Here are North Jersey boys basketball teams enjoying strong starts and holiday success

And the award for “North Jersey’s Biggest Early-Season Surprise” goes to … Demarest.

The Norsemen improved to 6-0 after capturing the Herb Cohen Holiday title Friday night with a 58-51 victory over Rutherford at Wood-Ridge.

Demarest tipped off the season without a senior starter and was unranked, while Rutherford was No. 22 in the North Jersey boys basketball Top 25.

“This year’s team is finding ways to win even when we don’t play our best,” Norsemen coach Pat Gabriele said. “They’re growing up very quickly.”

Demarest has won all six games by single digits thanks to a committed defense. A quartet has led the Norsemen: junior Brandon Srebnik, who scored 17 against Rutherford, junior Jake Goldenberg, and sophomores Marco DeCroce and Zach Schweid.

“I didn’t know if we were going to defend early in the season,” Gabriele said. “I figured by the middle of the season, they’ll start to get it, but we’re guarding.”

Here are several other North Jersey teams off to strong starts and holiday tournament success:

Don Bosco climbs the Wall

Don Bosco has lived up to its billing as North Jersey’s No. 1 team and enters New Year’s Day with a 7-0 record.

The Ironmen won a title at the jam-packed John Wall Holiday Invitational in North Carolina with Friday night’s 79-74 victory over Farmville Central (N.C.).

Dylan Harper, among the nation’s best juniors, had 33 points and eight rebounds, and he averaged 28.3 points in the three tournament wins. Junior Isaiah Brown averaged 16.7 points, including 22 in a 65-63 win over California’s Corona Centennial.

“I had never been to a Christmas tournament before where the community comes out like that, so the environment was great, the competition was great, and it was a great experience,” Ironmen coach Kevin Diverio said. “The kids really responded. They did a great job of executing game plans at both ends of the floor.”

Ramapo getting healthier

Ramapo, North Jersey’s top public school, is 6-0 after winning the marquee quad at the Jingle Bells Jubilee and is only getter stronger.

Senior sharpshooter Nate Burleson returned from a knee injury and saw limited action in Thursday’s 76-58 win over Montclair Immaculate. In his absence, junior Zach Schnorbusch has “done an outstanding job defensively,” Green Raiders coach Nick Vier said.

Meanwhile, junior guards Peyton Seals, Wyatt Eglinton Manner and Chris Cervino have combined to average more than 50 points per game. Seals scored 30 and Eglinton Manner and Cervino had 19 apiece against Montclair Immaculate.

“We’re only going to get better,” said Vier, whose third-ranked team hosts No. 2 Bergen Catholic on Tuesday, “which is probably the most encouraging thing.”

St. Joseph preps for big week

St. Joseph enters an extremely challenging week with a 6-1 record after winning both games at its holiday tournament by double digits.

Six Green Knights are contributing from 6 to 14 points per game, led by a trio of seniors: Donovan McKoy (14 ppg, 6 rpg), Chris Williams (11 ppg) and Justin Noelizaire (9 ppg, 5 rpg).

“We’re far from a finished product,” said coach Mike Doherty, whose Green Knights face Gill St. Bernard's on Sunday and Don Bosco on Thursday, “but our kids will work hard, and they’re eager to get better, which is great.”

Ramsey standing tall

Ramsey’s size and length is exceptional for a Group 2 school and a big reason for a 5-0 start and chance at another sectional crown.

The Rams’ starters all are 6-foot or taller, including 6-foot-5 junior F Michael Bernius and 6-5 junior point guard Max Nierenberg. They feature three seniors in 6-2 Michael Stone, 6-foot Robert Fuerst and 6-3 Noah Eide. The bench includes 6-6 junior Logan Bahn.

“We’re long, we’re a big team, and we’re very deep,” said coach Mark Christiansen, whose Rams are defending North 1, Group 2 champs. “So we have a lot of length and we’re very, very skilled. They’re a big basketball group of kids who are very knowledgeable.”

St. Mary keeps its balance

St. Mary (6-0) is an NJIC title contender and closed 2022 in dramatic fashion. Senior Damir Stone was fouled on a putback with less than two seconds left and made two free throws for a 47-45 win Friday night over Paramus in the finals of the Jack Stone Shootout.

The Gaels have outstanding scoring balance. Stone averages 11.7 points, among four veterans averaging double figures. Junior LJ Falconi averages 13.5 points, junior Julian Leveille 13.2 and junior Luke Gaccione, the coach’s son, is at 12.3.

“Our balanced scoring has helped us get off to the 6-0 start,” Gaels coach Brian Gaccione said, “because we’re a tough cover because we have multiple guys who can score.”

Saddle River Day holds on

Undermanned Saddle River Day (4-0) won the Paterson Charter tournament Friday night by holding off improving Paramus Catholic, 52-49.

Senior Parker Neuenhaus scored a team-high 18 points and senior David Alexandre made two key free throws down the stretch. The Rebels were without standout senior Richie Machado (thumb) and several others and dressed only eight players.

“It was kind of a collective effort to step up and get the win,” said coach Anthony Gallo, who expects the Rebels to be at full strength within a week.

Leonia doing it with ‘D’

Leonia has parlayed stellar defense into a 4-0 start that included capturing the New Milford Holiday Hoops crown, 35-32, over Park Ridge.

Makhi Williams and D’Andre Perry combine to average more than 30 points per game for a senior-laden team still in need of valuable varsity experience.

“Even though this is a senior group, this group hasn’t played as much together,” Lions coach Mike Branagh said. “So as the season goes along, they’ll be more comfortable with each other, and I do think our best days are ahead of us.”

Northern Highlands goes deep

Northern Highlands brings in five reserves off the bench at the same time and that's contributed to a 5-1 start, one season after an injury-filled 1-10 opening.

“We’re putting a lot of pressure on teams defensively, because we can rotate in fresh bodies,” Highlanders coach Jim Ponchak said.

Highlands won the All Groups Holiday title and the five reserves are seniors Sean Fox, Ryan Mattessich and Gavin Phillips, junior Freddie Kanning and sophomore Lucas Dipasupil.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: These North Jersey boys basketball teams impressed at holiday tourneys