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Ridge-Linden

I am happy for ARt.

Athletic team like linden, but the key to the game was a 40 pound overweight big guy.

They really go after it.
 
Great game. Ridge cut the lead to 2 early 4th quarter on a couple of Mahoney dunks. Linden was relentless as usual, made their foul shots down the stretch and ended up winning by 10. In my opinion, two of the top three coaches in the state.
 
On another note Hillsborough won Central Jersey Group 4. lost all their starters from last year. Including the son of Coach Panagos. Nice job by them.
 
Shields they were a 12 seed too. Pretty impressive.
 
Ridge must have had 6 4th Q turnovers. Mental fatigue set in. That is why I am such a huge proponent of on ball pressure. Wears you down.

Livingston made 2 FTs in end for only points. I noticed at halftime someone in his ear yelling at him. He went from a facilitator in half 1 to a guy trying to do too much in the 2nd half. I came away impressed with the other 3 linden guards.
 
Linden's pressure defense wore down Ridge. Otis was under the weather and only scored 3 points on 3-4 from the line. He did have several nice assists but the other players on Linden really stepped up. Wally Dixon's son really stepped up (big guy who scored 16) as did Josh Carter who had 2 fouls in the first 3 minutes of the game and sat until the second half. He scored all of his 13 points in the second half. Mahoney or Maloney on Ridge is pretty good but every field goal he made was a layup and two dunks and I think a couple foul shots. He does know the game. Ridge ran a few nice offensive plays and I think made four 3's in the first half but no more than one in the second half. Linden pushed them farther from the basket in the second half. The big question is why was Greenricefig wearing a Seton Hall baseball shirt. Was he in incognito? I was shocked.
 
In the other sectional finals of Group IV

Paterson Eastside defeated East Orange 74-64'

Hillsborough defeated Freehold 66-58 in Central Jersey.

Cherry Hill East defeated Cherokee 48-39 in 2 OT's in South Jersey.

Wednesday Linden will play Paterson Eastside in Elizabeth and Hillsborough should play Cherry Hill East. I am guessing that game might be in Toms River but I am not certain.
 
The ball did not move as much as normal for Ridge. There was a mismatch all day long with Mahoney inside, but linden guards applied so much pressure that ridge couldn't take advantage.

I want colloichio, or whatever, as coach. I love the way he interacts with his kids. Players are accountable and he seems to have total respect from his players. He, and Feath, coach non stop. The pace of the game in the half court blows away anything we see at the RAC. RU guards not named Williams would not be allowed to see the court with these 2 coaches.
 
GRF, I appreciate your being happy for me. The atmosphere at Ridge was outstanding tonight. Ridge's students were really behind their team. RU students could learn something from them. The schedule that Linden played I think really prepared them for this game. Hopefully Linden can win on Wednesday and make it back to the RAC on Sunday.
 
knights, were you wearing a black Linden hat with a Rutgers polo or were you one of the several Linden fans wearing RU hats?
 
I was wearing my LHS hat as I played baseball for LHS and ran cross country there. I was only wearing a flannel shirt and a brown jacket. I will be at tomorrow's game in Elizabeth and if Linden is fortunate enough to win I will be at the RAC on Sunday. I will watch the RU game afterwards when I get home. It is killing me that Linden and RU are both playing at 7PM. I really hope RU can end their losing streak but just maybe they can win when I am not watching the game live.

Yes, Linden defeated Paterson Eastside last year 76-60 but I believe the two teams met in the state semi finals in Elizabeth in 2010 or 2011 and almost everyone thought Linden would win but Paterson Eastside won in overtime. I think the game will be very exciting. Paterson Eastside played many tough games also this season to prepare for this type of game.
 
Originally posted by Greene Rice FIG:
Ridge must have had 6 4th Q turnovers. Mental fatigue set in. That is why I am such a huge proponent of on ball pressure. Wears you down.
I agree. This is especially true when you have a team with no depth like Ridge, who basically played only 6 guys all year.
 
Originally posted by RU-ROCS:

Originally posted by Greene Rice FIG:
Ridge must have had 6 4th Q turnovers. Mental fatigue set in. That is why I am such a huge proponent of on ball pressure. Wears you down.
I agree. This is especially true when you have a team with no depth like Ridge, who basically played only 6 guys all year.
He played 8 most of the year. 1 of the 8 didn't play.

One of the other keys off the game was Mahoney getting his 2nd foul late in the 1st. When he was out linden took a lead and stretched it and Ridge never regained it.

Every possession had so much meaning for both teams. Both teams left it all on the floor.
 
Both teams are very similar: well coached, little unforced errors, fundamentally sound and give 100% every game. Sounds like the team we see at the RAC ... oh wait ...
 
Originally posted by shields:

On another note Hillsborough won Central Jersey Group 4. lost all their starters from last year. Including the son of Coach Panagos. Nice job by them.
Hillsborough now gets to play Toms River East in a "neutral" location... Egg Harbor. Two hour drive for Hillsborough...
 
Originally posted by Greene Rice FIG:

He played 8 most of the year. 1 of the 8 didn't play.

One of the other keys off the game was Mahoney getting his 2nd foul late in the 1st. When he was out linden took a lead and stretched it and Ridge never regained it.

Every possession had so much meaning for both teams. Both teams left it all on the floor.
True. But in the county and the state tournament, it was basically 6.
 
It is true Mahoney was out for about 5 minutes if that but Linden only had Carter for the first 3 minutes and he had 2 fouls. He than sat for the rest of the half and only had 1 shot and 0 points at the half. He took over the game in the third period scoring 10 points in the 3rd quarter and 3 more in the 4th quarter. The one foul on Mahoney he completely lost his cool. He played many more minutes than Carter did who is Linden's second highest scorer on the season. It is all part of the game.
 
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