Sports
Ridge Boys Score 21st Straight Win, Beating Watchung Hills
Seniors carry scoring led by Jake Mahon at unbeaten team's Senior Night.
Tuesday night was Senior Night for Ridge Red Devils boys basketball, a team riding an amazing unbeaten season. And the game, against state sectional rival Watchung Hills Regional, was a battle the Devils pulled out with gritty determination.
The game was scheduled to showcase the senior members of the Ridge squad and they clearly showed they were for real. Ridge was leading by a single point at the half, and Watchung Hills tied the game up at 26 with three minutes remaining in the 3rd quarter.
It was Devil Jake Mahon who broke it open in the final seconds of the period,scoring a layup and a 3-point basket as part of a 9-point quarter that put Ridge ahead to stay.
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Seniors Eric Klacik, Matt Gerrity, Lane Legband, Hugh Morris and Jake Mahon accounted for 42 of the team's 47 points led by Mahon with a season high 14 points.
"I haven't really been shooting that well in the previous games. It was senior night, and I said 'Why not do it tonight?'" said Mahon.
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"We had a tough night offensively — our defense is never the problem. We still held them to 37 points and 18 at the half," Mahon added. "Offensively, we just have to start shooting the ball better."
Thursday night at 7 p.m. Ridge, ranked No. 11 by NJ.com, will try to hold onto their unbeaten record up against No. 17 Gill St. Bernards in what should be their toughest test of the season.
"I can't wait, it is going to be awesome," said Matt Gerrity. "We are definitely going to be coming out firing on that game. We are not worried about energy. It is going to be a fun game and a big crowd, too."
