Tag: Nick Vier

by Mike Pavlichko

Colonia – now winners of four straight sectional titles – looks to snap state semi skid vs. Ramapo

You can almost set your watch by it.

Each of the past three seasons, Colonia has stormed to a North Jersey, Section 2, Group 3 title. The Patriots have been the best team in their playoff section for a while now, and even if they’re down, they’re never out.

Last year, they added GMC Tournament champions to their season resume, and again on the sectional crown.

But in each of the past three years – and add in 2019 as well – Colonia has been stymied in the Group 3 state semifinals, and all four of those seasons, it’s been Ramapo moving on to the state championship.

Can this year be different? Sure, Ramapo was 25-8, 30-3, and 23-7 in those seasons, and they’re “just” 18-10 this year, but no one wins a title by accident. So, here they are.

The two will meet Tuesday night at the Dunn Center in Elizabeth for a trip to the Group 3 finals at Rutgers’ Jersey Mike’s Arena on Saturday night at 6 pm. You can hear tonight’s game with tip off at 7 and pregame at 6:40 live on Central Jersey Sports Radio with Mike Pavlichko and Alec Crouthamel on the call. Click here to listen.

And yet, Colonia (27-4) is different, too. All due respect to the last three editions of C-Town hoops, but they now have a second straight GMCT trophy in hands, and this may be the best of the bunch. Nearly everyone is back from last year, and the newcomers – like freshman Jayce Rodriguez – have really established themselves, while guys like R.J. Wortman have turned out to be real prime time players.

As for the Green Raiders, they graduated their three top scorers in Chris Cervino, Wyatt Eglinton-Manner, and Peyton Seals – their only double-digit scorers. While they have a bit more balance this season, and a good number of seniors, their leading scorer is freshman A.J. Grieg, checking in at 12.7 points per game.

A win for Colonia would give the Patriots their first ever trip to the state finals.

Click below to hear preview interviews of Tuesday night’s Group 3 boys’ state semifinal between Colonia and Ramapo with the two head coaches:

Colonia Head Coach Jose Rodriguez
Ramapo Head Coach Nick Vier
by Mike Pavlichko

Will the third time be the charm? Colonia to meet Ramapo tonight in Group 3 semis for a third straight year

For a third straight year, the road to New Jersey’s Group 3 boys’ basketball final for Colonia will go through Ramapo. But will this be the year they finally get there?

The Patriots have won three straight North 2, Group 3 titles. The Raiders have won five. And in three of those years – including the last two – Colonia has fallen to Ramapo in the state Group 3 semifinals.

Maybe it’s the venue. The last two years, they’ve played each other in Phillipsburg, a long trek for both schools.

Wednesday afternoon, they’ll meet up in Bloomfield at 4:30, with another trip to the state final on the line. You can hear that game right here on Central Jersey Sports Radio, beginning with the pregame show at 4:15 as Mike Pavlichko calls all the action. Click here to listen.

The Patriots are led by sophomore Aiden Derkack and senior Jaeden Jones. Derkack – the GMC Tournament MVP – is averaging 21.3 points per game in four state tournament contests, and had a double-double in the state tourney opener against Fort Lee, with 22 points and 16 rebounds. Jones is averaging almost 20 a game in the state tourney, five above his season average, lighting it up in the sectionals.

Ramapo has three four-year varsity players, including star guard Peyton Seals, who plays AAU ball with Derkack and is headed to Princeton. He’s averaging 15 points a game in the states, and overall, while Chris Cervino can bury the deep ball, and is averaging almost 17 points a game in the state tournament, four above his season average. He has a team-leading 84 treys.

Click below to hear from both coaches!

Colonia coach Jose Rodriguez after the Patriots’ North 2, Group 3 title game win over Millburn
Ramapo head coach Nick Vier
by Mike Pavlichko

Colonia’s Group 3 semi opponent Ramapo has exceeded expectations

With ten sophomores in the program, Ramapo isn’t very senior-laden, and one might think easy pickin’s in a state tournament environment, where it’s win-or-go-home

But that hasn’t been the case. Sure, a fluke team might win a game or two in the sectionals, but you don’t get to this point in the season on a fluke. You get to this point in the season by being good.

And that’s how Ramapo won the North Jersey, Section 1, Group 3 championship, and now finds themselves in the Group 3 semifinals Thursday night against North 2, Group 3 champions Colonia.

The two will face off at 7 pm at Phillipsburg High School, with the winner moving on to Sunday’s NJISAA Public Group Finals at Jersey Mike’s Arena on the campus of Rutgers University in Piscataway. You can hear tonight’s game on Central Jersey Sports Radio with Mike Pavlichko calling all the action, starting with the pregame show at 6:45. Click here to listen live for free, with no paywall.

Ramapo was the top seed in North 1, Group 3, and won fourth straight at home to get to the group semi stage. They got here with a 72-54 win over 16th-seed Northern Highlands, a 62-44 win over 8-seed Morris Hills in the quarterfinals, a 63-36 win over 13-seed Paramus in the sectional semifinals, and a 58-47 win over 2-seed Tenafly in the North 1, Group 3 title game.

Only five players got in the scoring column in that game, led by 20 points from Nate Burleson – yes, the son of the former NFL player – while Peyton Seals, the team’s leading scorer this season, chipped in 16.

Learn more about Colonia’s Group 3 semifinal opponent Ramapo by clicking below to hear Mike Pavlichko talk with Raiders’ first-year head coach Nick Vier: