Memorial’s Rodriguez, NB’s Reardon selected as top coaches
The 2002-2003 Hudson County high school basketball season has come to an end, but not without the year-end honors and awards.
The Hudson Reporter All-Area Boys’ and Girls’ Basketball Teams feature an array of talented athletes who did their fair share in leading their respective teams to great heights throughout the course of the season.
The All-Area Boys’ First Team features two players who took their careers to new heights this season and three steady players who just continued their brilliant play.
Ki’Ameer Johnson of Hudson Catholic and Cesar Sabino of Memorial were role players for their respective teams a year ago, but both stepped up their games this season to become go-to premier performers and their respective teams’ leading scorers.
Terrance Roberts of St. Anthony earned Third Team All-Area honors last year as a key member of the NJSIAA Tournament of Champions repeat winners. Roberts, considered one of the best college prospects in the country and headed to Syracuse in the fall, elevated his game to earn First Team status this year.
Tyrell Archibald of Ferris has been a member of this All-Area team ever since he was a fabulous freshman. The brilliant guard earns First Team honors this year, keeping the Bulldogs in practically every game this season almost on his own.
But the Hudson Reporter Player of the Year was the guy who led his team to the HCIAA Seglio Division championship, who electrified audiences all season long with his intense style and lightning-quick step. Devon Stanberry of St. Mary’s earns the nod as Player of the Year for averaging nearly 24 points per game and for leading the Ramblers to their first HCIAA title of any kind since 1984.
Memorial’s Wilson Rodriguez earns the nod as the Coach of the Year for taking a team ravaged by graduation and leading them back to the HCIAA Coviello title game, as well as the HCIAA Coviello regular season championship.
On the girls’ side, Marist’s Angela Fitzgerald and Snyder’s Barbara Lewis are repeat honorees to the First Team, while Hudson County Prep’s Marissa Carey elevated her game, leading the Hurricanes to the NJSIAA North Jersey Section 1, Group I title game and a phenomenal 26-1 record, going from Third Team last year to First Team this year.
But the Player of the Year is a repeat honoree from the First Team of a year ago, the player who guided her team to the HCIAA Coviello regular season title and a berth in the playoff title game. Betty Mendieta of North Bergen did a little bit of everything for the Bruins this season, averaging nearly 19 points per game, while being the team leader and best defender. She earns the nod as Reporter Player of the Year.
Her coach, Dan Reardon, gets the honor of being the Girls’ Basketball Coach of the Year for his work with the Bruins. – Jim Hague