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(Photo by Phil Milot)
Skyland Delaware West Conference Champs: 2007-08, 2008-09
NJSIAA State Playoffs: 2006-07, 2007-08, 2008-09
Somerset County Finalists: 2007-08, 2008-09
North 2 Group 4 Semifinalist: 2008-09
Len Sepanack Champs: 2008-09
Coach Tracy's right....
Nick Cefalo is on another planet!
Congratulations Red Devil Football
Beat PBurg!
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Saturday Tip-Off (Dec. 19) |
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12:00 pm |
Union |
vs. |
St. Joe's Metuchen |
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1:40 pm |
Linden |
vs. |
Ridge |
|
3:20 pm |
Don Bosco |
vs. |
Lincoln NY |
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5:00 pm |
St. Pat's |
vs. |
Gill St. Bernard's |
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6:40 pm |
Columbia |
vs. |
Seton Hall Prep |
Schedule Leading up to Team Selection
Sun 11/22: Off-Day
Mon 11/23: Speed & Agility 6:00 / 7:00 open-gym
Tue 11/24: Devils Peak 3:00 / weight lift
Wed 11/25: Off - Day
Thu 11/26: Happy Thanksgiving!
Fri 11/27: try-outs begin
Sat 11/28: try-outs continue
Sun 11/29: try-outs continue
Mon 11/30: last day of try-outs
Tues 12/1: teams selected / Season starts
Wed 12/2: Mandatory Parent Meeting 7pm
Sat 12/5: first scrimmage vs So Plfd at 2:00 (home)
Ridge High School
2009-10 Boys Basketball
Try-Out Schedule
Friday Saturday Sunday Monday
Nov 27th Nov 28th Nov 29th Nov 30th
Frosh: OG 3-5:00 NG 3-5:00 OG 4:30-6 NG 2:30-4:30
JV/Soph: NG 3-5:00 OG 3-5:00 OG 3-4:30 NG 2:30-4:30
Jrs/Srs 1st: NG 1:00-3:00 NG 1:00-3:00 NG 12-3:00 NG 4:00-6:30
2nd: NG 4:30-6:00 NG 4:30-6:00 DNA DNA
*Freshman and sophomores may be invited to other tryouts after observation.
Final Team Selection*
Freshman: Tuesday December 1st after practice
Junior Varsity: Tuesday December 1st after practice
Varsity: Tuesday December 1st after practice
Weds. Dec. 2nd 7pm Mandatory Parent Meeting!
*After final selections players may move from level to level.
First Scrimmage: Sat. Dec. 5th vs. So. Plainfield @ home 2:00
Ridge Red Devils 2009-10 Team Preview
Last season's Ridge team was ranked in the Star-Ledger Top 20 every week,
getting as high as #8 and finishing the season at #14. Red Devil fans were
thrilled by the exciting end to end action all winter long, proving that great
sports entertainment does not have to cost alot.
Coming off a 2007-08 campaign that saw the Red Devils win the Skyland
West Conference and finish with a 17-8 overall record, Mark Taylor's crew
wasted little time making a statement in the 2008-09 campaign.
Facing the defending No2Gr4 state-champs Piscatway in the finals of the
Len Sepanack Tournament, Ridge 'arrived' by defeating the Chiefs on its
way to a 25-3 record and the #1 seed in the No2Gr4 state play-offs.
Mark Taylor
hopes to build on that success with three of last year's starters
and his sixth man back from that record setting season a year ago.
Can the Red Devils who've lost only one conference game in two years
run the table and three-peat? After losing in the SCT Finals for the last
two years can this be the year Taylor's crew breaks-through?
Led by three-year starter Nick Cefalo at the point, Ridge has an experienced
big-time mvp performer at the helm who can score as well as distribute.
Joining him in the back-court will be four-year letterwinner and 3-point
specialist Andrew Madlinger who comes into the season 201 points shy of
1,000 for his career.
The third returning starter is wing Christian Frisoli who is battle tested and ready
to continue where he left off last year as one of Coach Taylor's most
reliable go-to performers.
Also returning for the Devils will be last year's sixth man Conor Skea
and Tom Gambino. Both will add muscle, toughness and rebounding
strength to the interior while Skea is able to pop out and knock down shots
on the perimeter, Gambino can post-up and get put-backs on the interior.
Ridge will be bolstered by returning varsity letter winners, Rob McCarthy,
John Legband and Ryan Gerrity as well as a strong nucleus of newcomers
that add considerable skill and depth to Coach Taylor's tool kit. And as
always with a Taylor coached team, DEFENSE will be the mantra.
Key Early Season Tests
Certainly not looking to ease into the season, Ridge will participate for the first
time in school history in the prestigious Hoop Group Tip-Off Classic at
Kean University on Saturday Dec. 19th at 1:30 against fellow
No2Gr4 power Linden.
This year's Sepanak Holiday tournament continues a trend started by Coach
Taylor four years ago by featuring the best high school teams in the area. This
year you can expect to see Irvington, Piscataway, Immaculata as well as upstart
Gill playing in Basking Ridge.
As was the case last year, the Ridge faithful will have a good idea early on
what type of season to expect. Hope to see you at the games!
16th Annual
Len Sepanak Memorial
Holiday Tournament
@ Ridge High
Sat. Dec 26th Mon. Dec 28th Tue. Dec 29th
12:30: Pway/Irvngtn Colonia/Lata loser 5th / 6th place
vs. Ridge/Prep loser
6:00: Colonia/Lata Gill (bye) 4pm: Consolation
vs Pway/Irvngtn winner
7:30: Ridge/RUprep Ridge/Prep winner Finals
vs Colonia/Lata winner
Let's Go De-Vils!
Dan Finn Classic
The Sixth Annual
January 16, 2010
Jersey City Armory
Cardinal McCarrick vs. Lincoln (JC) 12:00 PM (Boys)
Colts Neck vs. Shabazz 1:30 PM (Girls)
Jersey City Firemen vs. Jersey City Police 3:00 PM
Team Change (TBA) vs. Ridge H.S. 4:30 PM (Boys)
Paterson Catholic vs. St. Benedict’s 6:15 PM (Boys)
St. Peter’s Prep vs. St. Anthony 8:00 PM (Boys)
House the Homeless
Basketball Classic
Sat. Jan. 23rd at Elizabeth's Dunn Center
Ridge vs Elizabeth 6:30pm
Elizabeth, NJ - For the 15th year in a row, NJ's best high
school teams will battle for ranking and improved conditions
for local homeless people during the annual 'Elizabeth Coalition
to House the Homeless Basketball Classic' on Sat. Jan. 23rd
at Elizabeth's Dunn Center. This year's triple header will feature
the Red Devils from Basking Ridge, last year's #1 seed in No2Gr4,
facing off against the host school Elizabeth in the 6:30pm time slot.
Primetime Shootout
@ the RAC
The nation's premiere showcase of the
finest high school basketball talent
The 2010 PrimeTime Shootout will be one of the most
impressive collections of high school talent ever assembled.
Friday, February 12, 2010 at Rutgers
5:30 pm: Monroe (NJ) vs. Ridge (NJ)
7:00 pm: Lakewood vs. St. Benedict's (NJ)
8:30 pm: St. Patrick's (NJ) vs. Oak Hill (VA)
10:00 pm: Plainfield (NJ) vs. St. Joseph's (NJ)
********************************************
2009-2010 Area Teams At A Glance
BRIDGEWATER - Gene McAteer 2nd season
Returning letterwinners: Trevo Beasty(6'3 Sr) ,Jake Higgins (5'10 Sr),Dan Reider (6'1 Sr); Derek Beck (6'2 Jr); Justin Leeds (6'1 Jr);Jude Weekes-Young (5'9 Jr); Keefer Wurmstich (5'8 Jr), Sal Vitello (5'7 So) Prognosis: Coming off a (rare) difficult year, look for the Panthers to rebound big-time now that the underclassmen have some experience under their belts.
FRANKLIN - Foderingham(?) 1st season
Returning letterwinners: Lawrence Caldwell (5'11 Sr);Corey Camon (6'2 Sr); Kevin Galazon (6'0 Sr); Barry Wilson (6'6 Jr); Avery Gorman (6'7 Jr); Darryl Robinson (6'1 Jr) Joshua Ugwunori (5'8 Sr) Prognosis: Very talented with a new, new head coach (Ortelli's former asst.) to lead them, Warriors will need to regroup in a hurry. Down but not out!
HILLSBOROUGH - Ian Progin 7th season
Returning letterwinners: Mike Banaciski (5'10 Sr);Kyle Banfield (6'4 Sr);Steve Hydzik (5"10 Jr);Corey Katzelnick (6'2 Sr); Zack Metwally (5'11 Sr); Frank Mitchell (6'6 Sr) Steve Schrum (6'1 Sr); Jason Smartt ( 5'11 Sr); Davin St. Rose 6'4" Sr);Isaiah Telewoda (6'2 Sr); Jason Jolliffe (6'4 So) Prognosis: Class of the county with size, depth and experience, look for Raiders to win it all.
IMMACULATA - Mike Frauenheim 10th season
Returning letterwinners: Ish Mack (6'0 Jr); Kevin Doyle (6'4 Sr); Joe Sforza (6'1 Sr); Mike McCurry (6'1 Sr); Brooks Leger (6'0 Sr); Darren McDuffie (5'9 Jr) Prognosis: Established itself as one of the state's top programs coming off back-to-back TOC's. Look for Spartans to start slowly but be contending for state & county crown just like always.
MONTGOMERY - Kris Gundy 5th season
Returning letterwinners: James Loupos (6'6 Sr); Robbie Robinson (6'0 Sr);Ryan McCoy (6'6 jr); Matt Mignon (6'0 Jr); Josh Prevost (6'6 Sr) Prognosis: Size and more size with two D-1 interior players and plenty of experience. Look for a PG to emerge for the Cougars to win it all.
WATCHUNG HILLS - Justin Salton 2nd season
Returning letterwinners: Evan Mluzan (5'9 Sr);Colin Heinle (5'9 Sr); Evan Finer (5'10 Sr); Scott Deal (6'6 Sr); Nick Argiro (5'8 Sr); Chris Brennan (6'2 Sr); Matt Meyers (6'2 Jr) Prognosis: A rebuilding year of sorts for the Warriors after two strong seasons, but don't count them out, they always come to play.
HUNTERDON CENTRAL - Brian Glennon 23rd season
Returning letterwinners: Ian Grimes (5'10 Sr); Bryan Noonan (6'3 Jr); Drew O'Donoghue (5'10 Sr); Zak Safrin (5'10 Jr); Chris Suseck (6'0 Jr); Sean Thomas (6'3 Jr); Steven Tully (6'2 Sr) Prognosis: Talented underclassmen are not afraid to shoot the rock and are ready for the primetime. Look for Devils to compete for conference crown.
NORTH HUNTERDON - Jeff Tagliareni 2nd season
Returning letterwinners: Kyle Malavasi (5'10 Sr); Chris Bellofatto (5'8 Jr); Jack Hosein (6'4 Sr); Brendan Rogan (5'10 Jr); Korey Salvo (5'8 Jr); Mark Snider (6'3 Jr) Prognosis: Lions go from a strong interior team to a strong perimeter team, with speed to burn. Watch out!
VOORHEES - Sparky Nanni 6th season
Returning letterwinners: Mike Bonavita (5'9 Sr); Adam Ambiella (5'10 Jr); Kyle Ferraioli (6'0 Sr); Danny Ferry (6'4 Sr); Sean Kescelica (5'11 Jr); James Murray (5'11 Sr); Dan Schafer (6'2 Sr) Prognosis: Underachieved abit one year ago, but look for Vikings to bounce back and surprise opponents with their experienced backcourt play.
PLAINFIELD - Jeff Lubreski 2nd season
Returning letterwinners: Tyrone Johnson (6'3 Jr); Michael Price (5'11 Sr); Allen Brown (6'1 Jr); Ricky Terry (5'10 Sr); Nathan Grant (6'4 Sr); John Noel (6'2 Sr); Dominque Blackmon (6'3 Sr); Alonzo Lyles (5'8 Sr); Mike Williams (6'6 Sr); Terrill Johnson (5'10 Sr) Prognosis: May have the best player in the area in Johnson, so look for Cardinals to re-load and repeat.... Just ask CHEDDA.
GILL ST BERNARDS - Dave Pasquale 4th season
Returning letterwinners: Louis Valdez (6'3 Sr); John Snow (5'10 Jr); Tom Plate (5'10 Sr); Matt Fraser (6'0 Jr); Morgan Dixon (6'1 So); Mike Hyland (5'11 So); Dominic Hoffman ( 6'6 So); Alex Mitola (5'8 So); Jaren Sina (6'0 Fr) Prognosis: With top rated talent and youthful exuberance, this could be the Year of the Knights.
RUTGERS PREP - Tony Mento 10th season
Returning letterwinners: Victor Angeline (6'1 Sr); Donald Taylor (5'10 Sr); Branden Kahn (5'9 Sr); Malcolm Thomas (5'11 Jr); Michael Klinger (5'11 So); Matthew Rennie (6'5 So); Adi Penupatruni (5'11 Sr); Mike Mento (6'0 Sr); Chris Schiavoni (5'11 So); Bobby Fortunato (5'8 So) Prognosis: Always well-coached look for the young Argonauts to challenge again for another Prep B title.
PISCATAWAY - Guy Jensen 6th season
Returning letterwinners: Wayne Newsome (6'7 Sr); Malcolm Griggs (6'3 Sr) Prognosis: Never at a loss for athletic talent, look for a youth movement to complement Newsome & propel Chiefs back to the top of No2Gr4. New names - same results.
RIDGE - Mark Taylor 4th season
Returning letterwinners: Nick Cefalo (6'3 Sr); Andrew Madlinger (6'4 Sr); Christian Frisoli (6'3 Sr); Rob McCarthy (6'3 Sr); Conor Skea (6'2 Jr); Tom Gambino (6'7 Jr); John Legband (6'0 Sr); Ryan Gerrity (5'10 Sr) Prognosis: After being county runner-ups for the past two seasons, could this be the year the Red Devils finally break-through?
Stay tuned.
- Ridge Rebound Club
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________________________________
2009 Skyland Delaware West 2010
Friday Dec 18th
Ridge @ Warren Hills 7pm
North Hunterdon @ Phillipsburg 7pm
Voorhees @ Hunterdon Central 7pm
STANDINGS & RECORDS
| Place |
Team |
League |
Overall |
| 1 |
Ridge |
0-0 |
0-0 |
| 2 |
Phillipsburg |
0-0 |
0-0 |
| 3 |
Voorhees |
0-0 |
0-0 |
| 4 |
Hunterdon Central |
0-0 |
0-0 |
| 5 |
North Hunterdon |
0-0 |
0-0 |
| 6 |
Warren Hills |
0-0 |
0-0 |
______________________
2009 Skyland Delaware East 2010
Friday Dec 18th
Watchung Hills @ Hillsboro 7pm
Franklin @ Montgomery 7pm
Immaculata @ Bridgewater 7pm
STANDINGS AND RECORDS
| Place |
Team |
League |
Overall |
| 1 |
Immaculata |
0-0 |
0-0 |
| 2 |
Hillsborough |
0-0 |
0-0 |
| 3 |
Watchung Hills |
0-0 |
0-0 |
| 4 |
Franklin |
0-0 |
0-0 |
| 5 |
Montgomery |
0-0 |
0-0 |
| 6 |
Bridgewater |
0-0 |
0-0 |
View professional photos courtesy of Phil Milot (RHS '10):
http://ridgephotos.com/Links.html
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There's something going on
in the Ridge Red Devils' Gym -
Come out & be a part of it!
A look back at what was written after Ridge's
semifinal loss to Plainfield to end last season....
When Coach Taylor took over a struggling Ridge program few in the community envisioned a night like friday night. The parents that were there three years ago when he was first introduced remember longtime area hoop coach and the new JV coach, Jimmy Ayers, calling Ridge a 'sleeping giant'. Few in attendance that night believed anything was going to change. Some expressed skepticism and even said, "We've heard this all before!"
Friday night, in front of an SRO crowd estimated at 1800, and facing a talented Cardinal team from the Queen City, the giant awoke and there was a difference this time; there was no back-down and no quit in this Red Devils' team. This team was prepared for this moment and they belonged.Going toe-to-toe with the top Public in NJ for 32mins is not something people in the Somerset Hills are used to seeing. Ridge negated the visitors superior athleticism with superior toughness. One of the Plainfield starters was asked after the game to rate the nights' opponent and w/o hesitation he said 'this team tonite (Ridge) was the 2nd toughest team we faced all year.'
Getting off to a quick 6-2 start behind Andrew Madlinger's (16pts, 4 treys) 2 deep 3-pointers from the corner, the Red Devils made it clear that this prizefight was going to go the distance. In a defensive first half battle, where every shot was contested and both teams struggled to score in the half court, Ridge found itself down 19-17 at intermission. It was a halftime score many of the Ridge fans would have signed onto at the start of the night. The Red Devils were handling the pressure and getting open looks while their 3-1-1 match-up zone/trap was turning the Cardinal marksman into bricklayers. Plainfield's Coach Lubreski tried to change his luck by going man-to-man to start the 2nd half and it was effective at speeding up the game. In a back and forth second half that saw both teams make mini-runs it was Ishaq Pitt's (10pts) driving reverse (And-1) lay-up that tied the score at 25 apiece w/ just under 3mins to play in the 3rd that brought the house down. It appeared that Ridge had seized the high ground in this N2G4 war.
But Plainfield showed the poise of champions going on a 12-7 run (7pts from the charity line) to take a 37-32 lead into the final frame. The Cardinal lead expanded to 50-42 with 2:25 left to play when things began to rapidly unravel for the visitors. Chedda and T-Bone and Will Chill were spotted rallying the Plfd faithful. Ishaq Pitt knocked down 4 FT's on two straight possessions to make it 50-46. Then after another steal, Nick Cefalo(12pts) hit a free throw with 1:15 left to cut the lead to 50-47. Then Conor Skea (7pts) made the play of the game stealing the ball out of a double team and getting hammered
going to the hole. He calmly sank both free-throws to cut the lead to 50-49 w/ 54 secs to play.
The crowd was ready to explode. But on this night, it was not meant to be. Ridge's magical season ended one game from the NJSIAA State Sectional Finals that would have pitted them against a Piscataway team that they had already beaten. It was a night not soon forgotten in the Somerset Hills of NJ.
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