Glen Ridge HS boys’ basketball team looks to make another run

Photo by Steve Ellmore
Glen Ridge High’s Simon Low looks to pass during the North 2, Group 1 state sectional final against Bloomfield Tech last season.

GLEN RIDGE, NJ – The Glen Ridge High School boys’ varsity basketball team enjoyed tremendous success in each of the past two seasons.

In both years, the Ridgers finished as runner-up in the NJSIAA North Jersey Section 2, Group 1 state tournament. In 2017, the top-seeded Ridgers lost to seventh-seeded University, 53-51, on a buzzer-beater in the final at home to finish with a 23-6 mark. Last season, as the No. 2 seed, they fell at top-seeded Bloomfield Tech, 43-38, in the title game to end at 21-8.

GRHS last season also was crowned Super Essex Conference-Independence Division champion.

With head coach Liam Carr entering his 13th season at the helm, the Ridgers hope to achieve another successful season.

The four returning players are:

Simon Low, 6-foot-2 senior forward
Kevin Mathew, 5-10 senior forward
Joe DeLuca, 6-0 junior guard
Sam Trunley, 6-2 sophomore guard

Low and Kevin Mathew will serve as senior captains.

The Ridgers lost five players from last year’s team. Tyler Liddy, David Weissenberger, Christian Samuels and George Kinzler have graduated, while Liam Gunnarsson transferred to the Hun School.

The other players on this year’s team are 5-9 junior guard Aiden Connaghan, 6-1 junior forward Matt Van Bloem, 5-10 freshman guard Carter Koenig, 5-5 freshman guard Bryan Moussako, 5-11 freshman forward Ryan O’Neil, and 6-3 freshman forward Andrew Snyder.

“Losing the basketball talent we had from last year and having to compete in the SEC-Colonial this season will be an arduant task,” Carr said. “If our summer league was any indication, I think we will be a scrappy group that strives to play tough team defense. If we take care of the ball and improve as the season progresses, we may surprise some teams.”

The Ridgers tip off the season Friday, Dec. 14, against a tough Dunellen team at Faber Elementary School in Dunellen at 6 p.m. GRHS then plays at Brearley in Kenilworth on Saturday, Dec. 15, at 10 a.m.

The first SEC-Colonial Division game will be at Irvington on Tuesday, Dec. 18, at 7 p.m. The team’s home opener is Dec. 20 against Newark Tech at 4 p.m.

GRHS also will host its annual Holiday Tournament, Dec. 27 and 28. The Ridgers will face Passaic Charter on Dec. 27 at 5:30 p.m. The consolation and championship games will be Dec. 28.

Carr is in his 16th year overall in the GRHS program.

NOTE – Liddy is now attending St. Lawrence University where he is playing football. Weissenberger attends Elon College; Kinzler attends The College of Charleston; and Samuels attends Bucknell University.

Schedule

Dec. 14, at Dunellen, 6 p.m.

Dec. 15, at Brearley, 10 a.m.

Dec. 18, at Irvington, 4 p.m.

Dec. 20, Newark Tech, 4 p.m.

Dec. 27, Glen Ridge Holiday Tournament, vs. Passaic Charter, 5:30 p.m.

Dec. 28, Glen Ridge Holiday Tournament, consolation, 3:30 p.m. final, 5:30 p.m.

Jan. 4, Newark Collegiate, 7 p.m.

Jan. 8, at Montclair Kimberley Academy, 4 p.m.

Jan. 11, Nutley, 7 p.m.

Jan. 15, University, 4 p.m.

Jan. 17, at Cristo Rey Newark, 7 p.m.