverside 5
Pennsville 70, Woodbury 56
Clayton 43, Burlington City 27
Palmyra 40, New Egypt 35

SATURDAY’S QUARTERFINALS
(9) Glassboro at (1) Haddon Twp.
(5) Audubon vs. (4) Woodstown
(6) Pennsville at (3) Wildwood
(7) Clayton at (2) Palmyra

WOODSTOWN 52, GATEWAY 24: The Gators knocked Woodstown back on its heels early with two big shots some smart, aggressive man defense, but the Wolverines shook it off, started playing their brand of basketball and steadily pulled away.

“Great defense led to open layups and shots,” Woodstown coach Matt Smart said. “

Talia Battavio led on both ends of the floor, scoring a team-high 13 points and recording eight of the Wolverines’ 24 steals. Megan Donelson had 11 points, four rebounds and five steals. Kyia Leyman had 10 points, four boards and three steals.

Actually, every player who got in the game made some type of contribution.

“I’m really proud of the effort that we showed today,” Smart said. “Everyone played as hard as possible when they were on the court.”

The Wolverines (18-6) now host fifth-seeded Audubon Saturday.

Gateway (10-15)64212-24
Woodstown (18-6)1518118-52

PENNSVILLE 70, WOODBURY 56: Taylor Bass led five Pennsville scorers in double figures with 22 points despite missing all of the second quarter with early foul trouble and the Eagles used a big second half to push past Woodbury.

Nora Ausland and Addie Johnston both scored 13 points, Jaida Burns had a career-high 12 and Marley Wood 10 for all the Eagles’ scoring. Johnston hit three 3s in their 23-point third quarter. Ausland grabbed 17 rebounds, while Burns had nine.

The Eagles (18-9) now travel to No.3 Wildwood for their quarterfinals game Saturday.

WOODBURY (7-20): Jenessa Robinson 2 2-6 7, Zoe Bell 3 1-2 8, Emerald Sills 4 8-9 16. Jabrielle Howell 1 0-1 2, Nyla Ivey 7 0-7 23, Dakota Sellers 0 0-0 0. Totals 17 17-25 56.
PENNSVILLE (18-9): Taylor Bass 10 2-2 22, Marley Wood 5 0-0 10, Nora Ausland 6 0-6 13, Addison Johnson5 0-0 13, Jaida Burns 5 2-4 12, Izzy Saulin 0 0-0 0, Ashlyn Fredo 0 0-0 0, Sofia Beeistes 0 0-0 0. Totals 31 4012 70.

Woodbury15171113-56
Pennsville15152317-70
3-point goals: Woodbury 5 (Robinson, Bell, Ivey 3); Pennsville 4 (Ausland, Johnston 3).

GLASSBORO 51, PENNS GROVE 37: The teams played to a 19-19 halftime tie, but Glassboro pulled away in the second half. They outscored the Red Devils 19-9 in the third quarter to seize control. Kezia Brackett (14) and Tamia Smith (12) led the offense, while Kimora Miles and Lily Czubas each pulled down 10 rebounds.

Glassboro (12-13)1181913-51
Penns Grove (11-13)11899-37

HADDON TWP. 56, SCHALICK 13: Kiersten Callahan led a balanced scoring attack with 11 points and the Hawks scored more points in the first quarter than Schalick scored the entire game. Twelve players scored from Township in the game.

Defense also was a key to the victory. The Hawks held the Cougars without a field goal in the first and fourth quarters and collected 16 steals. Alli Kamulda led the way with four steals, while Sammy Martin and Emory Shaw each had three.

Schalick1291-13
Haddon Twp.15211010-56
3-point goals: Schalick 1 (Davis); Haddon Twp. 7 (Callahan 3, Maher, Kennedy, Wiedeman, Kamulda). Rebounds: Haddon Twp. 34 (Turkot 6)

Exciting times

Woodstown’s Crawford wins boys Group I indoor 800, becomes Wolverines’ first indoor state champion in 19 years

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

TOMS RIVER – Josh Crawford turned a big negative into a big positive and it turned him into a record-setting state champion.

Woodstown’s Josh Crawford shows off his medals after winning the Group I indoor 800 and anchoring the runner-up 4×400 relay team.

The Woodstown junior was bummed by the way he ran in the 400 at Sunday’s Group I Indoor Track Championships at the Bennett Center Bubble, but instead of stewing over it the rest of the day he used it to fuel his next race and it became the best run of his life.

Crawford ran a personal-best 1:59.01 and edged Shore Regional’s Brady McHugh by 37 hundreths of a second – about two meters – to win Group I state title and give the Wolverines their first indoor state champion since before he was born.

“I’m just so happy,” he said. “I was feeling great today and I got out there and pushed my best. I never ran like that before with so much excitement and energy. It was a very unreal feeling (to win it).”

The 16-year-old is Woodstown’s first indoor state champion since Brenan McDonough won the 800 in the 2006 Group I meet at Princeton’s Jadwin Gym – 26 months before he was even born. Additionally, he broke the Salem County indoor 800 record of 1:59.21 set by Schalick’s Greg McGuire in the 2020 Group I meet here.

“I didn’t know that while I was running; that’s just insane,” he said of his piece of Woodstown history. “That just makes it like 10 times more exciting for me.”

And it was all a byproduct of his disappointment in the 400, where he had top time in his heat but wound up finishing 11th overall after getting bumped out of position midway through his heat race. His 53.09 was two seconds slower than his winning sectional time.

“It was definitely the 400 that added fire,” he said. “I just wasn’t in the correct mental state or physical state, so I just decided to switch my mindset around and focus on the upcoming 800 and put everything out there and make up for what I missed in the 400.”

To his credit, he didn’t go into the 800 trying to make up for the other race in the first 50 meters. He started next to teammate Cole Lucas and after some initial jostling settled into his gameplan. He was content to sit on McHugh and Raritan’s Joseph Testai the whole race and waited on them to fade to make his move.

That came with about 100 meters to go.

“I just had so much (energy) in me I just used all the anger that came from the previous race to get to the finish line before they could,” he said.

Crawford also ran the anchor leg on the Wolverines’ runner-up 4×400 relay team (with Cole Lucas, Karson Chew and Anthony Costello).

He was the only champion from Salem County Sunday, but the county produced four other qualifiers for next week’s Meet of Champions next week at the Ocean Breeze Complex on Staten Island. The top three finishers in each event and a select number of wildcards advance.

Woodstown’s Jaime Deal finished third in the girls 400, Schalick’s Jordan Hadfield was second in both the 1600 and 3200, Salem’s Anthony Parker was second in the boys 55 hurdles (by .02 seconds) and Schalick’s David Stewart was third in the 55 dash. 

NJSIAA GROUP I INDOOR TRACK
At Bennett Center Bubble, Toms River

GIRLS
TEAM SCORES (Top 10): Dumont 36, Ramsey 29, Metuchen 24, Walkill Valley 20, Clayton 19, Glassboro, SCHALICK 18, New Providence 16, Glen Rock 14, Butler 13. 
EVENT WINNERS
(And Salem County scorers)
400: 1. Julia Costa, Ramsey, 1:00.34; 3. Jaime Deal, Woodstown, 1:00.75; 5. Gia Martellacci, Schalick, 1:01.70.
1600: 1. Delana Einreinhofer, Wallkill Valley, 5:00.86; 2. Jordan Hadfield, Schalick, 5:09.08
55 Hurdles: 1. Jenna Monaco, Dumont, 8.25.
800: 1. Gwendolyn Neale, Verona, 2:16.08.
55 Dash: 1. Jenna Monaco, Dumont, 7.37
3200: 1. Delana Einreinhofer, Wallkill Valley, 10:39.46 (event record, old record by Dana Giordano, Bernards, 10:46.68, 2012); 2. Jordan Hadfield, Schalick, 11:19.59.
4×400 Relay: 1. New Providence, 4:11.01
High Jump: 1. Ashley Armstrong, Glassboro, 5-2; 1. Taylor Peters, Butler, 5-2.
Pole Vault: 1. Jenna Monaco, Dumont, 11-0; 6. Megan Morris, Pennsville, 9-6.
Shot Put: 1. Sunny Moore, Glassboro, 37-2.25.
NOTE: Top 3 finishers qualify for Meet of Champions

BOYS
TEAM SCORES (Top 15): Hasbrouck Heights 40, Glassboro 31.50, Woodbury 30, Shore 24, WOODSTOWN 22, Mountain Lakes 14, Metuchen 12, Dayton 10, Raritan 10, Cresskill 10, Pompton Lakes 10, Clayton 9, Haddon Twp. 9, SALEM 8, SCHALICK 7, Manville 7.
EVENT WINNERS
(And Salem County scorers)
400: 1. Marquis Taylor, Woodbury, 50.91.
55 Hurdles: 1. William Cusick, Cresskill, 7.64; 2. Anthony Parker, Salem, 7.66.
1600: 1. Eric Schleif, Metuchen, 4:23.06.
55 Dash: 1. Marquis Taylor, Woodbury, 6.46; 3. David Stewart, Schalick, 6.68.
800: 1. Josh Crawford, Woodstown, 1:59.01; 4. Cole Lucas, Woodstown, 2:02.59
3200: 1. Max Kahn, Mountain Lakes, 9:32.64.
4×400 Relay: 1. Woodbury, 3:31.29; 2. Woodstown (Cole Lucas, Karson Chew, Anthony Costello, Josh Crawford), 3:31.60.
High Jump: 1. Matthew Murillo, Hasbrouck Heights, 6-4.
Pole Vault: 1. Owen Keating, Pompton Lakes, 16-1 (event record, old record by Craig Hunter, Robbinsville, 15-1, 2012); 6. Salvatore Longo, Schalick, 12-0.
Shot Put: 1. Kane Perry, Shore, 53-10.25.
NOTE: Top 3 finishers qualify for Meet of Champions

Here is a screen shot of Woodstown’s Josh Crawford taking the lead, then crossing the line to win the Group I boys indoor 800 meters Sunday. The photo at the top shows his moment of victory. (Photo by Robert Crawford)

District distinction

Penns Grove’s Bobo channels his inner Rocky, wins district title, MOW award; 17 Salem County wrestlers qualify for Region 8

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

SEWELL – Don’t know if Penns Grove’s Clinton Bobo is a big fan of the Rocky movies, but the way he took it to his opponent in his district title match Saturday it reminded a lot of people of the way America’s favorite underdog took down the massive Ivan Drago in Rocky IV.

Giving up six inches to Paulsboro’s Evan Holloway, he pinned the Red Raiders senior 39 seconds into the second period to win the District 32 175 title – and the admiration of the coaches who voted him Most Outstanding Wrestler of the tournament.

“It was just so beautiful,” Bobo said. “One of my coaches kept telling me you don’t understand how much of a chance you have at winning first place in districts. I missed it last year so we’ll have to see. It was just really awesome.

“Then (up on the podium) they said ‘Penns Grove’ and I was like, “Is that really me?’ It was such a great experience. I’ll definitely remember it forever.”

The turning point of the match came in the first period after Holloway dropped Bobo once and let him up just to drop him again, this time with an elbow to the eye that required injury time. It enraged the Red Devils senior and he went on the attack.

Starting the second period from a neutral position down 6-2, Bobo flipped his taller opponent over his left hip – a move he said he and teammate Tre Brown had been working on the last two weeks – got control of him in the middle of the mat and finished off the pin.

Any similarity to person or persons dead or alive may be just a coincidence in the movies, but it wasn’t lost on Penns Grove athletics director Anwar Golden.

“That’s exactly what happened in Rocky IV when he (Rocky) made the Russian bleed,” Golden said. “When he saw that drop of blood from the Russian, that was it. It was like that. He’s not a machine.”

“It’s almost like something hit him and he woke up,” Penns Grove coach Chuck Weigle said. “It was like he came to life and … boom.”

Bobo called the comparison to the Rocky film “a perfect representation.”

“After he took me down the second time he went up to the crowd and showed a ‘T’ with his hands saying he was going to try to tech fall me,” Bobo said. “I ended up pinning him and so many people started just yelling ‘tech fall where,’ ‘tech fall how.’ It was crazy.”

Bobo won all three of his matches by pin – in 12 seconds (fastest of the tournament), 4:45 and 2:39. He’s the first Penns Grove wrestler to win a MOW in the postseason since Tyreke Brown won it in the 2019 region tournament and the first to win it a district tournament as far as any of the coaches can remember.

Amazingly, he has only been wrestling two years. A full-time student at Salem Vo-Tech, which doesn’t offer wrestling, he joined the team from his home district school at the urging of another Vo-Tech student established on the team, heavyweight Wayne Scott. He didn’t have anything planned after Vo-Tech’s soccer season so he accepted the challenge.

He took to it right away, posting 20 wins in his debut season and finishing second in the district tournament. The only reason he wasn’t the No. 1 seed in his weight class this weekend was he lost the top seed (who Holloway beat in the semifinals) 7-6 in a dual match earlier this year.
 
“No. 1, he is strong as an ox and has got a chiseled frame,” Weigle said. “He’s a student of the sport and he’s always asking questions.”

Last year Bobo was the only Penns Grove wrestler to reach the regions, which made the experience a little uncomfortable. This year he is one of three Red Devils advancing to next week’s Region 8 tournament at Williamstown, along with 285 runner-up Scott and 150 third-place finisher Tre Brown.

Salem County’s other 14 region qualifiers all came out of the District 30 meet at Delsea. 

Pennsville’s Brett Land (106), Schalick’s undefeated Ricky Watt (165) and Woodstown’s Travis Balback (132) and Mateo Vinciguerra (285) won district titles. Vinciguerra’s win for the 285 district title was the 99th of his high school career.

Woodstown and Schalick finished 2-3 in the District 30 team standings. Schalick coach Joe Frassenei was recognized as the District 30 Coach of the Year.

District 30

TEAM SCORES: Delsea 295.5; WOODSTOWN 148.5; SCHALICK 113; Millville 103.5; Cumberland 97.5; PENNSVILLE 92.5; Gateway/Woodbury 38.5; Cedar Creek 33, Buena 32, Vineland 24

REGION QUALIFIERS
106: Brett Land, Pennsville; Hunter Allen, Woodstown; Reid Lightfoot, Delsea
113: DeAnthony Harden, Cumberland; Christian Snyder, Gateway/Woodbury; Chase Bordley, Vineland
120: Amari Vann, Delsea; Carson Bradway, Woodstown; Ruben Cruz, Millville
126: Gage Summers, Delsea; Luke Silva, Schalick; Aidan Barbato, Gateway Reg/ Woodbury
132: Travis Balback, Woodstown; Ryan Miller, Schalick; Jamison Devlin, Delsea
138: Zavier Stokes, Delsea; Patrick Tull, Millville; Gabe Supernavage, Pennsville
144: Cameron Pote, Delsea; Daniel Lloyd, Cumberland; Lucas Gellura, Buena
150: Jamar Dixon, Delsea; Ayden Jenkins, Schalick; Michael Carastro, Cumberland
157: Riley Boos, Delsea; Brett Rowand, Woodstown; Colin Prokson, Millville
165: Ricky Watt, Schalick; Mar`Quis Allen, Millville; Charles Six, Delsea
175: Joel Anderson, Delsea; Greyson Hyland, Woodstown; Sebron Hall-Jones, Cumberland
190: Greg Sawyer, Delsea; Connor Ayars, Pennsville; Braden Cattlet, Millville
215: Salvatore Marchese, Delsea; Walter Carter, Woodstown; Jayden Jones, Millville
285: Mateo Vinciguerra, Woodstown; Alex Grippo, Delsea; Slayton D`Amico, Cedar Creek

CHAMPIONSHIP MATCHES
106: Brett Land (Pennsville) tech fall over Hunter Allen (Woodstown), 15-0 (2:16)
113: DeAnthony Harden (Cumberland) maj. dec. Christian Snyder (Gateway/Woodbury), 15-4
120: Amari Vann (Delsea) pinned Carson Bradway (Woodstown), 2:26
126: Gage Summers (Delsea) tech fall over Luke Silva (Schalick), 20-3 (2:28)
132: Travis Balback (Woodstown) tech fall over Ryan Miller (Schalick), 18-1 (1:27
138: Zavier Stokes (Delsea) pinned Patrick Tull (Millville), 1:01
144: Cameron Pote (Delsea) pinned Daniel Lloyd (Cumberland), 3:12
150: Jamar Dixon (Delsea) tech fall over Ayden Jenkins (Schalick), 18-3 (1:36)
157: Riley Boos (Delsea) pinned Brett Rowand (Woodstown), 1:13
165: Ricky Watt (Schalick) dec. MarQuis Allen (Millville), 10-6
175: Joel Anderson (Delsea) pinned Greyson Hyland (Woodstown), 3:38
190: Greg Sawyer (Delsea) tech fall over Connor Ayars (Pennsville), 15-0 (3:31)
215: Salvatore Marchese (Delsea) pinned Walter Carter (Woodstown), 2:55
285: Mateo Vinciguerra (Woodstown) dec. Alex Grippo (Delsea), 6-1

THIRD-PLACE MATCHES
106: Reid Lightfoot (Delsea) pinned Sincere Wilcox (Cedar Creek), 1:05
113: Chase Bordley (Vineland) pinned Luke Senn (Cedar Creek), 0:40
120: Ruben Cruz (Millville) dec. Kolton Sheppard (Cumberland), 12-10
126: Aidan Barbato (Gateway/Woodbury) pinned Zach Cohen (Buena), 1:23
132: Jamison Devlin (Delsea) pinned Chad Sciore (Vineland), 1:50
138: Gabe Supernavage (Pennsville) dec. Gionni Sharkey (Buena), 11-5
144: Lucas Gellura (Buena) pinned Travis Hagan (Pennsville), 0:17
150: Michael Carastro (Cumberland) pinned Ryan Tepper (Millville), 0:46
157: Colin Prokson (Millville) maj. dec. Riley Papiano (Schalick), 12-1
165: Charles Six (Delsea) pinned Gabriel Rodriguez (Cumberland), 1:55
175: Sebron Hall-Jones (Cumberland) pinned Joseph Halstread (Pennsville), 0:41
190: Braden Cattlet (Millville) pinned Evan Elliott (Schalick), 1:46
215: Jayden Jones (Millville) pinned Gerardo Felipe (Schalick), 2:57
285: Slayton D’Amico (Cedar Creek) pinned Trevor Waddington (Pennsville), 1:55

District 32

TEAM SCORES: St. Augustine 277.5, Paulsboro 217, Clearview 133.5, Deptford 80, PENNS GROVE 77, Clayton/Glassboro 71, Pitman 50, Lindenwold 45.5; SALEM 8

SALEM COUNTY REGION QUALIFIERS
150: 3. Tre Brown, Penns Grove
175: 1. Clinton Bobo, Penns Grove
285: 2. Wayne Scott, Penns Grove

CHAMPIONSHIP MATCHES
106: Will Cruz (Paulsboro) dec. Chase Sudano (St. Augustine), 2-0
113: J.D. Christmann (St. Augustine) dec. Antonio Chila (Paulsboro), 14-7
120: Aundre Hill (Paulsboro) maj. dec. Richie Wootten (St. Augustine), 14-6
(Third place: Deny Ramos (Lindenwold) tech fall over Devine Arce (Penns Grove), 18-3)
126: Carter Pack (St. Augustine) tech fall over Hayden Holmes (Paulsboro), 19-2 (5:52)
132: Jean Paul Bonnette (St. Augustine) pinned Anthony Morales (Clearview), 1:41
138: Jaylen Huertas (Deptford) pinned Adrian Arbelo (St. Augustine), 1:21
144: Anthony DePaul (St. Augustine) pinned Brandon Caro (Lindenwold), 0:57
150: Johnny Chirico (St. Augustine) maj. dec. Kyare Harvey (Paulsboro), 13-2
(Third place: Tre Brown (Penns Grove) dec. Steven Benkert (Clayton/Glassboro), 11-4)
157: Kole Reiss (Clearview) pinned Xavier Harvey (St. Augustine), 4:53
165: Tyler Trovato (Clearview) pinned Luke Ward (St. Augustine), 4:16
175: Clinton Bobo (Penns Grove) pinned Evan Holloway (Paulsboro), 2:39
190: Ron Kraus (St. Augustine) tech fall over Aaron Veytsman (Clearview), 17-1 (4:24) 
(Third place: Dante Scott (Paulsboro) pinned Julian Espino (Penns Grove), 3:43)
215: Aiden Milward (Pitman) dec. Frank Damminger (Paulsboro), TB-1 5-2
(Third place: Jeffrey Smith (Clayton/Glassboro) dec. Abdur Jenkins (Salem), 8-2)
285: Nate Mason (Clearview) tech fall over Wayne Scott (Penns Grove), 16-0 (4:45)