Ridge vs. Plainfield Semi Finals of the State Sectional Tournament

On a scale of 10, the Cardinals played a 7.3. The play of Andrew “The Mad Bomber” Madlinger had a lot to do with the Cards receiving their lowest efficiency rating at the Rico Parenti Gymnasium this year. Andrew was on fire from deep and put on a Reggie Miller like performance to bring back the Red Devils from certain defeat to the edge of victory.

News alert: Sears & Roebuck has just announced a copy right infringement of the Sears & Johnson show. The two under classmen combined for 39 points, 21 rebounds, 7 steals, and 4 rejections. The game would not have been, if it was not for Dr. Zone Buster changing his office hours to down low. Nate Grant-Dewitt used the Clyde Frazier – Willis Reid pick and roll to score 3 clutch baskets down low to hold off the Hot Red Devils. Nate also grabbed 3 crucial rebounds in the final minutes of the game.

The Plainfield Fanatic Efficient 5 for the game
1) Plainfield – Sophomore Justin Sears – 6’7” {ER – 29}
Justin is continuing to come up big so far in his first state playoff experience. Justin shot 50% from the floor scoring a team high 20 points but his other contributions were clutch. Sears grabbed a game high 14 rebounds, blocked a game high tying 2 shots (both in the final period), and had a game high 5 steals. His coast to coast dunk brought the Cardinal fanatics to their feet. This is Justin’s career high efficiency rating, and it came when the Cardinals needed it most.

2) Plainfield – Junior Tyrone Johnson – 6’3” {ER – 20}
Johnson filled up the stat sheet by scoring 19 points, grabbing 7 rebounds, 2 steals, 3 assists (team high along with Allen Brown), and a game high tying 2 rejections.

3) Ridge – Senior Andrew Madlinger – 6’4” {ER – 17}
Who said Reggie Miller retired! Andrew Madlinger is known through out the state as one of the best 3 point shooters. He dismayed that rumor to be factual by hitting 5 out of 6 threes. His performance brought the Red Devils back from a 7 point deficit to 2 points in the matter of seconds. Andrew also grabbed a team high 7 rebounds.

4) Ridge – Junior Tom Gambino – 6’7” {ER – 17}
Tom fouling out in the 4th period proved to be the difference in the most exciting game of the year. The big man shot an efficient 60% from the floor, had 5 rebounds and did not commit a single turnover for the entire game.

5) Ridge – Senior Nick Cefalo – 6’3” {ER – 16}
The football stud showed his toughness by fighting off one of the states best on the ball defender in Plainfield’s Mike Price. Cefalo used his strength to let the Cardinals know there would be no pick pocketing going on. Cefalo shot 100% from the foul line, grabbed 5 rebounds (4 of them in the critical 4th period), and dropped a game high 5 assists all while only committing 1 turnover. Cefalo’s assist to turnover ratio was an impressive 5 to 1. Note: This was a season low turnover by any public school guard against the Cardinals.


The efficiency rating is base on points scored, shooting accuracy, foul shooting accuracy, rebounds, assists, steals, defensive intensity, and assist – turnover ratio.