By, Jake Karp

Glen Ridge is having its most successful season since 2021 and continued to thrive in Friday’s commanding win over Manchester Regional. Right from the tip-off, Glen Ridge dominated the paint and locked down on defense, leaving little doubt about the outcome. By halftime, the Ridgers had nearly doubled Manchester’s score, leading to the lopsided victory 49-26 for Glen Ridge.

The theme for the Ridgers was ball movement and finding their bigs on the low block. The Ridgers displayed excellent team chemistry and their ability to anticipate each other’s actions played a key role in their success.

Glen Ridge had several standout players including their top scorer of the season, sophomore Ryan Law. The center was unstoppable on the glass, adding 10 points and a handful of blocks to his performance. Juniors Liam Feder and Jacob Javier combined for 26, while senior Jake Machemer contributed 6.

Dynamic senior guard Ashawn Johnson was the main story for the Falcons, posting a game-high 17 points. However, Glen Ridges’s ability to shut down the remainder of Manchester’s roster and prevent the Falcons from finding any rhythm made the challenge insurmountable.

Glen Ridge currently holds a 15-5, ranking 6th in the SEC, and is directed by head coach Mike Salvatelli. With the Group 1 NJSIAA Tournament approaching, the Ridgers have high hopes following last season’s semi-final exit. “We just want to do better than we did last year,” Ridgers Ryan Law said after Friday’s win. 

Despite the loss, Manchester Regional is having its best season since 2019 when they finished with 19 wins. Led by head coach, Paul Palek, the Falcons are now 16-4 and 4th ranked in the NJIC.