50 years. Half a century. On Feb. 22, Jeff Jasper concluded his 50th season as the head coach of the Girls Basketball Team at Pascack Valley, which included a trip to the county semifinals and the state quarterfinals, players named to the First and Second All-Bergen County teams, and his 1,100th win. 

Big-game highlights

Valley opened up the season on Dec. 15 at River Dell and won 44-30. After the game was tied at eight at the end of the first quarter, Pascack Valley took control in the second quarter—outscoring River Dell 16-5. Lindsay Jennings was the spark for the team in the season opener, finishing with 20 points. Celina Bussanich and Tori Criscuolo had 8 points each.

Two days later, the Panthers grabbed an overtime win against Northern Highlands, 66-57. Lindsay Jennings finished with her career high of 29 points. Valley then took on its first private school of the season, Academy of the Holy Angels. Valley won 50-28. PV had three players score in double-figures in that game: Celina Bussanich (19), Lindsay Jennings (10), and Ava Burke (10).

On Dec. 22, Lindsay Jennings was awarded North Jersey Athlete of the Week on NorthJersey.com.

“Winning North Jersey Athlete of the week was very exciting,” Jennings said. “It happened during our first week of our season, so it gave me momentum and confidence on the court, which I kept with me for the entire season.” 

To start off the new year, Valley came in sixth in the Joe Poli Classic. 

Midseason, Pascack Valley Girls Basketball entered into the Bergen County Tournament as the No. 6 seed, earning a first-round bye. Valley played Lodi Immaculate in the first round and won 63-61 in a highly contested game. Lindsay Jennings had 22 points, Celina Bussanich had 17 points, and Tori Criscuolo had 11 points. 

After defeating Lodi Immaculate in the Round of 16, the girls advanced to the quarterfinals, where they took on No. 19 Mahwah. Valley defeated Mahwah 41-18. Valley’s defense was nearly impenetrable. In the balanced scoring attack, Bussanich finished with 13 points, McCarthy finished with 8, and 7 points from Jennings and Burke. 

With Valley’s win against Mahwah, Pascack Valley Girls Basketball and Coach Jasper became the first program and coach to reach the final four of the Bergen County Basketball Tournament in six different decades. Valley would face Immaculate Heart Academy in the semifinals. 

In the semifinals, Valley went back and forth with IHA but ultimately did not come out on top, losing 53-46 and ending its run in the Bergen County Tournament. Celina Bussanich finished the game with 14 points, and Ava Burke finished with 13 points. 

After the game versus IHA, the team had three games left on its schedule before the state tournament. Valley defeated Chester Academy (NY), Fort Lee, and Morris Hills to finish off the season 3-0. 

The No. 8 seed in the North 1 Group 3 NJSIAA State Tournament, Pascack Valley Girls Basketball faced No. 9 seeded Tenafly at home. Valley defeated Tenafly 70-45, after splitting the previous two in-season games.

After the win, Valley traveled to No.1 Montville. The Panthers’ season came to an end with a 42-29 loss. 

Player reactions to the season

Jasper always values his players and the hard work that they put into their craft, and the players respect and value him too.

“Playing for Jasper this season was really special,” senior Julia Graham said. “Every day presented its challenges, but I could always count on Jasper, Amato, Marchiano, Pete, Mark, and every single one of my teammates to have my back.”

The seniors this year had a lasting impact on the program. Two-year starter Tori Crisucolo learned lessons from Jasper both on and off the court.

“Jasper taught me how to be dedicated and hardworking,” Criscuolo said. “The messages he portrays through basketball helped me on and off the court this season and the past four years.”

Newcomer Madison McCarthy has felt Jasper’s effect almost immediately and has been successful this season.

“Jasper is different because he is focused on getting you better in practice,” McCarthy said. “He focuses on expanding your skill set and always goes back to the fundamentals.”

Additionally, underclassmen like Celina Bussanich felt Jasper’s effect when she started as a freshman and continued to learn this year.

“Playing for Jasper this season was full of dedication, learning, and teamwork,” Bussanich said. “He teaches us how to be a better person and player. He made me realize that when people are hard on you, they only want the best for you.”

Sophomore Ava Burke’s impact on and off the court was felt by her teammates and her coaches. She reflects on having Jasper as a teacher and as a coach. 

“Having Jasper as a teacher is so different from having him as a coach,” Burke said. “I believe Jasper is very relaxed; he’s even told me himself. I think the switch of him as a teacher to him as a coach just shows his passion for the game, his players, and his desire to make us better.” 

Notable moments from the season

Madison McCarthy, who transferred from Saddle River Day, played her first game against Ramsey in the Zack Latteri Foundation Benefit Games. Madison was forced to sit out the first 30 days (missing 11 games) due to the transfer policy. 

“It was hard being forced to sit and not being able to impact the team on the court, but I tried to help the team off the court as much as I could,” McCarthy said. “Sitting out the 30 days was extremely tough for me to sit out, especially in my senior season.”

With the debut of Madison McCarthy, Valley defeated Ramsey 48-43 with McCarthy finishing with a PV high of 18 points. Celina Bussanich added 12 points. 

Coach Jasper reflected on receiving the news that Madison McCarthy came to Pascack Valley for her senior season.

“When I heard Madison would be coming to Pascack Valley for her senior season, I was excited to have a kid like her with a skill set. Once I got to know her though, I found how great of a kid she was [as well],” Jasper said. “She is such a quality person, and is a very talented player.”

One of Jasper’s favorite moments of the season came when the team then took on 

Old Tappan. Valley won, 51-49, thanks to a buzzer-beater shot from Julia Graham. 

After the nail-biter with Old Tappan, Valley had three consecutive wins by 25 points or more, with wins coming against Dwight Morrow, Fair Lawn, and Bergenfield. The win against Bergenfield came in a game that honored this year’s senior class.

“I am saddened to lose the five seniors,” Jasper said. “They left a very lasting legacy on leadership. They were such a great combination of people. They were fun to be around with their personalities.” 

The five seniors this year were Lindsay Jennings, Tori Criscuolo, Julia Graham, Madison McCarthy and Olivia Garcia. All five of the seniors recorded baskets in the Senior Night game. Lindsay Jennings had 14 points. Madison McCarthy had 8 points, Tori Criscuolo and Julia Graham each had 4 points, and Olivia Garcia recorded 2 points.

Jasper and team achievements

The team finished with a 19-9 record and went 12-5 in conference play. Valley finished in 6th place in the Joe Poli Classic Tournament, went to the semi-finals of the Bergen County Tournament, and went to the Quarterfinals of the NJSIAA North Jersey, Section 1, Group 3 Tournament.

Lindsay Jennings was named to 1st Team All-County, and Celina Bussanich was named to 2nd Team All-County. Jennings was also named to the NJ North/South All-Star Game.

Coach Jasper reached two historic milestones that will forever be remembered in New Jersey high school basketball history: Coach Jasper reached the 1100-win mark, in Valley’s game against Chester Academy (NY), and became the first coach to reach the final four of the Bergen County Tournament in six different decades.

“The [1,100th] win didn’t feel any different. It just felt like a normal game,” Jasper said. “I know it’s a milestone, but milestones just happen. If you’re surrounded with enough good people, which I have been lucky to be with coaches and players, you can’t help but be successful. Yes, 1,100 is a large amount of wins, but that definitely does not define the program here, the players, or myself.”

Other notable player achievements this season include Lindsay Jennings and Celina Bussanich being named First Team All-League, Madison McCarthy and Tori Criscuolo being named Second Team All-League, and Ava Burke being named Honorable Mention All-League.

The future of PV Girls Basketball 

At the season’s end, Jasper looks at next year’s team.

“What I am most excited about next season is the talent we have,” Jasper said. “We have a talented group of juniors and sophomores. With only one senior for next season, I see this team as a two-year team.”

Next season, Valley will return starting guard Celina Bussanich, who finished her sophomore year with 372 points: making 75 three-pointers and shooting 93% on free throws. Sophomore forward Ava Burke will also return. Burke finished the season with 139 points. 

After Jasper’s 50th year and the success the girls had in both the Bergen County Tournament and the NJSIAA state tournament, Coach Jeff Jasper shows no signs of slowing down.