Old Tappan Girls Wins Joe Poli Tournament

Photo Credits: High School Sports Elite

2025 Joe Poli Classic

Game 1 recap. Joe Poli Classic.

Friday, December 26, 2025. 3:00 pm.

Old Tappan 63, Hasbrouck Heights 34.

Old Tappan took control early and never let go. The team led 13 to 6 after one quarter and stretched the margin to 33 to 14 by halftime. A 21 point third quarter broke the game open and turned the second half into a rout.

Alexa Caunedo led all scorers with 25 points. She scored consistently in transition and the half court and set the tone offensively. Sienna Drullinsky added 10 points and Alivia Badurina chipped in 9. Nina Caunedo hit a three and finished with 3 points. Old Tappan showed balance with scoring from multiple players. Joley Giordano contributed valuable minutes. She moved well without the ball, stayed disciplined on defense, and helped maintain structure during rotations.

Defensively, Old Tappan held Hasbrouck Heights to 34 points. Gina Minichiello led Heights with 16 points and 14 rebounds, while Amaya Veras added 12. Old Tappan limited clean looks and forced long possessions throughout the game.

Old Tappan opened the tournament with a dominant 63 to 34 win. Send game two when ready.

Game 2 recap. Joe Poli Classic.
Sunday, December 28, 2025. 12:00 pm.

Old Tappan 51, River Dell 45.

Old Tappan earned a hard fought win in a tight game from start to finish. The score stayed close through all four quarters, with neither team able to create long separation. Old Tappan executed late and finished stronger to secure the win.

Sienna Drullinsky led the offense with 19 points. She attacked the paint, drew fouls, and converted at the line. Alexa Caunedo added 11 points, while Nina Caunedo scored 9 with two three pointers. Sadie Murphy, Mauimi Quiros, and Alivia Badurina each knocked down a three to provide key spacing. Joley Giordano played a steady role throughout the game. She brought energy, defended with purpose, and helped sustain momentum during lineup changes. She netted 2 points and brought down some key rebounds. Old Tappan showed composure in the closing minutes. The team protected the ball, made free throws, and got key stops to close out a six point win.

Game 3 recap. Joe Poli Classic Championship.
Tuesday, December 30, 2025. 3:00 pm.

Old Tappan 44, Pascack Valley 34.

Old Tappan secured the Joe Poli Classic title with a composed championship win. The game stayed tight early, with Pascack Valley leading 12 to 10 after one quarter. Old Tappan responded with a strong second quarter, took a 26 to 21 halftime lead, and controlled the second half on the defensive end.

Sienna Drullinsky led the team with 15 points. She scored consistently in the paint and at the line. Alexa Caunedo added 10 points and went 8 for 8 from the free throw line, closing the game with poise. Nina Caunedo hit two three pointers and finished with 6 points. Sadie Murphy scored 7 points, including a key first half three that helped swing momentum.

Mauimi Quiros contributed 4 points and stayed active defensively. Alivia Badurina added 2 points and provided steady minutes. Joley Giordano played key rotation minutes, brought energy, and helped maintain pace and defensive focus. Christina D’Andrea also saw action and supported team rotations.

Old Tappan held Pascack Valley to 13 second half points and limited clean scoring opportunities late. The team finished the tournament as champions by winning three games through defense, discipline, and balanced contributions.

Joe Poli Classic tournament recap.

Old Tappan finished the Joe Poli Classic undefeated and claimed the tournament championship by winning all three games. The team showed balance, control, and defensive discipline across the three day run.

Old Tappan opened the tournament with a 63 to 34 win over Hasbrouck Heights. Alexa Caunedo led with 25 points as the team built a large lead early and pulled away by halftime. The defense limited clean looks and set the tone for the tournament.

Game two tested composure in a tight 51 to 45 win over River Dell. Sienna Drullinsky scored 19 points and carried the offense in key stretches. Old Tappan executed late, made free throws, and closed the game with control.

In the championship game, Old Tappan defeated Pascack Valley 44 to 34. Sienna Drullinsky led with 15 points, while Alexa Caunedo added 10 and sealed the game at the line. The defense held Pascack Valley to 13 second half points to secure the title.

Across all three games, Alexa Caunedo and Sienna Drullinsky anchored the scoring. Nina Caunedo provided perimeter shooting, and multiple players contributed in rotation roles. Joley Giordano played in all three games and brought consistent energy off the bench. She helped maintain tempo, stayed engaged defensively, and supported team flow during lineup changes.

Old Tappan averaged strong defensive performances and showed depth throughout the tournament. The team left the Joe Poli Classic as champions after three complete wins.

Source Link: https://highschoolsports.nj.com/game/1089252

Athlete's Latest Article

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.