South Shore is the clear No. 1, but McKee/Staten Island Tech has made a strong case for a high seed.
On Friday night at the Rose Classic Super Jam, Kaitlyn Astel had 27 points in a 66-53 drubbing of Lincoln. The Seagulls are 14-1 and have proven they can compete with the top teams in the PSAL. If MSIT does win PSAL Staten Island A and enter the ‘AA’ playoffs, it will be a problem for any team in the draw.
For all your rankings needs, check below:
1. South Shore (13-1) (Last week: 1)
Fannisha Price had 13 points and the go-ahead jumper with four seconds left in South Shore’s 46-45 win over St. Anthony’s (L.I.) at the Rose Classic Super Jam on Sunday. It was arguably the Vikings’ biggest win of the season and Price showed heart by coming back from a shoulder injury early in the fourth. A big game with John F. Kennedy comes up Friday.
Next: Boys & Girls (Jan. 18, 5 p.m.)
2. Murry Bergtraum (9-4) (2)
Shequana Harris had 22 points and Ashanae McLaughlin had 16 points in an impressive, 63-42 win over Truman. Bergtraum is playing its best basketball of the season right now and is very much in the mix for a 14th straight PSAL city title. Friday’s game against John F. Kennedy will go a long way toward deciding playoff seeding.
Next: No. 5 John F. Kennedy (Jan. 18, 5 p.m.)
3. MSIT (14-1) (3)
Kaitlyn Astel should get vertigo more often. The uncommitted senior had 27 points in a 66-53 win over Lincoln at the Rose Classic Super Jam on Friday night. The impressive victory proved that McKee/Staten Island Tech is more than capable of playing with the better PSAL Class AA teams even though Lincoln was without Chestnut Hill-bound wing Erica Juarbe (foot).
Next: @ New Dorp (Jan. 17, 6 p.m.)
4. Truman (13-6) (4)
Lynda Fields had 12 points and Queen Holquin had 10 points in a 57-34 win over New Mission (Mass.). It was a good bounce-back win after a disappointing rout at the hands of Murry Bergtraum on Wednesday. Truman was reeling a bit after losing star sophomore Joella Gibson, who decided to leave the team for academic reasons.
Next: @ Manhattan Center (Jan. 18, 5 p.m.)
5. John F. Kennedy (12-5) (5)
Joya McFarland had 19 points, including three 3-pointers, in a 54-50 overtime win over St. John the Baptist on Saturday. That was a good win going into the biggest week of the season. On Wednesday, Kennedy heads to Murry Bergtraum and the Knights host South Shore on Friday – two games that will mean everything when it comes to seeding.
Next: @ No. 2 Murry Bergtraum (Jan. 18, 5 p.m.)
6. Francis Lewis (6-7) (6)
Things have been very up and down for Francis Lewis. The Patriots earned a solid league win a week ago against Lincoln, but this week fell to depleted Truman on Friday in a very winnable 37-34 loss. Lewis is still capable of beating most teams in the league, but after going to the semifinals last year this has been somewhat of a disappointing season.
Next: Grand Street Campus (Jan. 17, 5 p.m.)
7. Curtis (11-5) (7)
Shannon McGill had 16 points and Kristen Olsen had 14 points in a 75-30 pasting of New Dorp on Wednesday. As expected, Curtis has cruised in league play after losing to McKee/Staten Island Tech and it has taken care of business against CHSAA Staten Island opponents. The Warriors, though, are still searching for their first signature win.
Next: Susan Wagner (Jan. 17, 6 p.m.)
8. Lincoln (7-7) (8)
It’s impossible to judge Lincoln without Chestnut Hill-bound star Erica Juarbe, who has missed the last two weeks with a broken bone in her foot. Juarbe should return by next week, according to coach Titi Hodges, and hopefully be fully healthy for the postseason. In the meantime, Janera Roper has stepped up in her absence.
Next: @ Midwood (Jan. 18, 5 p.m.)
9. Banneker (6-4) (9)
The Warriors are talented enough to have beaten Murry Bergtraum to open the season, but since then haven’t done anything spectacular. Africa Williams is one of the city’s best players, Jenipher Rodriguez is a steady force at the point and Diara Adger is extremely athletic. Things just haven’t clicked for Banneker yet.
Next: Baldwin (L.I.), Rose Classic Super Jam (Jan. 16, 6 p.m. @ Bishop Ford)
10. Tottenville (9-4) (10)
Cheryl Lopez has had a monster year, averaging 18 points per game, and Tottenville was in essentially the same spot as it was last year – a contender in PSAL Staten Island A and a potential problem in the PSAL Class AA playoffs. Speedy Barone has been a steadying force
Next: @ CSI/McCown (Jan. 17, 5 p.m.)
New: None
Dropped out: None
On the bubble: Wings Academy (12-2), Lab Museum United (11-1), Midwood (5-9) and Medgar Evers (5-5)