Ridge Pulls Off Stunning Overtime Win Against Gil St. Bernards

The Ridge High School boys basketball team faced Gill St. Bernard's on Thursday night, snatching a home victory away from the Knights at the last second of overtime, settling the score at 67-66. With Ridge clawing their way back from a fourteen point, third quarter deficit, the two top teams in Somerset County battled it out as if it were a county final.

"Both teams played phenomenal," said Ridge head coach Mark Taylor. "If we had lost it would have been a shame, Gill losing is a shame. Obviously these are two of the better teams in the county."

The Devils (12-3) were led by four of their players who hit double-digits. They include; Andrew Madlinger, with nineteen; Nick Cefalo, who put in sixteen; Conor Skea, with eleven and Christian Frisoli, who added ten---plus the game-deciding shot.

The Knights (9-3), who had three score in double digit's, were topped by Alex Mitola, sinking nineteen. Dominic Hoffman and Jaren Sina followed closely, each with eighteen. 

The first half saw Gill St. Bernard's leading 27-16, but it was during the third quarter that the Devil's offense really delivered, part in thanks to a slip in the Knights defense.

"Arguably, these are two of the better teams in the county. There's a lot of emotion. We did not play on lock with this game. The first half was like a boxing match, with both teams feeling each other out," Taylor commented.

The third quarter brought game-changing intensity to the table with Ridge's blast of three pointers, resulting in the Devils pouring in thirty-two points. Both teams combined for a total of fifty-five points in the period, which closed out at 50-48, with the Devils hot on the Knight's trail.

"The third quarter opened up. We took advantage of some things they weren't doing defensively in the third, and we were able to get 32 points," said Taylor.

With less than two minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, Madlinger's field goal and Cefalo's pair of free throws sent the game into overtime, at 61-61.

At 2:45 left on the clock of the extra period, Hoffman added two points to the Knights score from a couple of free throws, extending a slight lead over the Devils, 63-61. Madlinger responded with a three-pointer, now giving Ridge the advantage, 64-63, with just 1:15 left. Dylan Kerwin helped to broaden the lead, 65-63, with a free throw at 28 seconds remaining.

With fifteen seconds ticking on the overtime clock, Louis Valdes pulled Gill St. Bernard ahead, sinking a field goal to make it 66-65. However, the Devils had other plans. While working the ball around the perimeter, keeping it out of the Knights hands, Cefalo found Frisoli with a hand-off fifteen feet left of the basket. With an off-balance shot, Frisoli sank the ball at the sound of the overtime buzzer. 

"We ran the double for Andrew, and he came off and knocked it down. Nick handed off to Christian, which set him up, but it was a big time play, a tough shot," added Taylor. "It worked out well. It was a high level of intensity."