Trenton’s Williams is our CVC Player of the Year

Although no locals captured a sectional championship this winter, the Colonial Valley Conference was more balanced.

Seven of the 14 teams improved their win total from last season, and nine qualified for the state tournament.

Trenton was the cream of the crop. The Tornadoes won a conference-best 24 games, captured the Colonial Division title, made the Mercer County Tournament final and advanced to their second straight NJSIAA Central Jersey Group IV final before falling short of another sectional title.

Coach Darryl Young said Jordan Williams worked hard in the weight room to become leaner during the offseason, which made the significantly improved senior forward The Trentonian’s CVC Player of the Year.

Notre Dame won 20 games and made the MCT semifinals despite having graduated one of the state’s top players from last year’s 13-13 squad. Rich Roche is The Trentonian’s CVC Coach of the Year.

Hopewell Valley also had a surprisingly strong season with four new starters. Matt Stein’s boys won 18 games and advanced to the school’s first MCT semifinal since 2005.

Ewing missed the county semifinals, but the Blue Devils came on strong in states by advancing to the Central Jersey Group III semifinals in what marked longtime coach Shelly Dearden’s final season.

West Windsor-Plainsboro North secured another double-digit win total and captured a first-round Central Jersey Group IV victory before succumbing to Trenton. Here is a look at the CVC’s best.