Mighty Oaks fall behind in second half, rally to get close, but can’t overtake Ocean, lose first opener since 2023
TOMS RIVER — Things could get real interesting for the Salem CC basketball team this first month of the season as it waits for the rest of its team to arrive in the second semester.
The Mighty Oaks are trying to keep it in the road with a roster of basically all new players, many playing college basketball for the first time, while they wait for their four returning starters to regain their eligibility. Understandably there will be some bumps in the road along the way. They ran into one of those speed bumps right out of the blocks Tuesday night
The fourth-ranked Mighty Oaks came from 14 down in the second half to get within four late in the game but couldn’t make it all the way back and fell to Ocean CC in their season opener 84-78
It was the first time they’ve dropped the season opener since 2023 and the first time they’ve lost any first game under coach Mike Green. They won in Green’s midseason coaching debut in 2024 and won their opener each of the last two seasons that ended in top five finishes at the national tournament.
This is not that team. It may become that team in time — even better if the players in the wings get back — but on this night at least they weren’t quite Ready for Prime Time Players.
“They’re not ready to play; this team is not ready to play,” Green said. “Scouting report mistake. Everything we told them (Ocean) couldn’t do, they did and we let them. These guys need studying, they need studying now. They think they’re the fourth-best team in the nation, but it’s the guys who are sitting on the side that’s the fourth best team in the nation
“It’s going to be really interesting. I already knew that. I knew it was going to be really interesting. I still think we’re going to win some games with these guys, but it ain’t going to be a walk in the park. Every game is going to be like this, scrappy.”
After taking a 54-52 lead on a bucket by Amelia Gilyard, the Mighty Oaks hit a five-minute cold spell midway through the second half that ran the gamut of misfortune and fell behind 68-56 with 9:28 to play. The gap got as wide as 14 points with 6:04 left, but Salem steadily closed it and got back to 82-78 on captain Jahseir Sayles’ 3-pointer with 2:21 to play.
A couple missed layups and a turnover along the baseline down the stretch kept the Mighty Oaks from getting closer. The Vikings (2-1) hit a pair of free throws late for the final margin.
“Should’ve never been down 14,” Green said. “Just being down 14, especially to that team, is a loss all in itself. We should never been down 14. The guys fought back because you’ve got to fight back … but we should’ve never been in that hole.”
For most of the Salem players it was their first college game. The only players with any experience playing under Green are Sayles, the only returning player from last year’s 32-3 national third-place team currently available, and Don Jones, who played during Green’s inaugural season but missed last year with an injury. Everybody else, first time.
“I was definitely nervous, first college game,” freshman post Waddy Johnson said. “I’m playing with new guys, too. It’s different. It’s faster than it is at practice and the scrimmages we played over the summer. They’re way faster. I’ve got to get used to it. I’m playing at the same pace.
“We definitely could’ve done better. Like coach said we’re not the team that went 32-3. We’re a whole new group, none of those guys who played last year played except for one. We’re going to mesh, for sure.”
Sayles, the only returning player from last year’s 32-3 national third-place team, led the Mighty Oaks with 16 points. He hit four of their seven 3-pointers.
Sahin Rodriguez and Diore Legore had 12 points apiece for the Mighty Oaks. Legore also had a team-high 14 rebounds and four steals, but fouled out with seven and a half minutes left, seriously crimping their comeback effort. Tyrone Washam and Waddy Johnson had 11 points each. Washam had four assists.
Ocean’s Aiden Sosinov led all scorers with 31 points, 22 in the second half. He also had a game-high 15 rebounds.The Mighty Oaks return to action Saturday for their home opener against Sussex CC.
“Some of these guys didn’t know what the expectation is, but hopefully they do now,” Sayles said. “This is a wake-up call. Now, it’s all about how are we going to respond, how are we going to respond to this. We’ve just got to come back Saturday and be better.”
SALEM CC (0-1): Jahseir Sayles 6-14 0-0 16, Sahin Rodriguez 5-10 2-2 12, Diore Legore 5-15 1-2 12, Tyrone Washam 5-8 0-0 11, Waddy Johnson 5-10 1-1 11, Asekia Gilyard 2-5 1-4 5, Jahsir Dean 2-2 0-0 4, Josh Huffman 1-4 0-0 3, Shoghi Taylor 1-4 0-0 2, Omari Spencer 0-1 2-2 2, Don Jones 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 32-73 7-11 78.
OCEAN CC (2-1): Mason Krey 5-8 0-0 11, Krish Patel 5-15 4-4 17, GregSmith 1-2 0-0 2, Eli Ives 0-3 2-2 2, Tristan Ulrich 1-2 1-2 4, Mattox Watson 1-1 0-0 2, Jayden Thomas 1-1 0-0 2, Aiden Sosinov 11-21 8-11 31, James Gibbons 5-6 1-1 12, Andrew Caruso 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 30-61 16-20 84.
| Salem CC | 39 | 39- | 78 |
| Ocean CC | 42 | 42- | 84 |
3-point goals: Salem CC 7-21 (Sayles 4-10, Rodriguez 0-1, Legore 1-2, Washam 1-3, Gilyard 0-2 Huffman 1-4, Taylor 0-1); Ocean CC 8-20 (Krey 1-2, Patel 3-9, Smith 1-1, Ulrich 1-2, Sosinov 1-4, Gibbons 1-2). Rebounds: Salem CC 38 (Legore 14, Johnson 7); Ocean CC 39 (Sosinov 15, Gibbons 7). Fouled out: Legore, Gibbons. Total fouls: Salem CC 18, Ocean CC 13. Officials: Norris, Murray, Fortune.