The Record, Bergen County, NJ

Milanesi Makes Sure Highlands Lives

MONSEY, N.Y. With his team locked in a close game after two periods, Northern Highlands forward Andrew Milanesi wanted to make sure his final home game at Sport-O-Rama would leave a positive imprint in his mind. "Going into that third period, I realized," Milanesi said, "one- game elimination and I'm a senior. I don't want this to be my last game."

Skiing Fans: Time for Chile

Just when I thought I'd seen almost everything in skiing, I found myself in Portillo, Chile, mounting this contraption called a "Va et Vient" lift. That's French for "Come and Go." It's also called a "slingshot lift." It's a five-person surface lift. Five skiers "sit" side by side on Poma disks, and are pulled up the middle of a remarkably steep ski run at rocket speed. Later, I rode a Portillo quad chair that crossed over a major highway with bumper-to-bumper, traffic-jammed trucks lined up ...

Collins has No Regrets On Time with the Nets ; Veteran Center Content After Being Traded

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Jason Collins was a team-first guy up until the day the Nets traded him, and the big man said his old team did the right thing by dealing Jason Kidd when they did. "I think at that point, with everything that was out there, it was best for both teams, both ball clubs, especially [for] chemistry in the locker room," Collins said. "Hey, it worked out for Devean George."

Boss' Derby Dream Alive ; Steinbrenner Likes Majestic Warrior's Chances

The excitement in her voice was unmistakable. Jessica Steinbrenner was chatting up her 3-year-old colt Majestic Warrior, and wanted it known that her father is caught up in more than just spring training.

Notre Dame Sets Mark

Luke Harangody scored 20 points and No. 19 Notre Dame beat visiting St. John's, 68-55, Wednesday to become the first Big East team to go undefeated at home in conference play in consecutive seasons. The Fighting Irish (23-6, 13-4) opened a 10-point lead late in the first half and kept it in double digits most of the rest of the way.

Eye of the Tiger

State Wrestling Preview

103 Local qualifiers: Joe Orecchio, Don Bosco; Darryl Albonico, St. Joseph; Anthony Perrotti, Queen of Peace; Dave Della Torre, River Dell.

Press Takes Toll On Cresskill ; Cougars Unravel in Third Quarter Against Defending State Champion

FRANKLIN LAKES Cresskill got off to a fast start, but in the end, University had too much firepower for the Cougars. After taking a six-point lead late in the first quarter, Cresskill was outscored, 46-12, over the middle two quarters and lost to University, 79-47, in the Group 1 State semifinals Wednesday night at Ramapo High School.

Stephanik's Overtime Goal Lifts Don Bosco

WAYNE - Tyler Stephanik scored on a slap shot from the point off an assist from Andrew Moscardelli seven minutes into overtime to give seventh-seeded Don Bosco a dramatic 4-3 victory over Red Bank Catholic in a Non-Public State tournament second-round game at the Ice Vault on Wednesday night. Don Bosco (9-10-5) will play at second-seeded CBA, a 7-1 winner over Notre Dame, on Saturday at 5 p.m. at South Mountain Arena in a Non-Public quarterfinal.

New Rule Can Hurt Transfers

ROBBINSVILLE - The executive committee of the NJSIAA approved a radical change in its transfer rule Wednesday, but not without some dissent. The change that will require upperclassmen who transfer without a change of address to sit out a full year from the date of transfer came close to being tabled following more than an hour of debate and two proposed amendments that were voted down. The new rule takes effect in September.

St. Anthony Rolls to Final

PISCATAWAY St. Anthony climbed the biggest hurdle in its quest for a 25th State title. The Friars defeated defending champ St. Patrick of Elizabeth, 64- 52, in the North Non-Public B final Wednesday at Rutgers.

Teaneck Bows Out with Its Head High

FRANKLIN LAKES If there were any tears, the Teaneck girls basketball team left them in the locker room. As the Highwaywomen filed out to greet their families, some smiles were mixed in with the blank expressions. Teaneck had just given Shabazz all it could handle, but came up a few points short, 45-42, in the State Group 3 semifinals at Ramapo High School on Wednesday. Considering that few gave Teaneck much of a chance, the Highwaywomen were pleased with their performance, even if the sting ...

Ghosts Busted ; Can't Hold On to Lead in Heartbreaking Loss

ELIZABETH When Bryant Lewis' potential game-tying three-pointer clanked off the rim in the final seconds, Eastside's thrilling ride through the Group 4 playoffs came to a sudden end. Two days after winning the school's first North 1, Group 4 crown in 16 years, the Ghosts fell short against Piscataway, 64-61, in a Group 4 State semifinal at the Dunn Center.

Bosco Falls to Master of Bergen Quintets

PISCATAWAY Don Bosco was shoved into the same season-ending ditch where Immaculata left Queen of Peace and Bergen Catholic. Bosco became the third Bergen County school to suffer a season- ending loss to Immaculata after falling, 64-48, in the North Non- Public A final on Wednesday night at Rutgers Athletic Center.

Hole of the Week

Musconetcong River, Saxton Falls How to get there

Nets Sink to the Depths, Sleepwalk Vs. Grizzlies

MEMPHIS, Tenn - The game the Nets were supposed to get on this brutal trip against the Southwest Division didn't go as planned and likely neither will Vince Carter's hopes for a winning record. The Nets suffered a miserable 100-93 loss to the lowly Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday night and could very easily go home early next week 0-5 on this difficult trek.

Lebron Does Best Mj Impression ; Scores 50 Points to Dazzle Garden

NEW YORK Wearing his idol Michael Jordan's old number 23, if you closed your eyes and listened to the sound of him hitting nothing but net with one three after another in the final four minutes to the cacophony of a crowd blowing the Garden's famed roof off the building, you could swear it was MJ. But that was the sound of LeBron James scoring 50 (and welcoming one of his many futile defenders, rookie Wilson Chandler, to the NBA) while also handing out 10 assists and grabbing eight boards in...

Steph Back, Wants to Stay with Knicks

NEW YORK Maybe Stephon Marbury just wanted to see LeBron score 50. For whatever reason (and he never really elaborated) the Knicks' prodigal point guard finally ended the Where's Waldo-like suspense about his whereabouts by gracing his team, the Garden and reporters with his presence Wednesday after reports and speculation that he's no longer welcome.

Celtics Pop Pistons to Clinch Playoff Spot

The Boston Celtics are in the playoffs. The Detroit Pistons aren't far behind. The Celtics became the first NBA team to clinch a postseason berth, getting a season-high 31 points from Kevin Garnett on Wednesday night at Boston to earn a bruising 90-78 victory over Detroit, their closest competitor in the Eastern Conference.

Baseball Notes

Colon excites Bosox Boston's reluctance to give Bartolo Colon rave reviews keeps getting tougher.