Ramapo boys basketball dominates on way to first state championship

PISCATAWAY − Ramapo captured its first New Jersey boys basketball championship with a dominant performance.

Returning to the NJSIAA Group 3 final for the second consecutive year, the Green Raiders defeated Nottingham, 55-42, Saturday afternoon at Rutgers' Jersey Mike's Arena.

Junior Chris Cervino scored a game-high 19 points, junior Peyton Seals had 16 points and 10 rebounds and senior Nate Burleson scored 12 to pace Ramapo.

“Coming here last year and losing was the worst feeling in the world,” Cervino said. “And just being able to push through all that and come back for vengeance and win, no words can explain it.”

Ramapo took control in the second quarter with a 16-2 run to open a 31-13 halftime lead that never fell below double digits.

Seals scored nine in the second quarter, and Cervino stroked two of his 4 3-pointers during the quarter, to put Ramapo (30-3) in command.

Nottingham, seeking its second state title and first since 2018, turned the ball over and shot poorly in the first two quarters.

Junior Donte Alexander led Nottingham (22-9) with 13 points, including a pair of 3-pointers to help cut the deficit to 15-11. Senior JP Dickerson, in early foul trouble, scored all of his 11 in the second half for the Northstars.

What it means

This marked the third time since 2019 that Ramapo reached the Group 3 final. Last season, the Green Raiders lost here to Woodrow Wilson, 43-42, and it was a motivator.

“Last year was a heartbreaking loss and we took it as motivation to come back, work extremely hard in the offseason, and it’s been our main goal the whole year,” said Seals, who also had three assists and two steals. “And just to get it done, it’s a huge relief.”

Ramapo won despite playing without two injured juniors, Wyatt Eglinton Manner and Nehemiah Burleson, who both were on crutches at Monday’s North 1, Group 3 final. They will be back in a senior-led lineup next season.

Key sequence

Ramapo’s 16-2 run to close the second quarter extended its lead to 31-13 and Nottingham never came closer than 35-23 early in the third.

Seals started the surge with a drive, then he fed Cervino for a 3-pointer from the top of the key for a 20-11 lead. Seals scored on a 15-footer, then Cervino hit a 3-pointer from the right corner for the first double-digit lead, 25-13.

Burleson scored on a transition drive to make it 27-13 and trigger a Nottingham timeout at 2:12. Sophomore Charlie Wingfield scored on a putback, and Seals made two free throws for the 31-13 lead.

All Nottingham could manage during the stretch was two free throws. During the Northstars’ 12 possessions, they missed all nine of their shots and committed two turnovers.

“I thought we executed our game plan really well,” said Ramapo coach Nick Vier, whose team ran a patient halfcourt offense and was opportunistic in transition. “They had the best player [Dickerson] get in foul trouble early and I think that hurt them.”

By the numbers

Ramapo shot 51 percent from the field (22-for-43), including 40 percent on 3-pointers (6-for-15), and 50 percent from the foul line (5-for-10). Cervino shot 7-for-13 from the field, including 4-for-7 from beyond the arc.

“Last year when we lost, I knew I had a chip on my shoulder,” Cervino said. “And that this year, I knew I was going to have that [big] game, and it happened.”

“Cervino was huge tonight. He made shot after shot,” Vier said. “Wingfield did his job. Everyone played their roles and played them very well.”

Ramapo’s role players excelled, with Wingfield producing eight points, nine rebounds and three assists. Junior Zach Schnorbusch was scoreless, but he had a team-high six assists as well as two rebounds.

Nottingham missed a bunch of shots in the lane and shot 35 percent from the field (15-for-43). Interestingly, the Northstars shot 50 percent from beyond the arc (6-for-12). They shot just 35 percent from the line (6-for-17).

They said it

“I’m obviously very excited,” Vier said. “I know the history, and the struggles we’ve had over the last few years getting over the hump. And winning this game, I’m super excited for my team, for the program, for the Ramapo community.”

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Ramapo NJ boys basketball dominates on way to first state title