HAVERHILL — Haverhill’s Alejandro Delgado was one of a pair of Northern Essex Community College men’s basketball standouts who picked up All-Region 21 honors, selected by a vote of the league’s coaches.
Knights head coach Darren Stratton — also of Haverhill — was named Region 21 and East District Coach of the Year for a third consecutive season.
Delgado picked up All-Region 21 First Team honors while Javien Kirmil of Lowell was selected to the second team.
Former Haverhill High star Delgado, who appeared in all 33 games on the season with 27 starts, was the Knights’ leader in scoring and rebounds. He averaged 14.9 points a game and 8.7 rebounds per game. His rebounding was good for fifth in the region. He dropped a season and career-best 29 points in the regional championship game victory over Quincy and recorded 20 or more points on five separate occasions. On 14 occasions during the season he picked up double digit rebounds including a season-best 17 against Massasoit December 14.
Kirmil, a second-year guard started 31 games this season, averaging 11.7 points per games, scoring in double digits 16 times with a single game high of 28 on February 17 against Bunker Hill. Over his two seasons in the Knights uniform, he played in 64 games and finished with 604 points. He is expected to move on next season to continue his playing at academic career at American University in Spain.
Stratton, who picked up his 350th win while leading the Knights in the regional championship game, has guided the program to three consecutive national tournament appearances and became only the second program in Region 21 history to win three consecutive titles and first in 37 years.
For the season, NECC finished with a 29-4 overall record and placed 9th in the national tournament.