The Ridgefield Park Scarlets Varsity Boys Basketball Team(23-4) held off a fourth-quarter surge and defeated the Ramsey Rams(17-9) in the JDB BIT(Bergen Invitational Tournament) Championship Game at St. Joseph Regional High School in Montvale, New Jersey.

Jeremiah Rementilla poured in a game-high 20 points for Ridgefield Park, while Sebastian Capurso totaled 13 points and Nick Cartagena contributed 12 points. Ramsey Owen Farley amassed a team-high 19 points, and Julien Quinerly supplied 17 points.

Ridgefield Park jumped out to a 16-8 lead at the end of the first quarter, led by a balanced scoring effort with Jeremiah Rementilla providing the spark, netting seven points. Peter Choea splashing a corner trifecta just before the quarter ended to cement an impressive start.

In the second quarter, Ramsey found its offensive rhythm by driving to the rim for layups, distributing the ball effectively, and knocking down perimeter jump shots, tying the game at 20-20 with four minutes remaining.

The Scarlet Knights managed to regain their footing and led 22-19, but the Rams, displaying no fear at all, drove into the paint with another nifty assist, which led to a layup in the low post.

At the two-minute mark, Ridgefield Park increased their advantage to 25-21 on a triple by Sebastian Capurso. Ramsey responded with a run of their own with Nick Cartegna canning a trey and then off Owen Farley dishing a dime to Pat O’Neil in the low block, then O’Neil spinning around and elevating for the short jumper that narrowed the margin to 28-26 at halftime.

In the third quarter, the Scarlet Knights held onto a one-point lead when Nick Cartegna splashed his second pearl of the game to increase the advantage. 

Ridgefield Park continued to shoot the rock from downtown as Cameron Hanna nailed a trifecta, widening the margin to 36-29. The Scarlet Knights are flourishing on the fast break as well, with Nick Cartegna splitting the defense on a spectacular bounce pass, leading to a layup off the glass by Jeremiah Rementilla with five and a half minutes left.

The Rams were able to put an end to the half for a moment with Owen Farley sizzling from long range, draining his fourth triple of the game. Ramsey still trailed 40-32 when Charlie Taylor drove into the paint, then spun around and hit a magnificent shot that found the bottom of the twine.

With Ridgefield Park up 40-36, Nick Cartagena flashed his superior passing skills with another assist to Sabastian Capurso in the low post for the layup. However, the Rams fought back with a 5-0 spurt highlighted by Julien Quinerly’s three-point play off a fabulous jumper in the paint.

The phenomenal tandem of Nick Cartagena and Sebastian Capurso continued to work magic as Cartagena drove into the lane and slipped a crafty two-handed pass, and Capurso demonstrated his size and strength for the layup.

Not to be undone, Rams Julien Quinerly showcases his speed and agility, driving rapidly towards the basket and releasing a terrific one-handed layup off the glass. Heading into the final frame, the Scarlet Knights were up 46-43.

In the fourth quarter, Jeremiah Rementilla gave Ridgefield Park breathing room by driving to the basket and muscling in a layup off the glass.

Ramsey was back on the next possession as Julien Quinerly sank his second pearl of the game, cutting the lead to 48-46.

The action escalated as sharp passing produced layups. With 2:30 left and the Scarlet Knights ahead 52-50, Jeremiah Rementilla hit a crucial three-pointer.

Ramsey’s offense went ice-cold in the last three minutes of action. Meanwhile, Ridgefield Park was able to hit their free throws in the last two minutes to seal the deal.