Last week, Immaculata found itself in the prestigious Tournament of Champions in Toms River against the state of New Jersey’s best basketball teams.

For Queen of Peace head coach Chris Boyce and the Golden Griffins they must have been thinking that it could have been them.

Turn back the clock a few weeks and Queen of Peace was ahead of the same Immaculata team in the waning minutes of the game only to see the Golden Griffins hand over the lead and the game to Immaculata.

"We have been the only ones that have given them a game," said Boyce. "We have only ourselves to blame. You only play what is given to you."

Queen of Peace was the top seed and at home, but Immaculata got the final points in the end.

The game was only the second round of the Non-Public North A division, but it turns out that Immaculata was not seeded appropriately. The state goes specifically by record and in turn Immaculata was seeded as the eighth seed and in turn took on the Golden Griffins in the second round. In turn Queen of Peace saw its season come to a crashing halt, 57-55.

Queen of Peace finished with a 23-3 record, a BCSL American division title, where they went undefeated at 18-0 and making the semi-finals of the Bergen County Jamboree. The similarities of both the loss to Hackensack in the Jamboree semi-finals and the state tournament, were that both of them ended in heartbreaking fashion. "I was happy with the team all year," said Boyce who was in his first year as head coach of Queen of Peace.

With the schools’ best record in boys basketball, it helped significantly in the All Bergen County selections.

Senior center Bilal Dixon garnered first team All Bergen County honors after compiling a resume of 19 points, 14 rebounds, seven blocks and three assists. "I think he 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."

On the second team all Bergen County is junior guard Javae Gilchrist who range up 15 points, seven assists, four rebounds and three assists. "I definitely see a lot more from him next year," said Boyce about Gilchrist. "I think Javae is right there."

Junior forward Dwayne Moffatt was pegged for the All Bergen County third team with 14 points, nine rebounds, two blocks and two assists per game. "He’s a guy who eats and drinks basketball," said Boyce about Moffatt. "He would stay after and play basketball and watch film all the time."

All three were named to the All BCSL American first team, the most for any team in the league.

Senior point guard Al'Don Muhammad was pegged for the All-American second team. Muhammad was the victim of the Golden Griffins success and would have made the first team if not for limiting the teams to three players. "I think he is very talented overall and showed that with scoring a thousand points during his high school career," said Boyce about Muhammad who was his leader on the court.

Along with those honors, senior guard Zaire Harris garnered an All American honorable mention nod.

While there were several games that they could be considered highlights for the Golden Griffins, Boyce points to the 74-65 victory over St. Joseph’s in the semi-finals of the Indian Hills Holiday Tournament. The Golden Griffins would go on and defeat Bergen Catholic, 50-48, in the holiday tournament final.

Queen of Peace loses a big chunk of their success this season in Dixon and Muhammad and Harris, but they will have an entire off-season with Boyce. Boyce was named Queen of Peace head coach just before the start of practices this season as the school fired Bill Schoener.

Next season, the Golden Griffins will be banking on more from Gilchrist and Moffatt.