February 28, 2012

Weehawken went on the road to win its first state playoff game in nearly a decade. (Photo: Jason Bernstein)

Weehawken 68, Ridgefield 52

Injuries and inconsistency forced Weehawken to go on the road for its first round game in the NJSIAA North 2, Group I playoffs last night. But traveling out of their familiar surroundings did little to faze the Indians.

Led by a double-double from senior Roberto Moran, Weehawken earned its first state playoff win since 2003 after defeating Ridgefield 68-52 last night in Ridgefield in front of a heavy contingent of Weehawken supporters.

“It was big. We really need that,” head coach Jake McNish said. “It really puts a reward on all the hard work they’ve done this season.”

Moran had a game-high 18 points and 13 rebounds for the ninth-seeded Indians (13-12). The 6-foot-5 center even drained a pair of 3-pointers as Weehawken hit 10 treys in the win. David Strandberg had a trio of 3-pointers to finish with 13 points. Damian Corredor and Dante Cieri each hit two 3-pointers. Corredor finished with 16 points and Cieri 13 points as Weehawken used a 20-11 second quarter to take the lead and closed the game out with a 21-14 fourth. Humberto Leigue chipped in with six points, six assists and four rebounds.

Rudy Chavez led the eighth-seeded Royals (15-13) with 18 points.

With the win, Weehawken will face top-seeded Newark Vocational in the quarterfinals on Wednesday.