Bergen Catholic High School (NJ)
From Hoopedia
Bergen Catholic High School is an all-male Roman Catholic high school in Oradell, Bergen County, New Jersey, United States, serving students in ninth through twelfth grade. The school has been accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Secondary Schools since 1989.
Athletics
Bergen Catholic is member of the newly formed Big North Conference of the NJSIAA. Bergen Catholic has a long-standing rivalry with fellow Catholic schools Don Bosco Preparatory High School in Ramsey, New Jersey and St. Joseph Regional High School in Montvale, New Jersey. Bergen Catholic offers 15 sports at the varsity level:
- Fall Sports: Football, Soccer, Cross Country
- Winter Sports: Wrestling, Basketball, Swimming, Indoor Track, Bowling, ice hockey
- Spring Sports: Baseball, Lacrosse, Golf, Tennis, Outdoor Track, Volleyball
Bergen Catholic's basketball program is one of the top programs in North Jersey. The basketball program credits the majority of its success to New Jersey legendary coach, Chris Donfield. Donfield led the Crusaders to great success for more than 30 years, from 1966-2000. Bergen Catholic won their first Bergen County Jamboree in 1977, and has a total of 8 county championships with the most recent one in 2003. Bergen has dominated the Bergen County Jamboree throughout its history with the most total games played, total wins, and championship appearances. They also rank second in appearances and championships. Bergen has won 9 North Parochial "A" state sectional championships and 3 Parochial "A" state championships. Their most recent success came in the 2001-02 and 2002-03. The 2001 team captured the school's first state championship in more than 10 years with a 71-69 win over St. Augustine Prep. The team would make it to the semi-finals of the Tournament of Champions where they eventually fell to national powerhouse, St. Anthony. Bergen would continue their success the next season in becoming one of the top teams in New Jersey and the country. The 2002-03 team consisted of five Division I players led by Sean Banks, the school's leading scorer. They finished with a 25-4 record and a #3 ranking in New Jersey. They captured the school's most recent Bergen County Jamboree along with another sectional championship. Their dream of the school's first ever Tournament of Champions championship ended when they lost to Camden Catholic 45-44 in the Parochial "A" state championship game.
Notable Alumni
- Sean Banks, current player for the NBA D-League's Idaho Stampede and former player for the NBA's New Orleans Hornets.
