Rams Capture Briar Woods Holiday Tourney Championship: Ridgeway & Basue Ignite Rams Offense

The Riverside Rams boys basketball team showcased their dominance and teamwork by capturing the Briar Woods Holiday Tournament Championship. The Rams played an exceptional team game, amassing a total of 60 assists and 38 steals over the three tournament games, while scoring an impressive 234 points.

The Rams' high-paced attack was led by standout performances from Ridgeway and Basue. Ridgeway was a force to be reckoned with, scoring 60 points and dishing out 11 assists throughout the tournament. Basue also made significant contributions on both ends of the floor, adding 48 points to the Rams' offensive efforts.

The Rams' cohesive play and relentless defense were key factors in their success. Their ability to share the ball and create scoring opportunities for each other was evident in their impressive assist total. Additionally, their aggressive defense resulted in numerous steals, disrupting their opponents' offensive flow.

Senior PG, Josh Ntiamoah, posted 20 assists over the 3-game tourney and made significant contributions finishing inside, crashing the boards, and keeping the team steady as its on-court general. Sep Duggal, a key contributor as a senior veteran, fueled the Rams' defense with intense pressure on ball handlers and was very effective hitting transition 3-pointers, setting up teammates, and increasing the speed on the floor. Max Lawson is not to be forgotten, as his consistency is crucial for the Rams' success. He scored a game-high 21 points in the first-round game against Langley and averaged 13 points per game for the tournament, along with 3 assists per game.

The Rams also had key contributions off the bench from senior Bellal Shirzay and intense defense from Johnny Dadant and Dev Arora.

The Rams demonstrated their versatility by playing against three different opponents with three different styles of play. They opened the first-round game with 40 first-half points, working to brush off an ugly loss in the Wildwood NJ Boardwalk Showcase. In the second game, the Rams faced a hard-nosed Caesar Chavez Parkside squad that didn't back down, but the Rams held on for a 75-60 win. In the final, Briar Woods relied on their inside-out combo of Fraim and Pettibone, who combined for 37 points. However, the Rams overwhelmed them with standout performances led by Mason Ridgeway and Joell Basue in the championship game.

The Rams look forward to some time off before returning to the court at home on January 8th against John Champe High School.