For the second time in twenty years and in its first season with Head Coach John Michael Santulli, the Pascack Valley Boys Basketball Team has won the Big North – National League. Valley shares this title with Demarest.
After a 3-0 start, the Panthers split their next 12 games, going 6-6. With a record of 9-6, the team headed to Teaneck for a game that would have a large impact on Valley’s chance of winning the league title.
The win that night, 67-66, began the boys’ current six game winning streak.
Over the next two weeks, Valley won four more games against league opponents; the Panthers also had a win against rivals Pascack Hills.
Valley Boys Basketball finished the league with a record of 8-2: the same record as Demarest. Their league record was now 8-2, tied with Demarest.
This was Valley’s first league title since 2021.
Not only did Valley win a share of the league, but the boys team also earned the one seed in the 2025 NJSIAA Boys Basketball North Jersey, Section 1, Group 2 Tournament.
Santulli said it feels great to win the league, calling it the best public school league in Bergen County. He gave credit for the title to the players and coaches who have been here before him.
“Credit especially goes to the seniors who have been working with the coaches toward this championship long before I got here,” Santulli said.
Coach Ron Villone—a former PV alum, coach of the boys freshman basketball team, and varsity basketball assistant coach—has been a coach in the program for the past six years.
He loves the energy that the boys bring to practice and how hard they worked in the offseason. Similar to Santulli, Villone gives all of the credit to the boys.
“I watch these boys every single day: how hard they practice, the extra work they put in the weight room in the offseason,” Villone said. “…It’s all about the boys, and I just couldn’t be happier for them,” Villone added.
Seniors Devin Merker and Trevor Kirkby have played varsity basketball for Pascack Valley since their freshman year.
They shared their sentiments about winning the League Title.
“Personally, it’s very validating to know that our work has paid off through the four years, but this year specifically,” Kirkby said.
Kirkby loves the fact that he is close friends with all eight other seniors on the team.
“Playing with all of these guys is a lifetime memory, as Coach Santulli always says, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything,” he added.
Merker has had a memorable season: not only reaching 1,000 career points but also hitting two game-winning shots—both of which were a crucial part of Valley winning the league.
The League Title means a great deal to Merker, who had high expectations for this team.
“We had high expectations for this year and knew that we could be good, so to win the league is a satisfying accomplishment that speaks to everyone’s hard work and dedication,” Merker said.
Merker has had a checklist of some goals this season, and winning the league was one of them. However, he is aiming higher with another goal in mind.
“Winning the league proves that we can accomplish big things as a team, but we still have a lot of work to do, Merker said. “Hopefully we can all check off the next box of a section championship.”
The goal of a section championship can become a reality for Valley over the next two weeks. The team is seeded first in its section, looking to become sectional champions for the first time since 2003.
