THIS WEEK: St. Joseph Boys Basketball—Wildcats enter season as one of the top-ranked teams in South Jersey. 1,000-point scorer Marcus Pierce leads a strong roster for St. Joe that also features Jordan Stafford, Ja’son Prevard,and transfers Dom Thomas, Darryl McGraw and Antonio Sydner. Returning players Majid Abdur Rahim and Arnaldo Rodriguez add depth.Hammonton Boys Basketball-Blue Devils look to continue their rebuild with a talented, if young, roster. Coach Joe Martino has high expectations for John Andoloro, a 6-5 junior, and returning varsity players Jaron Hill, Owen Mauriello, Tyler Lowe and Gavin West provide veteran leadership. Erik Pabon, a strong perimeter shooter is a player to watch this season. Hammonton Girls Basketball—New head coach Mike Velardi has been pleased with this team’s development in preseason. Lost a lot to graduation, but bring back soph center Emma Peretti, a preseason All-South Jersey selection who averaged 14 points and 10 rebounds last year. Ava Divello and Giada Palmieri are two talented sophomores who will anchor the backcourt. Luca Beranato and Caitlyn Salita provide senior leadership. St. Joseph Girls Basketball—Matt O’Keefe takes over as coach and is very optimistic, expecting 6-10 wins this year. Roster has received a boost from freshmen Gigi Fox and Cassidy Perry. Brianna Bailey, Brielle Hutchison, Karlee Middleman and Marissa DiGerolamo are back, as is point guard Katie Dainton. Makayla Veneziale also join the team and adds depth. O’Keefe thinks Macie Jacquet can break out this year. Hammonton Bowling—Boys team at HHS should be very good. Lost their best player from last year, Dylan Scarpato, but bring back James Colasurdo, Richard Achanzer and Robert Feriozzi. Coach Raffa thinks they can be even better this season. Girls are struggling. First-year coach Stevie Salvatore says they only have two players entering the season. INTERVIEW: St. Joseph football player Chase Lomax. NATIONAL SPORTS: NFL Playoffs—Super Bowl matchup is set, with a look back at the conference championship games. Eagles finally get a new head coach, reaction has been mixed.NBA/Sixers—Big wins last week against Boston and Detroit. Simmons and Embiid playing like MVP candidates early in the season.NHL/Flyers—Beat Buffalo, lose to Boston. Sitting at 3-2 heading into the week. Have looked very good and kind of bad at the same time. All this great sports talk plus the “Final Five” questions for Dan on “Gazette Sports Week!” AND REMEMBER You can watch “Gazette Sports Week” 24/7 at www.hammontongazettem.com

Gazette Publisher Gabe Donio offers the latest local and county COVID-19 numbers, news from Hammonton including thoughts by officials and lawyers on legal marijuana, remembering beloved crossing guard Evelyn Cassidy and plans for snow removal by the town and school district.

THIS WEEK: NJSIAA approves removal of restriction on state football championships—The general membership voted to amend the Constitution, allowing for true public school state title games. Not all the way there yet, a proposal needs to officially be made as to how to structure things and then that needs to be approved, but looks like beginning in 2022, there will be state championship games. Winter teams preparing—St. Joseph’s basketball teams began workouts last week, and Hammonton started preparing on Tuesday (January 19). Season-openers are next week. St. Joe’s teams will play at Millville in a boys-girls doubleheader. Wildcats will play all their games on the road this season. Hammonton postponed their opener on January 26 and will now host St. Joe on January 29, again a doubleheader. No fans at the games for now, but that could change. Bowling also opens next week. Local pair earns Maxwell recognition—Jaiden Abrams (Hammonton) and Chase Lomax (St. Joseph) were chosen as Maxwell Award Mini Max High School Award winners. INTERVIEW: HHS Grad and Ocean City assistant football and baseball coach Frank LaSasso III NATIONAL SPORTS: Eagles/NFL Playoffs—Birds fire Doug Pederson, searching for a new head coach. Recap the playoffs and preview the conference championship games. Sixers/NBA—Sixers lost to Atlanta, beat Miami twice, then lost to Memphis before game Sunday at OKC. Flyers/NHL—Start season 2-0 by sweeping Pittsburgh. Lindblom and Patrick look sharp as does goalie Carter Hart. All this great sports talk plus the “Final Five” questions for Dan on “Gazette Sports Week!” AND REMEMBER: You can watch “Gazette Sports Week” 24/7 at www.hammontongazettem.com

Gazette Publisher Gabe Donio offers the latest local and county COVID-19 numbers, news from Hammonton including Sam Mento retains board presidency; remembering Ross Restuccio and an interview with Mullica Twp.'s new mayor.

THIS WEEK: High School teams begin workouts—Basketball and bowling teams across the state began preseason practices on January 11, with the season slated to begin on January 26. Locally, Hammonton’s teams will not begin until January 19, when the school is scheduled to return to hybrid learning, while St. Joseph’s teams are expected to start up sometime this week. NJSIAA moves closer to true state championships for public school football teams—A proposal to eliminate a line in the constitution that bans state championships was passed and now will be voted on today (January 13) by the full membership. Regular season would be eight games, followed by three rounds of sectional playoffs, a state semifinal weekend, Thanksgiving and then five public state championship games in early December. If the measure passes, state champions could be crowned as early as the 2022 season. INTERVIEW: St. Joseph Academy’s Ja’son Prevard NATIONAL SPORTS: NFL—Playoffs began last weekend, recap the games and preview this week’s divisional round. NBA/Sixers—Rough week for the Sixers as they battled COVID issues and lost two of four games. NHL/Flyers—Flyers open shortened NHL season on January 13 at home against Pittsburgh. Fans have been encouraged by the return of Oskar Linbom to the lineup, and reports are he has looked good in camp. All this great sports talk plus the “Final Five” questions for Dan on “Gazette Sports Week!” AND REMEMBER: You can watch “Gazette Sports Week” 24/7 at www.hammontongazette.com

Gazette Publisher Gabe Donio offers the latest localand county COVID-19 numbers, news from Hammonton including   remembering Emanuel "Sonny" Sanfilippo, downtown grant, William Olivo returns to council and more.

THIS WEEK: Governor Murphy lifts restriction on indoor sports—Murphy’s executive order banning indoor sports expired on January 2 and he opted not to extend it. For local high schools, that means practice can begin as scheduled by the NJSIAA on January 11 (although Hammonton will hold off until January 19 when in-school instruction is slated to resume). Basketball and bowling can begin playing games on January 26. Indoor track is scheduled to start later this month, with wrestling and girls volleyball beginning workouts in March. INTERVIEW: Adrenaline fitness coach Amanda Kilgore. NATIONAL SPORTS: Eagles/NFL—Eagles wrap up season against Washington. Defensive coordinator Jim Schwarz will not return next season. Decisions need to be made at many positions including coaching staff and front office. Playoffs set with games to begin this weekend. Sixers/NBA—Sixers continue to play well as new players are mixing in well with established stars, will the team make a move?Phillies/MLB—Padres continue to make major moves, add Yu Darvish. Phils and new GM Sam Fuld have been pretty quiet so far this winter.College football—Championship game is set as Ohio State will take on Alabama on January 11. All this great sports talk plus them”Final Five” questions for Dan on “Gazette Sports Week!” AND REMEMBER: You can watch “Gazette Sports Week” 24/7 at www.hammontongazette.com

Gazette Publisher Gabe Donio offers the latest local and county COVID-19 numbers, news from Hammonton including indoor sports updates, Year in Review, teachers of the year.