RIVER VALE—Five goals. That’s what were presented to the 4th Grade River Vale Ravens on the first day of practice in November 2023. After the previous season, the coaching staff knew they had a special team and, if they were able to come together, could achieve something River Vale has not done in basketball in many years.
Goal 1 was to win the three pre-season tournaments that they participated in. The Ravens completed Goal 1 by winning the three tournaments by a combined score of 349-80.
Goal two: make the Bergen Travel Basketball League playoffs. The 4th Grade RV Ravens participated in the league’s top division. Only the top four teams in each division make it to the playoffs. The Ravens went 13-1 during the regular season and clinched the No. 1 seed in the playoffs.
Goal three: host a playoff game. In winning the last regular season game of the year, against one of its toughest opponents, Paramus Spartans, the Ravens held the No. 1 seed in the playoffs and would host No. 4 seed Glen Rock in the semi-finals.
On March 15, the Ravens hosted Glen Rock for the semi-finals. Glen Rock, a difficult opponent all year for the River Vale, came into that game craving an upset. The Ravens came out on fire, outscoring Glen Rock, 27-5, in the first half.
Then it was Glen Rock’s time to catch fire, as they roared back to get the score within five points with three minutes left of the game. The Ravens stayed composed and used the energy of the home crowd to keep them in the game. River Vale held off Glen Rock’s late run to win by six points.
With that win, the Ravens accomplished goal 4, which was to make it to the BTBL Championship Game.
On March 17, in the Championship Game, the River Vale Ravens played the Paramus Spartans, a team that a year prior went undefeated as third graders. The Ravens knew that this was going to be its toughest challenge yet. Before a massive crowd, mostly of River Vale supporters, the Ravens battled the Spartans. At halftime, River Vale was leading, 17-11. Given Paramus’ scoring power, the Ravens knew this lead was not safe.
In the third quarter, the Ravens battled and gave it all they had to hold that lead. Leading by 10 in the fourth quarter, the Ravens knew they had to play smart and composed to keep the lead.
With 15 seconds left, up by 10 points, the Ravens knew that their fifth and final Goal was about to be achieved. Holding the ball by half court, as the time ticked down, the boys knew that all their hard work and dedication was about to pay off: 3, 2, 1, and the buzzer sounds. The Ravens are raucus.
This is only the fifth championship in the BTBL top division for any River Vale boys or girls team in almost 20 years. Their record for the season was 24-1.
Starters Dylan Pleeter, the team’s leading scorer; Brayden Klingele, a consistent sniper behind the line; Thomas Kabobjian, MVP of thhe championship game; Logan Noonan, steady power forward play; and Jackson Sidrow, the team’s leading rebounder, were steady all year.
Jack Gallione and Dylan Kalish came off the bench and provided stellar defense and grittiness.
Anthony Buldo provided another point guard that could slash through any defense.
Derek Hurst was able to come off the bench and provide a spark plug with his shooting; Quinn McMorrow and Lochlann Thomson provided the muscle and played consistent defense.
Coaches Gregg Pleeter, Rich Kabobjian, and Adam Sidrow tell us their favorite moment of the year was seeing the boys celebrate after the buzzer sounded in the championship game and checking off that fifth and final goal.