Several South Bergenite boys basketball players were named to the first team of the BCSL National and BCSL American teams as some area squads had big seasons for 2007-08.
Leading the way was Queen of Peace that had three players that made the American first team while St. Mary’s and Lyndhurst boys teams had a pair of players who were on the BCSL National first team.
The Golden Griffins, who were 23-3 and won the team’s first boys basketball league title, contributed senior Bilal Dixon, junior Dwayne Moffatt and junior Javae Gilchrist to the American first team.
"I think he (Dixon) had the ability to two things, one is his size and the second was his block-shooting ability," said Boyce. "He was just so athletic and could intimidate you inside."
For a Lyndhurst team that started out hot and had a nice streak in the end before falling in the tough Group 1 North 2 section, they had seniors, Anthony Dorio and Jesse Estevez, on the BCSL American first team.
St. Mary’s, who finished just behind Wood-Ridge in the National race, had both seniors, Andrew Tedesco and Travis Taylor on the league first team.
Both Rutherford and North Arlington added a member each to the first team American and National, respectively.
Senior Greffen George was the offensive force for the Bulldogs in his lone year at Rutherford after transferring from Wallington.
North Arlington sophomore Peter Santos will be looked upon to have an even better 2008-09 season after named to the first team National.
"He’s gotten better and better as the season went along," said North Arlington head coach Dave Walsh. "The first part of the season we did not know who are leading scorers were. The last part of the season he (Santos) became our leading scorer."
In the second team All National, area teams added a player each. Ryan Kenny had a big year for North Arlington in his senior season. Damar Clark and Nick Abruscato added a player each from St. Mary’s and Lyndhurst squads respectively on the National second team.
Andrew Yoon was the lone Becton boys hoops representative on the All National team and garnered an honorable mention.
Seniors, Evan Levario, of Lyndhurst, Joe Monahan of North Arlington and Arthur Dilworth of St. Mary’s were named to the National honorable mention.
In the BCSL American Queen of Peace senior Al-Don Muhammad and Rutherford’s Dan Corte captured second All American team honors. Senior Zaire Harris of Queen of Peace was named to the American honorable mention team.
