Ramapo’s Peter Caride driving to the basket against Dwight-Englewood on Saturday.

DANIELLE PARHIZKARAN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Ramapo’s Peter Caride driving to the basket against Dwight-Englewood on Saturday.
By GREG MATTURA
STAFF WRITER | The Record

ENGLEWOOD – Giorgio Malasia’s final full week in the United States began with a game-winning basket for Wood-Ridge.

The exchange student will return to Italy next week, and among his memories will be scoring the deciding basket in the Blue Devils’ 62-60 victory over Saddle River Day in Saturday’s Public Versus Private Showcase at Dwight Morrow.

The senior guard scored the last of his game-high 21 points by driving the lane and scoring with 2.1 seconds left. No one cared that the left-hander was fouled and missed the free throw. Saddle River Day’s halfcourt heave at the buzzer was short.

“I just figured, ‘Why not?’” Malasia said of his decision to drive. “What else is there to do?”

Malasia’s game-winner was his second basket in the final seconds of a quarter. He capped Wood-Ridge’s 12-0 third-quarter run with a transition layup at the buzzer to provide a 47-41 lead. His last game is this week versus Cresskill.

http://www.northjersey.com/sports/high-school-sports/boys-basketball/exchange-student-hits-winner-1.1215304