Women’s College Basketball

LAWRENCEVILLE—All is forgotten when you make the winning shot. Shaking off an 0-7 shooting effort in the first 37 minutes of the game, Rider sophomore Amanda Sepulveda (Perth Amboy/Hun School) made a three-point field goal at the buzzer to give Rider a victory over Princeton Saturday afternoon. \”I am proud of the kids for the way they fought,\” said head coach Lynn Milligan. \”It wasn’t a pretty game by any means but we talk about it everyday, how you battle and battle and play strong defense so that you have the opportunity to win close games.\”

Sepulveda scored seven of Rider’s final nine points of the game and finished with seven points making three of her last four field-goals while adding seven rebounds (four offensive) and four assists in 34 minutes of action.

\”It’s very important to have a player like Amanda that has that much confidence,\” said junior Shaunice Parker (Waldorf, Md./West Lake) who compiled her sixth career ‘double-double’ with a team-high 12 points and a game-high 14 rebounds. \”This is going to help us push into the new year and will also send a message that we aren’t the same Rider team as the last few seasons.\” Parker also had three blocks and four steals in 30 minutes of action.

\”If you work hard and put yourselves in situations to win games, good things will happen,\” Milligan said. \”Everyone wants the ball in the final minute and you can’t say that about a lot of teams, let along very many players. We don’t really have a player that isn’t afraid to shoot with the game on the line and that gives us so many options. After missing the shot at Rice, that shows me how tough of a kid that Amanda is.\” Rider lost by one at the C-USA power Owls 66-65 on December 20.

\”The kid made a big shot,\” said Princeton head coach Courtney Banghart. \”We had to work hard for all of our shots and we didn’t make them [Rider] work as hard for theirs.\”

\”Amanda had the option of going or looking for Janele [Henderson] since we only needed a two,\” Milligan said about the winning play. \”Janele was open but Amanda took the shot and it went in. At Rice last week, Janele wasn’t open and Amanda had to go to the basket and the shot was blocked. We’ll take today’s result. With the way Amanda struggled and having the shot blocked at the end of the Rice game, a lot of kids would have passed the ball off but Amanda wanted the ball and wanted to take the shot.\”

\”I wanted to take the shot again,\” Sepulveda said. \”I saw Janele was covered so I just threw the shot up and it went in. I was given a little bit of space and I knew if I could get the shot off, it had a chance to go in. That’s the biggest shot of my career. It was exciting. You need that confidence level. You learn from every situation that you face and I learned from the Rice game and all of the other close games that we’ve had this season.\”

With the score tied at 40, Bronc sophomore Tammy Meyers (Willingboro) made a lay up with 29 seconds left before Princeton senior Meg Cowher hit a jumper at the top of the key with 7.8 seconds left for the sixth and final tie of the game, setting Sepulveda’s winning shot. Cower finished with a game-high 24 points and a team-high nine rebounds with Meyers adding 11 points and four rebounds.

\”Cowher is a terrific player,\” Milligan said. \”She is difficult to stop because she is very fundamental with her foot work. You know how she is going to score and we didn’t do a very good job stopping her but we did make her work for everything she got. And we stopped everyone else from scoring their averages.\”

Sepulveda’s offensive rebound and lay up with 52 seconds left gave Rider a 40-38 lead.

Rider led 38-33 before Princeton went on a 7-2 run to tie the score at 40-40 with 40 seconds left.

The Broncs led 32-17 before the visiting Tigers went on a 13-2 run, eight points by Cower, to cut the lead to 34-30 with 4:12 remaining. \”It was nerve racking that we started turning the ball over and they started making shots,\” Parker said. \”But coach told us that the game is never over until the final horn goes off and we were ready from what we did in practice for these tight situations, what to do if they score and what to do if the game is tied. We just had to stick with the system but it was nerve racking. Amanda’s final shot was awesome.\”

Rider (5-7) out-scored Princeton (3-11) 14-4 to start the second half, five points by Meyers, to take a 32-17 lead with 12 minutes left.

Trailing 9-8, Rider went on an 8-0 run, six by Parker, to take a 16-9 lead and Rider led 18-13 at the half.

\”Shaunice is working at her game every day,\” Milligan said. \”She is getting better and better and when she sets her mind to it, I don’t know if there is a better rebounder around.\”

Rider has now won eight of the 25 all-time meetings with its Mercer County rival. The Tigers defeated the Broncs by 29 last season in Jadwin Gym, scoring 47 points in the first half.

Princeton has lost five straight games.

\”To hold a quality team like Princeton to 42 points is amazing,\” Milligan added. \”For us to have five wins going into the new year, I am very proud of that. After playing a one-point loss, overtime win and one-point loss, it was nice to reap the rewards today and get another win. A solid defensive effort is your main stay and gets you through games where you struggle offensively.\”

This is the second time this season that the Broncs have held a team in the 40’s with Rider defeating Monmouth 59-46 on November 9 and is the best defensive effort for Rider since holding Niagara to 41 points in a 73-41 win on January 10, 1999 in Alumni Gym.

\”The defensive effort was great today,\” Parker added. \”Holding Princeton to 13 points in the first half gave us the opportunity to win the game and just like Coach Milligan said, ‘a strong defensive effort will keep you in every game’.\”

\”It feels great that we are earning respect with the way we play,\” Sepulveda added. \”After struggling last season, this feels really good. We focused on ball pressure and tried to limit what the other players besides Cowher could do.\” Cowher had 57 percent of Princeton’s scoring in the game.

Also for Rider, freshman Shannon Ferguson (Fort Washington, Pa./Upper Dublin) had 10 rebounds, seven on the offensive end to go along with four points in 32 minutes of action. \”Shannon gave us a spark with the two offensive rebound put backs,\” Milligan said. \”When you are struggling as a team, the hustle plays are what are going to keep you in the game and with 18 offensive rebounds, we hustled on the offensive glass. We work very hard on not being spectators and going after each rebound hard.\”

The Broncs host ACC power Virginia on Wednesday, January 2 at 7:00pm in Alumni Gym. \”Virginia is pretty good,\” said Milligan. \”So this is a good spring board in the respect that I don’t have to keep telling the team that it will happen, good things will come with hard work. They all witnessed how hard work creates opportunities for you as a team and with this being a local rivalry, this was a big win.\”

Entering the game, the Broncs had suffered seven losses, all by single digits, including two one-point heartbreakers but were able to give Princeton its fifth single-digit loss of the season. \”It feels good to finally be on the cheering side and not on the side walking off the floor with your head down,\” Sepulveda added. \”This definitely will give us momentum heading into 2008.\”

-RU-

(nee Brancato), on December 26, 2007, of Deptford. Age 49.

Beloved wife of William. Devoted mother of Joseph and his fiancé Gracia of Deptford, Candice Kennedy and her husband Daniel of Glassboro and Andrea and her boyfriend David of Deptford. Dear sister of Thomas Brancato and his wife Kathy. Niece of Anne DiPatri and her husband Dick. Aunt of Danielle, Samantha and Meredith and four nephews. Also survived by mother-in-law Margaret Budesa, sisters-in-law Donette, Colleen and Rosemary and brothers-in-law Warren and Mike. Loving daughter of the late Salvatore and Joan Brancato.

There will be visitation from 9:30 to 11:30am Monday morning at Most Holy Redeemer RC Church, 1219 Delsea Drive, Westville Grove. Funeral Mass 11:30am in church. Entombment New St. Mary\’s Mausoleum, Bellmawr. Family requests in lieu of flowers donations be made in Debra\’s memory to the American CancerSociety, 1851 Old Cuthbert Rd., Cherry Hill, NJ 08034.

photos by Bruce Darrow
AUDUBON- Gloucester High got their first win of the season today against Audubon High. Lions Brett Darrow high scorer with 16 points and teammate Brandon Blackiston followed with 10 points.

Related:

Game Photo Album

Gloucester City High School

Audubon News

GHS Web Site

Audubon High School Web Site

 

 

By Lois Lane, gossip columnist for ClearysNoteBook

The Gloucester City Breakfast Club had a huge turnout for their December 29 meeting held at the Dining Car Depot, Monmouth Street at the Railroad. Some thirty-nine men were in attendance.

Hank Miller won the prize for coming the longest distance. The former Gloucester resident, who writes the column When East Meets West for ClearysNoteBook, flew in from his home in Kitakyushu City, Japan just for the breakfast.

Photo: Welcoming Hank, left, with a warm handshake is Rick Gonzales (click on photo to enlarge).

Winning second place was former Gloucesterite Jack Bowe, who traveled from St. Louis Missouri to see his friends. Third was Bill Wibby Yeager who drove from Dover, Delaware. Fourth and Fifth Place goes to Butch Shaffer (Cape May) and Ron Raube (Mays Landing). The winners each received a second cup of coffee at no charge plus all the water they could drink.

El Presidente Chas Pitzo (photo left, click to enlarge) announced that Bill Cleary has resigned as treasurer and Jack Heiser volunteered to take his place. Pitzo gave a treasury report stating there was $400 in the account. Photo: El Presidente giving giving shows t

Speaking of Cleary he was the winner of the 50-50 this month. Since he was chosen to pick the stub out of the bucket some members thought he shouldn\’t be eligible to win. The executive board held an emergency meeting and ruled he could keep the prize ($19.02) as long as he picked up the tab for everyone\’s breakfast. Needless to say when it came time to pay the check Cleary was no where to be found.

Photo: Some members act a little peculiar when they forget to take their med\’s. For example: Butch Shaffer, left and Joe Boulden.

Click on photo to enlarge

Besides those already mentioned others in attendance included: Sam Chew, Frank Grandizio, Tom and Bud Wrigley, John Lang, Joe Boulden, Bob Bevan, Frank Cipolone, Bob Sliwa, Jack Persichetti, Ron Middleton, Joe DiGiacomo, Earl Kaighn, Walt Hall, Stu Rechard, Tom Moody and John Zdon. 

Also, John Hindsley, Joe Raube, Rick Gonzales, Jim and Harry Blymer, Mike Bowe, Joe Miller, Chalie Tourtual, Harry Walker, Tom ChooChoo Murphy.

The next meeting, Saturday, January 26 at 9 AM. To become a member you must be a male, be able to eat breakfast and enjoy laughing. Also you need to know the answer to this question……where was the Charles Street Stadium located? Just in case you need a hint it was somewhere in Gloucester City.

Note: If you would like to receive an email each month to remind you of the breakfast send your name and email address to [email protected].

RELATED:

see December photo album

ALL THINGS BREAKFAST CLUB ON CNB

Gloucester City

 

By Hank F.Miller Jr.

New Year\’s is the most significant holiday in Japan. On the morning of January 1, family members exchange formal greetings and have o-toso, or spiced sake, o-zoni soup containing rice cakes, and a variety of special New Year\’s dishes. Parents give their children o-toshidama, or New Year\’s money gifts. Then they enjoy reading New Year\’s greeting postcards which are sent by family members or friends, and are usually delivered around noon.

Quite a few people pay the New Year\’s first visit to a shrine or temple to pray for coming good fortune.

In years gone by, Japanese children used to often fly beautifully decorated kites and or play battledore and shuttlecock and Japanese card games, but nowadays we don\’t see kids doing things like that as often as we used to Children today seem to prefer playing soccer and home video games. These traditional customers are disappearing by degrees and that sad to see.

 

A MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY NEW YEAR

With Warm Regards From Kitakyushu City, Japan

Hank F. Miller Jr & Family

Robert A. Jones, age 72 died on December 26, 2007. A graduate of Clayton High School in 1953, he attended Washington College and received his degree from Temple University in 1968.
Bob was an Army Veteran serving from 1958-1960. He owned and operated Robert A. Jones Inc. Accountants in Pitman and formerly of Camden.

He was Auditor for the City of Camden from 1976-1996. Bob was a licensed Registered Municipal Accountant and Public School Accountant who audited many municipalities and school districts. Bob was a member of the Registered Municipal Accountants Assn. of NJ and the NJ Public Accountants Association. He was also a member of the Pitman United Methodist Church where he served on the Finance Committee and was an Usher. He was also an avid golfer.

Survived by his wife of 50 years Mary Jane (nee Wright), son Robert Harlan (Paula) Jones of Chalfont, Pa., daughter Mary Ellen (Steven) Taylor of Mantua, grandchildren Kristina Jones, Matthew Taylor, Alyssa Jones, Evan Taylor, brother Everett G., Jr. of Pennsville and sister Doris (Arthur) Kleinfelder of Port Jefferson, NY.

Friends may call Friday 6 to 8 p.m. and Saturday 9 to 10:45 a.m. in the Pitman United Methodist Church, Broadway and Lambs Rd., Pitman. Funeral service 11 a.m. Saturday. Interment Manahath Cemetery.

Contributions may be made to the Pitman United Methodist Church Rebuilding Fund, PO Box 7, Pitman, NJ 08071.

Arrangements by the KELLEY FUNERAL HOME, Pitman.

By Andy Glockner
ESPN.com

Source www.rider.edu

This small-time setting was about the last place you would expect to find an NBA prospect, but there he was in Rider\’s handsome cranberry red uniform, a visitor from the decidedly mid-major MAAC, long and lean like the 1 that adorns his jersey\’s back. Meet Jason Thompson, the best 6-foot-11, 250-pound forward you\’ve never heard of.

Last season, Thompson averaged 20.1 points and 10.1 rebounds a game, placing him with Kevin Durant and Nick Fazekas as the only 20-and-10 players in Division I. This season, after a summer spent working out at camps run by LeBron James and Amare Stoudemire, he\’s averaging 19.8 points and 11.3 rebounds a game.

read on……….

MIGNOGNA, PASQUALE L.
On December 25, 2007, of Runnemede, formerly of Bellmawr. Age 72.
Devoted father ofJoseph and Michael Mignogna and Lisa Goldstein. Dear brother of Victor A. (Janet) Mignogna.
Mr. Mignogna proudly served in the U.S. Army.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend the viewing Saturday morning from 8:15 to 9:15am at GARDNER FUNERAL HOME, BELLMAWR. Funeral Mass 10am Mary, Mother of the Church, Bellmawr. Entombment New St. Mary\’s Mausoleum, Bellmawr.
In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made inMr. Mignogna\’s memory to the Salvation Army, 915 Haddon Avenue, Camden, NJ 08103.
Expressions of sympathy may be e-mailed to Condolences@Gardner FuneralHome.com

 JEER–NJ Gov. Corzine and the Lame Duck Legislators recently did away with the death penalty in our state. Edward P. Donohue, Chief of Police, Lower Township sums it up in a recent Letter to the Editor stating in part, \”This is a slap in the face to every one who puts on a bulletproof vest every day, kisses their family and walks out the door to protect the state\’s residents.\”

CHEER- Gloucester City Patrolman Steve Burkhardt and his K-9 partner \”Eich\” pronounced \”Ike\” a 15- month- old black German shepherd imported from Slovakia graduate today, December 28, from the Camden County Police Academy. The course began on September 10^th . Eich will be certified in patrol work as well as narcotics detection.

JEER-To NJ Senate President Richard J. Codey, D-Essex, who has proposed that the 11 percent pay raises for state judges (who just received a raise in July) be expanded to include 16.3 percent pay boosts for the state\’s 21 county prosecutors. If approved the prosecutors pay would bump up to $165,000 a year from the $141,000 they now are paid. The Democrat controlled part-time legislators (salary $49,000 a year) also want to give themselves a raise. Instead of looking for ways to cut spending Democrats and Republicans alike by their actions continue to say, \”The Hell with the voters! We can increase taxes and still be re-elected.\”

 

CHEER-To Mary Lou Adams, a five year member and president of the Gloucester City Historical Society along with a \”Big Thumbs Up\” to Rae Whalen, a 15 year member and vice-president of the Society. Both women are running for re-election next month. It is our hope the membership will see the wisdom of re-electing these two dedicated members.

 

CHEER– Joe Brophy of Gloucester City recently helped a local resident in her time of need. The person writes, \”I was at a local gas station and I needed assistance with placing air in my front tire and monitoring the accurate amount to put in. The staff of the gas station stated they did not know how to help me with my visibly low tire. Fortunately for me, Joe Brophy was purchasing gas and swiftly offered to help out. How uplifting that someone was willing to spend extra time in the wind and frigid temperatures to assist a fellow citizen. Joe\’s patience and kindness will long be remembered!\”

 

 CHEER–Another individual suggested, \”A Thumbs Up to all the military personnel from Gloucester City and surrounding area for their great work in all branches of the military service to our country. I say a prayer every time I see the list of their names in the GCN, as these brave men and women VOLUNTEER their lives to ensure our freedom! Thanks.

CHEER-Up again this month for praise is the Gloucester City Police Department. A reader writes, \”Members of our police department have a tough job, day in and day out. Just as impressive as the job they do is their involvement in our community. Look at any youth sports league in town and our officers are involved in someway. Plus they are active in PAL. In my opinion, one of the biggest assets for the police this past year has been Clearys website. Police Lieutenant Berglund has been very forthcoming with information to the public; and ClearysNoteBook has it up on the website right away. I as a citizen appreciate getting crime information as soon as possible.\”

CHEER-Gloucester City High School staff member Joe Gorman is starting his 30th year of coaching in Gloucester City. Joe has given of himself to this community in many, many capacities for decades. Thank you Joe!

JEER-To those police officers who for whatever reason fly thru neighborhood intersections and run through red lights at high speeds without stopping or slowing down. In a City that is only two square miles a few seconds these speed demons are saving is not worth the life of a child or some other innocent bystander. If they are allowed to continue sooner or later someone will be killed or seriously injured by their reckless driving.

Contributing to the Decembers column were Bernadette Gorman, Catherine Gottert, and Michael Kazmar. There were also several people who sent in recommendations without a name. Thank you one and all for your help.

 

Besides Gloucester residents I would also like to see citizens from surrounding communities send in their suggestions for a Cheer or Jeer. This column is an open forum. So take advantage of it. It is posted the last week of each month. Reply to [email protected].

Related: Bill\’s Point of View

 

Associated Press

Home News Tribune Online 12/28/07

A wrongful death lawsuit was filed Friday by lawyers for Gary and Julie DeVercelly, whose son Gary
DeVercelly Jr. died in March after a party at the on-campus Phi Kappa Tau house in which authorities
say pledges were urged to consume large quantities of alcohol.

The suit in state Superior Court seeks an unspecified amount of money from Rider, as well as Ohio-based Phi Kappa Tau, and four members of the fraternity\’s now-defunct Rider chapter.

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