Sports Update: Girls Drop Tourney Opener

After coming into the Bergen County Tournament with back-to-back wins, the girls basketball team dropped the tournament's opener to Cresskill Jan. 30.

Ranked as a slight favorite (No. 16 to Cresskill's 17), the Maroons battled tough in Dumont. The game came down to the wire, and Cresskill outlasted Ridgewood 39-36.

The Maroons mounted a second-half comeback that nearly came through. Down 25-15 at halftime, Ridgewood outscored Cresskill 21-14 in the second half, but finished short in the end.

Since qualifying for the Bergen County tournament, star sophomore Kelci Smesko's play slackened a bit. Posting two 30-points games prior to clinching the bid, Smesko was held to 16 points in a win against Passaic Tech, and scored only 12 points against Cresskill Saturday.

The Maroons host Passaic High School Feb. 2 at 4:15 p.m. and travel to Wayne Hills High School Feb. 4 at 7 p.m.

Wrestling

A wacky scheduling week trimmed the Maroons bouts from four to two, as Passaic Tech dropped from Saturday's tri-match with Ramapo and Friday's match verse Kearney was cancelled.

In the two matches it did have, Ridgewood wrestled tough and earned a split—beating Fair Lawn Jan. 27 and losing to Ramapo Jan. 30.

The Saturday defeat was especially tough as then the 13-2 Maroons lost to a then-sub .500 Ramapo club (6-7). Ridgewood dropped the contest, 39-27.

With two full weeks left until playoff wrestling commences, Ridgewood faces three matches this week: Saddle Brook and Glen Rock (Feb. 2), Hackensack (Feb. 3), and Eastside (Feb. 5).  

Boys Basketball

Despite a poor first-half showing, the boys basketball team has started its second half off with a two-game winning streak.

Thanks to consistent play all season from senior forward James Albano, the boys are trying to make the long climb back to .500. With wins last week over Passaic County Tech and Clifton, the Maroons look to rally back from their 5-10 record.

Albano posted 28 and 22 points respectively against PCT and Clifton. Jack Simmons chipped in with 12 and 19 points, as well. Coach Mike Troy's team beat PCT 47-42 (Jan. 28) and crushed Clifton 71-44 (Jan. 26).

The team travels to Passaic High School Feb. 2 for a 4:15 p.m. game and hosts Wayne Hills Feb. 4 at 4:15 p.m.