Team of the Year

DePaul

They lost their all-time leading scorer and faced a brutal schedule with a lineup lacking any height. Yet DePaul managed another fine season, going 20-6 and pulling out a number of unlikely wins.

The Spartans' season probably reached its apex in the first week of January, when they knocked off Don Bosco, St. Joe's and Wayne Valley in a five-day period. But it was hardly downhill from there, as DePaul reached the semifinals of the Passaic County tournament and also defeated Paterson Kennedy.

DePaul had eight seniors on this year's roster, led by Matt Miller, Wally Sajimi and Mike Minarik, but the cupboard is hardly bare for coach Bart Fazio. He brings back several key players, including sophomore Davon Jacobs and electric freshman Josh Marquez.

The Spartans won this award in a photo finish over Passaic Valley. The two teams split their meetings, both games going to overtime, and both posted similar records. DePaul gets the edge based on a slightly tougher schedule, going one round further in the county tournament, and perhaps one more quality win than the Hornets had.

Player of the Year

Jason Rosenberg, Wayne Valley

What a career this undersized point guard had for the Indians. As a sophomore he helped Wayne Valley to a sectional title. Last year he was named all-Passaic County, a feat he repeated this season--an impressive accomplishment in such a strong basketball area.

Rosenberg was the engine that drove Wayne Valley to a 17-10 record that included wins over Kennedy, Passaic and Bergen Catholic. The Indians reached the semifinals of the county tournament and were one or two questionable referee calls away from reaching the final. He averaged 13.8 points, 11.2 assists and 2.7 steals per game.

Also an all-county soccer player, Rosenberg wants to play basketball in college, but hasn't seen a lot of offers coming his way, mainly because of his height. He may be 5'9", but his impact on the game is much bigger, and he is our JSN Boys' Basketball Player of the Year.

Post-season MVP

Jordan Tabakman, Pequannock

This special award is in recognition of Tabakman's role in leading Pequannock through their amazing run to the Group II state finals. The Panthers were a real Jekyll-and-Hyde bunch this season, but somehow came together to win the school's first sectional title in 43 years despite being a #8 seed.

Tabakman, who broke the Pequannock all-time career scoring record earlier in the season, averaged 17 points per game in the states. He was one of the team's top rebounders in each game, and also took on a great deal of ball-handling responsibility when the Panthers were pressed.

The contribution of the other Panthers can hardly be overlooked; it seemed somebody different stepped up each round with a huge effort. But the unlikely run would never have happened without Tabakman, who led Pequannock in scoring in each state game and gave his team confidence with his steady presence. For that, he is our JSN Post-season MVP.

Coach of the Year

Rob Carcich, Passaic Valley

Much of the pre-season speculation about local basketball teams centered on how they would fare against the rough new schedule. Coach Rob Carcich couldn't focus on that, as he had to wait most of his key players to finish their football season before they could even begin practicing.

That late start probably contributed to the Hornets' 1-2 opening to the season. But after that point, Passaic Valley was hard to stop, winning 18 of 21 games. Carcich was blessed with a good deal of experience, but also managed to work in a couple of younger players.

What stood out about the Hornets was their balance. It seemed every night a different player would step up and have a big game, and Carcich deserves some of the credit for knowing how to ride a hot hand. His team also came up clutch in so many close games.

The Hornets' season ended in a surreal, heartbreaking five-overtime loss to Old Tappan in the sectional semifinals. Had that game gone the other way, Passaic Valley may well have won a banner to cap off its great season. But their effort should not be forgotten, and for his role, Rob Carcich is our JSN Boys' Basketball Coach of the Year.

Boys' Hoops Notes

MEETING THE CHALLENGE: When local Passaic County teams were thrown into a league with Bergen County's best for this year, many feared it could get ugly. Instead, the local squads were part of an impressive overall showing by Passaic County, which proved that for this year, at least, it is home to better basketball. The five local teams that played in the NJTCC all made the state tournament and all but one finished over .500 for the season.

A CHANGE THAT WORKED: Quietly, the NJSIAA this year changed its longtime policy of playing sectional final basketball games at neutral sites. It's not clear how this impacted on attendance, but it certainly made the games more intense. One can hardly imagine a wilder scene than the Pequannock vs. Indian Hills boys' section final, played at the smallish Indian Hills gym. The only downside: some people couldn't get in because the place was filled beyond capacity.

STEPPING UP:  In coach Jon Simoneau's second year on the bench, the Butler Bulldogs took another big step forward. Butler won 12 games and qualified for the state tournament for the first time in years. Now comes a new challenge: as this team was dominated by seniors, Simoneau will try to maintain the momentum next year with a very different group.

-- Paul Mencher for Jersey Sports Now