Boys basketball: North Jersey highlights from Day 2 of the state tournament
ORADELL – Maurice Williams had as memorable a debut in the state tournament as you’ll see this season, maybe any season, in the Garden State.
Williams, a junior, scored 38 points, including the final basket, to seal Dwight Morrow’s 61-56 victory over River Dell in Thursday night’s North 1, Group 3 boys basketball opener.
Williams shot 15-for-25 from the field (60 percent) and his layup with one second left came after River Dell missed a potential game-tying 3-pointer.
“I wasn’t really focused on my points,” Williams said after ninth-seeded Dwight Morrow beat No. 8 River Dell for the third time this season. “I was just looking at the scoreboard to see if we were winning.”
Dwight Morrow (16-11) had difficulty scoring against River Dell’s zone and Williams set up in the middle of the defense and scored 23 points in the first half to help deliver a 29-26 halftime lead. He hit a quartet of 3-pointers and also played good defense.
“This is my guy,” Dwight Morrow coach Andre Hampton said. “He works hard and he’s reaping the benefits of his hard work in practice.”
Senior Liam Hickey scored 20 for River Dell, including a 3-pointer at the halftime buzzer. Senior Sean Golden scored 12 of his 16 in the second half, including a three-point play to give the Golden Hawks (15-10) a 47-46 lead.
Junior Damani Williams (eight points) came up big in the final minutes for Dwight Morrow. He hit a 3-pointer from the left wing to give the Maroon Raiders a 53-49 lead, and he made two free throws with 30 seconds remaining for a 58-54 lead.
“It’s very difficult to beat a team three times in one season,” said Hampton, whose team faces top-seeded Ramapo in Tuesday's quarterfinals. “We knew the blueprint was to try to keep the pressure on them, and we were able to do it. We knew it was going to be a close one, but we came out on top.”
Elsewhere in North 1, Group 3
Ramapo rolls
Top-seeded Ramapo opened defense of its NJSIAA Group 3 championship with a 70-39 victory over No. 16 Passaic Valley. Senior Chris Cervino scored 20 and senior Wyatt Eglinton Manner 15 for Ramapo (20-8). Senior Jordan Corprew scored 16 for Passaic Valley (11-12).
Demarest in double-overtime
Demarest, the No. 4 seed, needed two overtimes to escape with a 62-59 victory over No. 13 Old Tappan. Senior Brandon Srebnik scored 23 and junior Zach Schweid 22 as the Norsemen (20-5) beat their Big North National Division rival for the third time this season. Senior Evan Brooks scored 19 and sophomore Isaac Shraeger 17 for Old Tappan (9-17). Demarest will host No. 5 Teaneck in Tuesday's quarterfinals and has split two regular-season meetings against its Big North National Division rival.
Teaneck sweeps
Sophomore Mickell Taylor scored 18 and No. 5 Teaneck (18-8) delivered a 65-59 win over No. 12 Pascack Valley (11-15). Juniors Jarrell Harmitt and Nasir Middleton scored 12 apiece as the Highwaymen topped their Big North National Division rival for the third time this season. Junior Devin Merker scored 26 and junior Trevor Kirkby 15 for Pascack Valley (11-15).
Tenafly hangs on
Junior Dan Regev led a balanced attack with 14 points as No. 6 Tenafly (15-9) held off No. 11 Parsippany Hills, 53-50. Junior Jake Yanofsky scored 13 and sophomore Nick Lewin nine for the Tigers. Tenafly will play Tuesday's quarterfinal at No. 3 Wayne Valley.
Wayne Valley’s streak hits 13
Senior Omar Ali hit a handful of 3-pointers and scored 28 to pace No. 3 Wayne Valley to a 72-42 win over No. 14 Bergenfield. Senior Anthony Apicella scored 16 as the Passaic County champion Indians (21-5) extended their winning streak to 13 games.
Northern Highlands dominates
Junior Lucas Dipasupil scored 28 and No. 2 Northern Highlands rolled to a 72-41 victory over No. 15 Morris Hills. Senior Sawyer Chapler added 15 points for the Highlanders (19-7). Northern Highlands will host No. 7 Morris Knolls in Tuesday's quarterfinals.
North 2, Group 3
Cliffside Park at the buzzer
Senior Brian Gonzalez hit a jumper at the buzzer to lift No. 7 Cliffside Park to a 49-48 victory over No. 10 West Morris. Senior Ryan Rojas and freshman Thomas Calabrese scored 11 apiece and senior Kenderick Hunter scored 10 for the Red Raiders (15-11). Cliffside Park advances to Tuesday's quarterfinals at No. 2 South Plainfield.
North 1, Group 1
Paterson Charter picks up the pace
Top-seeded Paterson Charter defeated No. 16 Bogota, 79-46, behind 28 points from senior Amare Devonish. Senior Ka’Juan Gee scored 17 and senior Deangelo Hibbert 13 for the Lions (21-3). Paterson Charter will host No. 9 Mountain Lakes in Tuesday's quarterfinals.
Cresskill keeps it balanced
Junior Omer Tal led five players in double figures with 19 points and No. 2 Cresskill (15-12) cruised to a 77-41 win over No. 15 Midland Park (9-16). Senior Marko Radovich scored 17, senior Jack Hayward 14, sophomore Luke Kopczynski 12 and senior Rocco Webster 10 as the Cougars beat their NJIC Patriot Division rival for the third time this season. Cresskill will host No. 10 Kinnelon in Tuesday's quarterfinals.
New Milford holds on
Junior Luis Placido scored 16 and sophomore Dariel Liranzo 13 to lead No. 3 New Milford (19-7) to a 47-44 victory over No. 14 Hasbrouck Heights (9-16). New Milford will host No. 6 Waldwick in Tuesday's quarterfinals, and it beat Waldwick last month, 62-60.
Waldwick wins in final seconds
Freshman Antonio Miccinilli scored the last of his team-high 15 on a basket with three seconds left to lift No. 6 Waldwick past No. 11 Hawthorne, 44-42. Senior Ryan Balatbat added 14 points for the Warriors (15-10). Senior Dylan Cambian scored 19 for Hawthorne (11-10).
Park Ridge owns second half
Sophomore Sam Fasola scored 23 and senior senior Deron McLaughlin 18 to guide No. 4 Park Ridge (14-11) to a 52-36 win over No. 13 Boonton. Park Ridge will host No. 5 West Caldwell Tech in Tuesday's quarterfinals.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: North Jersey highlights from Day 2 of state boys basketball tournament
