PHOTO GALLERIES -- DAILY NEWS ALL-AREA BASKETBALL TEAMS
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PLAYER OF THE YEAR

MARQUEZE COLEMAN, Alemany, Sr.
Coleman did it all for Alemany.
He scored, he rebounded, he played tight defense, he got the transition game going, and he rose to the occasion in the clutch.
Coleman averaged 22 points and 7.3 rebounds in and helped carry Alemany to the Mission League championship, the Southern Section Div. III-A title and finally the Div. III state championship with a 71-67 win over Sacred Heart Cathedral at Power Balance Pavilion in Sacramento, with the Nevada signee contributing 27 points and nine rebounds.
Coleman was selected Div.III state player of the year by Cal-Hi Sports/ESPN High School, the first local athlete to receive the recognition since Harvard-Westlake's Alex Stepheson in 2006.
"Marqueze has a great work ethic," Alemany coach Tray Meeks said. "I feel like he has embraced the Alemany community, and the Alemany community has embraced him. He's accomplished so much academically and in basketball, and being a student-athlete, that's most impressive."

COACH OF THE YEAR

JON PALARZ, Calabasas
Inspired to win for assistant Joe Frazier, who remained in a coma all season after being struck on his motorcycle in a hit-and-run accident, Palarz guided the Coyotes on an emotional journey to the Marmonte League championship and their first Southern Section Div. III-AA title with a dominant effort in a 69-39 win over South Torrance. Calabasas relied on the chemistry of several student-athletes who played together for many seasons to reach the Div. III regional quarterfinals, losing 75-71 in overtime to St. John Bosco.

NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR

MARCUS LOVETT, JR., Providence, Fr.
Despite the Pioneers losing in the Southern Section Div. V-A final, LoVett was still named the division's player of the year, a testament to one of the most impressive seasons by any player — especially a ninth-grader — in state history. LoVett scored a state freshman record 1,036 points — averaging 32.3 per game — including a high of 57 in an 85-74 overtime victory Dec. 17 over St. Joseph of Santa Maria. He also produced 45 points in a 73-66 win Jan. 21 over Campbell Hall, which received 27 points from fellow ninth-grader Aaron Holiday.

FIRST TEAM

BRYAN ALBERTS, Village Christian, Soph.
A clutch shooter and tough defender, the 6-foot-5 Alberts averaged 19 points and caused match-up problems. He was an All-Olympic League and Southern Section Div. V-AA first-team selection and helped the Crusaders capture their first Div. V state title.
ZENA EDOSOMWAN, Harvard-Westlake, Sr.
The area's most dominant center, Edosomwan (6-8, 240) averaged 16.4 points, 11.6 rebounds and 3.6 blocks, earning All-Mission League and Div. IV-AA first-team recognition. He has verbally committed to Harvard.
MAX GUERCY, Alemany, Sr.
A four-year starter, Guercy (17.7 points, 4.4 assists) sparked Alemany to the Div. III state title, sharing Mission League MVP as well as Div. III-A player of the year honors with teammate Marqueze Coleman.
AARON HOLIDAY, Campbell Hall, Fr.
The younger brother of NBA star Jrue Holiday, the versatile ninth-grader averaged 24.3 points and 5.5 rebounds, receiving All-Alpha League and Div. IV-A first-team honors along with teammate Cole Huff.
ANTHONY JANUARY, Taft, Sr.
The West Valley League MVP and City Section Div. I player of the year, the athletic 6-7 January averaged 22 points and 13 rebounds after gaining eligibility following his transfer from Compton.
CLAY KASDORF, Canyon, Sr.
Came on strong toward end of the season, including a Foothill League-record 48 points in a win at West Ranch. Received all-league first-team honors for the Cowboys.
RON LEE, JR., Oak Park, Jr.
Son of former NBA Player Ron Lee, the explosive guard averaged 22 points and 4.8 assists in leading Oak Park to the Southern Section Div. III-A final. He was selected Tri-Valley League MVP and was a Div. III-A first teamer.
JEREMY LIEBERMAN, Calabasas, Soph.
The Marmonte League MVP and Southern Section Div.III-AA player of the year, Lieberman averaged 14 points and six assists to help the Coyotes capture their first title and reach the Div. III regional quarterfinals.
MAX MCCOY, Royal, Jr.
McCoy, an All-Marmonte League and Div. II-AA first-team selection, averaged 13 points and helped the Highlanders to their best season ever, losing in the division final to Inglewood.
GOR PLAVCHYAN, Grant, Sr.
Plavchyan, a 6-7 center who overcame an ankle injury late in the season, averaged 18 points and 12.2 rebounds to help Grant reach the City Section Div. III final, before losing to Bell, snapping a 14-game winning streak.
LONDON PERRANTES, Crespi, Jr.
Among the area's top point guards, Perrantes averaged 14.6 points, 5.6 assists and shot 75 percent from line, earning All-Mission League first-team recognition and helping Crespi reach the Div. IV-AA semifinals.
BRANDON PERRY, Taft, Sr.
A tough inside player at 6-7, 250 pounds, Perry averaged 14 points and 11 rebounds for the two-time City Section Div. I champions, who reached the Div. I regional quarterfinals.
MARQUIS SALMON, Village Christian, Sr.
Although he averaged 13.7 points, 6.8 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 2.0 steals and 1.8 blocks overall, Salmon raised his level in the state playoffs to average 16.6 points, including a season-high 29 against St. Bernard in the regional semifinals for the Div. V champions.

SECOND TEAM

Chass Bryan, Oaks Christian, Sr.
Jessy Cantinol, Renaissance Academy, Sr.
Maleke Haynes, ElCamino Real, Soph.
Razhaun Henderson, Alemany, Soph.
Cole Huff, Campbell Hall, Sr.
Marsalis Johnson, Village Christian, Soph.
Ako Kaluna, West Ranch, Jr.
Jaron Martin, Chaminade, Sr.
Michael Milligan, Crespi, Jr.
Julian Richardson, ECR, Soph.
Jahmel Taylor, Sierra Canyon, Jr.
Jack Williams, Chaminade, Soph.
Ryan Wright, Palmdale, Sr.

HONORABLE MENTION

Coley Apsay, Canyon, Sr.
Michael Avery, Crespi, Sr.
Josh Cohan, Calabasas, Sr.
Tyler Coppin-Carter, Buckley, Jr.
Vince De Guzman, Renaissance Academy, Sr.
Kennedy Edwards, Notre Dame, Sr.
Linwood Foy, St. Genevieve, Jr.
Terrell Funches, Chatsworth, Sr.
Jackson Hall, Oak Park, Sr.
Troy Hammel, Valencia, Sr.
Kevin Harris, West Ranch, Jr.
Josh Hearlihy, Harvard-Westlake, Sr.
Spencer Levy, Calabasas, Sr.
Grant Lozoya, Westlake, Jr.
Christian Misi, Crescenta Valley, Sr.
Derick Newton, Harvard-Westlake, Jr.
J.R. Powell, Royal, Sr.
Joseph Prince, Highland, Sr.
Michael Thomas, El Camino Real, Jr.
Dom Vargas, Kennedy, Jr.
J.R. Williams, Cleveland, Sr.
Rodney Williams, Quartz Hill, Sr.
Scott Woods, Royal, Jr.
Kris Yanku, Taft, Sr.

TOP TEN RANKINGS

1. Alemany
2. Taft
3. Calabasas
4. Crespi
5. Village Christian
6. Harvard-Westlake
7. El Camino Real
8. Royal
9. Crescenta Valley
10. Oak Park

LEAGUE CHAMPS

Alpha: Pacific Hills
Delphic: Paraclete
East Valley: Grant
Foothill: Canyon/West Ranch
Frontier: Malibu
Golden: Palmdale
Heritage: Milken/Pacifica Christian
Liberty: Providence
Marmonte: Calabasas
Mission: Alemany
Northern: Franklin
Olympic: Village Christian
Pacific: Pasadena
Pacific View: Oxnard
Prep: Flintridge Prep
Rio Hondo: La Cañada/South Pas.
Santa Fe: St. Genevieve/St. Anthony
Tri-Valley: Oak Park
Valley: SOCES/Northridge Academy
Valley Mission: Kennedy/Panorama
West Valley: Taft

GAME OF THE YEAR

HOLY MARTYRS VS. PROVIDENCE, March 3
The contributions of Marcus LoVett, Jr., were enough for the Pioneers in a pair of Liberty League victories against rival Holy Martyrs. But in the Southern Section Div. V-A final, not even 38 points and nine rebounds from LoVett could hold off an inspired performance from the Armens. Nshan Kenjoian had 30 points and had 13 rebounds for Holy Martyrs, which captured its first championship in program history. LoVett helped Providence overcome a 52-48 deficit in the final minute of regulation to force the extra period, but Kenjoian scored nine of Holy Martyrs' 13 points in overtime to finally prevail.