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PISCATAWAY – Ramapo’s incredible three-year run in the state tournament, featuring a 17-game winning streak, finally came to an end.
The Green Raiders’ bid for a third consecutive Group 3 state boys’ basketball title ended with a 54-46 loss to Colts Neck in the final Saturday night at Jersey Mike’s Arena at Rutgers.
“I’m disappointed,” Ramapo coach Nick Vier said. “But in a few moments, I’ll sit back and reflect on the season, and the run that we’ve had, and it’s been an amazing journey.”
Senior Ryan Goldman led Ramapo (19-11) with 12 points, freshman A.J. Greig scored 10, and senior Peter Keith had nine. Senior Charlie Wingfield had eight points and a team-high seven rebounds, and his final basket gave the Green Raiders a 40-37 lead early in the fourth.
Senior Lukas Sloane had game highs of 20 points, 12 rebounds, four blocks and two steals, and Colts Neck was outstanding in the fourth quarter en route to its first state title. The Cougars (20-9) scored on their final nine possessions to overcome a 40-37 deficit.
Sloane’s supporting cast picked it up in the second half, after he scored 13 of Colts Neck’s 15 points and Ramapo led at intermission, 20-15. Senior Jack Freid scored nine of his 11 in the second half, including seven in the fourth. Junior Dillon Younger scored all nine in the third, featuring a pair of 3-pointers for the Cougars.
“It’s been a great run,” said Goldman, whose three-year varsity record is 17-1. “Obviously we didn’t want it to end like this, but they played great. They just had it more than us tonight.”
This marked Ramapo’s fourth consecutive trip to the Group 3 final and the program had a four-year tournament record of 22-2. This group featured three new starters and, bluntly, was not expected to return to the final. The Green Raiders were a No. 7 seed in the North 1, Group 3 sectional.
“These guys have surpassed all expectations, and I’m super proud of them,” Vier said. “Obviously we wanted to win this game, but no one gave us a shot at being here, so it’s been a great run, a great season, and I love these seniors.”
“It was obviously an incredible run,” said Wingfield, a three-sport standout whose career tournament record, like Goldman, also is 17-1. “I’m so proud of everyone. Obviously, we didn’t come out on top, but I’m still super proud of this whole team and how far we’ve come.”
Colts Neck spread the floor, attacked the basket, passed to open teammates, and scored on nine consecutive possessions to turn a 40-37 deficit into a 54-44 lead.
Along the way, Ramapo went cold, and its four points came on one free throw apiece from Grieg and Goldman, and a 12-foot jumper by Greig with 20 seconds remaining.
Four Cougars scored in the fourth. Fried scored seven, senior Bryce Belcher contributed two baskets, senior Dan Buoncore delivered one field goal and two free throws, and Sloane added two foul shots.
“There’s a lot of things that didn’t go our way,” Vier said of the fourth. “I give Colts Neck a lot of credit. They made a lot of tough shots. They made a lot of shots and we didn’t, and sometimes it’s as simple as that.”
Ramapo shot 43 percent from the field (19-for-44) and 50 percent from the foul line (5-for-10). Colts Neck shot 54 percent from the field (21-for-39) and 64 percent from the line (7-for-11).
“I give the credit to the kids,” Vier said of reaching a state final four consecutive years and winning two titles. “I’ve had some amazing players over these last four years, so I’ve been very fortunate as a coach to coach great players. And I have a great staff around me that comes up with great game plan after game plan. And it’s a testament to the kind of kids we have at Ramapo.”
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Ramapo loses to Colts Neck in Group 3 state boys basketball final
Continue reading...
The Green Raiders’ bid for a third consecutive Group 3 state boys’ basketball title ended with a 54-46 loss to Colts Neck in the final Saturday night at Jersey Mike’s Arena at Rutgers.
“I’m disappointed,” Ramapo coach Nick Vier said. “But in a few moments, I’ll sit back and reflect on the season, and the run that we’ve had, and it’s been an amazing journey.”
Senior Ryan Goldman led Ramapo (19-11) with 12 points, freshman A.J. Greig scored 10, and senior Peter Keith had nine. Senior Charlie Wingfield had eight points and a team-high seven rebounds, and his final basket gave the Green Raiders a 40-37 lead early in the fourth.
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Senior Lukas Sloane had game highs of 20 points, 12 rebounds, four blocks and two steals, and Colts Neck was outstanding in the fourth quarter en route to its first state title. The Cougars (20-9) scored on their final nine possessions to overcome a 40-37 deficit.
Sloane’s supporting cast picked it up in the second half, after he scored 13 of Colts Neck’s 15 points and Ramapo led at intermission, 20-15. Senior Jack Freid scored nine of his 11 in the second half, including seven in the fourth. Junior Dillon Younger scored all nine in the third, featuring a pair of 3-pointers for the Cougars.
“It’s been a great run,” said Goldman, whose three-year varsity record is 17-1. “Obviously we didn’t want it to end like this, but they played great. They just had it more than us tonight.”
What it means
This marked Ramapo’s fourth consecutive trip to the Group 3 final and the program had a four-year tournament record of 22-2. This group featured three new starters and, bluntly, was not expected to return to the final. The Green Raiders were a No. 7 seed in the North 1, Group 3 sectional.
“These guys have surpassed all expectations, and I’m super proud of them,” Vier said. “Obviously we wanted to win this game, but no one gave us a shot at being here, so it’s been a great run, a great season, and I love these seniors.”
“It was obviously an incredible run,” said Wingfield, a three-sport standout whose career tournament record, like Goldman, also is 17-1. “I’m so proud of everyone. Obviously, we didn’t come out on top, but I’m still super proud of this whole team and how far we’ve come.”
Pivotal fourth quarter
Colts Neck spread the floor, attacked the basket, passed to open teammates, and scored on nine consecutive possessions to turn a 40-37 deficit into a 54-44 lead.
Along the way, Ramapo went cold, and its four points came on one free throw apiece from Grieg and Goldman, and a 12-foot jumper by Greig with 20 seconds remaining.
Four Cougars scored in the fourth. Fried scored seven, senior Bryce Belcher contributed two baskets, senior Dan Buoncore delivered one field goal and two free throws, and Sloane added two foul shots.
“There’s a lot of things that didn’t go our way,” Vier said of the fourth. “I give Colts Neck a lot of credit. They made a lot of tough shots. They made a lot of shots and we didn’t, and sometimes it’s as simple as that.”
By the numbers
Ramapo shot 43 percent from the field (19-for-44) and 50 percent from the foul line (5-for-10). Colts Neck shot 54 percent from the field (21-for-39) and 64 percent from the line (7-for-11).
They said it
“I give the credit to the kids,” Vier said of reaching a state final four consecutive years and winning two titles. “I’ve had some amazing players over these last four years, so I’ve been very fortunate as a coach to coach great players. And I have a great staff around me that comes up with great game plan after game plan. And it’s a testament to the kind of kids we have at Ramapo.”
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Ramapo loses to Colts Neck in Group 3 state boys basketball final
Continue reading...
