Jenny Buontempo of Cranford was not only the top finisher for her school at last weekend’s state gymnastics meet at Hunterdon Central, but she also excelled in the vault competition, placing first with an outstanding score of 9.800.

          Buontempo beat out Chelsea Goldschrafe of Ramapo, second with a 9.700, and fellow Union County competitor Lacey Cummings of Westfield, who was third at 9.625.

          The top finisher among Union County gymnasts was Jenna Rodrigues of Westfield, tied for 12^th with an all-around score of 37.075.

          Next was Cummings 16^th at 36.800. Cummings was the all-around champion for the second straight season at last month’s Union County meet.

          Buontempo was next for Union County, tied for 29^th place with Pascack Regional’s Natali Rusich as both scored a 35.875.

          Johnson junior Brianna Ferdinandi did well to place 36^th with a score of 35.525.

          Kelsey Greenfield of Westfield was 43^rd with a score of 35.250 and Cranford’s Meg Walch 44^th at 35.225.

          Ellen McDermott of Union Catholic placed 55^th with a score of 34.150.

          Pascack Regional won the team title with score of 113.025. Bishop Ahr was second at 111.975 and Hunterdon Central at 111.875.

          Ferdinandi was ninth in vault at 9.400.

          Rodrigues was tied for 11^th with two other gymnasts in uneven bars at 9.250.

          Rodrigues was also ninth in balance beam with two other gymnasts at 9.350.

          Walch was tied for 17th in the floor exercise with Maria Bryant of Hunterdon Central at 9.250, while Rodrigues was was 19^th at 9.225.

Most know how successful the football and wrestling teams have been at Brearley this decade, while the baseball and softball teams have had their share of success as well.

          Brearley has not won any championships in basketball, but the boys’ and girls’ teams have held their own with winning records.

          This fall, both soccer teams had outstanding seasons, with each reaching their sectional finals in Central Jersey, Group 1.

          Soccer has become a big time sport in Kenilworth, translating well to when the kids reach the varsity level.

          For the boys’, their 15-5-2 success was nothing new. Winning records and state tournament appearances are earned regularly by the Bears as head coach Vince McGowan has been one of the more successful Group 1 coaches in North Jersey for more than a decade, leading Brearley to the 2005 North 2, Group 1 crown for example.

          The girls’ finishing 12-7-2, however, is news because it’s the first time they posted a winning record since Brearley re-opened in 1997. As the second-seed, Brearley beat third-seeded Highland Park 1-0 to reach its first sectional final where it fell at top-seeded Robbinsville 4-0.

          The third-seeded boys’ played fifth-seeded South River at Elizabeth on Nov. 14 in their sectional final because the football team needed Ward Field for its first round playoff game against Glen Ridge that night.

          Brearley took South River to double overtime on the field turf surface at Williams Field before falling 1-0.

          The Bears were led all season long by the scoring of senior forward A.J. Kuroski, who proved to be among the top finishers in not only the Mountain Valley Conference but in all of Union County.

          Kuroski scored two goals and Rajbir Cheema one in Brearley’s 3-1 sectional semifinal home win over Roselle Park.

          The Bears had a solid goalie in Kevin Hoagland, who made five saves in that victory. Hoagland also made five saves to blank New Providence 0-0 at home back on Oct. 10 for his fifth shutout of the season and fifth consecutive at that point. He later went on to post additional shutouts at home against Rahway in a 0-0 tie, at home against Dayton 1-0 and at Roselle 6-0.

          Kuroski and Bryan Martins scored goals in Brearley’s 2-1 sectional quarterfinal home victory over sixth-seeded New Egypt, with Hoagland coming up with six saves.

          In the game before that, Brearley won 2-1 at Johnson, with Cheema scoring a goal and assisting on the one scored by Mike Quiroga.

          In the 6-0 win at Roselle, Cheema had two goals and two assists and Hoagland made four saves.

          A header by Freddy DeAbreu in overtime won the 2-1 regular season game at Roselle Park on Sept. 25. A goal by Brian Almeida in the first half tied the game at 1-1.

          On a Monday night home game Oct. 6, Brearley received the 10^th goal from Kuroski, the fifth from Almeida and the third from Cheema in beating the Ranney School 3-0. Hoagland made four saves before backup keeper Louis Garzone came in for him and played well over the final 10 minutes – with the two combining for that shutout.

          Michael Minniti scored both Brearley goals in its 4-2 loss at Cranford in a first round Union County Tournament contest.

          In the 1-0 win at Dayton on Oct. 20, Kuroski scored the game’s only goal in the second half, with John Devigili earning the assist. Hoagland made five saves for the shutout.

          Brearley had won a six in a row before falling to South River. When the Bears beat Ranney, it was their season-high seventh straight triumph.

          When the girls’ team defeated Highland Park in their first state tournament game, it was their sixth win in eight matches (6-1-1). Brearley was shut out at New Providence 3-0 the game before. New Providence ended up capturing North 2, Group 1 before falling in the Group 1 semifinals.

          Amanda Filippone scored in the first half of the Highland Park state tournament victory, with Becky Olivera earning the assist. Freshman goalkeeper Krissy Pinho did well to come up with four saves for the shutout.

          Before its regular season setback to New Providence, Brearley defeated Solomon Schechter of West Orange 4-1 at home.

          In between its 7-1 UCT first round loss at New Providence on Oct. 10 and its conference defeat at New Providence on Nov. 6, the Bears went 5-0-1, including an impressive 1-1 home tie against a Johnson team that was 13-0-1 at the time. Johnson went on to reach the UCT final for the first time since 1994 and also reached the Central Jersey, Group 2 semifinals, finishing 15-3-2.               

          Brearley did well to beat New Providence the first time the teams played in conference competition this year, winning 2-0 at home in a night game on Sept. 18.

          So the Bears can say that they defeated one sectional champion – New Providence – and tied an undefeated team in Johnson that made it to its first UCT final in 14 years and reached its sectional semifinals.

          In the Johnson tie, Filippone scored in the first half off an assist by Janine Casale. Johnson tied the game before halftime. Pinho made 11 saves.

          In Brearley’s 7-1 road win over Dayton five days later, Filippone and Hanna LoBello both netted hat-tricks, while Pinho made six saves.

          Samantha Hoag and LoBello assisted the two goals scored by Filippone in a 2-1 win at home against Dayton on Oct. 21.

          Tania Miranda had two goals in an 8-1 win at Hillside on Oct. 14.

          Filippone scored three goals and had two assists in Brearley’s first win of the year which was an 11-0 triumph at home over Sussex Tech on Sept. 13.

          Brearley finished 8-12 last year after just missing qualifying for the state playoffs.

FRIDAY, NOV. 21 (4 games)

6-Rahway (8-1) at 2-West Morris (9-1), 7 p.m. – Rahway is playing on this weekend for the fifth consecutive year, while West Morris is in this position for the first time since 2004. Rahway’s top player – senior quarterback Troy Eastman – has an edge in playoff experience over West Morris’s No. 1 performer – junior running back Michael Burton. Will it matter? We shall see. Rahway has won seven straight since a 18-12 loss at Hillside, which was the first time Rahway lost to Hillside since 2003. West Morris has won five straight since falling at Morristown 14-13 in a game that Burton did not play in because of injury. Rahway, the defending Mountain Valley Conference-Mountain Division champion and in a position to gain a share of the conference crown this year, will attempt to beat a second straight Iron Hills Conference-Iron Division team in the playoffs. Rahway went to third-seeded Roxbury last Friday night and came away with a 33-7 triumph. West Morris hosted NNJIL school Nutley last Friday night and was also convincing in a 48-6 triumph that included five Burton touchdowns.

North 2, Group 3 semifinal in Long Valley.

JR’s pick: Rahway 

5-Caldwell (5-4) vs. 1-Hillside (8-2), 7 p.m. at Union – The visiting Chiefs last won this section in 1998 and the host Comets for the only time in 1985. Both teams have not been back to the sectional final since both of those seasons. Hillside is coming off a first 0-10 season last year and is the story of the year in Union County this season under first-year head coach John Power, who is a 1988 Union grad who was also an assistant coach there. Caldwell has a winning program under head coach Ken Trimmer, who guided the Chiefs to their 1998 crown. Hillside is sparked on offense by senior quarterback Carron McCluney and on defense by senior linebacker Marquis Spruill. Hillside also played at Union last Saturday night, ousting eighth-seeded Orange 13-6. Caldwell won late at home against West Orange – by a score of 23-20 – to get in on the playoff cutoff date weekend. Hillside qualified for the first time in five years and just won its first playoff game since 2000.

North 2, Group 2 semifinal at Cooke Memorial Field’s field turf surface field in Union.

JR’s pick: Hillside 

5-Verona (9-1) at 1-Brearley (9-0), 7 p.m. – Verona is coming off a dominant 27-3 win at fourth-seeded New Providence last Saturday, while Brearley used every ounce of energy to get past eighth-seeded Glen Ridge 14-13 last Friday night. If you go by that, you might think Brearley could be in for a long night Friday. Don’t go by that. Football – on every level – is week to week and wins and losses are as a result of matchups. Verona has four top-notch players in junior quarterback Anthony Oranges, senior running back Chris Mallory-Hughes, senior wide receiver-defensive back Chris Looney and Notre Dame-bound senior Carlo Calabrese. Brearley has been led all season long by the outstanding play of senior quarterback Tom Mannix and senior two-way lineman Jim Stafford. Junior running back Brian Layden is a capable threat as well. The Bears are 9-0 for the second time in three years and also won at New Providence 20-13. For a change, both of these teams do not play on Thanksgiving this year, with both of their regular seasons complete – although Brearley’s will turn out to be one game less because the Bears were unable to find a ninth regular season opponent. Brearley came back and then held on to beat Verona 21-20 at Giants Stadium in the 2006 final, winning the section for the first time since 1991 en route to the first and only 12-0 season in Union County history. Verona traveled to Kenilworth last year and decisively beat the Bears 28-12 in the quarterfinals. That was Brearley’s last loss, with the Bears on a 10-game winning streak, including last year’s 30-22 home win over Hillside on Thanksgiving. Verona has won six straight since a 15-8 home loss to North 1, Group 1 semifinalist Mountain Lakes. Verona played Cedar Grove on Thanksgiving in the past, but decided after last year to not play on the holiday this year because the teams played in the semifinals last year and then five days later once again on Thanksgiving. Brearley played Hillside on the holiday from 2000-2007.

North 2, Group 1 semifinal at Ward Field’s grass field in Kenilworth

JR’s pick: Verona – but Brearley could definitely win this game.

3-Point Pleasant Boro (8-1) at 2-Johnson (7-2), 7 p.m. – After opening with a 22-0 win at Keansburg, head coach Calvin Thompson’s Panthers lost at Manasquan 3-0 on Sept. 20. PPB didn’t panic after that defeat. Instead, the Panthers went on to shut out their next six opponents by a whopping 204-0 count. Maybe there was poison ivy or something in the PPB end zone in those games, I don’t know. It was probably more like PPB came to play defensively during those occasions. Amazingly, the Panthers gave up 19 points in last week’s 41-19 home win over sixth-seeded Burlington Township, so it is possible to get into the end zone against PPB. Johnson was just as dominant in a 35-7 home win over seventh-seeded Somerville last Friday night, which was the Crusaders’ first playoff win since they captured North 2, Group 2 for the second time in 2002. Johnson has a smart senior quarterback in Dan Dugan and many key two-way standouts, including senior running back-linebacker Lou Caporaso. The Crusaders, with fifth-year head coach Gus Kalikas getting his first playoff win last week, have won three straight. Their only losses have come to playoff teams Governor Livingston 15-14 on the road in the season-opener and at home to New Providence 10-7 where a field goal was missed on the game’s final play.

Central Jersey, Group 2 semifinal at Nolan Field’s field turf surface in Clark.

JR’s pick: Johnson – best bet

REGULAR SEASON GAME:

Scotch Plains (3-5) at Shabazz (2-6), 4 p.m. – This game was originally scheduled to be played last month, but postponed because of incidents that took place the day before in Newark. The Raiders then received a forfeit win from the Watchung Conference because of Shabazz’s refusal to play the game at two other sites. Then the Watchung Conference reversed that decision, with the game being rescheduled to be played on the field this weekend. Scotch Plains will seek to win a second straight game for the first time this year to get to 4-5. The Raiders are coming off a 26-20 home win over Warren Hills in last Saturday’s North 2, Group 3 consolation game. Scotch Plains will conclude its season at Elizabeth Nov. 26 at 7 p.m. at Williams Field.

Watchung Conference game at Untermann Field’s field turf surface in Newark.

2007: Scotch Plains 31, Shabazz 0 – at Scotch Plains

JR’s pick: Scotch Plains

SATURDAY, NOV. 22 (2 games)

4-Union (7-2) at 1-Piscataway (8-1), 1 p.m. – Union lost to Piscataway 29-7 in the 2003 final at Giants Stadium in a game that got away from them late in the fourth quarter. The Farmers then went to Piscataway for a quarterfinal game in 2004 and was defeated 41-0 in a contest that was not as close as the score indicated. Put it this way, the first two times Union and Piscataway have met in the North 2, Group 4 playoffs, Piscataway has kicked Union around both times. Piscataway did the same to fellow Watchung Conference team Linden in beating the Tigers 27-0 at home in the 2004 semifinals and 45-0 at home in the 2005 quarterfinals. Then Linden went to Piscataway for a third straight year in 2006 as the underdog again, but this time came back to Union County with a 13-12 triumph over the Chiefs. Union hopes to accomplish the same feat on Saturday. The Farmers have won six in a row by an average score of 35-8. Piscataway has won six straight since a 27-22 loss at Sayreville. The Chiefs will be seeking to reach the final for the second straight season and for the fifth time out of six tries since the NJSIAA moved them over to the section in 2003. One year after winning Central Jersey, Group 4 with a 12-0 record in 2002, Piscataway won this section the first year it was in it in 2003 as the eighth seed and with a 9-3 record. Piscataway then won the section again as the top seed in 2004, finishing 12-0 for the second time in three years. The Chiefs lost in the final in 2005 and 2007, before and after losing to Linden in the 2006 quarterfinals. Union last reached the final in 2003 and last won the section in 1993. The Farmers have still won the most playoff titles in this section with 10. Elizabeth, the 2006 champion, is second with seven.

North 2, Group 4 semifinal at Piscataway.

JR’s pick: Union – upset special

7-Summit (5-5) at 3-Governor Livingston (6-3), 1 p.m. – I believe these teams have not played each other since the early 1990s, which would have been a non-conference game at the time. Summit qualified for the first time in five years, while GL is in the playoffs for the fifth consecutive season and in a sectional semifinal for the third time since 2004. Both teams are guided on offense by outstanding junior quarterbacks, with Joe Jaskolski leading the way for Summit and Max Machado a big-time threat for GL. The host Highlanders, who fell at home to Raritan 20-19 in a 2006 Central Jersey, Group 2 semifinal, are seeking to reach only their second playoff championship game and first since 1989. Summit is out to get to its first sectional final since reaching the N2, G2 championship game for the fourth consecutive season in 1995.

North 2, Group 2 semifinal at GL’s field turf surface field in Berkeley Heights.

JR’s pick: Governor Livingston – but Summit could definitely win this game.

The Oak Knoll field hockey team was good enough to capture a third consecutive Group 1 state championship, which is no easy feat at all.

          However, unless you win the ensuing Tournament of Champions – also no simple task – a highly-successful season will end with a defeat.

          For the Royals from Summit, Wednesday’s 1-0 loss to first-time Group 3 state champion Wall at Hunterdon Central not only ended their season, but it was the squad’s first loss of the year and first setback since falling to Shawnee of Medford 3-0 in last year’s TOC final.

          Oak Knoll went 23-1-1 this year, with its only other non-victory being a 0-0 regular season non-conference tie against eventual repeat Group 2 state champion West Essex of North Caldwell.

          Sparked by the play of Princeton-bound senior midfielder Michelle Cesan, junior forward Seton Hartnett of Westfield and senior goaltender Mary Kate Spawn – who finished the year with 16 shutouts – Oak Knoll continued its mastery of Johnson of Clark in Mountain Valley Conference and Union County Tournament play.

          Oak Knoll swept Johnson in MVC play to win another conference championship and defeated the Crusaders for the fifth straight year in the UCT title contest.

          To Johnson’s credit, the Crusaders were able to capture their first-ever sectional crown, winning North Jersey, Section 2 en route to a school-best 20-4 finish that included three losses to Oak Knoll and one to West Essex in the Group 2 semifinals.

The Union County boys’ and girls’ soccer seasons came to a close Tuesday as the three remaining teams alive in group semifinals were eliminated.

          On the boys’ side, Elizabeth was edged 2-1 in overtime by Clifton in the Group 4 semifinal at Watchung Hills.

          The Minutemen, who captured their first North 2, Group 4 championship, had an 11-game winning streak snapped and finished the season at 19-5.

          Elizabeth also won its second Union County Tournament championship and first since 2005, so the Minutemen have a lot to be proud of this year.

          On the girls’ side, Ramapo defeated Scotch Plains 1-0 in a Group 3 semifinal at Indian Hills in Oakland – Bergen County territory.

          Scotch Plains reached a fourth consecutive North 2, Group 3 final, finished 19-5-1 and set a school record for wins in a season.

          The Raiders also won a fourth consecutive UCT title. They won their first crown in 2005, shared the 2006 title with Westfield and then won the 2007 and 2008 crowns outright, just like they did in 2005.

          Waldwick ousted New Providence 2-1 (PKs 3-2) in a Group 1 semifinal at Ridge in Basking Ridge – Somerset County territory. The Pioneers finished with a highly-successful record of 16-3-2.

SECTIONAL SEMIFINALS

Friday, Nov. 21 (4 games)

North 2, Group 3
6-Rahway at 2-West Morris, 7 p.m.

North 2, Group 2
5-Caldwell vs. 1-Hillside, 7 p.m. at Union

North 2, Group 1
5-Verona at 1-Brearley, 7 p.m.

Central Jersey, Group 2
3-Point Pleasant Boro at 2-Johnson, 7 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 22 (2 games)

North 2, Group 4
4-Union at 1-Piscataway, 1 p.m.

North 2, Group 2
7-Summit at 3-Governor Livingston, 1 p.m.

LAST WEEKEND’S QUARTERFINALS

Friday, Nov. 14 (6 games)

North 2, Group 4
Union 15, Elizabeth 7
Ridge 49, Westfield 13

North 2, Group 3
Rahway 33, Roxbury 7

North 2, Group 2
Summit 16, Hanover Park 6

North 2, Group 1
Brearley 14, Glen Ridge 13

Central Jersey, Group 2
Johnson 35, Somerville 7

Saturday, Nov. 15 (4 games)

North 2, Group 4
Piscataway 38, Plainfield 0

North 2, Group 2
Gov. Livingston 14, Hackettstown 7
Hillside 13, Orange 6

North 2, Group 1
Verona 27, New Providence 3

CONSOLATIONS

Friday, Nov. 14 (4 games)

North 2, Group 4  
Linden 50, Bayonne 22

North 2, Group 1
Lyndhurst 25, Roselle Park 14

Central Jersey, Group 2
Cranford 25, Allentown 0
Roselle 35, North Plainfield 19

Saturday, Nov. 15 (2 games)

North 2, Group 3
Scotch Plains 26, Warren Hills 20

North 2, Group 1
Belvidere 20, Dayton 0

JR’S PICKS THIS WEEK (6)

Rahway over West Morris - Indians seek first final since 1999.

Hillside over Caldwell - Comets seek first final since 1985.

Verona over Brearley - Could go either way.

Johnson over Point Pleasant Boro - Crusaders seek first final since 2002.

Union over Piscataway - Farmers owe Chiefs from 2003 and 2004 and seek first final since 2003.

Governor Livingston over Summit - GL seeks first section final since 1989 and Summit since 1995.

Best bet: Johnson over Point Pleasant Boro

Upset special: Union over Piscataway

Last weekend's playoff picks: 5-5, not good.

Consolation picks: 5-1, just OK.

Total: 10-6.

Season: 94-25 (.790).

Best bets: 9-1, 9 in a row.

Upset specials: 4-6.

UNION COUNTY FOOTBALL SCOREBOARD

FRIDAY, NOV. 14

PLAYOFFS

North 2, Group 4

Union 15, Elizabeth 7 – at Union

Ridge 49, Westfield 13 – at Ridge

North 2, Group 3

Rahway 33, Roxbury 7 – at Roxbury

North 2, Group 2

Summit 16, Hanover Park 6 – at Hanover Park

North 2, Group 1

Brearley 14, Glen Ridge 13 – at Brearley

Central Jersey, Group 2

Johnson 35, Somerville 7 – at Johnson

CONSOLATIONS

North 2, Group 4  

Linden 50, Bayonne 22 – at Bayonne

North 2, Group 1

Lyndhurst 25, Roselle Park 14 – at Lyndhurst

Central Jersey, Group 2

Cranford 25, Allentown 0 - at Allentown

Roselle 35, North Plainfield 19 - at North Plainfield

SATURDAY, NOV. 15

PLAYOFFS

North 2, Group 4

Piscataway 38, Plainfield 0 – at Plainfield

North 2, Group 2

Governor Livingston 14, Hackettstown 7 – at GL

Hillside 13, Orange 6 – at Union