You can embrace a brighter, pain-free future.
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Physical Therpy For Injuries and Pain in East Brunswick, NJ
If there's one universal truth in life, it's that it can be unpredictable. Everyone experiences unexpected events that throw us off. While some surprises may only affect our bank accounts, such as home expenses, others can cause physical harm, such as car accidents that result in long-term pain and discomfort. Many Americans suffer from chronic neck and back pain - according to research, half of Americans over 18 develop musculoskeletal injuries that last longer than a year. These injuries often cause a range of mobility issues that make everyday tasks seem hard to do. Unfortunately, many people with chronic pain turn to addictive medications and invasive surgeries for relief, which tends to lead to further complications.
However, if you are experiencing chronic pain or mobility issues, there's good news: Safer and more effective options are available to you. Physical therapy in East Brunswick, NJ is one of the best solutions for eradicating pain, maximizing mobility, improving range of motion, building muscle strength, and helping you regain control of your body. At NJ Sports Spine & Wellness, our physical therapists and trainers offer customized programs designed for your body and address your pain symptoms. That way, you have the best possible chance of reclaiming a normal, active life, without surgery or harmful pills.
With the incorporation of therapeutic exercises and manual therapy as well as newer techniques and modalities like AlterG® Anti-Gravity Treadmills and DRX9000 Spinal DecompressionMachines, our physical therapy services can help address conditions such as:
- Sciatica Pain
- Ankle Pain
- Back Pain
- Elbow Pain
- Headaches and Migraines
- Hip Pain
- Knee Pain
- Neck Pain
- Shoulder Pain
- Wrist Pain
- TMJ Pain
Services You Need?
- Physical Therpy For Injuries and Pain in East Brunswick, NJ
- Why is Physical Therapy in East Brunswick, NJ So Important for Wellness?
- The DRX9000: Relief from Chronic Back and Neck Pain
- Expedite Rehab and Training with the AlterG® Anti-Gravity Treadmill
- Experience Optimized Healing with LiteCure™ Low-Level Laser Therapy
- Freeze Away Pain and Swelling with Ice Compression Therapy
- NormaTec Compression Therapy: A Non-Invasive Option for Enhanced Recovery
- Experience Holistic Wellness with Cupping Therapy in New Jersey
When it comes to physical therapy in New Jersey, few clinics can match the care, compassion, and effective treatment options that NJ Sports Spine & Wellness can provide.
Why is Physical Therapy in East Brunswick, NJ So Important for Wellness?
Physical therapy can provide numerous benefits, such as pain reduction, enhanced joint and body movement, improved range of motion, proper alignment, and more. While the main goal of physical therapy is to restore function and facilitate a return to regular activities, these outcomes usually result from a broader rehabilitation process, wherein many patients learn a brand-new way of moving.
At NJ Sports Spine & Wellness, our physical therapists work closely with patients to understand their unique goals, preferences, and abilities. Based on their findings, they create a customized treatment plan that caters to the patient's specific needs.
Here are just a few specific examples of why physical therapy is crucial when recovering from an injury:
- Physical therapy helps restore function and mobility after illness, injury, or surgery.
- Physical therapy promotes healing and pain management by utilizing therapeutic modalities and exercises.
- Physical therapy helps patients suffering from neurological conditions improve their independence.
- Physical therapy helps seniors avoid falls by improving balance.
- Physical therapy can improve flexibility and strength to enhance sports and physical activity performance.
- Physical therapy facilitates injury prevention through education and analysis of proper body mechanics.
Whether you're searching for long-term pain relief or need to improve your strength and balance as you age, physical therapy from NJSSW can help.
Now that you understand why physical therapy is crucial for recovery and wellness, let's take a closer look at some of the most effective treatments at our physical therapy clinic in New Jersey.
The DRX9000: Relief from Chronic Back and Neck Pain
Are you sick of living day-to-day with long-lasting neck or back pain? Have you searched high and low for a safe and effective alternative to surgery? The DRX9000 may be the answer you're looking for.
Beloved by high-level athletes and even celebrities, this advanced medical device employs non-surgical spinal decompression therapy to treat painful conditions such as:
- Bulging Discs
- Herniated Discs
- Spinal Stenosis
- Facet Syndrome
- Sciatica
- Arm Pain from Nerves in Your Neck
The DRX9000 is a device that has been approved by the FDA for treating herniated discs through spinal decompression therapy. This therapy works by applying equal amounts of pressure on your vertebral columns, which stretches your spine and creates a gap between spinal discs. This gap allows for better nutrient flow through your spine, which can help heal injuries gradually with regular treatment sessions. The DRX9000 also utilizes servo motors that rely on nested closed-loop feedback to customize therapy to your unique needs. By using DRX9000, you can often speed up your recovery by addressing your spinal disc issues ASAP.
No Harmful Medications Needed (Do we really need this paragraph or could we just mention it int he beginning about how it is a non-pharmaceutical method)
Perhaps the most significant advantage of the DRX9000 is that it provides a non-pharmaceutical method for relieving pain. With the opioid epidemic affecting the entire nation, many patients are reluctant to take prescription painkillers. The DRX9000 offers a secure and non-addictive alternative for pain relief that does not require medication.
During the course of the treatment, the patient will lie down on a specially designed table that is connected to the machine. The table will then be gently stretched as the machine creates negative pressure within the affected disc. This process will be repeated over a series of sessions, typically ranging from 20 to 30 sessions, depending on the patient's specific condition.
The DRX9000 treatment is considered to be safe and effective for many patients. It is designed to be gentle on the body, and patients usually experience little to no discomfort during their sessions. The machine is also equipped with advanced safety features, including sensors that can detect any sudden movements and stop the machine if necessary.
Expedite Rehab and Training with the AlterG® Anti-Gravity Treadmill
The AlterG® Anti-Gravity Treadmill boasts NASA Differential Air Pressure (DAP) technology, which is a highly accurate air calibration system that leverages your actual body weight to achieve exceptional results in rehab and training. By utilizing a pressurized air chamber, the AlterG allows you to move freely and without pain, as it uniformly reduces gravitational load and body weight by up to 80% in precise 1% increments. This process helps foster improved muscle strength, balance, function, range of motion, and overall fitness.
What Makes the AlterG® Anti-Gravity Treadmill So Effective for Physical Therapy in CItyname, State?
AlterG®'s state-of-the-art treadmill provides an entire range of benefits, such as mimicking natural movement and rhythm without the contrived feel of hydrotherapy or harnesses attempting to imitate real-life strides and motions. Additionally, it's beneficial for speeding up recuperation after orthopedic injuries or surgeries by enabling early mobilization and retaining strength. Furthermore, it's excellent for sports recovery since athletes can utilize it to maintain their physical fitness.
Some of the numerous benefits of using the AlterG® Anti-Gravity Treadmill include:
- Accelerated Recovery Time
- Relief from Impact-Related Pain and Discomfort
- Customized Programs Suited to Your Needs
- Effective Solution for All Ages
- Safe and Controlled Environment
- Improves Motivation and Confidence
- Used by Elite Athletes and Celebrities
The AlterG® Anti-Gravity Treadmill is a revolutionary piece of equipment that has transformed the field of physical therapy. With its list of unique features and superhero-worthy benefits, this anti-gravity treadmill is a game-changer that can help you achieve your fitness and recovery goals while also minimizing the risk of injury.
Experience Optimized Healing with LiteCure™ Low-Level Laser Therapy
After reading the headline above, you might be asking yourself, "Are lasers really used for physical therapy in cityname, state?" The answer to your question would be a resounding "Yes!" This advanced type of laser therapy harnesses the power of light through photobiomodulation (PBM), which is revolutionizing how patients heal and deal with pain.
Photobiomodulation (PBM) is a medical process that utilizes targeted light to activate the body's natural healing mechanisms. By penetrating deep into the tissue, photons interact with mitochondria (the cellular powerhouses in your body) to increase energy production. This interaction triggers a biological cascade that leads to increased cellular metabolism. As a result, PBM can reduce pain, accelerate tissue repair, and enhance overall well-being.
Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) is a non-invasive and painless treatment that utilizes specific wavelengths of light to stimulate healing and reduce pain. It works by penetrating the skin and tissues to promote cellular activity and increase blood flow, which in turn helps to reduce inflammation, relieve pain, and accelerate the healing process.
LLLT has been shown to be effective for a variety of conditions, including musculoskeletal injuries, arthritis, neuropathy, and more. It is a safe and gentle treatment option that can aid in regaining function and mobility from injuries, accidents, surgeries, and other conditions. That makes it a viable and trustworthy addition to your personalized physical therapy plan from NJ Sports Spine & Wellness.
LLLT has shown promising results for challenging conditions that other treatments can't match. Some of the most common conditions treated include:
- Muscle Pain
- Pain from Tendinopathy
- Osteoarthritis Pain
- Swollen Joints
- Myofascial Pain
- Back and Neck Pain
- Pain from TMJ
- Achilles Tendon Injury Pain
- Plantar Fasciitis Pain
If you're slogging through life and suffering from one or more of the conditions above, you should know that there is hope for pain relief. Contact NJ Sports Spine & Wellness today to find out if low-level laser therapy is right for you.
Freeze Away Pain and Swelling with Ice Compression Therapy
Game Ready Ice Compression Therapy is an advanced treatment technique that combines the advantages of modern cryotherapy (ice therapy) with the proven benefits of compression therapy. This clinically proven, synergistic approach is widely used in sports medicine, physical therapy, orthopedics, and post-operative care to speed up recovery, alleviate pain and inflammation, and enhance rehabilitation.
Understanding the Powerful Benefits of Ice Compression Therapy
Game Ready Ice Compression Therapy is an advanced treatment technique that combines the advantages of modern cryotherapy (ice therapy) with the proven benefits of compression therapy. This clinically proven, synergistic approach is widely used in sports medicine, physical therapy, orthopedics, and post-operative care to speed up recovery, alleviate pain and inflammation, and enhance rehabilitation.
The "cold" component of ice compression therapy helps nullify nerve-ending sensitivity, which provides pain relief. The extra compression gives you even more pain relief by reducing swelling and pressure on limbs and other body parts.
By improving lymphatic flow and enhancing blood circulation, compression therapy can help reduce swelling and edema, thereby improving your recovery process and simultaneously reducing pain and discomfort.
The concurrent use of cryotherapy and compression can enhance the body's innate healing mechanisms by reducing inflammation, mitigating tissue damage, and stimulating tissue repair.
Game Ready's combination therapy has been shown to be effective in improving joint flexibility and range of motion by promoting tissue healing. This treatment can be a great option for those looking to alleviate discomfort and improve overall joint health.
Whether you're recovering from surgery or you're trying to manage chronic pain in your back or joints, ice compression therapy may be the advanced treatment you need. Contact NJSSW today to learn more about how this treatment can help you live an active life free of pain.
NormaTec Compression Therapy:
A Non-Invasive Option for Enhanced Recovery
Game Ready Ice Compression Therapy is an advanced treatment technique that combines the advantages of modern cryotherapy (ice therapy) with the proven benefits of compression therapy. This clinically proven, synergistic approach is widely used in sports medicine, physical therapy, orthopedics, and post-operative care to speed up recovery, alleviate pain and inflammation, and enhance rehabilitation.
What Makes NormaTec Compression Therapy Best for Physical Therapy in Cityname, State?
Game Ready Ice Compression Therapy is an advanced treatment technique that combines the advantages of modern cryotherapy (ice therapy) with the proven benefits of compression therapy. This clinically proven, synergistic approach is widely used in sports medicine, physical therapy, orthopedics, and post-operative care to speed up recovery, alleviate pain and inflammation, and enhance rehabilitation.
NormaTec's compression therapy devices have undergone continuous refinement and improvement since their inception. The adjustable settings of their system enable users to regulate the intensity, duration, and pattern of compression, thereby enabling our skilled providers to tailor treatment to suit the specific requirements and comfort levels of each patient.
Experience Holistic Wellness with Cupping Therapy in New Jersey
In the realm of holistic wellness, cupping therapy is a venerable and time-honored practice that has proven to be an effective technique for managing pain and enhancing blood flow. At NJ Sports Spine & Wellness, we recognize the diverse benefits of cupping therapy, which we offer at both our Matawan and Marlboro, NJ locations.
This ancient technique creates suction on your skin using specialized cups that help promote blood flow, muscle relaxation, and pain relief.
Why is Cupping Therapy Helpful for Physical Therapy in CItyname, State?
At NJ Sports Spine & Wellness, we believe that incorporating holistic treatments into physical therapy can greatly benefit our patients. As part of our efforts to alleviate stress and manage chronic pain or conditions, we offer cupping therapy as one of those holistic treatments. This modality has been proven effective and offers numerous benefits for physical therapy, which include:
Cupping therapy can help release muscle tension and relieve back pain. The suction from the cups releases fascial restrictions, decreases muscle tightness, and relieves muscle knots, providing relief from pain caused by muscular tightness or strain.
Our skilled practitioners and physical therapists use modern cupping devices and techniques to create consistent suction on the skin, which stimulates blood flow and encourages oxygen-rich blood to flow into muscles and tissues. This improved circulation can reduce inflammation, remove toxins, and promote healing.
Cupping therapy can relieve back pain by improving circulation, reducing muscle tension, and increasing lymphatic drainage. It's a natural and non-invasive approach that can improve mobility and quality of life.
Cupping therapy uses a gentle suction and pulling sensation that helps ease back pain and reduces stress by creating a calming effect on the body and mind, promoting physical and mental healing.
Reclaim Your Mobility with Physical Therapy in East Brunswick, NJ
At NJ Sports Spine & Wellness, we always prioritize your well-being and offer comprehensive care tailored to your needs. With customized physical therapy tailored to your specific needs, we provide a drug-free, non-invasive, and highly effective treatment path for pain relief and recovery. From tried-and-true techniques to cutting-edge treatments, we're New Jersey's top choice for innovative physical therapy.
Take the first step towards a pain-free, vibrant life by contacting our office today. It all starts by scheduling your initial consultation. With our highly-trained and licensed specialists by your side, you can embrace a brighter, pain-free future.
Schedule An Appointment
Latest News in East Brunswick, NJ
NJ School Aid 2025-26: State Cuts Funding For South Brunswick Again
Sarah Salvadorehttps://patch.com/new-jersey/southbrunswick/nj-school-aid-2025-26-how-much-did-south-brunswick-get
South Brunswick School District will see a loss of 3 percent in school aid for the 2025-26 school year. Patch Staff|Updated Thu, Feb 27, 2025 at 3:06 pm ETSOUTH BRUNSWICK, NJ — On Thursday, the state Department of Education released the 2025-26 state funding figures.It includes $12.1 billion to support the state's K-12 schools. There are 392 districts slated to receive increased funding, 175 seeing funding cuts and seven districts whose aid amount is the same as 2024-25.So where does South Brunswick...
South Brunswick School District will see a loss of 3 percent in school aid for the 2025-26 school year.
Patch Staff
|Updated Thu, Feb 27, 2025 at 3:06 pm ET
SOUTH BRUNSWICK, NJ — On Thursday, the state Department of Education released the 2025-26 state funding figures.
It includes $12.1 billion to support the state's K-12 schools. There are 392 districts slated to receive increased funding, 175 seeing funding cuts and seven districts whose aid amount is the same as 2024-25.
So where does South Brunswick stand? For the 2025-26 school year, South Brunswick School District will see a loss of 3 percent in school aid.
The district will receive $13,847,629 from the state, $428,277 less than what they received during the last school year, which was $14,275,906.
Here’s the breakdown of funds for the 2025-26 school year:
Find out what's happening in South Brunswickfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
The district will also receive $7,129,014 in preschool aid.
Last year, district officials including Superintendent Scott Feder and then Board of Education president Lisa Rodgers made several trips to the Statehouse to advocate for better funding.
New Jersey's record $58.1 billion proposed budget includes $12.1 billion for school funding, part of what Gov. Phil Murphy said is his administration's "ongoing and unrelenting commitment to building a New Jersey that is stronger, fairer, and more prepared for the future."
The bulk of the districts seeing reductions are cut by 3 percent, while most of the districts seeing increases are getting a 6 percent bump, which Murphy and the Department of Education had indicated would be in place.
It would be the second year that the state has fully funded the K-12 school funding formula as established under the School Funding Reform Act of 2008 and modified in 2017 by S2, the legislation passed that cut so-called "adjustment aid" from some districts around the state while increasing aid to others that had been underfunded.
The 2024-25 budget also fully funded the formula, but for districts targeted by S2, the last seven budgets have resulted in drastic cuts to funding that significantly exceeded the preliminary calculations they had made based on what they knew of the formula.
For 2025-26, Murphy promised districts that their state aid would decrease only by 3 percent or less from last year's amount, in certain categories. For districts that have received more, the increase would be a maximum of 6 percent, according to an NJ Spotlight report.
What’s slated to change would be how the state calculates local fair share — the amount of money a school district's community is expected to contribute to its budget via property taxes. That figure is calculated based on a complicated formula that looks at property values and community income, and has seen drastic changes for some communities, especially in the post-COVID years.
Murphy's budget includes a proposal to move to three-year averages for property wealth and income to calculate local fair share, the NJ Spotlight report said.
Have a correction or news tip? Email sarah.salvadore@patch.com
'The Product of a Thousand Miracles': East Brunswick's Jesse Eisenberg Nominated for Writing 'A Real Pain'
TAPintohttps://www.tapinto.net/towns/east-brunswick/sections/arts-and-entertainment/articles/the-product-of-a-thousand-miracles-east-brunswick-s-jesse-eisenberg-nominated-for-writing-a-real-pain
EAST BRUNSWICK, NJ - East Brunswick's Jesse Eisenberg has written an Oscar-nominated screenplay with a perplexing title. Is A Real Pain a relative who makes us nuts by being late, being broke, being asleep when everyone else is awake or awake when everyone else is asleep? Is A Real Pain the appropriate response to a tour of a concentration camp in Poland? How about a wasted life that leads to a suicide attempt? Is that A Real Pain?Eisenberg is the third East Brunswick native who has been nominated for an Oscar for...
EAST BRUNSWICK, NJ - East Brunswick's Jesse Eisenberg has written an Oscar-nominated screenplay with a perplexing title. Is A Real Pain a relative who makes us nuts by being late, being broke, being asleep when everyone else is awake or awake when everyone else is asleep? Is A Real Pain the appropriate response to a tour of a concentration camp in Poland? How about a wasted life that leads to a suicide attempt? Is that A Real Pain?
Eisenberg is the third East Brunswick native who has been nominated for an Oscar for his writing. BlacKkKlansman, the 2018 American biographical crime comedy-drama film directed by Spike Lee and written by Charlie Wachtel, David Rabinowitz, Kevin Willmott and Lee, loosely based on the 2014 memoir Black Klansman by Ron Stallworth. Wachtel and Rabinowitz are from East Brunswick and did the primary work of adapting Stallworth's novel.
In published reviews, A Real Pain has been called a “dramedy;” “a thoughtful, touching drama;” “a devastating tragicomedy;” and a “buddy-road-comedy-drama.” One review even called the main characters “the new Odd Couple.” Really? Oscar and Felix?
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Eisenberg wrote, directed, starred in and produced A Real Pain, which tells the story of dissimilar but loving cousins who agree to travel to Poland to see the childhood home of their newly-deceased grandmother. David, played by Eisenberg, meets Benji, played by Oscar-nominated supporting actor Keiran Culkin, at the airport to embark on a trip that does, indeed, reveal a lot of pain.
David and Benji reunite for a tour through Poland to honor their beloved grandmother. The adventure takes a turn when told tensions resurface against the backdrop of their family history that includes a trip to the concentration camp Majdanek outside Lublin, Poland.
“Making the tonal shift from a comedy of two sparring cousins to a concentration camp visit was the most difficult challenge,” Eisenberg told IndieWire.
“Families are a nightmare. Through beautiful acting, attentive direction and perfect writing, A Real Pain tries to figure out why – and I think it hits the nail on the head. David’s perspective and Benji’s struggle feel close to home because they remind me of how painful it is to love someone unconditionally when you don’t choose who that someone is. They remind me that loneliness is most painful when you’re surrounded by people who love you. They remind me to stop starting fights with my family and start more conversations, even when they’re the worst,” says Meadow Wattret in a review on Epigram.
Eisenberg faces screenwriting challenges by the authors of The Brutalist, Anora, September 5, and The Substance for the Oscar. The 97th annual Oscars take place Sunday, March 2, starting at 7:00 on ABC and streaming on Hulu.
Here are some related items:
https://www.tapinto.net/towns/east-brunswick/sections/education/articles/oscar-winners-among-those-to-be-honored-by-education-foundation
https://www.tapinto.net/towns/east-brunswick/columns/jersey-girl-on-fire/articles/thank-you-jax-jesse-brian-heather-and-larry
Seven most expensive homes sold in East Brunswick, Feb. 17-23
Real Estate Newswirehttps://www.nj.com/realestate-news/2025/03/seven-most-expensive-homes-sold-in-east-brunswick-feb-17-23.html
A house that sold for $770,000 tops the list of the most expensive residential real estate sales in East Brunswick in the past week.In total, seven residential real estate sales were recorded in the area during the past week, with an average price of $556,214, or $338 per square foot.The prices in the list below concern real estate sales where the title was recorded during the week of Feb. 17 even if the property may have been sold earlier.7. $365K, single-family residence at 32 Nelson CircleThe property at 32 N...
A house that sold for $770,000 tops the list of the most expensive residential real estate sales in East Brunswick in the past week.
In total, seven residential real estate sales were recorded in the area during the past week, with an average price of $556,214, or $338 per square foot.
The prices in the list below concern real estate sales where the title was recorded during the week of Feb. 17 even if the property may have been sold earlier.
7. $365K, single-family residence at 32 Nelson Circle
The property at 32 Nelson Circle in East Brunswick has new owners. The price was $365,000. The house was built in 1950 and has a living area of 1,035 square feet. The price per square foot is $353. The deal was finalized on Jan. 30.
6. $430K, single-family house at 6 Terry Lane
The sale of the single family residence at 6 Terry Lane in East Brunswick has been finalized. The price was $430,000, and the new owners took over the house in February. The house was built in 1952 and has a living area of 1,212 square feet. The price per square foot was $355. The deal was finalized on Feb. 4.
5. $459K, single-family home at 18 Fifth Street
The sale of the single-family home at 18 Fifth Street, East Brunswick, has been finalized. The price was $458,500, and the new owners took over the house in February. The house was built in 1958 and has a living area of 1,120 square feet. The price per square foot was $409. The deal was finalized on Feb. 3.
4. $570K, single-family home at 78 Canterbury Road
A sale has been finalized for the single-family house at 78 Canterbury Road in East Brunswick. The price was $570,000 and the new owners took over the house in January. The house was built in 1956 and the living area totals 1,740 square feet. The price per square foot ended up at $328. The deal was finalized on Jan. 30.
3. $620K, single-family house at 15 Viburnum Court
The property at 15 Viburnum Court in East Brunswick has new owners. The price was $620,000. The house was built in 1986 and has a living area of 1,871 square feet. The price per square foot is $331. The deal was finalized on Feb. 4.
2. $680K, single-family residence at 13 Smiths Lane
The 2,153 square-foot detached house at 13 Smiths Lane in East Brunswick has been sold. The transfer of ownership was settled in February and the total purchase price was $680,000, $316 per square foot. The house was built in 1850. The deal was finalized on Feb. 4.
1. $770K, single-family home at 21 Beacon Hill Drive
The 2,385 square-foot single-family home at 21 Beacon Hill Drive, East Brunswick, has been sold. The transfer of ownership was settled in January and the total purchase price was $770,000, $323 per square foot. The house was built in 1971. The deal was finalized on Jan. 30.
Real Estate Newswire is a service provided by United Robots, which uses machine learning to generate analysis of data from Propmix, an aggregator of national real-estate data.
Girls Basketball: Defense boosts East Brunswick to Central Group 4 win in opener
Joseph Skrechttps://www.mycentraljersey.com/story/sports/high-school/basketball/2025/02/27/nj-girls-basketball-east-brunswick-tops-south-brunswick-in-sectionals/80404196007/
EAST BRUNSWICK – An energized defense ignited a second-half spree of 14 straight points that fueled East Brunswick’s comeback victory against a division rival in Thursday’s sectional tournament opener.The eighth-seeded Bears held ninth-seeded South Brunswick scoreless for more than five minutes in the third quarter en route to a 63-54 victory in Central Group 4.East Brunswick (13-13) will play at top-seeded Hillsborough in the quarterfinal on Monday.More:...
EAST BRUNSWICK – An energized defense ignited a second-half spree of 14 straight points that fueled East Brunswick’s comeback victory against a division rival in Thursday’s sectional tournament opener.
The eighth-seeded Bears held ninth-seeded South Brunswick scoreless for more than five minutes in the third quarter en route to a 63-54 victory in Central Group 4.
East Brunswick (13-13) will play at top-seeded Hillsborough in the quarterfinal on Monday.
More:St. Thomas Aquinas girls basketball wins sixth straight GMCT championship
More:Girls basketball: St. Thomas, Monroe advance to GMC Tournament final
Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.
East Brunswick freshman Ava Catanho netted nine of her game-high 21 points during a 23-2 stretch that ended midway through the final quarter. Zoey Aleixo added seven of her 15 points during a stretch that saw East Brunswick turn a 44-34 deficit (with 5:35 left in the third quarter) into a 57-46 lead with 4:10 left in the game.
East Brunswick senior Rotem Barda pulled down 16 rebounds, including a sequence of three offensive rebounds on one possession, and added seven points to the Bears’ attack. East Brunswick’s Sophia Tannura delivered a team-high three 3-pointers (13 points total) and four steals to the triumph.
“This group has done nothing but face adversity all year, whether it was injuries or illness,” said East Brunswick coach Travis Retzlaff, whose club ended a four-game losing streak, including a setback to Old Bridge in the GMC Tournament, and won for the first time since Feb. 6.
“We constantly continue to work. We push forward,” Retzlaff said. “We have a next play mentality, and that’s what it was.”
After the first quarter ended deadlocked at 17-17 (the sixth tie of the opening eight minutes), the Bears, who defeated South Brunswick twice in the regular season, trailed by five points at halftime, 37-32.
South Brunswick’s Madison Rorie and Alexis Lease-Springer (18 points and 10 rebounds) hit two-point baskets and Avery Jenne (14 points, five assists) sank a free throw to give the Vikings a 44-34 advantage with 5:35 left in the third quarter. South Brunswick’s next points were two Jenne free throws with 18 seconds left in the quarter, which brought South Brunswick to within 48-46 to end the third quarter.
East Brunswick’s defense was just as stingy in the final stanza, holding South Brunswick scoreless for the first 3:50 of the quarter while extending its lead to 57-46, The Bears led by at least five points the rest of the way.
“Our defense turned it around,” Retzlaff said.
During the transformative stretch, Catanho drew a five-second count on a South Brunswick ball-handler. The freshman also tipped a pass – at the top of a 1-3-1 defense that the Bears employed for just one possession – that led to a layup and two points.
“We definitely stepped up our defense in the second half,” Catanho said. “Our energy was greater in the second half and we really helped each other on defense.”
“Our defense really came out on fire in the second half,” Barda said.
NJ School Aid For 2025-26: How Much Did East Brunswick Get?
Sarah Salvadorehttps://patch.com/new-jersey/eastbrunswick/nj-school-aid-2025-26-how-much-did-east-brunswick-get
EAST BRUNSWICK, NJ — On Thursday, the state Department of Education released the 2025-26 state funding figures.It includes $12.1 billion to support the state's K-12 schools. There are 392 districts slated to receive increased funding, 175 seeing funding cuts and seven districts whose aid amount is the same as 2024-25.So where does East Brunswick stand? For the 2025-26 school year, East Brunswick Public Schools will see a loss of 3 percent in school aid.The district will receive $37,350,708 from the state, $1,155,17...
EAST BRUNSWICK, NJ — On Thursday, the state Department of Education released the 2025-26 state funding figures.
It includes $12.1 billion to support the state's K-12 schools. There are 392 districts slated to receive increased funding, 175 seeing funding cuts and seven districts whose aid amount is the same as 2024-25.
So where does East Brunswick stand? For the 2025-26 school year, East Brunswick Public Schools will see a loss of 3 percent in school aid.
The district will receive $37,350,708 from the state, $1,155,177 less than what they received during the last school year, which was $38,505,885.
Here’s the breakdown of funds for the 2025-26 school year:
Find out what's happening in East Brunswickfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
New Jersey's record $58.1 billion proposed budget includes $12.1 billion for school funding, part of what Gov. Phil Murphy said is his administration's "ongoing and unrelenting commitment to building a New Jersey that is stronger, fairer, and more prepared for the future."
The bulk of the districts seeing reductions are cut by 3 percent, while most of the districts seeing increases are getting a 6 percent bump, which Murphy and the Department of Education had indicated would be in place.
It would be the second year that the state has fully funded the K-12 school funding formula as established under the School Funding Reform Act of 2008 and modified in 2017 by S2, the legislation passed that cut so-called "adjustment aid" from some districts around the state while increasing aid to others that had been underfunded.
The 2024-25 budget also fully funded the formula, but for districts targeted by S2, the last seven budgets have resulted in drastic cuts to funding that significantly exceeded the preliminary calculations they had made based on what they knew of the formula.
For 2025-26, Murphy promised districts that their state aid would decrease only by 3 percent or less from last year's amount, in certain categories. For districts that have received more, the increase would be a maximum of 6 percent, according to an NJ Spotlight report.
What’s slated to change would be how the state calculates local fair share — the amount of money a school district's community is expected to contribute to its budget via property taxes. That figure is calculated based on a complicated formula that looks at property values and community income, and has seen drastic changes for some communities, especially in the post-COVID years.
Murphy's budget includes a proposal to move to three-year averages for property wealth and income to calculate local fair share, the NJ Spotlight report said.
The East Brunswick Board of Education is scheduled to meet on March 3.
Have a correction or news tip? Email sarah.salvadore@patch.com
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