In a week where plenty was decided, not a whole lot of changes were made.
Mary Louis flip-flopped with Bishop Ford in the Nos. 5 and 6 spots after the Hilltoppers’ emotional victory against the Falcons in the CHSAA Brooklyn/Queens Division I quarterfinals Sunday. TMLA won the season series with Ford, 2-1.
South Shore also makes its triumphant return to the rankings after falling out in January. The Vikings earned every bit of that No. 9 spot. They have been playing great basketball, with a close loss to St. Peter’s and a rout of McKee/Staten Island Tech on their résumé. A win Tuesday night against top-ranked Murry Bergtraum in the PSAL Class AA semifinals wouldn’t just be the biggest victory in school history, it would be one of the biggest in PSAL girls basketball playoff history.
Here’s how things shake out:
1. Murry Bergtraum (23-0) (Last week: 1)
Bergtraum has been forever known for its stalwart press defense. But this Lady Blazers team’s best attribute is offense. When Cori Coleman and Doris Ortega are hitting 3-pointers, you might as well go home. South Shore has the unenviable task of meeting the 11-time PSAL champs Tuesday night in the ‘AA’ semifinals.
Next: No. 8 South Shore, PSAL Class AA semifinals (March 2, 7 p.m. @ St. John’s University)
2. Christ the King (20-5) (2)
Bria Smith showed why she is one of the top recruits in the country. The CK junior’s last second steal and layup to end the third quarter sparked her team to a CHSAA Brooklyn/Queens semifinal win over Molloy Sunday. The Royals will need to be crisper to fend off an emotionally charged TMLA team in the final.
Next: No. 5 Mary Louis, CHSAA Brooklyn/Queens Division I final (March 2, 6 p.m. @ St. John’s Prep)
3. St. Peter’s (22-1) (3)
With the CHSAA Class AA Archdiocesan title game moved to Thursday it is likely forward Catherine Lewis will suit up for the Eagles for the first time in two weeks since breaking her left risk. She and her team will be looking to knock off St. Mike’s for the second straight season, after stunning them at Villa last year.
Next: No. 4 St. Michael Academy, CHSAA Class AA Archdiocesan final (March 4, 7 p.m. @ St. John Villa)
4. St. Michael Academy (16-5) (4)
St. who? If you forgot about the Eagles, you aren’t alone. St. Mike’s has been laying low. So low, coach Apache Paschall’s team hasn’t played a significant game in New York City in a month. We get to see what SMA has been up to Thursday in what is sure going to be a good one versus St. Peter’s.
Next: No. 3 St. Peter’s, CHSAA Class AA Archdiocesan final (March 4, 7 p.m. @ St. John Villa)
5. Mary Louis (18-6) (6)
The Hilltoppers gave coach Joe Lewinger something to smile about and a day he will never forget at a time when he neded it most. He recently found out his 4-year-old daughter Madison had a second relapse of cancer. Lewinger got an ovation from his team after a thrilling 63-62 win over Bishop Ford in the Brooklyn/Queens semifinals.
Next: No. 2 Christ the King, CHSAA Brooklyn/Queens Division I final (March. 2, 6 p.m. @ St. John Prep)
6. Bishop Ford (20-5) (5)
Coach Mike Toro’s team is going “back to the lab” after an emotional loss to TMLA. The first-year coach has little to be ashamed of. The Falcons, especially star Shayra Brown played their butts off, but came up short. A CHSAA state title is certainly still a possiblity for the Brooklyn school.
Next: Kellenberg, CHSAA Class AA state quarterfinals (March 12, 7 p.m. @ Archbishop Molloy)
7. Archbishop Molloy (11-15) (7)
Even CK guard Bria Smith noticed the difference in the new look Stanners, saying they are less reliant on one player on each possession, making them tough to guard. Molloy gave the Royals all they could handle for three quarters before falling by 13. It will be the favorite heading in the CHSAA Class A state playoffs.
Next: TBA, CHSAA Class A state first round (March 5, 7 p.m. @ St. Francis Prep)
8. John F. Kennedy (19-8) (9)
The blood rivalry continues Tuesday between Kennedy and Manhattan Center on a grand stage: the PSAL Class AA semifinals. The Knights are 3-0 against the Lady Rams in the playoffs in recent years, though. Will history repeat itself or will Center make its second Garden trip in three years?
Next: Manhattan Center, PSAL Class AA semifinals (March 2, 5 p.m. @ St. John’s University)
9. South Shore (18-8) (NR)
The Vikings are playing their best basketball of the season right now behind Jasmine Odom and Fannisha Price. If those two are going strong, South Shore can beat just about any team. But does any include 11-time PSAL champion Murry Bergtraum? We’ll find out Tuesday night in the Class AA semifinals.
Next: No. 1 Murry Bergtraum, PSAL Class AA semifinals (March 2, 7 p.m. @ St. John’s University)
10. Moore Catholic (19-5) (10)
Moore coach Rich Postiglione was confident Nicole Arnone would rebound after being benched for disiplinary reasons in a win over Cardinal Spellman. The junior didnt disappoint. She scored 16 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, one of her best performances this season in the Mavericks’ CHSAA Archdiocesan quarterfinal victory.
Next: St. Joseph Hill, Archdiocesan Class A semifinals (Feb. 29, 6 p.m. @ Moore Catholic)
New: South Shore (18-8)
Dropped out: Francis Lewis (19-5)
On the bubble: Manhattan Center (16-11), Francis Lewis (19-5), St. Francis Prep (11-11), Bishop Kearney (12-11), McKee/Staten Island Tech (24-3), Cardinal Spellman (19-4), Midwood (15-12) and Thomas Jefferson (13-8)