CLIFFSIDE PARK Cliffside Park heads into the holiday break with two more reasons to celebrate than it did exactly one year ago.

The Red Raiders 60-50 victory over New Milford on Monday in non-league boys basketball means a 2-0 record, and that sure beats last seasons 0-5 start.

"Coming in 2-0 into the holiday season, were just happy, and we have that fire inside of us that we just want to come out and win," said sophomore swingman Roy Danis.

Danis is one of several sophomores playing key roles in a program that last season finished 5-21. Sophomore forward Gabriel Valerio scored a game-high 24 points to help the Red Raiders erase a 25-24 halftime deficit.

"It feels great, because losing last year was the worst thing ever," said Valerio. "But I knew eventually we were going to win because we have a good team, but we were young. But it was going to come, and now its coming. "

Cliffside Park opened the third quarter with an 11-0 run to gain control at 35-25. The Red Raiders steady pressure began to bear fruit as New Milford went scoreless for the first 4:32 of the third.

Cliffside Parks 11-0 run featured a put-back by Valerio, a driving three-point play by senior guard Al-Abah-Essola (nine points) and a three-pointer from the left corner by junior Shant Karajelian.

"I feel physically we have the ability to wear some people down a little bit," said Cliffside coach Sean MacIsaac, whose team upset Fort Lee on opening night. "And I think with the team that we played today, we were able to do that."

New Milford (1-1) played well in the first half. The Knights moved the ball quickly, and got six first-half points apiece from senior guard Bobby Blunt (11 points overall), junior guard Joe Poveromo (nine) and senior forward Elijah Cross (eight).

"I thought we played an excellent first half," New Milford coach Mike Mayer said.

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H.S. boys basketball: Cliffside Park feeling good