Team of the Year

Pequannock

On the one hand, Pequannock knew it had a great deal of talent coming back for this season, having a squad loaded with underclassmen last year. But the Panthers also entered a new league, facing a schedule replete with top-level teams that would truly test their mettle.

This team met the challenge. While the only hardware the Panthers won came from their own holiday tournament, they posted a 19-6 record, which included some impressive wins. Among Pequannock's victims were Chatham, which reached the Group II state finals, and solid teams from Hanover Park, Jefferson and Parsippany.

Pequannock reached the semifinals of the Morris County tournament before falling to eventual champion West Morris. While the Panthers didn't go as far as they'd hoped in the state tournament, it was still a strong season.

The main competition for this honor came from DePaul and Whippany Park. DePaul started the season very strong, but faded in the final month. The Wildcats won 21 games and a division title in another solid campaign, but just didn't have the kind of quality wins that Pequannock did.

Player of the Year

Samantha Tabakman, Pequannock

Pequannock was hardly a one-woman team this season, but this 6-foot-1 sophomore was clearly the key player for the Panthers. Supplying a large portion of the team's points and rebounds, Tabakman also held down the fort on defense, dominating the paint with numerous blocked shots.

Well on pace to break her brother's record for the most points by any Pequannock basketball player, Tabakman has two more years to lead her team. That's good news for the Panthers, and bad news for their opponents. She certainly could be one of the best to ever play in this area, and she is the JSN Girls' Basketball Player of the Year.

Coach of the Year

Maria Harper, DePaul

Her husband played 15 years in the NBA. But watch the DePaul girls play for just a little while and it becomes clear that Ron Harper isn't the only one in his household who has basketball knowledge--or competitive fire.

A high school basketball star who also played in college, Maria Harper took over the DePaul program this year and made an immediate impact. The Spartans ran off a series of big wins early in the season, despite their youth and limited size.

While there's clearly still room for growth, as the end of the season showed, Harper moved the Spartans program strongly forward this year, and she is our JSN Girls' Basketball Coach of the Year.

-- Paul Mencher for Jersey Sports Now