Schools
PHOTOS: Ridge Basketball Drops County Tournament to Montgomery
After Ridge takes command earlier in the game, Montgomery Cougars win 48-41 in Saturday tournament game.
Even in losses, the Ridge varsity boys basketball have had victory in sight in nearly all their games this season. Saturday's Somerset County Tournament game was another contest went that went the course with the Red Devils in the lead against Montgomery High School at the end of the first two quarters.
But, ultimately, Ridge came up short for a final score that went to Montgomery, 48-41. Ridge's record now is 7-9.
The Ridge players, as defending Somerset County Champs, had their job cut out for them. Facing 12-6 Montgomery in the county tournament was not going to be an easy task. The Cougars' season losses were to teams like Bridgewater-Raritan, Immaculata High School in Somerville, Hillsborough and Linden. Those were teams that Ridge knows and played tough this season, despite Ridge's victory last week against Immaculata.
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The first quarter had its normal "feeling out" period. Both teams played strong defense and struggled to put up any points. Ridge ended with a 10-9 advantage on 3 pointers from Dylan Kerwin and Dillon Mahon and 2 each from Brett Matzen and Tom Gambino.
In the second quarter, Ridge took command of the game. Shutting down the entire Montgomery team except for Ryan McCoy (4 points in period), Ridge took the lead 22-13 at the half. Scoring for Ridge were J.B. Kole (4), Dylan Kerwin (3) Brett Matzen (3) and Tom Gambino (2).
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Coming back from the half, Montgomery opened with a solid press that threw off the Red Devils' stride. Coach Mark Taylor observed, "We had the wrong guys in the wrong position and we got a little confused."
The tide had turned, and Montgomery closed the gap to 29-26. Taylor was disappointed. "We stopped closing out on defense and they got hot," he said.
And Montgomery's Matt Mignon was scalding. Mignon scored all his 12 points in the fourth quarter leading the Cougars to a 22 point period. "We let the shooters shoot. Number 4 (Mignon) had three 3-pointers and took us out of the game," Taylor said.
The Ridge team did not go quietly. During the fourth, Jack Kerwin scored his 8 points and Conor Skea added 3.
The final score was 48-41.
Scoring for Ridge: Tom Gambino 9, Jack Kerwin 8, Dylan Kerwin and J.B, Kole with 6, Brett Matzen 5, Conor Skea 4, and Dillon Mahon with 3.
The Ridge boys basketball team travels to North Hunterdon Tuesday.
