NORTH 1 GROUP 3 SECTIONAL “CHIP”!: TEANECK DEFEATS RAMAPO 67-47!

Ramapo, N.J…In front of the naysayers, Teaneck came to Ramapo and pulled off an impressive 67-47 victory to win the North 1 Group 3 Sectional title!

Sophomore Ja’Quaye James(right) led the way with 17 points, 8 assists and 4 steals and Senior Geani Bannerman(far right) played his best game of the year with 20 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists to help Teaneck pull off the win! Ramapo led after one quarter 12-11 and with Star Junior Juwaun Daniels in foul trouble the Green Raiders seemed poised to take control of the contest! Teaneck had other ideas as they outscored Ramapo 17-5 to take a 28-17 halftime lead! Bannerman’s 10 first half points and James 8 led Teaneck! In the second half Teaneck maintained an 8 to 11 point point lead! Ramapo’s last real threat came when they cut the lead to six, but Teaneck went on a 9-0 run to push the lead to 45-35 and that just about sealed the fate! The highlight of the run was a ankle breaking move by James which resulted in the defender falling and James stepping back for a set shot “triple” which brought the Teaneck faithful out their seats and turned it into a dagger like play! Ramapo behind the play of Senior Matt Latka, fought but could not get over the hump! Latka finished with 22 points and 11 rebounds and Senior Joe O’Hagan added 10 points and 5 assists and Senior Chris Gordon chipped in 9 points! Senior Nick Whitaker who was a defensive presence throughout the game finished with 12 points, 8 rebounds and an impressive 7 blocked shots! Daniels chipped in 8 points, 8 rebounds and 3 blocks as Teaneck blocked 14 shots as a team! Teaneck will now meet Warren Hills in the North Championship at East Orange Campus on Thursday!

FAREWELL NOTES:  Gardenstatehoops would like to acknowlegdge the Ramapo Senior’s probably the winningest group of players in Ramapo’s history! Matt Latka, Frankie Aiello, Chris Gordon, Pete Caride, Keith Woetzel, Ryan Curtiss, Joe O’Hagan, Kyle Rice, Robert Skead and the injured Jack Schofield! Ramapo should be proud of the way these players represented their school on and off the court! Curtiss, O’Hagan(bottom left and right) and Woetzel are All-County football players who will see action on the gridiron on the next level next season! Aiello is a tough defender who is good at creating for his teammates and Gordon(far right) is a lights out shooter from long range who can also defend! Special shout goes to Latka(near right)! The 6’3 Senior has had a phenomenal Highschool career! He is a 1,000 point scorer and recognized as one of the best players in Northern New Jersey as well as the State!  Matt has the ability to play at a D-1 level and would definitely be a top level D-2 guy! These type schools would be getting a major coop if they got him! Latka is a friend of the site over the years as he has been on the basketball circuit for almost a decade and his commitment to the game will in the end pay dividends for him! Gardenstatehoops would like to congratulate these players and their families on their tremendous scholastic careers and the best in the future!