Pascack Valley High School Basketball star senior Guard Liam Higgins has led the team to a 11-9 record so far and to the No. 22 seed in the Bergen County Jamboree tournament. 

Higgins has been a key offensive and defensive piece for the team, rarely getting subbed out— usually with the ball in his hand in the clutch. Higgins has earned Valley Echo’s Athlete of the Month honor for the months of December and January.

In some of the biggest games of the season, Higgins has shined for the Panthers.

One of his biggest performances was on senior night, when PV defeated Old Tappan 48-46 behind a 20 point performance from Higgins, including his game clinching three. Higgins is currently averaging 16 points and 2.5 assists per game.

“I want to win as many games as possible, so I would say our coaches help motivate me to do the best we can and to win as much as possible,” Higgins explained.

Higgins has been on Varsity for three years now, building on experiences from the past two seasons and learning from his captains. 

“I’ve been starting on Varsity, so I’ve kind of seen all the ins and outs of the defenses and the strategies teams use against me and my teammates, so I feel I’m prepared for any situation,” Higgins said.

When asked about Higgins, Head Coach John Santulli had nothing but praise for his captain.

“Liam has been a true leader for us this season,” Santulli said. “Not only has he exemplified the attitude and effort that we want all our players to have, but at times and in certain games he has simply put us on his back and carried us to victory.”

As of late, Higgins has typically faced a box-and-one defense, and some teams even go as far as to faceguard him. Higgins explained how frustrating it is to face this type of defense but that he uses it to get his other teammates open looks and more opportunities to score.

Higgins isn’t sure if he wants to play basketball at the next level, but he plans on studying business in college, with a focus in finance.

This swim season, Amanda Bramley (Sr.) has been an unstoppable force, securing first place in almost every single event she has participated in. She’s not just dominating in one event: her versatility has been unmatched recently, posting a 0:25.27 in the 50 free and 1:01.21 in the 100 backstroke. 

The Pascack Swim Team has benefited from Bramley’s presence. Coach Shawn Buchanan mentioned that her impact is historic, as she is the first swimmer in team history to become a back-to-back county champion in the same event.

When talking about her motivation for performing at such a high level, Bramley credits the team culture and her relationship with Buchanan.

“My teammates encourage me to go to practice every single day,” Bramley said. “They just make swimming fun.”

While she says Buchanan is a strict coach, she knows that it provides a sense of confidence to the team.

“He knows down to the singular point who is planning on winning for the meet,” Bramley explained. “It gives us so much reassurance… I don’t think there’s any coach that does what he does. He’s insane.”

While Buchanan is vital to Bramley’s success, he helps her with more than just swimming.

“Amanda is just a great leader. She leads by example every single day,” Buchanan said. “She’s a fierce competitor in the pool, and she just sets high standards for herself… her career at Pascack Valley is remarkable.”

Preparation is very important for Bramley’s success, and most of her pre-game rituals include her teammates. One of her favorite rituals includes the bus rides to the meets.

“We blast music. We’re all just singing and trying to get our minds off everything else and just focus in,” Bramley said. “Talking to my friends and listening to music is really what helps me.”

One of the most difficult aspects for high school swimmers is that, unlike most other sports, the high school and club seasons are in the same months. Her club team requires her to have 20 to 22 hours of practice a week. Despite this demand, she has been able to remain committed to both. Buchanan called it a “testament to her character.”

While Bramley’s high school swimming career is coming to a close, her swimming career is far from over. She has officially committed to Lafayette College, where she plans to swim and study a pre-med track—majoring in biology.

“I’m definitely going to continue swimming [in college],” Bramley said. “I’ve been competing since I was four… It’s how I show my competitive aspect.”