The RHS Boys Basketball team closed out the 2025–2026 season with with a disappointing loss to No. 9 Sommerville in the first round of states.  Despite the loss, Randolph showed determination throughout the season, battling through a challenging schedule and showing resilience on both ends of the court. 

 “I wasn’t happy with how we ended this year,” senior Ryan Warner said. “But the thing I will remember most about high school basketball are the teammates I was surrounded by. These guys mean everything.” 

The Rams entered the 2025-26 season looking to improve on last year’s underwhelming 9–18 record, returning several experienced players and hoping to build more consistency throughout the season. 

Randolph saw strong leadership from its senior group—including Warner, Kristian Foote, Luke De Nigris, Tristan Durkin and Jack Leonard—who helped guide the team both on and off the court. The Rams also relied heavily on juniors Ricky Fleischer and Cooper Tighe and sophomore Jordan Dixon, who played key roles in the team’s rotation throughout the season.  

 “I am proud of the team and the way we fought together this season,” Durkin said. “I’m going to miss playing with a group of guys that were this close, especially with ‘Randolph’ across my chest.” 

Throughout the season, Randolph picked up several notable wins. On Jan. 15, the Rams earned a 60–40 win over Boonton, showing strong defensive pressure and continuous scoring.

Randolph continued its momentum with a 49–43 win against Parsippany Hills on Jan. 21, and later defeated Parsippany 47–39 on Jan. 29 in another conference matchup. 

The Rams also faced several challenging games against good Morris County opponents. On Jan. 23, Randolph fell to Morristown 55–36. A few days later, the team lost a competitive match against Morris Hills 59–52, despite a strong effort from the Rams’ core players.  

“Our team got off to the best start since 2020,” coach Nick Lavender said. “Overall, everyone played their roles and worked hard for the team. We had a great year, and I’m very proud of all our guys.”

Despite some ups and downs during the winter schedule, Randolph continued to compete hard and gain valuable experiences as the season progressed. The leadership of the senior captains helped younger players develop, and several underclassmen stepped into larger roles as the season moved forward. 

As 2025–26 ended, the team saw an improved record of 14-13, after moving to a less-competitive division than in the prior year. Throughout this season, the Rams showed signs of improvement and resilience while competing in one of New Jersey’s competitive basketball regions. With returning players like Dixon, Fleischer and Tighe expected to take on bigger roles next year, Randolph will look to build on this season’s experience and continue moving the program forward.