Team of the Year

Pequannock

The five seniors who made up the core of this team were all key players on the Panthers squad that made a stunning run to the Group II state final in 2010. Pequannock carried over that confidence into this season, winning 21 games and its first league title in boys' basketball in 42 years.

The Panthers didn't have a star, but instead relied on a team effort. In an era when many teams bomb away from the three-point line, Pequannock instead scored most of its points going to the basket with hustle and great passing. The Panthers made it back to the sectional final, and though they fell short of another banner, they proved that the previous year was not a fluke.

Several other local teams were legitimate contenders for this award, but none had a clear claim. West Milford won 19 games and a league title, but lost twice to DePaul and fell in the first round of the states. Passaic Valley also had 19 wins and reached a sectional final, but lost twice to West Milford, finished third in its league and split with DePaul. For its part, DePaul stayed above water against a brutal schedule, but was only 13-10, including a loss in the first round of the states as well as one to a Morris Catholic team that Pequannock beat twice.

By proving the value of teamwork and backing up their magical run with a great season, Pequannock is our JSN Boys' Basketball Team of the Year.

Players of the Year

Davon Jacobs, DePaul
Dave Clough, Passaic Valley
Connor Healy, West Milford

In a year without a dominant boys' basketball player, we have chosen these three players from the three top squads in Passaic County.

Jacobs led DePaul with 16 points and 6.5 rebounds per game. A tremendous athlete, he helped the Spartans compete with the likes of Don Bosco and Bergen Catholic. Only a junior, Jacobs will return next year, but his future may be on the football field, where he is being recruited by a number of Division I schools.

Clough's name rhymes with "tough", and that's very appropriate for this senior. He could step out and hit a three-pointer, but spent a lot of time inside, battling with bigger players on both ends of the floor. He averaged more than 14 points per game and played a key all-around role as the Hornets played one of New Jersey's toughest schedules.

Healy was a firebrand who came up with numerous big plays for the Highlanders. Whether it was a clutch three-point shot or a key steal, the senior found a way to help his team win. Healy managed to lead West Milford in both three-pointers and free throws, and was second in assists and third in rebounding.

Finding different ways to lead their teams to successful seasons, these three young men are the JSN Boys' Basketball Players of the Year.

Coach of the Year

Rob Carcich, Passaic Valley

The schedule looked tough at the beginning of the season, and in retrospect, it may only seem tougher. Passaic Valley played many of north Jersey's best boys' basketball teams and came away with a 19-10 record. Coach Rob Carcich put his team through quite a test, and they earned a solid grade.

Carcich didn't want his team to duck any challenges, feeling they would be stronger if they played tougher competition. While the Hornets did hit a rough patch late in the season, they pulled it back together in time for the states, reaching the North 1, Group III finals before falling to a superb Teaneck squad.

Without any superstars, Carcich managed to guide his team to wins over such quality foes as Paterson Eastside, Scotch Plains, DePaul and Elmwood Park, not to mention archrival Wayne Valley twice. His team relied heavily on three-point shooting, but was hardly afraid to mix it up inside and could get a big defensive stop when necessary.

For giving his team a major challenge, and then helping them find the road to success, Rob Carcich is our JSN Boys' Basketball Coach of the Year.

Boys' Hoops Notes

LIGHTNING STRIKES TWICE: West Milford twice saw victory snatched away on last-second three-point shots. Remarkably, both happened on the Highlanders' home court, at the same end of the floor, in somewhat similar fashion.

First, in the regular season, DePaul freshman Kiy Hester hit a trey at the buzzer to give the Spartans a 61-60 win. Then, even more painfully for the Highlanders, Wayne Valley won a first-round state game when Jay Mustafa drained a trey with just a couple of seconds left for a 46-44 triumph that ended West Milford's season.

West Milford still won 19 games and a league title, but without those two dramatic shots, it would probably have been a much bigger season.

UPSET SPECIALISTS: A team without much size that relied on three-point shooting, Wayne Valley was perhaps predictably inconsistent. But when the Indians were on their game, they were capable of big things. Their 15-13 record included two wins over West Milford, plus triumphs against Passaic Valley, Union City and Passaic Tech.

WATCH OUT NEXT YEAR: DePaul appears poised for big things in the 2011-12 season. The Spartans only lost two seniors who saw little playing time. Their seven main players this year included three juniors, two sophomores (including talented point guard Josh Marquez), and two freshmen. The schedule will once again be extremely difficult, but DePaul should be up for the challenge.

-- Paul Mencher for Jersey Sports Now