Ridge Routs Hunterdon Central, Clinches Conference Outright

With a pending date against impressive Monroe looming at Friday's Primetime Shootout, Ridge didn't lose its focus or its true mission with a 74-46 drubbing of Hunterdon Central Regional High School Tuesday night in Flemington.

The win for Ridge (15-3) was its eighth in a row and 26th straight in the Skyland Delaware West Conference.

But most importantly, the win clinches the conference title outright for Ridge, their third straight year of winning it.

"This is big," said Red Devils coach Mark Taylor of winning the conference outright when reached by phone after the game. "Monroe is a good team but we're not going to discuss Friday's game. Friday is meant to be fun.

"One of our big goals is to finish undefeated in the conference. Our main focus is the county tournament and we begin play Saturday against Franklin."

While the Red Devils wait for the weekend and Mother Nature's wrath in between, Ridge can take solace with the blossoming play of junior center Tom Gambino, who scored 13 points, a new career-high (he recently set the mark against Warren Hills on Jan. 26), and snared down eight rebounds.

"Tom played his most complete game of the season tonight," said Taylor. "He ran the floor well and what's happening is he's getting more confident in his abilities.

"As a result of this, two things are happening. First is other big men can't leave him and gamble defensively because that frees up room for our guards to penetrate. Secondly, when we post him up and when he's finishing, that gives our guards open shots because the other team is forced to double."

The multi-purpose threat Gambino has become freed up shooting and driving lanes for Ridge's heralded guards. Senior swingman Andrew Madlinger finished with a game-high 27 points and connected on four 3-pointers. Fellow senior Nick Cefalo dished out 12 assists and Christian Frisoli finished with 17 points.

"The confidence our guards have in Tom has grown," said Taylor. "And that breeds confidence in our entire team; they are sharing the ball beautifully."

The Red Devils broke open a close game after one quarter (Ridge led 15-11) with a 22-7 second quarter run.

"We didn't do anything majorly different," said Taylor. "We trapped more in the second quarter and we forced them to play full-court basketball.

"We took them out of their half-court sets and forced them to play fast. We enjoy that tempo."