Old Tappan Bergen County Champs

Dream undefeated season carries on, nabs 1st Bergen title since 2019

Winning the BCWCA Bergen County Tournament is a top priority for Old Tappan. Although it is one of the toughest brackets to carve out a championship win in all of New Jersey, the Golden Knights find themselves among the perennial contenders – particularly over the last 15 years.

On Saturday, Nov. 2 in Old Tappan, the No. 6 ranked Golden Knights faced a familiar foe in No. 10 Immaculate Heart. IHA has knocked Old Tappan out of the tournament two years in a row, including the 2023 championship bout. In an effort to cement their legacy with the North Jersey juggernaut, the OT senior class was not going to walk out of their own gym without a county title to their name.

In front of their home crowd, Old Tappan was undeniable. Senior setter Addison Gioffre orchestrated 28 assists, finding five different players for multiple kills – adding two herself – to compete with a steel curtain IHA defense. Her crucial decision-making carried the energy as Old Tappan marched to their first Bergen County championship since 2019 and sixth overall in a 25-16, 25-22 tally to improve to 20-0 as the only team in the Garden State without a loss this season. “With every practice this season, this win and this match was on our mind,” Old Tappan senior libero Jamie Kim said. “Since our freshman year, we envisioned going out on top. There is so much pride when we put on this uniform, so we are happy to get the job done.”

This Old Tappan senior class has never beaten IHA, but knew Saturday’s contest would favor them if they jumped out to a tone-setting run. “These girls believe in our process every day. They’ve become prepared for whatever is thrown at them, so to win this match shows how special this group really is,” Old Tappan head coach Melissa Landeck said. “They were very calm early in the first set, which was a good sign that they would play within themselves.”

Senior outside hitter Samantha Kranzler pummeled a kill to make it 3-2 Old Tappan in the opening frame, which was the 600th kill of her career. With the milestone out of the way, Old Tappan kept chipping into their lead, eventually reading 16-9, then 22-12 scores on the board behind valued contribution from each player. “Winning the county tournament was No. 1 on everyone‘s list, regardless of individual milestones. I’m glad we can cross that one off,” Kranzler said. “This county trophy is what we all have worked for.”

Six different players logged a kill in the opening set, led by Eva Curko’s four. The junior southpaw racked up seven kills in the contest, including the match-winning point to send the Golden Knights into a frenzy at mid-court. Julia Whaley rammed six kills and a block while Bianca Benasillo and Gabriela Paltag generated a trio of kills each.

“We are just beyond excited by how we all competed. Every single player wanted to win this specific game so bad,” Gioffre said. Gioffre snuck a dump kill twice on Saturday, giving her three multi-kill performances in 2024 alongside 442 assists. She, like many of the other Golden Knights, were once elementary school students in the Old Tappan district just waiting on their moment to play for Landeck and be part of the Golden Knights’ winning history.

Saturday’s victory is all Gioffre and her teammates ever wanted. “There’s video of me and my dad sitting in the bleachers when Old Tappan won the title in 2019. So to go from that little girl looking on in the stands, to being a part of this storied team, means everything to me,” Gioffre said.

The second set was a bit more tense. IHA (22-4) and Old Tappan traded off 11 separate ties before Kranzler and Gioffre knotted a kill each to make it a 17-15 lead. Kranzler led the team with six kills in the final set and now has 227 this year. “Sam steps up for us time and time again. She is an amazing teammate, most importantly, but her career here has been one of the best we have seen at Old Tappan,” Landeck said. Curko, etching out her own stardom, released three kills in the final moments to give OT their 22nd, 24th, and 25th points of the last frame. She has 90 kills in 2024.

To have a spotless record through 20 matches calls for each player and coach to to execute on their game plan. Landeck and Co. have concocted the perfect formula to reach this point, but they know there is more at stake. The Golden Knights enter the NJSIAA state tournament as the No. 1 seed in the North 1, Group 2 bracket. N1G2 is one of the deepest sections among the 20 in New Jersey, but Old Tappan is visibly prepped for a deep run. They will enjoy the Bergen County crown, but won’t take their eyes off the prize of a sectional and state title. Both are well within reach.

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Sectional Champs: Old Tappan Rallies Late to Capture North 1 Group 3 Title

Mar 07, 2026

Old Tappan captured the NJSIAA North Jersey Section 1 Group 3 championship with a 54 to 45 win over Teaneck, finishing a strong late season surge that started with a challenge from head coach Brian Dunn. Twenty three days earlier, after a loss to Teaneck, Dunn asked his team a direct question. Accept a solid season or push for more. The Golden Knights responded with eight straight wins, including postseason victories over teams that defeated them during the regular season. Old Tappan delivered its biggest response in the sectional final. Teaneck led most of the second half behind a strong performance from Lexi Carnegie, who finished with 23 points. The Highwaywomen built a five point lead entering the fourth quarter and held a 40 to 35 advantage late in the game. Old Tappan flipped the momentum with a decisive 19 to 1 run over the final four minutes. Nina Caunedo ignited the comeback with a three pointer with 4:42 remaining to cut the deficit to three. Alexa Caunedo followed with a basket to bring Old Tappan within one. Alivia Badurina then delivered one of the biggest shots of the night. Her corner three pointer gave the Golden Knights a 42 to 41 lead and shifted the energy fully to the Old Tappan bench. From there Old Tappan controlled the closing minutes at the free throw line. Senior Sienna Drullinsky led the way with a dominant performance of 23 points and 10 rebounds. She carried much of the scoring load early with 18 points through the first three quarters to keep Old Tappan within striking distance. Alexa Caunedo added 12 points while Nina Caunedo finished with 11 points and three three pointers. Badurina chipped in five points including the momentum changing three. Mauimi Quiros added two points at the foul line while Sadie Murphy contributed a free throw during the win. Joley Giordano also saw time on the floor as Old Tappan used contributions across the lineup during the championship run. Teaneck stayed competitive behind Carnegie and Aniya Celestin, who recorded 14 points and 10 rebounds. Old Tappan improved to 22 and 6 with the victory. The Golden Knights won three straight road games to claim the sectional title, their first since 2018, and now advance to face Chatham in the Group 3 state semifinals in Elizabeth.

Old Tappan Proves Prediction Wrong, Upsets No. 10 Demarest in Sectional Semifinals

Mar 04, 2026

Many expected another tight battle when sixth seeded Northern Valley Old Tappan High School Girls Basketball Team faced second seeded Northern Valley Regional High School at Demarest for the third time this season in the North Jersey Section 1 Group 3 semifinals. Demarest entered ranked No. 10 in the NJ.com Top 20 and had already beaten Old Tappan twice during the regular season in narrow games, 38-37 and 43-40. The Norsemen also carried strong momentum after winning the Bergen County Tournament championship and taking 22 of their previous 23 games. This time, Old Tappan flipped the result. The Golden Knights produced a dominant defensive performance and stunned Demarest 45-37 Wednesday night in Demarest. Old Tappan’s defense controlled the game from the start. The Golden Knights pressured the ball, contested shooters, and forced Demarest into difficult possessions throughout the night. The effort held the Norsemen to season lows in several statistical categories and limited one of North Jersey’s most consistent offenses to a season low, 37 points. Head coach Brian Dunn made key adjustments in the game plan entering the third meeting between the rivals. After two close losses earlier in the season, Dunn and his staff focused on limiting the areas where Demarest had found success in those matchups. The defensive changes disrupted Demarest’s rhythm and prevented the Norsemen from establishing their usual offensive flow. Sienna Drullinsky led the Golden Knights with 20 points, knocking down seven field goals and six free throws. Alexa Caunedo added 14 points with seven baskets to give Old Tappan a strong scoring duo. Old Tappan received contributions across the lineup. Sadie Murphy finished with 5 points, while Alivia Badurina and Mauimi Quiros each scored 3 points, with Quiros hitting the team’s lone three pointer. Other players who saw action included Nina Caunedo, Christina D'Andrea, and Joley Giordano, who contributed valuable minutes and helped maintain the team’s defensive pressure throughout the game. Demarest received balanced scoring despite the loss. Deana Finkelstein led the Norsemen with 10 points, seven rebounds, and four assists. Ella Peck and Zoe Wasserlauf each scored 9 points, while senior Gabriella Mittelman added 5 points and four assists. The win improved Old Tappan to 21-6 and extended the team’s winning streak to seven games. Demarest finished the season 24-4. Old Tappan now advances to the sectional championship against Teaneck High School. The Golden Knights seek their first sectional title since 2018, after proving that beating a strong team three times in one season is rarely easy.

Old Tappan Powers Into Semifinals, Set for Showdown at Demarest

Mar 02, 2026

Alivia Badurina delivered a breakout performance and kept Old Tappan in control from start to finish. She scored 19 points and buried five three pointers. Each time Sparta tried to respond, Badurina answered. Her shot making stretched the floor and gave the Knights steady separation all night.Old Tappan jumped out to a 20 to 9 lead after the first quarter and never looked back. The defense locked in early and held Sparta to 15 first half points. In the third quarter, the Knights outscored Sparta 19 to 6 to put the game out of reach.Sienna Drullinsky added 16 points in the paint and Alexa Caunedo finished with 14 points, attacking the basket and finishing strong. Sadie Murphy chipped in a three pointer.Mauimi Quiros, Nina Caunedo, Farrah Ibrahim, Christina D’Andrea, Katie Degennaro, and Joley Giordano all saw time as Old Tappan improved to 20 and 6.Behind Badurina’s breakout night and a suffocating defensive effort, the Golden Knights controlled the tempo and secured their spot in the next round.2026 NJSIAA Girls Basketball North JerseySection 1, Group 3 Quarterfinal ResultsRamapo 51, West Essex 38.Teaneck 68, River Dell 49.Old Tappan 54, Sparta 30.Demarest 54, Northern Highlands 46.Old Tappan has built momentum. The Knights beat Paramus by 35, then followed with a 24 point win over Sparta. In two tournament games, they have allowed only 50 total points. Defense travels in March.Semifinal Matchups, March 4Ramapo vs Teaneck at Ramapo.Old Tappan vs Demarest at Demarest, 5:00 pm.Old Tappan faces a major test against the second seed. Demarest advanced with disciplined half court execution and strong rebounding.The final is scheduled for March 7. One win puts Old Tappan in the sectional championship.