The Ramapo Green Raiders (18-10) outlasted the Demarest Norsemen (22-6) in a tenacious battle, 41-37, in the North Jersey Section 1, Group 3 Tournament title game at Northern Valley Regional High School at Demarest in Demarest, New Jersey.
@RamapoBball defeats @DemarestNv 41-37 in @NJSIAA #NorthJerseySection1Group3 Final tonight @NVDemarest 🏀🏆 @ONNJSports pic.twitter.com/bROpOdttSf
— Sports News By Sunil Sunder Raj (@SunilSportsNews) March 8, 2025
Hudson Beauchamp netted a game-high 12 points for Ramapo, while A.J. Greig chipped in 10 points. Zach Schweid notched a team-high 16 points for Demarest, and Marco DeCroce totaled 13 points.
It was a low-scoring contest entering the fourth quarter as Ramapo led 28-26, but Demarest quickly tied the game up one minute into the final frame on a nifty spin-around jump shot by Marco De Croce in the paint.
The Green Raiders wasted no time countering as they worked the ball around the perimeter, then inside, and finally, A.J. Greig buried a corner triple with six and half minutes remaining. Demarest struck right back as Nick Gorenstein also drained a corner trifecta.
Fast and furious action continued as Ramapo’s Ryan Goldman took a pass from Finn Marrah and drove with a full head of steam down the middle of the lane and into the paint. Then, he switched the ball from his left to his right hand and flicked the ball off the glass as Goldman drew the contact. Goldman knocked down the free throw to complete the three-point play.
Demarest trailed 35-31 with less than four minutes left when Zach Schweid drove aggressively down the court, then turned the jet burners on as Schweid flipped up a phenomenal off-balanced left-handed layup off the glass.
The Norsemen still trailed 36-35 with under three minutes to go when Nick Gorenstein hit two free throws to put Demarest back in front.
Ramapo ignited a rebuttal as they worked the ball around the perimeter, which led to Finn Marrah canning a corner trey to put the Green Raiders ahead 38-36.
Demarest narrowed the gap to 38-37, then had multiple opportunities to reclaim the advantage, but several jump shots clanged off the rim.
The Green Raiders hit a couple of free throws in the closing minute to seal the victory. Once the final buzzer sounded, a raucous celebration ensued. Players streamed onto the court, and fans clapped thunderously.
