If there's one universal truth, it's that all of our bodies begin changing at some point. That's especially true for women who are over the age of 50. One day it seems like we're rolling out of bed with a pep in our step. The next, our emotions are out of control, our weight won't go down, and we constantly have hot flashes. If that sounds like you, don't worry â millions of other women worldwide are going through the same difficulties.
The fact of the matter is these symptoms are part of a natural process women go through. This change, called menopause, marks the end of a woman's ability to reproduce and menstruate. The average age for this to occur is 51, though it officially begins a year after a woman's final period. During this transition to menopause, estrogen and other hormones in a woman's body start to deplete When those hormones deplete, frequent and sometimes severe symptoms can manifest:
The symptoms of hormone deficiency can be scary for both women and their partners. That makes dealing with a hormone deficiency tricky because many symptoms are tied to nutrition, stress, lack of exercise, and toxins in your body.
However, if you're getting older and dealing with some of the symptoms listed above, have hope. A solution to your hormone problems may be closer than you think. Hormone replacement therapy for women may help correct imbalances caused by menopause. These effective, safe treatments help many women throughout the menopause process and may even help them reclaim their youth.
To live a healthy life, hormone stability is very important for women. That's where the beauty of HRT treatments for women begins to shine because it balances hormones that would otherwise be altered due to menopause.
HRT treatments for women represent a revolutionary step toward living life without the pitfalls of old age. However, at Juventee, we understand that no two women, and by proxy, patients, are the same. That's why our team of doctors and specialists provide personalized treatment options for women, combining holistic treatment, nutrition, fitness plans, and more to supplement our HRT treatments.
Is HRT the answer if you feel exhausted, overweight, and moody? That's the million-dollar question that we're asked almost every day. And to be honest, it's hard to say without a comprehensive exam by an HRT expert at Juventee. What we can say is that when a woman's hormones are better balanced during menopause, she has a much better chance of enjoying life without the crippling symptoms that other women feel.
At Juventee, helping women reclaim their vitality and love of life is our top priority. While some HRT clinics see patients as nothing more than a means to make money, our team is cut from a different cloth.
The key to balancing your hormones and improving your well-being is a process that we have refined over time. The Juventee HRT process consists of a comprehensive review of your health and hormonal status. Our team then customizes your plan and prescribes treatments, procedures, and supplements under the guidance of our local HRT experts.
At Juventee, we want to revitalize your health by promoting balance, energy, intimacy, and beauty. We start by assessing your baseline biomarkers and implementing a personalized plan to help you feel like your younger self. Our in-depth process covers many factors, almost like a web. Each component of that web works in conjunction with others to make up how you feel. If one area is out of sync, women can experience unwanted fluctuations in their weight, energy, emotions, libido, and more. Juventee is committed to evaluating our patient's overall health so that we may bring vitality and happiness to as many aspects of their lives as possible.
We've mentioned all the greatness that can come with an HRT regimen from Juventee, but what exactly are the benefits of HRT for women? Let's take a look.
We Work With
Unlike some HRT clinics, Juventee's HRT programs are carefully crafted and personalized for each patient. There are no cookie-cutter solutions at our office. Instead, we assess each individual's needs and customize treatments to help their bodies as they age. We replace hormones that are deficient and restore them to their physiological state using HRT pellets.
These hormone pellets are prescription hormones inserted under the skin through a simple in-office procedure. Each pellet is about as large as a big grain of rice. Once inserted, our HRT pellets get to work quickly. With this treatment, patients don't have to worry about applying greasy creams or swallowing pills. Instead, our pellets are metabolized by the body. That way, patients don't stress over taking too much or too little.
Remember, at Juventee, our goal isn't just to balance your hormones â it's to completely optimize your health and well-being. You won't ever have to worry about our doctors writing you a prescription and sending you on your way without any additional communication. Instead, we aim to be part of our patient's journey back to health and work with all of our HRT patients to do so.
Hormone imbalance causes a litany of issues. But with hormone replacement therapy, females can better process calcium, keep their cholesterol levels safe, and maintain a healthy vagina. By replenishing the body's estrogen levels, HRT may relieve symptoms of menopause and even optimize bone health.
But that's just the start. At Juventee, our patients report many benefits of taking HRT for women:
If you're ready to feel better and enjoy the vitality of your youth, Juventee is here to help you every step of the way. It all starts with an in-person evaluation, where our team will determine if HRT is right for you.
For many women, menopause is a difficult time filled with ups, downs, and hormonal hurdles to overcome. While menopausal issues are well-known by some, other women only know that menopause can affect their hormones. The reality is that going through menopause can mean more than moodiness and hot flashes.
At Juventee, we're big believers that a little knowledge can go a long way. With that in mind, if you're going through menopause or are approaching "that" age, consider these common issues. First, let's examine some alternative causes of menopause beyond age:
The most common reason for menopause is diminished, unbalanced hormones. However, menopause can also result from:
Now that we've examined some of the ways that menopause manifests, let's look at some common problems that females regularly endure:
If you're going through menopause and feel like life is a tiresome burden, you're not alone. Studies show that 15% of women go through depression to some degree during menopause. What many women don't learn is that depression may start much earlier, during perimenopause or even earlier.
Depression can be hard to diagnose, even without perimenopause and menopause as a factor. With that said, keep the following signs in mind. If you notice any, it might be time to speak with a physician:
If you notice any of the signs above, it's important that you understand that you're not weak or broken. You're going through a very normal emotional experience, which may be caused by hormone deficiency. However, with proper treatment from your doctor, depression doesn't have to rule your life.
You don't have to have hormonal imbalances to have mood swings. Indeed, everyone gets moody from time to time. For women going through menopause, however, mood swings can be extreme and happen often. Hormone imbalances and mood swings go together, resulting in unusual emotional changes and even issues like insomnia.
Estrogen production, a hormone that fluctuates during menopause, affects serotonin production, which regulates mood. When both hormones are deficient, mood swings can become quite prevalent.
Fortunately, HRT treatments in North Bergen, NJ, work wonders for women because they work to regulate hormones like estrogen. With HRT from Juventee, women don't have to settle for the negative consequences that drastic mood swings can cause.
Hot flashes: whether you're a man or a woman, you've probably heard of them. Hot flashes are very common issues associated with menopause and manifest as intense, sudden feelings of heat across the upper body. Some last a few seconds while others last many minutes, making them uncomfortable and inconvenient at all times. A few common symptoms of hot flashes include:
Usually, a lack of estrogen causes hot flashes in menopausal women. Low levels of estrogen negatively affect a woman's hypothalamus, or the part of the brain that regulates appetite and body temperature. Low estrogen levels cause the hypothalamus to assume incorrectly that the body is too hot. When it does, it dilates a woman's blood vessels to boost blood flow.
Fortunately, most women don't have to settle for the intense, unwanted feelings they endure with hot flashes. HRT pellet treatment from Juventee helps to stabilize hormones which may lessen the effects that hot flashes cause.
Staying healthy and fit is a challenge for anybody living in modern America. For women with hormonal imbalances, however, it's even harder. Weight gain is a concerning issue during menopause, but it can be manageable with a physician-led diet, exercise, and HRT treatments from Juventee.
HRT patients at Juventee benefit from health plans that keep hormones in check, making weight loss a real possibility. But which hormones need to be regulated to help avoid weight gain?
Millions of adults around the U.S. suffer from low sex drive, but that doesn't make it any more embarrassing to talk about. For many women going through pre-menopause and menopause, it's an unfortunate side effect of unbalanced hormones. Thankfully, HRT may help women maintain a healthy libido, even after 50. But what causes lowered sexual desire in women as they age?
The hormones responsible for low libido in females are estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone.
Progesterone production decreases during perimenopause, resulting in lowered libido in some women. Lower progesterone production can also cause weight gain, exhaustion, and other symptoms common during menopause. Reduced estrogen levels during menopause may lead to vaginal dryness and even loss of muscle tension.
Testosterone is referred to as a male hormone, but it contributes to important health functionality in women as well. Female testosterone heightens sexual responses and intensifies orgasms. When the ovaries can't produce sufficient levels of testosterone, low sex drive can happen.
The inside of a woman's bones is broken down and rebuilt by bone cells in an ongoing process called remodeling. This process is crucial for maintaining bone strength and health.
However, due to the loss of estrogen during menopause, this important process becomes unbalanced. Less bone is formed, and more bone is broken down. This advanced state of bone loss can be worrying for women, especially if they had an early menopause. With time, women may develop osteoporosis and a greater chance of breaking bones as they age.
Fortunately, HRT for women can actually mimic estrogen and progesterone, which may help prevent bone loss and lower chances of osteoporosis in women. That's huge news for women around the U.S., many of whom are battling early bone loss due to a lack calcium, vitamin D, and other nutrients crucial to bone health.
If you are considering HRT treatments for women in North Bergen, NJ, you need a team of hormone replacement experts by your side. At Juventee, our knowledgeable HRT doctors are ready to help. Our team will answer your initial questions, conduct necessary testing, and craft a customized program designed to alleviate the challenges you're facing as a woman going through menopause.
With a healthy diet, exercise, positive life choices, and hormone replacement therapy, unveiling the new "you" is easier than you might think. Contact our office today to get started on your journey to optimal health and well-being.
Mayor Nick Sacco today formally announced his intention to run for re-election to continue serving the residents of North Bergen in the upcoming May nonpartisan election. Mayor Sacco said he has made “a tremendous impact on the Township through his unwavering commitment to improving the quality of life for residents.”“It has been the honor of a lifetime to serve the residents of North Bergen as Mayor. During my time in office, I have worked tirelessly to improve our community in areas such as education, infrastructur...
Mayor Nick Sacco today formally announced his intention to run for re-election to continue serving the residents of North Bergen in the upcoming May nonpartisan election. Mayor Sacco said he has made “a tremendous impact on the Township through his unwavering commitment to improving the quality of life for residents.”
“It has been the honor of a lifetime to serve the residents of North Bergen as Mayor. During my time in office, I have worked tirelessly to improve our community in areas such as education, infrastructure, recreation and public safety, all while keeping property taxes stable to keep our community affordable,” said Sacco. “I am proud of the progress that we have made together, but even more excited about North Bergen’s future.”
Two new candidates will appear on Mayor Sacco’s ticket this election, as Commissioner Frank Gargiulo recently announced his retirement from elected office, and Commissioner Julio Marenco is running for State Assembly. They are:
Vainieri and Rodriguez will be running alongside Mayor Sacco, Commissioner Hugo Cabrera and Commissioner Allen Pascual.
“I am thrilled to welcome these talented and dedicated individuals to our team. Commissioner Vainieri has done excellent work for North Bergen on the County level, most notably in improving Braddock Park, and Claudia Rodriguez will make history as our first Latina Commissioner. I look forward to working with both Anthony and Claudia as well as the other Commissioners to keep delivering progress for North Bergen,” said Sacco.
Sacco said he has a proven track record of delivering results for North Bergen residents, and throughout his time in office has led the effort to improve the quality of local schools, invest in infrastructure, and enhance public safety in the community. Under his leadership North Bergen has become one of the safest and most vibrant communities in the state of New Jersey.
“North Bergen is a strong and vibrant community, and a great place to live, work, and raise a family. I am running for re-election to ensure that it remains that way for generations to come,” said Sacco. “I am eager to continue working with residents and community leaders to make North Bergen an even better place to call home.”
Mayor Sacco’s self-professed dedication to the community has earned him recognition and respect from residents, businesses, and community organizations. He is known for his approachable and personable nature, as well as his ability to work effectively with others to achieve common goals. A respected member of the community and a committed public servant, Mayor Sacco is also a proud husband, father, and grandfather who values the importance of family.
Sacco’s re-election campaign will focus on building on the progress that has been made, he said, while also addressing new challenges that have arisen in recent years. He is committed to working closely with residents, businesses and community organizations to create a brighter future for North Bergen, keeping the community both safe and affordable.
Hospital hosts high school students at first Healthcare Career DayHudson Regional Hospital hosted 25 pre-selected Secaucus High School students who have shown an interest in pursuing careers in healthcare for its first annual career day on Friday, Feb. 17, from 8:45 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.Students were to hear from Hudson Regional Hospital’s President and CEO Dr. Nizar Kifaieh, tour the hospital with Assistant Vice President of Nursing Sheryl Syby, and then break up into six groups to shadow practitioners to show next ge...
Hospital hosts high school students at first Healthcare Career Day
Hudson Regional Hospital hosted 25 pre-selected Secaucus High School students who have shown an interest in pursuing careers in healthcare for its first annual career day on Friday, Feb. 17, from 8:45 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Students were to hear from Hudson Regional Hospital’s President and CEO Dr. Nizar Kifaieh, tour the hospital with Assistant Vice President of Nursing Sheryl Syby, and then break up into six groups to shadow practitioners to show next generation of healthcare professionals the diverse range of positions and responsibilities performed in a healthcare facility.
Hudson Regional Hospital is located at 55 Meadowlands Pkwy, Secaucus.
OneMD opens first office at Hudson Regional Hospital
Long-time Hudson County doctors, Reinerio G. Rodriguez and Luis Correa, have launched OneMD, a new practice that will provide primary and family care out of Hudson Regional Hospital at 55 Meadowlands Pkwy, Secaucus, as well as four other locations in Hudson and Bergen County.
Correa and Rodriguez will accept most insurance as well as Medicaid. Both doctors are bi-lingual in English and Spanish.
Rodriguez is a family medicine doctor who received his medical degree from St. Matthew’s University (Grand Cayman) and did his residency at Hoboken University Medical Center.
Correa is a board-certified internal medicine physician. He is a graduate of St. George’s University School of Medicine (West Indies, Granada) and he did his residency at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School.
OneMD will be opening additional locations later this year in Jersey City, Union City and West New York in Hudson County and Rutherford or North Arlington in Bergen County.
North Bergen condominium records eight new sales
Solaia, a collection of 70 upscale condominiums in North Bergen, has seen a flurry of sales throughout the holiday and winter season.
The14-story building located in the Palisades Cliffs overlooking the Hudson River recorded eight new sales in a recent six-week period, according to developer Skyline Development Group.
The sales, including several to former New York City residents, totaled more than $10 million and elevated the property to 35 percent sold, with most of those homes already closed and occupied.
Included in the burst of activity was one of the most significant sales to date at the building, a spectacular three-bedroom penthouse home with private outdoor space that sold for a record $2 million.
Associates recognized for sales achievements in January
Weichert, Realtors has announced that sales associate Anthony Iemmello with the Hoboken office was recognized for outstanding sales performance at the regional level in January. Iemmello shared top honors for having the most revenue units and sales in the Weichert sales region.
Weichert’s Jersey City Downtown office, which is managed by Jacqueline Greco, had the most revenue units and shared top honors for having the most sales in the Weichert sales region. Among teams, the Nader Rezai Team led the sales region for dollar volume, listings, revenue units and sales in January.
Sales associate Sandy Cuevas with the Jersey City Exchange Place office was recognized for outstanding achievement at the regional level in January. Cuevas shared top honors for having the most revenue units and sales in the Weichert sales region.
The Weichert sales region is comprised of offices throughout Hudson County and parts of Bergen County.
Unity Bank opens Fort Lee branch
Unity Bank has opened a new full-service branch in Fort Lee, increasing its service footprint to 20 branches. The new branch is located at 899 Palisade Ave. at the intersection with Columbia Avenue.
The facility features the abstract landscape oil paintings of Bergen County artist Sol Zaretsky of Teaneck. Unity purchased several of Zaretsky’s paintings through its program to support local artists in communities where it has branches.
The facility, previously operated by another bank, includes dedicated parking and drive-up banking and ATM services. Surrounding businesses include an insurance company, salon and a dentist.
Ryan Peene, Unity Bank’s Senior Vice President/Chief Depository Officer, who is well known in the Bergen County and Hudson County communities for leadership roles on the City of Hoboken Planning Board and Greater Bergen Community Action, leads the development of the Fort Lee branch and all of Unity’s retail banking operations.
The Fort Lee team also includes Franca Fabrizio, area manager; Sunita Pereira, operations manager; Vince Forma, commercial lender; Kathleen Hay, SBA lender; and mortgage lenders Nicholas Aversa and Pasquale Grande.
Fort Lee is the second new branch opened by Unity in the last two months. In December, the bank opened a branch in Lakewood in Ocean County. Unity Bank now provides financial services to retail, corporate and small business customers in Bergen, Hunterdon, Middlesex, Ocean, Somerset, Union and Warren Counties in New Jersey and Northampton County in Pennsylvania. The bank holds about $2.4 billion in assets and $1.8 billion in deposits.
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NOTE: This story will be updated throughout the night as games are completed. Check back later for more results.Clifton 51, East Orange 47Luis Vega made four 3-pointers on the way to a game-high 23 points to lead sixth-seeded Clifton to a narrow victory at home over 11-seed East Orange, 51-47, in the first round of the North Jersey, Section 1, Group 4 tournament.Saif Al-Deen Saleh recorded a double-double with 14 points, 11 rebounds and three blocks while Jayden Rivera added 11 points and three assis...
NOTE: This story will be updated throughout the night as games are completed. Check back later for more results.
Clifton 51, East Orange 47
Luis Vega made four 3-pointers on the way to a game-high 23 points to lead sixth-seeded Clifton to a narrow victory at home over 11-seed East Orange, 51-47, in the first round of the North Jersey, Section 1, Group 4 tournament.
Saif Al-Deen Saleh recorded a double-double with 14 points, 11 rebounds and three blocks while Jayden Rivera added 11 points and three assists for Clifton, which trailed by two after three before putting things away with an 18-12 fourth quarter.
Clifton (17-9) will face third-seeded Ridgewood in the quarterfinal round on Thursday.
Kaiyri Barkley scored a team-high 18 points with three made 3s while Joshua Richards had a double-double with 10 points, 11 rebounds and six assists for East Orange, which falls to 13-11 with the loss.
North Bergen 43, Memorial 40
Shawn Orefice made three 3-pointers, finishing with a game-high 19 points to lead fourth-seeded North Bergen to a come-from-behind victory at home over 13-seed Memorial, 43-40, in the first round.
Cesar Perez went 4-for-4 from the line and hit a pair of 3s on the way to 16 points while Jonathan Jones added eight points with a pair of made 3-pointers for North Bergen, which will host fifth-seeded Union City on Thursday.
North Bergen (15-11) trailed by six at halftime before swinging the momentum with a 14-9 third quarter.
Edward Lugo tallied a team-high 11 points while Anthony Franco and Ariel Trejo chipped in eight points apiece for Memorial, which falls to 12-13 with the loss.
Passaic Tech 68, Paterson Kennedy 52
Ayden Brown and Jordan Lugo scored 15 points apiece to lead second-seeded Passaic Tech to a victory at home over 15-seed Paterson Kennedy, 68-52.
Kaiden Rex notched 13 points while Elian Paulino added 10 points for Passaic Tech, which trailed by three after one before taking control with a 21-8 second quarter.
Miach Pierce made four 3-pointers on the way to 15 points while Z’yaire Simmons chipped in 11 points for Paterson Kennedy, which falls to 10-12 with the loss.
Passaic Tech (18-9) will face seventh-seeded Hackensack in Thursday’s quarterfinals.
Paterson Eastside 68, Morristown 39
Bryce Stokes made four 3-pointers on the way to a game-high 21 points to go along with 10 rebounds and seven steals to lead top-seeded Paterson Eastside, No. 9 in the NJ.com Top 20, to a one-sided win at home over 16-seed Morristown, 68-39.
Preston Brown recorded 15 points, eight assists, five rebounds and five steals while Justin Bethea chipped in 13 points for Paterson Eastside, which held a 34-12 lead at halftime.
Paterson Eastside (24-2) will host ninth-seeded Livingston in the quarterfinal round on Thursday.
Zion Baitey tallied 15 points while Finn Rodgers had nine points for Morristown, which falls to 12-14 with the loss.
Union City 63, Fair Lawn 51
Kaleb Johnson scored a game-high 21 points and pulled down 10 rebounds to lead fifth-seeded Union City to a win at home over 12-seed Fair Lawn, 63-51.
Darrien Ponder tallied 18 points, nine rebounds and four assists while Jaylen Mayo chipped in nine points and four rebounds for Union City (13-13), which trailed by five after one before taking the momentum with an 18-14 second followed by a 15-9 third quarter.
Jianni Moran made three 3-pointers with a team-high 15 points while Brandon Barker added 10 points for Fair Lawn, which falls to 18-7 with the loss.
Livingston 32, West Orange 27
Dylan Perlstein scored a game-high 12 points to go along with four rebounds and two assists to lead ninth-seeded Livingston to a hard-fought victory on the road over eighth-seeded West Orange, 32-27.
Luke Cohen tallied 11 points, four boards and two assists while Nate Nussbaum chipped in nine points for Livingston (17-10), which will go on the road to face top-seeded Paterson Eastside, No. 9 in the NJ.com Top 20, in the quarterfinals on Wednesday.
Jhensen Touze had a double-double with 10 points, 11 rebounds and two blocks while Nick Matos and Jaden Livingston had six points apiece for West Orange, which falls to 15-11 with the loss.
Hackensack 66, Montclair 44
Damir Shelley scored a team-high 17 points to lead seventh-seeded Hackensack to a victory at home over 10-seed Montclair, 66-44.
Jamiko Smith added 12 points while Eric Afrifah chipped in 10 points for Hackensack, which led by 10 at halftime.
Hackensack (12-15) will go on the road to face second-seeded Passaic Tech on Thursday.
Montclair falls to 13-12 with the loss.
Ridgewood 58, Passaic 40
Third-seeded Ridgewood defeated 14th-seeded Passaic, 58-40.
Zahkai Sylvester went 6-for-6 from the free-throw line, finishing with a team-high 16 points while Marlon Torres had 14 points for Passaic, which falls to 9-18 with the loss.
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A messy winter storm expected to hit New Jersey starting Monday afternoon could bring a wintry mix of precipitation to the northern half of the state with 2 to 6 inches of snow in the forecast for areas north of I-78, according to the National Weather Service.Higher snowfall accumulations of 4 to 6 inches are expected north of I-80 in Sussex County along with parts of Warren, Morris,...
A messy winter storm expected to hit New Jersey starting Monday afternoon could bring a wintry mix of precipitation to the northern half of the state with 2 to 6 inches of snow in the forecast for areas north of I-78, according to the National Weather Service.
Higher snowfall accumulations of 4 to 6 inches are expected north of I-80 in Sussex County along with parts of Warren, Morris, Bergen and Passaic counties. The weather service cautioned that snowfall amounts south of that area could vary due to the changeover from snow to rain, but a treacherous commute Tuesday morning is likely.
“The area from just south of I-78, on northward to I-80 will be the most difficult forecast, where some snow will precede a changeover to sleet and rain,” the weather service said. “If you have travel plans in this region, particularly Monday evening through early Tuesday morning, stay tuned to the forecast and be prepared for slippery road conditions.”
The southern half of the state will be warm enough to dodge the snow, but can expect at least a half-inch of rain from the storm.
AccuWeather’s forecast map calls for less snow with 1 to 3 inches north of I-78.
The weather service’s New Jersey office has not issued any watches or advisories for the storm as of Sunday morning, but noted in the morning forecast discussion that an advisory would be likely as the storm nears.
Temperatures on Sunday are expected to climb into the 50s through much of state, considerably warmer than the chilly conditions on Saturday.
“A rather beautiful Sunday is in store today as we welcome back the return of warmer temperatures and sunshine,” the weather service said.
After the storm Monday and Tuesday, milder conditions are expected mid-week before things cool off again heading into the weekend with the potential for another potent system being closely tracked by forecasters.
“Then another storm, potentially strong, may arrive Friday however there is uncertainty with its evolution,” the weather service said.
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The public sectional quarterfinals of the NJSIAA girls basketball tournament take place Wednesday and Thursday, setting up the semifinals for Friday (odd-numbered groups) and Saturday (even-numbered groups).The North Non-Public A/B tournament quarterfinals are slated for Friday.Here are the highlights and takeaways from quarterfinal action, as well as a look ahead to select semifinal match-ups.BRACKETS:...
The public sectional quarterfinals of the NJSIAA girls basketball tournament take place Wednesday and Thursday, setting up the semifinals for Friday (odd-numbered groups) and Saturday (even-numbered groups).
The North Non-Public A/B tournament quarterfinals are slated for Friday.
Here are the highlights and takeaways from quarterfinal action, as well as a look ahead to select semifinal match-ups.
BRACKETS:Live NJSIAA girls basketball results from every section in North Jersey
The Rams had been to the sectional quarterfinals just once in the last six years, and that ended with a 2020 loss to division rival Westwood.
Thanks to Thursday’s 35-31 win over the fifth-seeded Cardinals, No. 4 Ramsey (18-11) is a step away from its first North 1, Group 2 final since 2015. Coach Dan Royce and company will visit defending champ and top seed Jefferson Township (20-7) in the semifinals Saturday.
Sophomore guard Hannah McGurr drove for the go-ahead layup with 4:24 remaining against Westwood (17-11), and senior Julia Taylor iced it by going 3-for-4 at the line in the final 12 seconds. The Cardinals missed the front end of three 1-and-1 foul shots over the last five minutes.
Senior Amanda Rosen again paced the Rams with 10 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals and 2 blocks.
Wednesday’s North 2, Group 1 quarterfinal win ensured North Arlington’s best season in 20 years, regardless of what happens next.
When the No. 4 seed Vikings (18-9) visit No. 1 University of Newark (23-6) on Friday, it will mark their first sectional-semifinal appearance since 2003. That year was their last in North 1 before the NJSIAA realigned its sections.
Junior Lia Cruz (15 points) keyed a 48-37 victory over Whippany Park in the quarters. She hit a pair of three-pointers in the final two minutes of the first quarter to give North Arlington a 16-6 lead, and the home team held the Wildcats at arm’s length the rest of the way.
Looking ahead to the next round...
No. 5 Boonton (21-5) at No. 1 Cresskill (23-7), Friday, 5 p.m.: Since a 49-41 loss to Glen Rock on Valentine’s Day, the Cougars have clamped down on defense, allowing just 24.8 points per game to their last four opponents. Junior forward Erin Fahy (4 blocks, 4 steals) once again led the way in Wednesday’s 33-23 quarterfinal win over Mountain Lakes, while Julia Hasenstab, Joslyn Lewin and Sophia Doto combined for 9 steals.
No. 3 Park Ridge (16-13) at No. 2 Passaic Charter (20-5), Friday, 5 p.m.: Another round, another milestone for the Panthers, who reached 20 wins for the first time by warding off Wallkill Valley on Wednesday, 52-40, behind 32 points from senior Na’Tori Postell. This will be the teams’ second meeting all-time: Park Ridge won the first, 66-39 in the 2019 Garfield Holiday Tournament, and the Owls will counter with their own scoring sensation, Allie Shenloogian (20.9 ppg).
No. 4 Teaneck (18-7) at No. 1 Montville (24-4), Friday, 5:30 p.m.: The key matchup here will be in the frontcourt, as the Mustangs’ height will provide a strong challenge for Teaneck. Junior 6-footer Demi Simpson was up to the task in Wednesday’s victory over Ramapo, collecting 14 rebounds to help the Highwaywomen hold a 32-26 edge off the glass. Montville won the teams’ previous playoff meeting, 64-47, in the 2020 quarterfinals.
No. 6 Sparta (21-7) at No. 2 Old Tappan (22-4), Friday, 4:30 p.m.: The Golden Knights hosting Sparta on Jan. 7 provided a sneak preview of what coach Brian Dunn’s team is up against. The Spartans winning that game, 43-31, gives the defending champs confidence that they can go toe-to-toe with one of North Jersey’s most relentless teams. Old Tappan guards Natalie Carril (career-high 12 points) and Melissa Brennan (11) stepped up in a 49-45 quarterfinal win versus River Dell.
No. 7 Pequannock (18-6) at No. 3 Glen Rock (19-7), Saturday: The Bergen County Panthers will have another home playoff game after their Morris counterparts knocked off No. 2 seed Morris Tech on Thursday, 59-39. Pequannock has won 11-of-13 (with both losses in that span to Morris Catholic) with junior Chloe Vasquez as the driving force, averaging 20.7 points. Glen Rock got 11 points from frosh Mia Vergel de Dios in a 38-25 quarterfinal win over High Point.
No. 4 Jonathan Dayton (19-7) at No. 1 Secaucus (26-3), Saturday, noon: The Patriots are up against the same foe they defeated in the 2013 and 2018 semis, with the latter game being the closer of the two (59-55). They had little trouble completing a season sweep of Rutherford on Thursday, racing out to a 20-2 lead and getting a stellar performance from junior Alyssa Craigwell (28 points, 8 rebounds, 7 steals).
No. 3 Eastside (23-5) at No. 2 Morristown (16-9), Saturday, 4 p.m.: The Ghosts allowed 27 points in each of their first two postseason games, including Thursday’s victory over Fair Lawn. Sophomore guard Nevaeh Banks has scored double digits in each of her past five games, hitting 15 three-pointers during that stretch.
The Colonials beat Eastside’s crosstown rival, Kennedy, in the opening round and ran past North Star Academy in the quarterfinals, 73-32.