Ramapo College………………. This is not a typo and it’s actually a true statement! Bergen Catholic and Teaneck H.S., two of the best programs for years played in the quarterfinals of the Bergen County Jamboree and gave us a 27-25 game. Oh yeah, Bergen Catholic shocked the Jamboree defending champs! Believe it or not the game was actually pretty exciting, being that a 2 point lead could look insurmountable in the eyes of both teams. Teaneck held the lead at the end of the 1st half 16-12 and the end of the 3rd 20-19 but the reality is they seemed to play right into the hands of what Bergen Catholic wanted, a low scoring grind it out game. It didn’t help that Teaneck played without the services of 6’3 senior Travon King (personal reasons)and that was a problem as Bergen Catholic out rebounded the Highwayman 27 -15. The biggest rebound coming with 23 seconds on the clock as junior Maurice Grant(pictured) became the hero as he grabbed a missed shot and went back up to give Bergen the lead 27-25. Teaneck never got a real good shot offat the end. Junior Mark Richards led B.C. with 9 points and 11 rebounds and Grant finished with 6 points and 6 rebounds. Teaneck got 7 points and 4 assists  from Owen Barnes, who fouled out late in the game and was key to them not winning. Senior Jonathan Blue finished with 6 points  and 6 rebounds. Senior sharp shooter Kyle Steinbergin was held to 2 points.

Ramapo College………..Junior star Vaughn Gray(#5) was his usual self in scoring 22 points, grabbing 5 rebounds and getting 3 steals, but the 56-48 Prep victory had a lot to do with Gray’s supporting cast. Sophomore’s Jemal Mosley and Leonte Carroo(Mosley #15 pictured with Carroo) came off the bench to provide scoring and defensive energy in this hard fought contest. Old Tappan is one of the better teams at finding a way to get good looks in their offensive sets and the formula seemed to be working until Gray and his mates picked up the intensity in the 2nd half and forced Old Tappan to speed up and eventually tire out. Mosley finished with 13 points and 5 assists, while Carroo helped out with 8 points and 6 rebounds. Old Tappan was led by junior Shane McLaughlin with 12 points and Tim Brophy with 9. Senior Thomas Messina was held to 8 points by DBP.

Ramapo College…………. Down 30-29 at the half, then trailing by 11 in the middle of the 3rd quarter Paramus Catholic faced a true gut check. What they did was answer the call in their 66-58 win over Indian Hills H.S. Paramus Catholic overcame a box and one defense implemented  on senior Andre Blackwood to finally figure it out by going inside to 6’7 big man Justin Harris(pictured in black) which  freed up Blackwood from the perimeter. The two players combined for 24 second half points as P.C. took the lead at 48-46 by the end of the quarter. Indian Hills played a great 1st half, holding Blackwood scoreless behind the defensive pressure of senior Chris Torres. Paramus Catholic’s junior Manny Hernandez( #44) kept them in the game by scoring all of his 11 points in the 1st half. P.C. then put second half pressure to cause Indian Hills into some turnovers and rushed shots. Harris scored 12 of his 14 points in the 2nd half and added 14 rebounds. Blackwood finished with 12 points and 4 assists. Senior Eddie Johnson added 10 points. Senior Johnberry Badio came away with some big rebounds down the stretch for Paramus Catholic. Indian Hills was led by Jason Chalmers with 14 points and 6 rebounds and Andrew Ballester’s 16 points.