Tag: BASKETBALL

1,000-Point Club

Here is a list of Salem County’s all-time leading scorers in basketball; documented additions/updates should be sent to al.muskewitz@gmail.com.

Boys

PLAYERSCHOOLTOTALYEAR
Paul GauseSchalick31442005
Keith JacksonSalem19401986
Richard BrokenbaughPenns Grove17301989
Marcus RobinsonSalem17261990
Joe HickmanWoodstown17261972
Zach ManorowitzPennsville16792020
Mike HollowaySchalick16342015
Rashan HollowaySchalick16222014
Kavon LewisPenns Grove16002020
Dominique RoyPenns Grove15742008
Mike WrightPenns Grove15511988
Greg FrithSchalick15321990
Fred DrainsWoodstown14441989
Jawan RoanePenns Grove14242018
Jerry DickersonSalem14161963
Sean CollinsSchalick13931996
Geshawn DavisPenns Grove13932013
Melvin AllenSchalick13552014
Bradley RowandWoodstown13462000
Tyler LunsfordSchalick13452016
Dan FeruckPennsville12841980
Lowell FortuneSalem12551989
Brian SyeSalem12271978
Ralph KowalkowskiSt. James12201955
Josh HedgemanSchalick12191989
Luke WoodPennsville11982025
Jamar D. JohnsonPenns Grove11892020
Anthony FarmerSalem11752024
Jim ShiversWoodstown11701973
George SeagerPennsville11581989
Michael MoorePenns Grove11471991
Gage AuslandSalem11442020
Butch KarrPennsville11432009
Scott PowersWoodstown11341993
Joe CassidySt. James11171983
Clifton ShawPenns Grove11111996
Billy McMackinWoodstown11052003
Joe MecholskyPennsville11031992
Mike DriscollWoodstown11001968
Brandon BermudezSalem Tech10972023
Tim BuzbyPennsville10931987
Jim BrownSalem10851985
Ramon RootsSalem10802016
Mike HarrellSchalick10751986
Brian BookerWoodstown10682002
Keith RobinsonPenns Grove10652019
Troy JohnsonSchalick10622017
Lew RidgewaySalem10581975
Eric SpencerSt. James10541990
Tom SummielSalem10501971
Clint HitchnerWoodstown10501996
Jamy ThomasPennsville10481994
DeAndre SolomonSchalick10442014
Charles McNeilPenns Grove10401956
Jim SmithWoodstown10381955
Charles HainesPenns Grove10301953
Bruce SpencerSt. James10231983
Colin RiegerPennsville10142015
Darryl GauseSchalick10072001
Dan YucisPennsville10031999
Matt KatesSchalick10022008
Terrence SorrellSalem1988
James RoweSalem1997
Ron MichaelSalem2002
William BarnesSalem2005
Derrick ParsleySalem2008
Woodrow FurbushSalem2011

Girls

PLAYERSCHOOLTOTALYEAR
Katie KlinePennsville21102004
Amanda YoungSt. James17621995
Sharias HillPenns Grove16612009
Brittany SmithSalem16232007
Talia BattavioWoodstown16202025
Megan DonelsonWoodstown15882025
Tia FurbushSchalick15742021
Tori SmickWoodstown15662013
Shayla LlanosSalem14362008
Crystal BaileySchalick14061984
Stephanie OwenWoodstown13811993
Dawn CurryPennsville12882008
Tamara WatkinsPenns Grove12762005
Charlie BaldwinWoodstown12752020
Shaqui CoppageSalem12652010
Vynette MillerSalem12551985
Kelli GriffithPennsville12481989
Paige CaldwellWoodstown12372017
Ryane WoodPennsville12242022
Carly LanePenns Grove12172001
Shaniece BanksPenns Grove12052008
Elizabeth HudockSalem12032019
Marie PatrickSalem11861995
Hannah CookseyPennsville11682019
Lindsey MinchPennsville11632010
Riley FulmerWoodstown11632022
RaNiyah WilsonPenns Grove11562025
Nora AuslandPennsville11442025
Tiasia TatemSalem11392015
Che’Na ThompsonSalem11302009
Ashley HansenSchalick11242008
Bethany HumenikWoodstown11202009
Kelly ThompsonWoodstown11151990
Latika RossSalem11022001
Lindsay RivellSalem10812001
Caitlin McCafferyPennsville10802003
Natrice ReedPenns Grove10652018
Meely HoracePenns Grove10632024
x-Marley WoodPennsville10622026
Kayla MayersWoodstown10412015
Shannon PollockSt. James10371993
Christy BrittonSt. James10371989
Ashley EngelWoodstown10122007
Susanne DalySt. James10021991
Sandy AlstonPenns Grove1983
x-active
There are a lot of points in this picture of 1,000-point scorers (L-R) Woodstown’s Talia Battavio and Pennsville’s Marley Wood, Ryane Wood, Luke Wood, Nora Ausland and Jamy Thomas. There were more than 7,100 points represented here at the time this photo was taken.

Salem’s Green light

After a month transitioning to a new coach, Mighty Oaks enjoying a fabulous February and entertaining thoughts of a playoff berth

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

CARNEYS POINT – As much as he wanted it to happen right away, Mike Green figured it would take some time for his way to play to kick in when he took over the Salem Community College basketball team right before Christmas.

GREEN

It’s taken about a month and now the Oaks are playing some of their best ball since the school revived the program in 2019.

The Mighty Oaks’ fabulous February continued Monday night in an 87-81 home win over Williamson College of the Trades that was closer than it should have been.

It was their third win in a row and fifth in six February starts, their best stretch since a similar run in February 2022. And it keeps alive their hopes of making playoffs, which would be quite the coup considering they were a team in limbo at midseason.

“What me and the coaches have been preaching is finally coming to light,” Green said. “I thought the results were going to be there the first month. I talked with some people I know, some people who have been in basketball for years, and that’s just not the way it works.

“Sometimes we get naïve as coaches. We think it’s supposed to happen overnight, but my assistants do a really good job of wheeling me back, telling me what we’ve got. It took us a month and a couple weeks, so now it’s clicking a little better for us. The guys are trying to understand how I wanted to play and I think it’s all coming together at the right time.”

Time is the operative word. While time wasn’t on the Oaks’ side when it came to searching for a coach, the timing certainly worked in their favor for landing Green.

The old coach, A.J. Williams, who had been with the program since it restarted, resigned on the bus ride back from a Dec. 14 loss at Ocean County CC. Athletics director Bob Bunnell remembers that call vividly and it left him desperate. The Oaks were scheduled to play Brookdale two days later and they had no coach. They ended up canceling and fortunately were open until after the holidays.

Green, a two-time Philadelphia Public League All-Star and Horizon League Player of the Year at Butler, was on the staff at Penn State that left for Notre Dame, but with the recent birth of his second child he decided to stay behind. He was a finalist for the RCSJ-Gloucester job, and received a glowing recommendation when Bunnell started reaching out to his peers for advice.

Green was announced as the Oaks’ second coach since the program’s revival two days before Christmas. They have gone 8-7 since his hiring.

“There was definitely an adjustment period,” Green said. “We had to get rid of a lot of, I wouldn’t say bad habits, but not habits I needed them to play with. It definitely took time.

“I knew coming into it that it would be challenging, but I played this way. I played for a coach in Europe who got fired and I had to play for a new coach, so I knew all the dynamics that went into it. I like challenges and I thought it’d be a good challenge.”

The Green way was nothing like the way they had played before. It was fast, it promoted shooting, it maximized possessions. It was the kind of way that gets junior college players noticed by coaches on the next level and it’s Green’s goal to get every one of his players a scholarship at the next level.

February has been by far the Oaks’ most productive month of the season. They’re averaging 87 points a game this month. They’re shooting 49.3 percent from the floor, 40.9 percent from 3-point range and 76.3 percent from the line and have grabbed 30.7 rebounds a game – all better than any of the previous three months of the season. Their assists are up and their turnovers are down from the month before.

They went from averaging about 69 points a game in the first two months of the season to 80.7 in January. They hit almost twice as many 3s in Green’s first month as they did the two previous months combined. They’ve hit 166 total in the 15 games since he’s taken over.

“The transition has gone well because ever since they got here it was kind of like a new season,” freshman guard Dante Brinkley said. “There was nothing about the past, what happened; it was 0-0 at that point. There was a lot of buy-in when we looked at our coach’s resume and we just respect that. You want to learn from that and I think everyone’s bought into that.”

“He’s made us play different; he wants us to run and score,” freshman guard Niami Scott added. “The other (way) was slower. I knew the people who were coming to us, the coaching staff and all that, so I was happy for us and I felt like with the new coaching staff we can probably win more. It’s more fun, playing as a team, scoring 100 and just laughing and joking when we get the win.”

The Oaks (10-12) looked to be headed to one of those kinds of wins against the Mechanics (8-15), It started with Tajee Jordan dominating inside, getting halfway to his sixth double-double five minutes into the game and carried on with the 3s. Oh, the 3s.

The Oaks made 19 of them in their win over Harrisburg Area Saturday and were on a similar track Monday with nine in the first half. They went into halftime up by 15 after leading by as many as 19.

They didn’t play quite the same in the second half and the Mechanics nearly came all the way back. It was a one-point game with 46.5 seconds left.

It was 83-81 when Williamson’s Ronald Johnson missed a potential game-tying jumper with 10 seconds to go. Brinkley hit two free throws with 2.5 seconds left to seal it and then stole the inbounds pass and converted it into a layup at the buzzer for the final margin.

“At that time it’s win time, you’ve got to make plays, you’ve got to do whatever you can to win,” Brinkley said. “That was my mindset: Whatever I can do to seal this game up, help my team win, that’s what I’ve gotta do.”

Brinkley finished with 10 points and was one of five Salem scorers in double figures. Scott led the way with 21 points, including 9-of-11 from the free throw line in the second half. A.J. Jones hit four 3s in the first half and finished with 19. Jordan had 13 points and 10 rebounds, and Shaquez Coley-Lewis hit four 3s and finished with 12.

The Oaks are still in the running for a Region XIX playoff berth, but they have no margin for error. They have to win all three of their remaining games to qualify.

“Out of everything that we’ve been through this year I think that would be a good way to go out this season,” Brinkley said. “I think that’s what everybody’s focus is, trying to make the playoffs.”

“If we do get in there we’ll be a dangerous team to play,” Green said. “Nobody should want to see us coming at them.”

SALEM CC 87, WILLIAMSON TRADES 81
WILLIAMSON (8-15) – Jordan Draine 2 2-2 6, Abdoulaye Diallo 4 3-4 11, Garrett Watkins 1 0-2 2, Liam Pardin 2 1-1 5, Ronald Johnson 12 2-2 26, Corby Bennett 5 1-2 11, Semaj Cherry 8 4-6 20. Totals 34 13-19 81.
SALEM CC (10-12) – Niame Scott 5-10 0-11 21, Dante Brinkley 3-8 4-7 10, A.J. Jones 6-8 3-4 19, Tivon Woolford 1-4 0-0 3, Tajee Jordan 5-9 3-4 13, Shaquez Coley-Lewis 4-11 0-0 12, Joshua Ramon 3-7 2-2 9. Totals 27-57 21-28 87.

Williamson Trades3546  –81
Salem CC5037  –87
3-point goals: Williamson Trades 0; Salem 12-26 (Scott 2-5, Jones 4-5, Woolford 1-1, Jordan 0-1, Coley-Lewis 4-9, Ramos 1-5). Rebounds: Salem 30 (Jordan 10, Scott 7, Jones 6). Technical fouls: Williamson Trades coach Michaels. Fouled out: Cherry. Total fouls: Williamson Trades 18, Salem 18. Officials: Carter, Bacon, Richardson.

Salem shot-blocker

What’s in a name: NaeNae means no, no to shooters who dare come into the paint against the Rams; updated with reports and boxscores from Friday’s games

FRIDAY’S GIRLS GAMES
Salem 75, Camden Academy 14
Penns Grove at Deptford Twp.
Paulsboro 32, Schalick 21
Pennsville 60, Bridgeton 30
SATURDAY’S GAMES
SJIBT Tournament
Eastern at Woodstown, 11:30 a.m.

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

SALEM – NaeNae Logan may be the most appropriately named basketball player in Salem County for what she does best on the court.

Tall and long, she has become a machine when it comes to blocking shots.

LOGAN

Think of NBA great Dikembe Mutombo knocking back boxes of Cheerios in the cereal aisle of the grocery store or swatting away paper wads before they make it to the classroom trash can and then wagging a disapproving finger and saying, “NaeNae, nay, not in my house.”

Through the first eight games of the season, NaeNae has returned a whopping 53 shots to sender. That includes a jaw-dropping 15 rejections in her first career triple-double against Oakcrest (10/11/15) in the Boardwalk Classic and five other games of five or more. She had 17 blocks in 11 games last year.

(UPDATE: Logan had six points, seven rebounds and three blocked shots in the Rams’ 75-14 rout of Camden Academy Charter Friday night.)

“I’ve always had a passion for basketball, but, I don’t know, once I see that ball in my face I just go for it,” the 5-11 senior said. “It’s just a reflex for me.”

Rams coach Tiasia Tatem can’t remember a player with so many blocks and the body control not to foul.

The next closest player in the county to Logan’s numbers is Schalick’s Ava Scurry with 38 in seven games. Within the Tri-County Conference Classic and Diamond Divisions, the two divisions that house the Salem County teams, no one else comes close among those keeping that statistic.

“It’s like a gift,” Tatem said. “She’s one of those players you never really have to worry about being in foul trouble because she’s so clean on defense. I tell the girls all the time don’t worry about the shot block, keep your hands straight up, but with her it’s like her natural ability. It’s just amazing to watch. Her timing is there. It’s perfect to watch sometimes.”

It really is all natural. Logan hasn’t been to any camps or worked with any special coaches to perfect the skill and, frankly, if she was a little better on her feet she may even have more. Most of her blocks have come without her feet leaving the floor.

It probably would help her offensively as well. She’s scored only 43 points this season, but only one in the last three games and that was Thursday night against Schalick. But if one projects points to her blocks, she saved the Rams 30 points in those three games. 

“Everybody’s been saying how I’m doing so good, but I’m feeling like I could do more,” she said. “When I’m in that (shot blocking) mode, I try to get as many as I can.”

She certainly was in the zone that night in Wildwood against Oakcrest. The Falcons kept trying to attack the basket and she kept turning them away. The more she denied them, the more they tried. When the coaches told her the final tally on her blocks she got “pretty excited.”

“I’ll be amazed at myself sometimes,” she said. “Sometimes in that moment I don’t think I can do it until it happens and afterwards I’ll be like, all right, the numbers are rolling in.”

Admittedly, there have been times when Logan’s confidence has been what she called “rocky,” and really was on the verge of taking off when she left the team last season for reasons unrelated to basketball. She credits Tatem with reigniting the fire and getting her excited about playing again and her support system is now really quite strong.

“It’s more than just basketball with her and I never heard that from my other coach, so when she said that, it made me focus more and gain my confidence back,” Logan said. “Having her as my coach has been really, really good for me.”

It was easy for Tatem to gravitate to Logan. The second-year coach was an “average defender” who could guard the post during her 1,000-point career at Salem, but she wasn’t nearly the shot blocker her best defender has become, but she recognized how special the developing post player could be.

“Nae had it,” Tatem said. “It was always there, it was just waiting for somebody to come pull it out of her.

“When I got here, she was one of the players I grappled to early on and I pushed her. Early on she kind of fought back with me because she didn’t understand why I cared so much or was on her so much and I think this year it finally clicked that my coach actually cares about me, she sees the potential and she wants me to reach it.”

The light bulb moment came early on. During the Rams’ last preseason scrimmage the team wasn’t playing together and Logan stepped up in the huddle and spoke up like a coach to get her teammates going. 

And now she carries herself on and off with court with a quiet confidence that has the potential to bring big returns.

“I don’t think she’s reached her peak yet,” Tatem said. “There’s better to come from her.”

The Logan File

GAMEPTSRBSBKS
Glassboro (44-29 L)766
Pitman (45-36 L)984
Millville (42-27 L)785
Oakcrest (52-25 W)101115
Salem Tech (45-19 W)9128
Gateway (48-34 L)086
Wildwood (84-33 L)0136
Schalick (27-26 L)1143
Camden Acad. (75-14 W)673
TOTALS498756

Friday’s Games

Salem 75, Camden Acad. Charter 14

SALEM – After being held to 26 points in a loss the night before, the Rams’ focus turned to offense and they enjoyed their highest-scoring game since before 2010-11, the last year records are available.

It was almost six years to the day they last scored 70 in a game – 72 against Camden Academy Charter in January 2018. All three times the Rams have put up 70 in the last 14 years it has come at the expense of the Cougars.

“It was one of those nights where all the girls had to prove that they could be involved and they all scored,” Rams coach Tiasia Tatem said. “This was a big game that we needed just to come back from a game where we only scored 26 points and then you come into a game like tonight where you score 27 in the second quarter.

“It was something we needed, the fire they needed.”

Eight players scored for the Rams, with four in double figures. Kaela Nichols is beginning to find her footing after academics and illness delayed her start and she led the offense with a career-high 17 points, three 3-pointers and eight assists. Ava Rodgers had a career-high 16 points (with 10 rebounds and five blocks), Ryann Foote had 14 and Ameriyona Hunter a career-tying 11.

“She is that kind of scorer,” Tatem said of Nichols. “She has some issues early on … but we’re hitting that point where things are starting to turn around and I feel like we should see a lot more of her.”

It also was their best defensive effort since holding Cherry Hill West to 14 points in December 2014. They held the Cougars (1-8) to one field goal in the second half, while coming up with 31 steals and 11 blocked shots.

SALEM 75, CAMDEN ACADEMY CHARTER 14 
CAMDEN ACADEMY CHARTER (1-8) – Angel Waysome 0 0-0 0, Nashalie Lugo 0 0-0 0, Yomeidy DeLaRosa 1 2-5 4, Angelise Rodriguez 1 0-0 2, Diomeiry DeLaRosa 2 0-0 5, Skylar Goods 0 0-0 0, Mariana Garriga 0 0-0 0, Malani Taplin 0 0-0 0, Mary Reyes 0 3-4 3, JoNiya Devine 0 0-2 0, Terrenona Hill 0 0-0 0, Leslie Ramirez 0 0-0 0. Totals 4 5-11 14.
SALEM (3-6) – Ryann Foote 5 3-4 14, Lyric Hayes 0 0-0 0, Marissa Bower 0 0-2 0, Kaela Nichols 6 2-3 17, Ava Rodgers 7 2-4 16, Carlysia Pierce 3 0-0 6, Ameriyona Hunter 5 0-2 11, Nevaeh Hickman 0 0-0 0, Zaniyah Fresion 0 0-0 0, Madison Dixon 0 0-0 0, Dankirah Grey 0 1-2 1, NaeNae Logan 3 0-0 6, Marjziah Bundy 2 0-0 4. Totals 31 8-17 75.

Camden Academy5432 –14
Salem19271811 –75
3-point goals: Camden Academy Charter 1 (D. DeLaRosa); Salem 5 (Foote, Nichols 3, Hunter). Technical fouls: Waysome 2. Fouled out: Waysome (eject.), Y. DeLaRosa. Total fouls: Camden Academy Charter 14, Salem 11.

Pennsville 60, Bridgeton 30

BRIDGETON – Pennsville coach Sam Trapp is convinced when Nora Ausland and Marley Wood get going in the same game they can be as impactful as the best two-man tandem in the county that currently resides in Woodstown.

Ausland and Wood had one of the nights Friday, going for 21 and 25, respectively, as the Eagles (5-6) doubled up the Bulldogs to snap a three-game losing streak. They do the bulk of the Eagles’ scoring as it is, but when they do it together, much like Talia Battavio and Megan Donelson do for Woodstown, they make Pennsville even harder to handle.

“They just played really well, they just fed off each well tonight, just really looked for one another and were doing a great job just moving the ball around,” Trapp said. “Honestly, today was one of the better nights that they played really well off of each other.”

Wood got going right out of the gate, scoring seven points in the Eagles’ eight points in the first quarter. Ausland got going in the second quarter with seven as the Eagles pulled away. They were both on fire in the third quarter, evenly dividing Pennsville’s 18 points in the quarter.

Ausland also had eight rebounds and six assists. Wood had five rebounds.

It was the second time this year they both went for 20 in the same game and the Eagles won both games. They won another game when Wood went for 20 and Ausland 18. In fact, they’re 3-1 this year when Wood goes for 20 and 2-1 when Ausland does it.

In Ausland’s two years at Salem before joining the Eagles, the Rams were 3-0 when she went for 20, 6-1 when she scored at least 18.

“If they consistently play together, feeding off one another, working off one another’s strengths and weaknesses, those two could be just as powerful as a dynamic duo as Talia and Megan,” Trapp said. “I need them to consistently play off one another, continuously encourage one another and continuously support one another when one’s having a good game or vice versa.

“I felt like tonight was very unselfish in the shooting department and moving the ball well and that’s another thing I really need consistently coming out of the girls – an unselfish scoring effort and really just playing hard as a team as a whole.”

The Eagles are slowly getting back to full strength. Post Bella Farina returned from concussion protocol and played the entire game. Taylor Bass is the next one they’ll get back. She has her cast removed next Friday.

PENNSVILLE 60, BRIDGETON 30
PENNSVILLE (5-6) – Calli Ausland 3 1-2 7, Nora Ausland 8 4-5 21, Karsen Cooksey 0 0-0 0, Lilly Edwards 0 0-0 0, Kylie Harris 0 0-0 0, Malani McGee 1 0-0 2, Izzy Saulin 2 0-0 4, Avery Watson 0 0-2 0, Marley Wood 10 4-7 25, Bella Farina 0 0-2 0. Total 24 10-18 60.
BRIDGETON (1-10) – Adelina Wilks 3 2-3 9, Aiyanna Ridgeway 1 0-0 2, Diara McGriff 0 2-2 2, Sharena Parker 1 2-4 5, Jayla Bowman 0 1-4 1, Imara James 4 1-2 9, Kahmya Johnson 0 0-0 0, Ciani Money 0 0-0 0, Karina Perez 0 0-0 0, Kimora Notice 0 0-0 0, TaMiyah Russell 1 0-0 2. Totals 10 8-15 30.

Pennsville8161818 –60
Bridgeton8868 –30
3-point goals: Pennsville 2 (N. Ausland, Wood); Bridgeton 2 (Wilks, Parker). Fouled out: Parker. Total fouls: Pennsville 15, Bridgeton 17.

Paulsboro 32, Schalick 21

PAULSBORO – The Cougars scored one point in the fourth quarter for the second game in a row, but this time it wasn’t helpful at all. Paulsboro outscored them 21-5 in the second half to pull out the victory.

The Cougars scored one point in the fourth quarter Thursday against Salem and it was the difference in their 27-26 win.

Brookelyn Graham led Paulsboro with 18 points. She also grabbed five rebounds and had five of the Red Raiders’ 20 steals. Dasoni Scott (10) and Ianna Veney (13) both had double figures in rebounds.

PAULSBORO 32, SCHALICK 21
SCHALICK (2-6) – Ava Scurry 3 0-2 6, Cali Fisler 2 0-0 4, Abby Willoughby 1 1-2 3, Carly Vicente 4 0-0 8, Cianna Gaines 0 0-2 0. Totals 10 1-6 21.
PAULSBORO (4-5) – Londyn Graham 2 0-2 4, Brookelyn Graham 8 0-0 18, Dasoni Scott 2 0-0 4, Ianna Veney 3 0-0 6, Kriasya Johns 0 0-2 0, Deamya Bagby 0 0-0 0. Totals 15 0-4 32.

Schalick10641 –21
Paulsboro74129 –32
3-point goals: Schalick 0; Paulsboro 2 (B. Graham 2).

Challenge met

Woodstown passes its first major test of the season, Pennsville overwhelms Schalick in a battle of teams fighting the injury bug, Salem gets second straight win

THURSDAY GIRLS SCORES
Woodstown 61, Penns Grove 53
Pennsville 52, Schalick 14
Salem 45, Salem Tech 19

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

PENNS GROVE – As almost everybody’s favorite to win the Tri-County Diamond Division and then some in South Jersey, the Woodstown girls basketball team knows it’s going to get everybody’s best shot every night.

The Wolverines faced their biggest test of the young season Thursday night and answered the bell like the favorites they are.

In a battle between the two best teams in the division, Woodstown grabbed the lead late in the first quarter, endured some anxious moments near the end of the first half and then finally pulled away in the second half for a 61-53 victory over Penns Grove.

“This is probably the biggest challenge we’ll have in all of our division games,” Wolverines coach Kara Straughn said. “They’re athletic, they’re quick, they’re the second-best team in our division, but I’ve got 10 girls who play together. There’s nobody in my opinion in our division who has as much of a team as I do.”

While Megan Donelson (25 points) and Talia Battavio (20) did most of their scoring as usual, the Wolverines (5-1) got contributions from throughout the lineup. Shannon Pieman grabbed 16 rebounds and blocked three shots. Alyssa Baber had 10 boards.

And they needed every bit of it. They took the lead midway through the first quarter, but Penns Grove never let them get comfortable. 

The Red Devils were out of sorts during their two games in Wildwood after Christmas, but they were determined to play their game and not get caught up in the early-season enormity of the game. They pressed from the jump and made the Wolverines work for everything they got.

Donelson and Battavio combined for all of Woodstown’s points in the first quarter and 28 of their 30 in the first half.

Penns Grove is a team that likes to drive and attack the basket. But as the first half worn on, the Wolverines’ defense kept forcing the Red Devils farther out for shots and it produced the predictable results.

Woodstown led by 12 with less than two minutes left in the first half, but Penns Grove rallied and things got real intense in the final minute of the half. With 25.8 seconds to go in an eight-point game, Penns Grove’s RiNiyah Wilson was fouled by Battavio driving to the basket and the reaction led to a technical foul on the Wolverines guard.

Wilson hit three of the four free throws to make it a five-point game and the Red Devils had the ball with a chance to cut it to two or three. But Gianna Maiorini thwarted those plans when she stole the possession and fed Donelson who banked in a short jumper in the lane with six seconds to go. Donelson then stole the next inbounds pass and the Wolverines ran out the clock to take a seven-point halftime lead.

“If they would’ve gotten the lead I think it would’ve been a different game,” Straughn said.

The Red Devils got to within four several times early in the second half, but the Wolverines pushed it back out to 10 . They kept the Red Devils at arm’s length the rest of the game to win their fifth in a row while sending their hosts to their third straight loss.

“I think we could’ve done a little bit better than what we actually did, but we ended up pulling out the win and that’s just all that matters,” Donelson said.

While Donelson and Battavio were the big producers for Woodstown, Wilson did all she could to keep Penns Grove in it. The transfer from Kingsway led all scorers with a career-high 33 points and she grabbed nine rebounds.

“My coach talks about mental toughness, fight through the game, if we’re down pick my teammates up, keep going, keep fighting,” Wilson said. “I like playing in big games. I like competition.”

WOODSTOWN (5-1, 2-0) – Talia Battavio 6 6-8 20, Megan Donelson 11 2-2 25, Alyssa Baber 3 2-5 8, Gianna Maiorini 0 0-0 0, Shannon Pieman 2 2-2 6, Lauren Hengle 0 0-0 0, Emma Perry 1 0-0 2. Totals 23 12-17 61.
PENNS GROVE (4-3, 1-1) – Syanna Robbins 0 0-0 0, Brianna Robbins 0 1-2 1, RaNiyah Wilson 14 3-7 33, Arianna Dowe 1 0-2 3, Amani Taylor 0 0-0 0, Meely Horace 6 2-4 14, Rolande Delva 1 0-0 2, Zoey Caesar 0 0-0 0, JaNiyah Cummings 0 0-0 0. Totals 22 6-15 53.

Woodstown18121714 –61
Penns Grove12111416 –53
3-point goals: Woodstown 3 (Battavio 2, Donelson); Penns Grove 3 (Wilson 2, Dowe). Technical fouls: Battavio. Fouled out: Taylor. Total fouls: Woodstown 16, Penns Grove 19.

Pennsville 52, Schalick 14

PENNSVILLE – The Eagles had the best of it in this battle of teams fighting through injuries. They opened a 24-7 halftime lead, then erupted for 21 points in the third quarter and shut out the Cougars in the fourth quarter.

The Eagles were down to four core players because of the injuries and brought up several players from the junior varsity to replenish the ranks. Veterans and newcomers alike got together for a film session before the start of the night’s JV game to hammer out a game plan for the main event.

They got the bulk of their scoring from Marley Wood (20 points) and Nora Ausland (18) while the others help keep it in the road. Wood and Ausland combined for all of Pennsville’s points in the first half.

“The girls who got pulled up stepped up and played the role we needed them to play,” Pennsville coach Sam Trapp said. “Izzie Saulin really stepped up on the defensive end. She had some great blocks and solid rebounding.”

SCHALICK (1-4, 0-2) – Cali Fisler 2 1-1 6, Ava Scurry 2 0-0 4, Gianna Gaines 1 0-4 2, Carly Vicente 1 0-0 2, Katie Little 0 0-0 0, Madison Brown 0 0-0 0, Virginia Basich 0 0-0 0, Olivia Lunemann 0 0-0 0. Totals 6 1-5 14.
PENNSVILLE (4-3, 2-0) – Calli Ausland 1 0-0 2, Nora Ausland 8 0-2 18, Sophia Belitsas 0 0-0 0, Karsen Cooksey 0 0-0 0, Kylie Harris 0 0-0 0, Malani McGee 2 0-0 6, Izzy Saulin 3 0-0 6, Avery Watson 0 0-0 0, Marley Wood 8 3-3 20, Fredo 0 0-0 0, Lily Edwards 0 0-0 0. Totals 22 3-5 52.

Schalick4370 –14
Pennsville1212217 –52
3-point goals: Schalick 1 (Fisler); Pennsville 5 (N. Ausland 2, McGee 2, Wood). Total fouls: Schalick 8, Pennsville 12.

Salem 45, Salem Tech 19

SALEM – The Rams put together another strong defensive effort to grab their second straight win. They collected 30 steals and blocked 20 shots against the Chargers.

Ava Rogers had 10 points, nine rebounds and blocked seven shots. QwenNazha Johnson-Logan had nine points, 12 rebounds, eight blocks and had five steals. Ryann Foote had seven steals.

The Rams have recorded 59 steals and 40 blocked shots in their two-game winning streak. Johnson-Logan has had 23 blocks in the two games and is averaging 7.6 per game this season.

SALEM TECH (0-6, 0-2) – Kaylin Beardsley 2 2-2 7, Rylee Doerr 1 1-2 3, Morgan VanDover 2 1-2 6, Demajae White 0 1-2 1, Drummond 1 0-0 2. Totals 6 5-8 19.
SALEM (2-3, 1-1) – QwenNazha Johnson-Logan 4 1-1 9, Ameriyona Hunter 2 0-0 6, Ryann Foote 1 1-4 3, Ava Rodgers 5 0-1 10, Marissa Bower 3 0-0 8, Kashira Patterson 1 0-0 2, Carlysia Pierce 2 1-6 5, Zaniyah Fresno 1 0-0 2, Madison Dixon 0 0-0 0, Kaela Nichols 0 0-0 0, Lyric Hayes 0 0-0 0. Totals 19 3-12 45.

Salem Tech8236 –19
Salem10101114 –45
3-point goals: Salem Tech 2 (Beardsley, VanDover); Salem 4 (Hunter 2, Bower 2).

Tri-County Conference

CLASSICOVDIVDIAMONDOVDIV
Gloucester Cath.7-12-0Woodstown5-12-0
Wildwood5-22-0Pennsville4-32-0
Pitman4-21-1Glassboro4-31-1
Salem2-31-1Penns Grove4-31-1
Clayton2-50-2Schalick1-30-1
Salem Tech0-60-2Overbrook1-40-2

Finding the right fit

Penns Grove has been shuffling lineups all season in hopes of finding the right combination; freshman’s defense sparks Pennsville’s fourth-quarter comeback, Woodstown wins, Schalick falls

THURSDAY’S BOYS SCORES
LEAP 52. Schalick 44
Penns Grove 69, Salem Tech 56
Pennsville 61, GCIT 52
Woodstown 59, Cumberland 24

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

WOODSTOWN – Damian Ware is still trying to get a handle on his young Penns Grove basketball team and that usually means a plethora of starting lineups before hitting on the one that sticks for the rest of the year.

Ware rolled out his fourth different starting lineup in as many games Thursday night and it produced the Red Devils’ second win of the season, 69-56 over Salem Tech.

“We’re just tooling around with stuff early in the season, plus giving guys an opportunity to play who really haven’t played that many minutes yet,” Ware said. “I’m figuring guys out. I’m figuring out who can play well with who. I’m figuring out whether we should play with two bigs or one big.

“It’s all experimental at this point in the season. It’s really an extended preseason of sorts. I just want to see what all my guys got. I got 14 guys on the team, so I want to see what all of them got in extended minutes, so that’s what we were all about today.”

Up to now, Ware has been starting any combination of four guards with one big. One game he started all guards. The lineup against Thursday featured two bigs for the first time and it gave the Red Devils a defensive bent against their hosts. They held the Chargers to 16 points in the first half while building a 34-16 halftime lead.

The same group started the second half.

The new starter in this mix was Jaden Sorrell, a 6-4 senior who “did a decent job” playing the 5 alongside 6-3 senior Willie Slocum. Sorrell scored four points — all in the second half — grabbed a couple rebounds and blocked a couple shots before fouling out in the fourth quarter. Slocum scored 11 points and grabbed nine rebounds.

“It was good because I had more opportunities because I was the 4,” Slocum said. “Other games I was the 5, so it was nice.

“We’ve just got to find the five toughest guys. To me, if I’m not playing that way, the next man up. If somebody else is not playing that way, next man up. We’ve got to five tough guys.”

As that search continues, Ware said it was “very possible” the Red Devils will start even another combination when they host Cherokee Saturday afternoon.

Salem Tech coach Bryan Riley expected to see Roman Gipson among their starters as he was when Riley saw them in the all-guard lineup in person last Saturday, but he didn’t sweat it. He still had to send his guys out there against whomever was on the floor.

The Chargers fell behind 55-30 after three quarters, but they brought it back in the fourth against the Red Devils’ young reserves. Haneef Frisby led the charge with 13 of his game-high 21 points.

“He and Antoine Robinson go back and forth,” Riley said. “We just played Gloucester Catholic, Antoine was the guy that game (16 points). The game before we played GCIT, Haneef was the guy (14). We played Schalick for opening day, Antoine was the guy (19). So, those two just go back and forth.

“I need them both on the same level and once we get that it’s going to be special.”

PENNS GROVE 69, SALEM TECH 56
PENNS GROVE (2-2) – Willie Slocum 4 3-6 11, Mehki Ballard 2 1-4 5, Khiry Higgs 0 0-0 0, Jaden Sorrell 2 0-0 4, Giomar Conrad 8 2-3 19, Mr Peterson 1 0-0 2, Roman Gipson 4 2-3 10, KaRon Ceaser 2 0-2 4, Will Roy 0 0-0 0, Neziah Spence 1 0-0 3, Cameron Thompson 3 0-0 6, Brandon Robbins 2 0-0 5, Luis Colon 0 0-0 0. Totals 29 8-18 69.
SALEM TECH (0-4) – Chase Wills 2 0-4 4, Haneef Frisby 7 7-9 21, Joseph Hayes 2 1-2 6, Daviontae Russell 2 1-2 5, Josh Muntz 2 3-6 7, Tyler Zampino 1 1-1 3, Antoine Robinson 3 0-0 7, Gio Holmes 1 1-2 3, Chase Ayars 0 0-0 0. Totals 20 14-26 56.

Penns Grove16182114 –69
Salem Tech971426 – 56
3-point goals: Penns Grove 3 (Conrad, Spence, Robbins); Salem Tech 2 (Hayes, Robinson). Fouled out: Sorrell. Total fouls: Penns Grove 25, Salem Tech 17. Officials: Woody, McGough.

PENNSVILLE 61, GCIT 52: If you’re occupying a seat on the Pennsville varsbench you’re expected to contribute when your name is called.

Eagles coach Joe Mecholsky called upon Mason O’Brien for a very specific task in the fourth quarter and the freshman delivered in a veteran way.

It was O’Brien’s job to put a wrench in GCIT scoring machine Mark Hallman as the “one” in the rare box-and-one the Eagles threw out there when nothing else seemed to work. O’Brien held Hallman scoreless the entire quarter and it helped the Eagles rally from five points down to snap a two-game losing streak.

“We put freshman Mason O’Brien on him and we said, ‘Son, you’ve got one job – lock him down,’” Mecholsky said. “He held the kid scoreless in the fourth quarter, let us get our feet and then we came down and executed on offense.

“I went with him because he’s fast afoot, he knows the game of basketball. He’s a freshman by grade … but he’s a little bit older than a freshman (in game sense), but we made it very simple for him. We said stay between (Hallman) and the ball and he was awesome.”

Hallman, who went for 30 against Salem Tech on Monday and was averaging 19.5 coming into the game, had 14 points with four 3-pointers over the first three quarters, but he got nothing in the fourth. Pennsville, meanwhile, outscored GCIT in the quarter 26-12 to beat the Group IV Cheetahs and gain a lot of valuable power points.

“(Mecholsky) told me to do one thing and not allow him to score a point,” O’Brien said. “I tried my best and I exactly did what he asked me to do.

“I just had to stay really close to him, had to follow him around. I tried my best not to let him get the ball. He didn’t do anything against me.”

O’Brien didn’t get a lot of playing time in the first half, but the Eagles were getting players in foul trouble and needed a fresh body. With Chase Burchfield out with a separated shoulder, O’Brien was the next man up.

“It felt great because I’m a freshman and people don’t think I’m that good or anything and I cone through and helped my team get a big win in the early-season going to Christmas break,” he said. “It felt amazing helping my team and my teammates out today.”

O’Brien’s older brother, Peyton, had a three-point play in the rally that extended the Eagles’ lead to five. They were his only points for the game, but he ripped down 14 rebounds. Jayden Thomas led the Eagles with a career-high 17 points, 10 coming in the fourth quarter.

Pennsville had been mired in a shooting slump during its two-game losing streak, but broke out in this one. The Eagles were 18-for-42 from the field (2-of-12 from 3-point range) and 23-for-31 from the foul line, a product of their attacking the rim.

PENNSVILLE 61, GCIT 52
GCIT (2-3) – Trent Phillips 4 3-4 11, Michael Stanwood 8 0-0 17, Mark Hallman 5 0-0 14, Charles Donaldson 1 0-2 2, Patrick Monaghan 1 0-0 2, Carl Schmidt 0 0-0 0, Ian Malgapo 2 0-0 6, Brady Johnson 0 0-0 0. Totals 21 3-6 52
PENNSVILLE (2-2) – Luke Wood 5-5-15, Cohen Petrutz 1-3-5, Peyton O’Brien 1-1-3, Daniel Saulin 2-3-7, Jayden Thomas 6-13-17, Malik Rehmer 1-7-9, Mason O’Brien 2-1-5. Totals 18 23-31 61.

GCIT9151612 –52
Pennsville1610926 –61
3-point goals: GCIT 7 (Hallman 4, Stanwood, Malgapo 2); Pennsville 2 (Thomas 2). Fouled out: Monaghan. Total fouls: GCIT 21, Pennsville 11.

WOODSTOWN 59, CUMBERLAND 24: Rocco String started fast, scoring eight in the first quarter and 10 in the first half, as the Wolverines built a 15-point halftime lead and added to it.

String, a 6-6 junior, was among three Wolverines to score in double figures and had his second double-double in as many games with 13 points and 10 rebounds. Blake Bialecki had 14 points, six rebounds, three assists and three steals and Max Webb had 10 points, seven boards and five assists.

WOODSTOWN 59, CUMBERLAND 24
WOODSTOWN (2-0) – Manny Ortega 0 0-0 0, Blake Bialecki 6 0-0 14, Alejandro Vasquez 1 0-0 2, M.J. Hall 3 0-0 9, Garrett Leyman 3 0-0 6, Anthony Bokolas 0 0-0 0, Lucas Fulmer 1 0-0 3, Max Webb 4 0-0 10, Rocco String 5 3-6 13, Zyaire Caesar 0 0-0 0, Elijah Caesar 1 0-0 2. Totals 24 3-6 59.
CUMBERLAND (0-2) – Kaleb Green 3 2-2 9, D.J. Mosley 3 0-0 6, Stephen Wilchensky 1 2-2 4, Jalen Stewart 0 0-0 0, Marcus Fortune 0 0-0 0, Deshaan Williams 0 2-2 2, Dumajze Cartwright 0 0-0 0, James Guaciaro 0 0-0 0, Khalif Dawkins 1 0-0 3, Kevin Fiorani 0 0-0 0, Kam Fiorani 0 0-0 0. Totals 8 6-6 24.

Woodstown1991318 –59
Cumberland6747 –  24
3-point goals: Woodstown 8 (Bialecki 2, Hall 3, Fulmer, Webb 2); Cumberland 2 (Green, Dawkins). Rebounds: Woodstown 48 (String 10, Leyman 8); Cumberland 28 (Stewart 7). Total fouls: Woodstown 12, Cumberland 11.
Woodstown’s Garrett Leyman (10) puts up a shot in the lane against the pressure of two GCIT defenders. (Photo by Ellen Sickler)

LEAP 52, SCHALICK 44: LEAP Academy hasn’t won many games in recent years, so any victory is reason to celebrate.

The Lancers won only two games last season, but they won their second game this season with their come-from-behind victory over the Cougars.

Schalick had an early lead in the game, but LEAP rallied and seized control in the second quarter. Xavion Ayala led LEAP with 22 points. Nylan and Nasir Simmons led Schalick with 12 points apiece.

LEAP 52, SCHALICK 44
LEAP (2-3) – Xavion Ayala 9 4-7 22, Gregory Shoultz 4 0-0 10, Angel Mieses 2 2-4 7, Jalen Thomas 1 0-0 2, Benjamin Noel 1 0-0 2, Terrell Hurst 4 1-1 9. Totals 21 7-12 52.
SCHALICK (1-2) – Reggie Allen 3 0-0 7, Daniel Lis 1 0-0 2, Nylan Sutton 4 4-10 12, Nasir Sutton 5 2-3 12, Ryan Johnson 1 2-4 4, Jordan Johnson 2 0-0 4, Jase Volovar 1 0-0 3. Totals 17 8-17 44.

LEAP10151116 –52
Schalick1191311 –44
3-point goals: LEAP 3 (Shoultz 2, Mieses); Schalick 2 (Allen, Volovar).


Cover photo: Salem Tech’s Haneef Frisby (2) guards Jaden Sorrell, the latest new starter in Penns Grove’s evolving starting five.

Salem loses heartbreaker

Salem opens big lead in first quarter, but Pitman rallies to claim a two-point win on a pair of Fisicaro free throws with 7.3 seconds left

WEDNESDAY’S BOYS SCORE
Pitman 64, Salem 62

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

SALEM – It was an early regular-season game on the eve of the winter solstice. A month from now as teams are jockeying for playoff positions people probably won’t even remember it.

But you can bet the Salem Rams won’t forget.

The Rams opened their Tri-County Classic Division schedule Wednesday night in a game as intense as any you’ll find in February and lost to Pitman 64-62 in a game that went down to the wire. Call it a Classic classic.

“As a team we’re obviously disappointed,” Rams senior Jabez DeJesus said. “We knew they were going to come in and punch us right back; they weren’t going to go without a fight.”

It was a game that had everything for the Rams (1-2) and had to have the Panthers (3-0) hurrying to the bus thinking they got away with one.

The Rams had control of the game early, were tied at halftime, rallied from nine down at the start of the fourth to tie the game after Pitman’s star player fouled out, and then lost it at the end.

Pitman’s Michael Fisicaro hit two free throws with 7.3 seconds left to break a 62-all tie. The Rams had two shots at the end to win it or tie it, but Xavier McGriff missed from the right side and Paul Weathers’ turnaround jumper from the foul line with the rebound and Pitman’s Sonny Myers in his face hit off the backboard as the buzzer sounded.

“I was just thinking I’ll make this shot for my team,” Weathers said. “It was really quick.”

Salem’s Paul Weathers (5) launches a last-second shot hoping to force overtime at the end of Wednesday night’s game with Pitman. The shot missed the mark and the Rams fell 64-62.

The Rams looked like they were going to run the Panthers out of the gym. They jumped out to a 17-2 lead in the first five and a half minutes and led 19-4 with sharp shooting and smothering defense, but then the game started to change.

Salem’s top players started getting in foul trouble, Pitman star Elijah Crispin, Steohen Devanney and Fisicaro started getting involved in the scoring and the Panthers outscored the Rams 46-25 on either side of halftime to take a 53-44 lead into the fourth quarter.

“We started off strong and once the second quarter came we kind of took our foot off the gas, we got too comfortable,” DeJesus said. “We knew they were coming for a run, but still we didn’t do anything defensively to stop it.”

The Rams have won the first quarter in all three of their games this season and the fourth quarter twice, including Wednesday, but it’s been a different story in the second and third. They’ve won only one of the six middle quarters they’ve played – the second quarter against Woodbury – and only that by two points.

“We just have to get better with the middle quarters,” Salem coach Anthony Farmer said. “We start off pretty hot and then we finish strong. We’ve just got to get the middle quarters. We’ve got to be able to fight through adversity whatever that may be out there.”

It was a 57-51 game with four minutes left when senior guard Anthony Farmer went on a personal tear and outscored the Panthers 11-5, tying the game three times in the final three minutes. Farmer scored 16 of his team-high 25 points in the fourth quarter. DeJesus had 14 (seven in the first quarter) and Weathers had 10 points and 12 boards.

Crispin led four Pitman scorers in double figures with 16 points. He also had eight rebounds and eight assists, but fouled out on an offensive foul at midcourt with 37 seconds left and the Panthers leading by 62-60. Devanney (13 points, 8 rebounds) followed him to the bench 12 seconds later.

So with two of the Panthers’ big weapons now out, the game seemed right for the Rams to get. Farmer tied it on two free throws with 25.4 to play. Fisicaro was fouled by McGriff with 7.3 seconds left and sank what proved to be the winning free throws. 

“This game right here is going to stay in my head because I’m disappointed we didn’t get the outcome we wanted,” DeJesus said. “But I’m happy that we have a chance to learn from our mistakes. We’ll see them again in the season. 

“We’re not going to let this hang into our heads. We’ve got a whole season left – all the way to the beginning of March.”

PITMAN 64, SALEM 62
PITMAN (3-0) – Peter Kostiuk 2 0-1 4, Stephen Devanney 6 0-0 13, Hudson Rue 0 0-0 0, Elijah Crispin 3 9-14 16, Trey Tinges 0 0-0 0, Chris Wylie 0 0-0 0, Michael Fisicaro 4 4-4 15, Sonny Myers 2 2-3 6, Greg Petersen 3 2-4 10. Totals 20 17-24 64.
SALEM (1-2) – Ramaji Bundy 2 1-2 6, Anthony Farmer 8 8-12 25, Jabez DeJesus 5 2-2 14, Paul Weathers 5 0-1 10, Xavier McGriff 0 0-0 0, Ty Lecator 2 3-5 7, Joe Tunis 0 0-0 0, Davontae Jackson 0 0-0 0. Totals 22 14-22 62.

Pitman7232311 – 64
Salem19111418 –62
TRI-COUNTY CLASSICOVERALLDIVISION
Gloucester Cath.3-01-0
Pitman3-01-0
Wildwood2-11-0
Salem1-20-1
Clayton1-30-1
Salem Tech0-30-1

Cover photo: Two of the premier guards in South Jersey, Salem’s Anthony Farmer (R) and Pitman’s Elijah Crispin, went head-to-head for the first time this season Wednesday night. Farmer brought his team back in the fourth quarter after it lost an early lead, but Crispin got the win.


The new girl

Pennsville’s Ausland makes a smooth transition to new team after transferring from Salem, could be Eagles’ final piece

MONDAY’S SCRIMMAGES
Girls
Pennsville 63, Palmyra 40
Penns Grove 30, Kingsway 30 (3Q)
Boys
Penns Grove 49, Kingsway 46
Woodstown 58, Maple Shade 29
Pennsville 50, Palmyra 46 (3Q)
Bridgeton 68, Schalick 40

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

PENNSVILLE – Nora Ausland had a lot of time to think about her future after a broken foot prematurely ended her sophomore season last year.

She wanted a basketball team capable of winning that would appreciate the skills she would bring to the table. Pennsville coach Sam Trapp wanted that one piece that would complete her team and make it a contender.

The two wants merged at the intersection of William Penn Avenue and South Broadway, right up the road from where Ausland used to play.

Ausland has merged seamlessly into the Pennsville program after transferring from Salem. On Monday she scored 27 points with five 3-pointers to lead the Eagles past Palmyra 63-40 for their first preseason victory.

“I’m glad it wasn’t difficult (to transition) because I was really scared to come here,” Ausland said. “I didn’t think people were going to accept me having this new girl, she’s going to take over, whatever. I was really scared people weren’t going to like me because I’m just coming in, taking over their stuff, but that’s not the case at all.

“It was really easy coming in here. Everybody was really accepting. I feel like I’ve known them since I was little. They all care for me and want me to do good and succeed, which I’m very thankful for. The first day of school I was just everywhere by myself, but then people were coming up to talk to me. Now I have a bunch of friends.”

The 5-foot-10 junior forward has made an immediate impact on the Eagles, who have designs on challenging Woodstown for the Tri-County Diamond Division title this year. She scored 17 points in her scrimmage debut against Millville and had nine the next time out against West Deptford.

Had Monday been a regular-season game, the 27 she scored against Palmyra would have been the second-best game of her high school career.

Nora Ausland (L) has fit into the Pennsville girls basketball program nicely after transferring from Salem before her junior year.

In two seasons at Salem she had 462 points, 61 3-pointers, 305 rebounds and 101 blocked shots. She had 179 points, 76 rebounds and 33 blocked shots when she broke a bone in her left ankle in late January. The Rams already were in the midst of a losing streak when she got hurt and they lost seven of their next eight without her.

The time away allowed Ausland to think long and hard about what she wanted from the game.

“I didn’t really have a good year because I broke my foot and the team wasn’t the best; they didn’t really give enough effort to care to win,” she said. “I was tired of that because I wanted to play, I want to win.

“I was just looking around at other schools, like what’s close, what’s easy for me to go to and also a good team. Last year they (Pennsville) got fourth seed out of the 16 (in South Jersey Group I) so OK it’s pretty good, it’s pretty easy to come here, so that’s what I did. I came here.”

Her arrival certainly was welcomed by Trapp. Ausland brings a dynamic the Eagles haven’t had since Ryane Wood, their last 1,000-point scorer who graduated in 2022.

She completes a lineup that returned three starters – senior Bella Farina, Taylor Bass and point guard Marley Wood – and includes elevated reserve Isabelle Saulin. Wood had 12 points on four 3-pointers against Palmyra.

“She just really incorporates a lot more offensive threat for us,” Trapp said. “We needed to be able to balance that responsibility between all five players and it helps with another player who can score.

“I like that she brings that competitiveness to practice because now it’s somebody that’ll push other girls and she can get pushed by other people, so I think it’s a real key component that is helping all the way around.”

PENNSVILLE 63, PALMYRA 40
PALMYRA – Cadence Anderson 8 0-0 20, Kylie Hines 0 0-0 0, Angie Sauls 2 0-0 4, Amanda Gilburn 1 0-0 2, Clara Cannouli 1 0-0 2, Cam DiMeo 2 0-0 4, Jada Colsee-Eli 1 2-3 4, Ava Sims 0 0-0 0, Anna Paszkiewicz 1 2-2 4. Totals 16 4-5 40.
PENNSVILLE – Nora Ausland 9 4-4 27, Taylor Bass 4 4-4 12, Sofia Belitsas 1 0-0 3, Bella Farina 1 2-2 4, Kylie Harris 0 0-0 0, Anikka Macalino 0 2-2 2, Isabelle Saulin 1 1-2 3, Avery Watson 0 0-0 0, Marley Wood 4 0-0 12. Totals 20 13-14 63.

Palmyra1310710 –40
Pennsville22131513 – 63
3-point goals: Palmyra 4 (Anderson 4); Pennsville 10 (N. Ausland 5, Belitsas, Wood 4). Total fouls: Palmyra 13, Pennsville 4.

PENNS GROVE 30, KINGSWAY 30: Penns Grove’s Raniyah Wilson, the other dynamic transfer in the county this year, returned to her old stomping grounds and although she wasn’t as sharp as she might have been for the occasion scored 11 points as the varsities played to a tie in three quarters of action.

Wilson is in her first year with Penns Grove after transferring from Kingsway, where she would have been the Dragons’ top returning scorer and rebounder this season. She had six points in the first half as the Red Devils grabbed an 18-16 lead.

“We started her against her old team and I don’t think she had her best game at all,” Penns Grove coach Jennifer Denby said. “She was a little nervous. I wanted as a player, even as a coach, for her to come in and let them know how much they miss her and tonight just wasn’t her night.”

Jameelyonna Horace led Penns Grove with 12 points, including two 3-pointers. She had half of the Red Devils’ points at halftime.

Kingsway hit a 3-pointer at the end of the third quarter to force the tie.

“In the beginning of the game it was a struggle,” Denby said. “It’s hard to play with one person on the floor and everyone else’s mind is not there. Right now we’re still looking for chemistry.”

The Red Devils scrimmage again Tuesday and then open their season Friday against Clayton.

PENNS GROVE 30, KINGSWAY 30
PENNS GROVE – Raniyah Wilson 4 3-4 11, Jameelyonna Horace 5 0-1 12, Brianna Robbins 1 1-3 3, Zoey Caesar 2 0-0 4, Syanna Robbins 0 0-0 0, Jamira Lewis 0 0-0 0. Totals 12 4-8 30.
KINGSWAY – Ava Valente 2 2-2 7, Emily Leshik 0 0-0 0, Bella Archer 3 0-0 7, Olivia Myers 1 3-4 5, Paige Horton 1 0-0 2, Gabbi Bruno 4 1-2 9. Totals 11 6-8 30.

Penns Grove71112 –30
Kingsway13314 –30
3-point goals: Penns Grove 2 (Horace 2); Kingsway 2 (Valente, Archer). NOTE: Varsity played three quarters.

Boys

PENNS GROVE 49, KINGSWAY 46: After running through numerous combinations in the first three quarters, Penns Grove coach Damian Ware stuck with his Super Six in the fourth and they went on a 20-2 tear that carried the Red Devils to a come-from-behind victory.

The Red Devils jumped out 19-7 in the first quarter, but were outscored 37-10 over the next two quarters to fall behind 15. Ware got on his team before the fourth quarter began, subbed in his better athletes and off they went.

They started Mehki Ballard, Willie Slocum, Roman Gipson and freshmen KaRon Ceaser and Brandon Robbins and scored the first 10 points of the quarter. Giomar Conrad entered three minutes into the quarter and help the Red Devils close it out.

“We had a lot of good possessions in the third quarter, but a couple guys missed some layups; we make those layups it changes the third quarter,” Ware said. “In the fourth quarter I went with my main six guys. We just played our pressure defense and turned them over a lot with the main guys I feel are going to be the guys going forward.”

Conrad and Ballard led the Red Devils with 15 points apiece and combined for 13 points in the fourth quarter. Ballard, their best 3-point shooter a year ago (59 made), hit two of his three 3-pointers in the rally.

“I got on them in the third quarter and lit a little bit of a fire under them,” Ware said. “The fourth quarter they turned it up and played the type of defense I want to play. If we can bottle up what we did in the fourth quarter today, we’re going to be really good. It’s going to be tough to score on.”

PENNS GROVE 49, KINGSWAY 46
KINGSWAY – Dylan Lewis 1 0-2 2, Dasir Williams-Bey 3 0-0 6, Jaden Martin Cooper 2 0-0 4, Mikah Hart 4 2-3 11, Gregg Campbell 0 0-0 0, Maurice Tavares 3 2-2 10, Luca Kuzmick 2 0-0 6, Kai Tolley 0 0-0 0, Brady Shelton 0 0-0 0, Sean Steckler 0 0-0 0, Christian Conklin 1 2-2 4, Terrence Collier 2 0-0 4, Peter Frey 0 0-0 0. Totals 18 6-9 46.
PENNS GROVE – Roman Gipson 3 0-4 6, Camren Thompson 0 1-2 1, Giomar Conrad 6 1-2 15, Mekhi Ballard 6 0-0 15, Nizah Spence 0 0-0 0, Khiry Higgs 0 0-0 0, Willie Slocum 0 0-0 0, Brandon Robbins 0 0-0 0, Will Roy 0 0-0 0, Karon Ceaser 4 1-2 10, Luis Colon 1 0-0 2, Mr Peterson 0 0-2 0. Totals 20 3-12 49.

Kingsway720172 –46
Penns Grove194620 –49
3-point goals: Kingsway 4 (Hart, Tavares, Kuzmick 2); Penns Grove 6 (Conrad 2, Ballard 3, Ceaser). Total fouls: Kingsway 13, Penns Grove 9.

BRIDGETON 68, SCHALICK 40: Jameel Purnell led three Bridgeton scorers in double figures with 29 points and the Bulldogs were just too much for the Cougars on the glass.

Zikown Anderson (14) and Zamir Chance (10) also scored in double figures for the Bulldogs. Purnell and Anderson combined for 18 points in the first quarter. Nasir Sutton led Schalick with 10 points.

BRIDGETON 68, SCHALICK 40
SCHALICK – Nylan Sutton 3 0-2 6, Reggie Allen 2 1-2 7, Jake Siedlecki 1 0-0 2, Jordan Johnson 1 0-0 2, Dan Lis 1 4-5 6, Ryan Johnson 2 0-0 4, Nasir Sutton 4 0-2 10, Jase Volovar 1 0-0 3, Sharod Jones 0 0-0 0. Totals 15 5-11 40.
BRIDGETON – Kyion Gray 3 0-0 7, Zikwon Anderson 6 1-3 14, Zamir Chance 5 0-2 10, Azhone Burden 3 0-0 6, Jameel Purnell 12 4-6 29, Richard Mills 1 0-0 2, Martavian Brown 0 0-0 0, Raheem Jacobs 0 0-4 0. Totals 30 5-15 68.

Schalick1110109 –40
Bridgeton20171615 –68
3-point goals: Schalick 5 (Allen 2, Na. Sutton 2, Volovar); Bridgeton 3 (Gray, Anderson, Purnell). Total fouls: Schalick 7, Bridgeton 3.

PENNSVILLE 50, PALMYRA 46: Luke Wood poured in 17 points and drew several charges and the Eagles moved a step closer to their Opening Night lineup, beating flu-ridden Palmyra in a scrimmage reduced to three quarters.

With a limited time to get something accomplished, the Eagles got off to a slow start, but they picked up the pace in their final two quarters to squeeze out the win. Wood and Cohen Petrutz both hit 3-pointers in the third quarter when Pennsville finally took the lead.

“Everything is coming together,” Eagles coach Joe Mecholsky said. “We’re starting to get the hang of it. I think last week I said defense is always ahead of the offense and now, T-minus four days (to the opener), we’re rounding into form.”

PENNSVILLE 50, PALMYRA 46

Pennsville122117 –  50
Palmyra191512 – 46
NOTE: The teams played three quarters.


Feels like a win

Woodstown’s boys come up short on the scoreboard, but everything about the scrimmage left the feeling of a win

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

WOODSTOWN – It’s a good thing preseason scrimmages aren’t about winning or losing – they’re about getting better – or Woodstown coach Phil Campbell might not have been as upbeat when Saturday’s exercise was over.

The Wolverines lost to Brandywine (Del.) both ways – on the scoreboard (55-49) and in the scorebook (47-46) – but Campbell considered the day a win because of what his team got out of it.

The difference in the results reflects the way game was scored. The scoreboard reflected the scoring system used to award points on free throws to reduce delays at the line while the scorebook indicated the points that actually went through the basket.

Regardless how it was counted, the Wolverines got more out of it than not.

“I was just telling them this was a great learning experience for us,” Campbell said. “We’ll see some teams that are similar – they’re fast, they’re athletic, they have a really good point guard – so it’s a good learning experience.

“I thought our offensive execution at times was fantastic. To be able to do that against a team that’s fast defensively, has long arms, and be able to compete really well with teams that are so athletic I think is a really good learning experience for us. I feel like (it’s) a win as far as we’re learning how to play our game and how our execution can affect other teams.”

Brandywine big Shamar Samuel (R) making sure Woodstown’s Rocco String doesn’t get too far away.

Campbell was quite familiar with the team Woodstown played. He used to be the Bulldogs’ head coach and their current head coach, Lorenzo Gales, was his assistant. Gales bragged on his point guard, Dadrien Howell in their conversation and Campbell believed it when he saw him. 

Howell had 11 points in the scrimmage. Sincere Miller led all scorers with 16.

“He said No. 50 (Howell) had better court vision than anybody we ever had play for us (there), and now I agree after watching him,” Campbell said. “I was pretty amazed at some of the passing that he did. And he’s good getting to the rim.”

The Wolverines, meanwhile, came out with a hot hand and hit four 3-pointers among their first six baskets – two by Eli Caesar – and jumped out 16-5. Then Howell got involved and the Bulldogs rallied.

Alejandro Vazquez hit a couple 3s and the Wolverines went back up by nine, but the Bulldogs rallied again and wound up winning the first half.

Rocco String got the best of Brandywine big man Shamar Samuel and finished with eight points and 11 rebounds. Garrett Leyman gave the Wolverines seven points and seven boards and Blake Bialecki gave them his usual consistent effort at the point.

Defensively, they’re tweaking their approach and learning to be more aggressive in the half court. If there was any shortcoming it was handling the endgame, but if it were a regular-season game Campbell would have been a lot more strategic.

“I feel good about what we saw today,” Campbell said. “It was a good learning experience for us because our scrimmage against Gateway on Tuesday was a little sloppy.”

The Wolverines are back at it Monday against Maple Shade.

BRANDYWINE 47, WOODSTOWN 46
BRANDYWINE – Jahzier Penn 2 1-2 6, Crisdon Wright 1 2-2 4, Zion Charles 4 0-0 8, Sincere Miller  8 0-2 16, Mohamed Sankoh 0 0-0 0, Shamar Samuel 1 0-0 2, Dadrien Howell 5 1-3 11. Totals 21 4-9 47.
WOODSTOWN – Blake Bialecki 2 0-0 5, Alejandro Vazquez 3 0-0 8, M.J. Hall 1 0-0 3, Garrett Leyman 3 1-2 7, Max Webb 3 0-1 7, Rocco String 4 0-1 8, Zyaire Caesar 0 0-0 0, Eli Caesar 3 0-0 8, Anthony Bokolas 0 0-0 0. Totals 19 1-4 46.

Brandywine1115129 –47
Woodstown1812106 –  46
3-point goals: Brandywine (Penn); Woodstown 7 (Bialecki, Vazquez 2, Hall, Webb, E. Caesar 2).
Woodstown guard Max Webb drives to the basket in Saturday’s scrimmage against Brandywine. (Photo by Ellen Sickler)

Back and ready

Baber back in Wolverines’ backcourt after missing junior season, comfort level growing with each game

FRIDAY’S SCRIMMAGES
Girls
Woodstown 55, Camden Tech 12
West Deptford 43, Pennsville 32
Boys
Salem def. Bridgeton

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

WOODSTOWN – In the overall scheme of a 33-point blowout in a preseason scrimmage it was a rather insignificant basket, but it sure meant a lot to Alyssa Baber.

When the Woodstown senior guard broke in on a 2-on-1 with Talia Battavio off the tip and scored the layup to open the second half scoring against Camden Tech, it wasn’t just another basket.

It was the first basket she has scored against somebody not wearing a Woodstown uniform in 21  months.

“She needed that confidence,” Wolverines coach Kara Straughn said. “She hasn’t played a full game or a natural game in years. She’s a good shooter. I think she just kind of needs a little confidence and kick start herself again.”

Baber missed her entire junior season following twice-delayed surgery on the ACL she tore in her right knee in one of her team’s last AAU games the May of her sophomore year.

The layup Friday was her first points in a game since a 3-pointer against Pennsville on March 3, 2022. You can look it up. (We did in the gym, and the result surprised her).

“I don’t remember that,” she said. “I didn’t get to shoot a lot my sophomore year, now I can have that feeling of what it’s like to make a basket and I’ve been wanting that. Unfortunately, at Gateway I didn’t get to make anything, but I was just happy being out there and today I made my shot and I was really happy.” 

Baber was so excited to get back into it, she couldn’t wait to text Straughn to remind her she had been cleared by her doctors to start practicing. Straughn eased her back into the action in the first scrimmage at Gateway Tuesday playing her only two quarters, but she played all four quarters Friday against the Warriors.

She didn’t score in the first scrimmage or in the first half Friday. But she had two buckets in the third quarter against the Warriors, finished with four points, grabbed four rebounds, dealt three assists and collected five steals before retiring for the day with 2:56 left in the scrimmage.

“Recently I’ve been really anxious about the games so I have a lot of jitters,” she said. “But every time I play it just all comes back to me, even if I’d played two years ago. It just comes back to me and I just love being out here with all the girls again.”

Sitting out while her teammates played made for one of the hardest years of her life. She tried to put on a brave face, but admitted it was tough watching while others play while she couldn’t. Now that she’s back, she’s pushing hard to get back where she was before the injury as a facilitator.

Her return strengthens an already deep array of Woodstown guards and gives Straughn even more options on how to attack an opponent.

“It makes us that much harder to defend,” Straughn said. “Because now I have not just two phenomenal guards, I have three, and then I have two girls underneath who can score 8 to 10 to 12 points. You’re going to overplay Megan or Talia, I have Alyssa Baber who will score. You’re going to overplay my forwards, I have three girls over the top who can score. I have five who can play pretty much any position.”

But scoring isn’t Baber’s game. She’d rather do the things that gets her teammates involved.

The Wolverines won big (55-12) even without top returning scorer Megan Donelson, who didn’t play due to illness. Her absence gave sixth-man Lauren Hengel a chance to shine and she responded with 16 points, four rebounds and four steals.

Battavio led all scorers with 24 points, Shannon Pierman had nine points and eight rebounds, and Gia Maiorini grabbed 10 rebounds.

WOODSTOWN 55, CAMDEN TECH 12
CAMDEN TECH – Ryan Jones 1 1-1 3, Carlee Miller 0 0-0 0, Kiara Miller 1 0-0 3, Vianny Fernandez 2 0-0 4, Brena Stiles 0 0-0 0, Daniya Forrest 0 0-0 0, Erica Bennett 0 0-0 0, Jaelyn White 1 0-0 2. Totals 5 1-1 12.
WOODSTOWN – Talia Battavio 8 3-4 24, Alyssa Baber 2 0-0 4, Shannon Pierman 4 1-2 9, Gianna Maiorini 0 0-0 0, Lauren Hengel 6 3-4 16, Lizzy Daly 0 0-0 0, Brae DiGregorio 0 0-0 0, Jaia Thomas 0 0-0 0, Others 1 0-0 2. Totals 21 7-10 55.

Camden Tech6420 –12
Woodstown1616212 –55
3-point goals: Camden Tech 1 (K. Miller); Woodstown 6 (Battavio 5, Hengel). Total fouls: Camden Tech 9, Woodstown 6.

WEST DEPTFORD 43, PENNSVILLE 32: The teams were locked in a tight battle in the first half, but West Deptford held the Eagles to one field goal in the third quarter and pulled away. Reyanna Jamison (12) and Alivia Arena (10) combined for 15 points in the second half for West Deptford.

Taylor Bass led Pennsville with 10 points. Marley Wood and Nora Ausland had nine each.

“We lost, but everything came together a lot better and I’m excited for Monday (when they host Palmyra),” Pennsville coach Sam Trapp said. “We’ve got to keep improving on defense, finding ways to create opportunities to finish and knowing our personnel.”

WEST DEPTFORD 43, PENNSVILLE 32
PENNSVILLE – Celli Ausland 0 0-0 0, Nora Ausland 3 2-4 9, Taylor Bass 4 2-2 10, Sofia Belitsas 0 0-0 0, Bella Farina 1 0-4 2, Kylie Harris 0 0-0 0, Anikka Macalino 0 0-0 0, Malani McGee 0 0-0 0, Isabelle Saulin 1 0-0 2, Avery Watson 0 0-0 0, Marley Wood 3 2-4 9. Totals 12 6-14 32.
WEST DEPTFORD – Janie Cross 2 2-6 6, Alivia Arrera 5 0-0 10, Jesce Diaz 1 0-0 3, Reyanna Jamison 5 1-3 12, Ciara Moss 1 0-2 2, Olivia Smith 0 2-2 2, DeaOnna Lawrence 3 0-0 6, Kallie Christy 0 0-0 0, Alyssa Taylor 1 0-0 2. Totals 18 5-13 43.
Pennsville78512 –32
West Deptford981214 –43
3-point goals: Pennsville 2 (M. Ausland, Wood); West Deptford 2 (Jamison, Diaz). Total fouls: Pennsville 8, West Deptford 16.

Boys

Salem went to Bridgeton for its final preseason scrimmage and came back with a win.

The biggest takeaway was the Rams being able to pull it back together after losing the lead. They led by six to eight points most of the game, fell behind 45-44 in the third quarter and then went on a run to pull away.

“That was good,” Rams coach Anthony Farmer said. “We have upperclassmen, so that’s my expectation. You have to stay poised. They’ve been around. I’m not looking for those guys to get rattled. We were sloppy at times, but later in the game we got it back together.”

Freshman Tymier Lecator showed poise beyond his years, hitting two big 3-pointers and taking two charges.

The Rams now start working towards their opener next Saturday against Woodbury in Penns Grove’s Red Devil Classic.