It's hard to believe that the 2014-15 high school basketball season is well in the books.

The Times News coverage area featured 10 different schools competing in three different leagues. It was Pleasant Valley's first year in the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference, and Lehighton's first season in the Schuylkill League.The 2014-15 Times News all-star teams feature seven boys and seven girls from eight different schools.Palmerton was the school with the most representatives. Times News player of the year Jade Farquhar and Madison Mummey had fantastic seasons in Palmerton uniforms and led the Lady Bombers to 20 wins. Mark Quinn was one of three players in the area to average a double-double and earned a well deserved spot on the boys squad.Northwestern's multi-sport senior stars Sarah Segan and Sabrina Mertz were both selections for the girls' team, as both girls averaged over 11 points per game and fueled a late season Lady Tigers' rally which got them back into the postseason.Tamaqua was the only TN team to earn a state playoff berth, as the Raiders won 20 games for the first time in 20 years. Brett Kosciolek (TN POY) and Bo Rottet were both unanimous selections as they finished no. 1 and no. 2 respectively in scoring in the area.The Lehighton boys' team enjoyed success in its inaugural season in the Schuylkill League much thanks to a pair of selections. Senior guard Jordan Knappenberger drained 48 three-points this year and finished second in the area in scoring. Junior forward Nick Chambers averaged an impressive double-double which earned him a spot on the team as well.Marian had a duo of impressive players this season which once again got it back into postseason action. Senior guard Abbey Whildin hit the 1,000-point mark this season and earned a spot on the roster. Brenna Karnish is the second youngest player on the team, as she was a force in the paint all season long for the Fillies.Pleasant Valley's first year in the EPC would have been much more difficult if it wasn't for Pius X transfer Eric Marbury. The senior guard was one of the most dangerous guards in the area who has the ability to do whatever he wants with the basketball. Marbury averaged over 13 points per contest this season.Northern Lehigh's representative is Tyshawn Golden. Golden ranked high in a number of statistical categories in the area for head coach Jeff Miller's squad. Golden's leadership on the floor and his 12.27 points per game will be big shoes to fill next year.Finally, Jim Thorpe's freshman standout Kayley Kovac enjoyed a spectacular first-year campaign. Kovac led the TN area with 24.59 points per game. Kovac was an absolute force inside the arc and led one of the youngest teams in the area to 10 wins this year.BOYSJordan KnappenbergerResume: One of the purest shooters to ever put on a Lehighton uniform, Knappenberger finished the 2014-15 campaign with 48 three-pointers made, second only to Northwestern's Parker Jones. The senior sharpshooter finished third in the Times News coverage area in points per game (15.32), as he accumulated 337 points throughout the year. The 6-1 guard showed he could put the ball on the court, as he finished fifth in free throws made in the TN area. The Lehighton senior shot 76% from the stripe, which was good for third in the area for those who qualify. Knappenberger's limitless range and ability to space the floor made his teammates better, as the Indians finished second in the TN area with an overall record of 14-8, and scored an area leading 63 points per game. The senior's stellar season included a 40-point game against Pen Argyl, during which he drained 10 three-pointers.Quotable: "He's one of the purest shooters who can go out and make a number three-pointers in a row that can change a game. He has one of the best forms I've seen from a kid shooting the ball. He's pretty consistent for a jump shooting guard. Jordan has come a long way. He should have a chance to play somewhere in the future and I think he will excel." - Lehighton head coach Rich Oertner.Nick ChambersResume: Nick Chambers transferred to Lehighton last season and got off to a slow sophomore campaign due to an injury during the football season. The progress he's made since then has to be acknowledged. Chambers averaged just shy of a double-double, scoring 10.59 points per game and 9.7 rebounds per game. The 6-3 Lehighton big man grabbed 223 rebounds this year, which accounted for 33% of the team's total rebounds. Chambers got it done defensively as well, blocking 39 shots and was second on the Indians with 45 steals. The Lehighton center was move impressive on the glass this season during Lehighton's 74-58 victory against Blue Mountain in January, when he pulled down 17 rebounds. Chambers has seriously expanded his game in just one calendar year, as he shot 50% from within the arc and also made over half of his free throw attempts.Quotable: "Nick is a rebounding machine. He might be the best rebounder I've ever had when he wants to be. He's athletically as talented as any kid I've ever had. The sky is the limit, he can go as far as he wants, but he's going to have to work at it. Nick was new to the school and was injured last year, and picked up basketball a little late. After he learned the system, and he's a very smart kid. The results showed this season. He runs extremely well for his size, and he might be the fastest on the team. I've seen him grown up mentally; the maturation process is coming along nicely." - Lehighton head coach Rich Oertner.Brett KosciolekResume: Tamaqua made its first state playoff appearance in 20 years this season, much thanks to 1,000-point scoring big man Brett Kosciolek. The Raiders center was one of the top players to come through Tamaqua and he has the accolades to prove it. Kosciolek ended his varsity basketball career with 1,502 points, which puts him in sole possession of third place on the Raiders' all-time scoring list. Kosciolek used his touch around the basket to help reach that milestone, shooting 47-percent from the field and 73-percent from the free throw line this year, en route to scoring 468 points during his senior campaign. Kosciolek led the Times News coverage area with a scoring average of 17.18 points per game and grabbed just over 11 rebounds per contest. His versatility and range beyond the three-point arc has been a matchup nightmare for area teams over the course of his career. Kosciolek shot over 32-percent from three-point land, and was third on the Raiders in three-point field goals made with 28.Quotable: "Brett's role was to rebound and score for us and he certainly accomplished that. A big deal is made about double-doubles, and that's what he averaged. He became a much better defender; he was big for us during our 2-3 zone. He did a great job protecting the rim; Brett's always been someone who can score inside and outside consistently. Brett (and Bo) are two kids that are circled in every opponent's pre-game, but every game, their numbers were there. He's always played with a ton of confidence and was extremely active on both ends of the court." - Tamaqua head coach Caszy KosciolekBo RottetResume: Rottet was one of the most exciting guards to watch in the Schuylkill League. Rottet led the Raiders in scoring, totaling 470 points and averaging 16.7 points per game. The Raiders stud did it all, averaging 4.1 assists per game and pulling down over five rebounds per contest. The six-foot senior established himself as eighth all-time on the Tamaqua scoring list after his senior campaign, finishing with 1,117 career points. Rottet ranked fifth in three-pointers made in the Times News area with 40, second in overall scoring (behind teammate Kosciolek), and got the job done at the free throw line as well. Rottet shot 78-percent from the line (83-for-106), which ranks second in shooting percentage. The senior guard was a true shot creator, as he was first in the Times News coverage area in foul shots made by a considerable margin. His well-rounded offensive game, perimeter-defensive skills, and ability to orchestrate on offense in the challenging Schuylkill League made him a unanimous choice for the Times News all-star team.Quotable: "He was probably the best point guard in the Schuylkill League. He did a little bit of everything. Bo is probably our hardest worker who is truly competitive. He's hit some huge shots for us, and was definitely our quarterback on the floor. Bo got us into our sets and put up numbers across the board. He got to the line a ton of times and shot a good percentage from the line. People definitely game planned around him and he still found a way to contribute and be a huge part as to why we won 21 games, qualified for state playoffs and almost won the Schuylkill League championship. Bo has improved every year throughout his career and he's an ultra-competitor. You don't realize how valuable a point guard is and we were fortunate to have him at that spot." - Tamaqua head coach Caszy KosciolekTyshawn GoldenResume: Not only was Golden selected for the Times News all-star team, but the senior standout was also selected as honorable mention Colonial League. The senior's first and only year with the Northern Lehigh program was an impressive one. Golden averaged 12.27 points per game that ranked him ninth in the TN coverage area. Golden scored at least 15 points in nine of the Bulldog's 22 games this year. The Dieruff transfer hit the 20-point mark on three separate occasions, including the final game of the season when he scored a season-high 22 points against Colonial League foe Palmerton. Golden ranked fifth in the area in free throw percentage (75%) and drained 37 three-pointers good enough for eighth. In fact, 41% of Golden's total points this season came from beyond the three-point arc (111-270). The senior was the athlete that the Bulldogs needed at the guard position and helped teach a great deal to the younger players on the team. Golden's high basketball-IQ helped him transition smoothly into a new system during his senior campaign.Quotable: "It was Tyshawn's first year in the program as he transferred from Dieruff and stepped right into point guard for us. Right when he came to the program, he developed a great bond with the underclassmen, which was great. He immediately gave us a good shooter and quickness as a ball handler. The quickness is what we needed at the position. Tyshawn brought leadership and was truly a coach on the floor. He was always able to get to the rim and developed great court awareness over the course of the season. He may have been an unknown commodity around the Colonial League at first, but didn't take long for teams to become well aware of him." - Northern Lehigh head coach Jeff MillerMark QuinnResume: Palmerton made some productive strides this season, led by senior forward Mark Quinn. Quinn was just one of three players in the TN coverage area to average a double-double this season. The 6-3 senior led Palmerton in scoring at 12.68 per contest, and averaged 11.5 rebounds a game. Quinn's offseason workouts helped him develop into one of the best players in the TN coverage area. Quinn displayed good ball handling skills and shooter's touch for a big man, as he shot 71% from the foul line which was good for eighth in the area. The Bomber big man saved his best for last, as he totaled a season-high 21 points during Palmerton's thrilling double-overtime win against Northern Lehigh, which was Quinn's last game a high school varsity basketball player. Quinn's consistency may have been his most impressive quality this season, as he hit double figures in 18 of 22 contests this season.Quotable: "Mark is a very unique person. He's an amazing kid both on and off of the court. He does exceptionally well in school who has a 3.5 GPA. He's a very strong competitor who puts in a ton of work during the offseason that included hitting the weight room that contributed to his success. Once he started to believe in his success, it helped push us to another level and contributed directly to our success. Without him, we might not have won a game. We greatly improved because of what he's done for Palmerton's basketball program. I relied heavily on him last year as my leader, as I was a new coach. Mark had a very underrated mid-range game and has developed a unique spin move that helped him out a lot. Mark is such a great kid, he's an outstanding person who deserves the recognition and the program is going to miss him a lot." - Palmerton head coach Leigh Keenan.Eric MarburyResume: Marbury transferred from Pius X over the summer and immediately made an immense impact on coach Dave Pacchioni's football team, and certainly on PV head coach Matt Gould's basketball team. The senior's first and only season with the Bears was a memorable one. The senior played in 21 games, scored 293 points for an average of 13.95 points per contest. Marbury reached double figures 19 times this season and scored at least 20 points on three separate occasions. Marbury proved to be one of the most difficult guards to defend during the Bears' first season in the EPC, and the team often depended on him and fellow guard Nyiem Nevarez to create their own shots. Marbury helped lead the Bears to eight wins in the tough EPC conference. Marbury drained 23 three-pointers, including four against Pocono Mountain East in January. Marbury made everyone better on the court with his ability to shoot, put the ball on the floor, and create open shots for the rest of the Bears.Quotable: "Last summer I heard he was coming to play in the district. He's played in huge games at Pius over his career, and having his leadership here was fantastic. He was a gamer who was difficult to defense as a guard with his extreme athleticism. Having him definitely solidified our rotation and he was a big part of our success. Having Marbury's basketball knowledge and athleticism in the beginning of the season was big, playing in the new league; he could put the team on his back at times. Marbury is very unselfish; he can dribble-drive, attack and get everyone on the court involved. It was very fun to coach offensively this season; it's disappointing that he's a senior and he will definitely be missed." - Pleasant Valley head coach Matt Gould.GIRLSJade FarquharResume: Farquhar has earned many accomplishments and accolades during her time in a Palmerton uniform. The two-time Times News Player of the Year was the key component of Palmerton's Times News leading 20-win basketball team this year. The 1,000-point scoring senior finished the year with 453 points, and an average of 18.12 per game. Farquhar scored in a variety of styles for coach Strohl's squad this year. She sunk 26 three-pointers (ninth in TN area) and converted 97 of 120 foul shots. Farquhar's 80% from the line was tops in the area for both boys and girls. The Palmerton senior efficiently accounted for 34% of her team's scoring this season.Farquhar was held to single-digit scoring just once this year, and strung together three consecutive 20-point games to end her career in the postseason.Quotable: "Jade is such a great team player and a true leader. She's worked so hard on improving her game over the two year I've had her. She's played a ton of games over the summer in AAU ball and has put in the time and work. She did what she had to do that put our team in position to win. She plays inside, outside, handles the ball, and usually defends the oppositions' best player. Her basketball knowledge is through the roof." - Palmerton head coach Rodney Strohl.Madison MummeyResume: Mummey played everywhere for the Lady Bombers this season. In addition to her tenacious defensive presence, she averaged 11.48 points per game which was good for fourth in the TN coverage area. The senior leader sunk 24 three-pointers, which was twelfth in the area and was a much needed spark to Palmerton's area leading 53.04 points per game mark. Mummey showed up big time during the team's three-straight holiday tournament games during the midst of the season, when she scored 21, 21, and 19 points consecutively as Palmerton was champion of the Lady Indian Classic. The Bomber senior hit double figures in a 17 games this season, including 10 of the first 11 games to kick off the year.Quotable: "She can handle the ball, play outside and underneath. She's a much-improved shooter and has done an outstanding job for us. She became a real three-point threat for us. Mummey had to handle the ball and did a remarkable job doing that. She made all of the match ups tough for the other team. She was big defensively and blocked quite a few shots for us. Madison has worked hard to get to this great level. These girls know each other like the back of their hands and it shows on the court. Like Jade, she has an outstanding basketball IQ." - Palmerton head coach Rodney Strohl.Sabrina MertzResume: Sabrina Mertz is a multi-sport athlete at Northwestern who excelled on the basketball court. Mertz concluded her senior season with an average of 11.22 points per game, ranking sixth in the TN area right behind her teammate Sarah Segan. Mertz finished second in school history and in the TN area in three-pointers made dropping 40 triples this season. In fact, Mertz's 40 three-pointers were more than three entire TN area schools. The Lady Tiger senior scored a season-high 20 points at William Allen during her stellar final campaign. Mertz got to the line whenever she wanted to as well, converting 69 of her 111 foul shots (62%), which ranked ninth in the area. Mertz's leadership, hustle, ability to make crucial plays were a huge factor of Northwestern's impressive seven game winning streak toward the end of the season.Quotable: "Having Sabrina was exactly like having a second coach on the floor. Sometimes she would yell out a play before it came out of my mouth. She thought just as I did during a game. She showed great leadership and spoke up for her teammates. Over her time, especially this year, she's made a ton of clutch shots for us. She represented the school first class and made everyone here very proud. She's an even better person off of the court. She's meant a lot to the program and she will be missed a great deal. She was a great leader." - Northwestern head coach Chris DeutschSarah SeganResume: The definition of versatile, Sarah Segan filled up the stat sheet every night she steped on the court for Northwestern this season. Segan will be playing soccer at the collegiate level, but her skills on the basketball court were phenomenal as well. The 5-9 senior was a nightmare for oppositions to defend off of the pick and roll, as Segan averaged a team-leading 11.44 points per game (fifth, TN area). The point guard not only led her team in scoring, but also played every position on the court from time to time, and led the Lady Tigers in rebounding. Segan's forte was driving to the basket to score and create shots for her teammates. The senior's aggression led to 125 free throw attempts, which was fourth best in the area. Segan scored just about a fourth of her total points from the foul line. Segan's leadership is referred to as second to none, as she always seemed to answer the call for her teammates and coaches in big moments over her stellar athletic career at Northwestern.Quotable: "Sarah has a great personality. She was the team's "energizer bunny" she keeps going, and going, and is extremely athletic. She refuses to lose and her athleticism was a key part of this team. She was a huge part of our press defense, and was definitely our best defender. Before the season even started, she told me she wanted to guard the opposition's best players in the Colonial League. She was a lock down defender and could do anything on the court defensively. Offensively, she was one of our double-digit scorers and her versatility was second to none. Sarah comes from a great family. She was always willing to take reasonability for her teammates and also showed toughness playing through injuries this season. Sarah represented the school first class during her four years here." - Northwestern head coach Chris DeutschAbbey WhildinResume: Whildin did a little bit of everything for the Fillies during her senior season. Whildin joined the 1,000-point club this season finishing the year with 311 points. Whildin averaged 12.96 points per contest that ranked her third in the TN area. The senior hit double figures in 16 of the Fillies' 24 games and scored a season-high 23 against Williams Valley in a critical late season match up. Whildin converted 78 free throws out of 127, which ranked second in the TN area. The senior stud ranked second on the Fillies roster, with 27 three-pointers made. Marian was faced with many inexperienced players stepping into increased minutes, and Whildin's leadership and durability was key for coach Brutto's team in every way imaginable. Whildin appeared in all 24 games for Marian during her final season and she was capable of playing every position on the court.Quotable: "Abbey was a big part of our success the past two seasons. She was a versatile offensive threat who could score from the three-point line and also was capable of taking the ball to the basket. She was a pleasure to coach because of her great attitude and a desire to get better. Abbey is a gym rat kind of player that all coaches love in their program. Scoring a 1000 points is a testament to her skill level and her work ethic." - Marian head coach Paul BruttoBrenna KarnishResume: Karnish is one of the youngest players to make the TN all-star team, but showed last season that she's capable of playing beyond her years. Coming into the 2014-15 season, the sophomore might not have expected to get as much paying time. However a plethora of unfortunate injuries to a few Fillies starters left the door open for Karnish to shine and she did. The sophomore averaged 9.17 points per game that ranked tenth in the TN area. She appeared in all 24 games. She was a physical presence in the paint that got to the rack, totaling 94 free throw attempts. Karnish was among the Schuylkill League leaders in rebounding and also reached double figure points in nine games. She was named the top defensive player in Division III of the Schuylkill League. Karnish, like Whildin, stepped up in crunch time and scored a season-high 20 points in the pivotal match up against Williams Valley in early February. Karnish more than 'got her feet wet' this season and the future is bright for the soon to be Marian junior. The potential is there for Karnish to be among the Schuylkill League leaders in multiple statistical categories over the next two seasons.Quotable: "Brenna had a very good sophomore season. She not only was a solid contributor on the offensive end, but also almost always drew the assignment of guarding the other team's best offensive player. Brenna has all the tools to become one of the better players in the area. She has a great work ethic and desire to improve." - Marian head coach Paul BruttoKayley KovacResume: Kovac has put together one of the more impressive freshman seasons in Schuylkill League history. She led the young Lady Olympians to 10 wins. The first-year varsity player led the TN area with a 24.59 scoring average per game. Kovac is already well on her way to the 1,000-point club, totaling 541 after her freshman campaign. She reached 30-point plateau in eight games this season with a career-high of 34 points on three separate instances. Kovac accounted for a remarkable 49% of Jim Thorpe's total offense. The sophomore did almost all of her damage around the rim, as she hit just a trio of three-pointers this year. Not only is she dangerous under the rim, but can create her own offense in transition and is extremely difficult to defend in the open floor. Kovac got the foul line an incredible 287 times, which is more than four TN area teams.Quotable: "She was a great scorer this season for us. What makes her such a great player is that she can score a multitude of ways. Right when you think you doing a good job on her, she'll have 15 points at half. It's quite an accomplishment to put up the offensive numbers that she did. Kayley never saw a straight defense whether it was box-and-one or a triangle defense every single game. She's a freshman in high school that is a gym rat. She's savvy on the court and she's way ahead of her years. She's good offensively and hopefully we can improve other factors of her game going forward. I've coached a lot of great players but she is unique and such a great talent." - Jim Thorpe head coach Rob Kovac