Sachem may not have won a girls basketball championship during the year, but for many other reasons it was a banner season. Sachem East’s Danielle Cosgrove was named Suffolk County Player of the Year by Newsday and the Suffolk County Girls Basketball Coaches Association, and Sachem North’s James Mellor was named Suffolk County Coach of the Year, also by the coaches’ association.

Cosgrove, who was named League I Player of the Year, is the third player from Sachem East to win the honor, after Katie Doherty (13-14) and Meagan Doherty (11-12). The Notre Dame-bound Cosgrove finished her career with 1,573 points, the second most in Sachem East history, and 1,037 career rebounds, an overall Sachem record.

Mellor, a Sachem alumnus, is the first Sachem coach since 1987 to win the honor. Risa Zander, an inductee of the Sachem Athletic Hall of Fame and Suffolk Sports Hall of Fame, won it that season.

“It was definitely unexpected to have my name called when they gave this award, but very exciting as well,” Mellor said. “When you are sitting in a room with over 50 coaches, many of whom you have become good friends with over the years and respect, it is an honor to be recognized as a top coach. Much of the credit goes to the girls on the team for performing at high levels all year long.”

Sachem North was 14-8 this season and 8-6 in League I, a bounceback season after not qualifying for the playoffs for a few years. The Flaming Arrows, ranked No. 10, upset No. 7 West Babylon in the first round of the Suffolk County Class AA playoffs and lost to county finalist Hills East in the second round.

In other honors, Sachem East’s Kaitlyn Wolff was named All-League for the first time in her four-year varsity career. Alyssa Signor earned All-Academic honors and freshman Mackenzie Szlosek earned League I Co-Rookie of the Year. From Sachem North, Annie Keenan was named All-County, All-League and All-Academic, while Lisa Galante and Kennadie Hallum were also All-League.