Photos by Jerry Simon: Bloomfield vs. North Bergen (North 1, Group 4 semifinals), March 3.
BLOOMFIELD, NJ – The Bloomfield High School boys’ varsity basketball team unfortunately came up short in its bid for a second straight state section title.
The defending champion and ninth-seeded Bengals fell at fourth-seeded North Bergen, 73-60, in the semifinals of the NJSIAA North Jersey Section 1, Group 4 state tournament on Saturday, March 3.
Junior guard Michael Ramos scored 23 points; junior forward Will Robinson had 18 points and six rebounds and senior guard Richie Guillaume had 16 points and six rebounds for the Bengals.
Under the guidance of head coach Pat Brunner, the Bengals finished another stellar season with a 22-7 record..
North Bergen led 30-26 at the half. The Bengals cut it to 41-40 on senior guard Kyle Barrow’s basket, his only two points of the game, with two minutes left in the third quarter. But North Bergen closed the quarter leading 49-44. North Bergen pulled away in the fourth quarter to improve to 21-7.
BHS defeated eighth-seeded Fair Lawn, 56-47, in the first round Feb. 27 at Fair Lawn.
Ramos scored 18 points and Robinson had 13 points.
The game was tied 32-32 at the end of the third quarter. Bloomfield outscored Fair Lawn, 24-15 in the fourth quarter. Barrow had 11 points and Guillaume had 10.
The Bengals had an easy time in upsetting top-seeded Randolph, 59-34, in the quarterfinals March 1 at Randolph.Guillaume scored 19 points and Ramos had 17. Senior center Mayowa Akindebe and Barrow each had five points; Robinson had four; junior guard Tochi Anyanwu and senior guard Jamir Ramos each had three; senior forward Aaron Henry added two and junior guard Kevin Mitchell chipped in a free throw.
The Bengals last season won the North Jersey Section 1, Group 4 title before finishing 24-6. It was their first state section title since 1977.
Brunner completed his 13th season at the BHS helm.
About the Author
