2018-19 New York City boys basketball (through Feb. 16)
The weekly look at the New York City metro area's PSAL, CHSAA and AIS schools for the New York State Sportswriters Association is compiled by Mike Libert:
Class AA
1) South Shore (23-4)- It wasn't looking good for the Vikings in the Brooklyn
Borough Championship Game on Saturday afternoon as they were trailing Thomas
Jefferson by 8 with under two minutes to go. Never count out a team led by
Kadary Richmond '19 though as the senior carried his team late in hitting a
big pair of buckets to send the game into OT, a session that South Shore dom-
inated en route to the 72-60 OT win, and the title. It's a week off next for
South Shore who will certainly be named the #1 seed on Sunday in the upcoming
PSAL City Playoffs.
2) Cardinal Hayes (19-5)- Heading out to New Jersey for their one game this
past week saw Cardinal Hayes get 26 points from Joe Toussaint '19, but it
wasn't enough in a 67-60 loss to one of the Garden State's best in St. Bene-
dict's. The Cardinals will now head into the CHSAA Archdiocese of New York
Tournament of Sunday where they will meet up with St. Peter's in the quarter-
finals, with games on Tuesday and Saturday to follow if they advance all the
way to the title game.
3) Thomas Jefferson (20-7)- As close as close can be, everything was looking
great for the Orange Wave as they seemed to be in firm control of South Shore
on Saturday in the PSAL Brooklyn Borough title game, but even with Kareem
Welch '19 scoring a game high 27 points it was Jefferson losing the momentum
late in blowing an 8 point lead with under two minutes to go, ultimately fall-
ing in OT, 72-60. It was a disappointing loss for the Orange Wave who will now
have this week off before entering the PSAL City Playoffs come a weeks time.
4) St. Raymond (19-5)- Riding the wave of a major winning streak, things came
to a crashing halt for the Ravens this past Sunday when in their final game of
the regular season they went to Msgr. Scanlan and fell 85-80 in a high tempo
matchup that had Gary Grant '20 lead all scorers with 27 points in the St.
Ray's defeat. Even with the loss St. Raymond was able to claim the #1 seed in
the CHSAA Archdiocese of New York Tournament that begins on Sunday giving them
a bye to Tuesday's semifinals where they will get the winner of Sunday's game
between Scanlan and Stepinac.
5) Thurgood Marshall Academy (22-4)- Finishing off things in style, TMA were
able to get things going in the second half on Saturday as behind a balanced
offensive attack paced by the 13 points of Arthur Dukes '19 it was the Panthers
blowing past Frederick Douglass Academy 66-37 to take the PSAL Manhattan
Borough Championship. That win will give Thurgood Marshall even more momentum
heading into the upcoming PSAL City Playoffs where the Panthers will without
question be a team no one wants to face.
6) Bishop Loughlin (20-3)- Coming off a strong 95-84 win on Sunday over Xaver-
ian in a big rivalry game, it was just lowly Holy Cross standing in the Lions
way before the end of the regular season. Even with a 1-14 league record com-
ing in though the Knights proved to be a formidable foe, so formidable that a
last second putback actually saw Holy Cross defeat Loughlin in shocking fashion
75-74. It was not the way that Bishop Loughlin wanted to end the regular season
but they are still the #1 seed in the CHSAA Brooklyn/Queens Diocese Tournament,
getting a bye into the semifinals where they will face either St. Francis Prep
or Holy Cross on Wednesday night.
7) Mount St. Michael (15-9)- We have seen the bad from the Mountaineers this
season and then we have seen the good. This week was a lot of good for the
Mount as Mike Green '19 led the way with 19 points in a 64-57 road victory this
past Thursday over Christ the King. That was followed up 24 hours later with a
62-52 win over Iona Prep on the Mountaineers senior night, setting the Mount up
with the #3 seed in the CHSAA Archdiocese of New York Tournament where they
will face off on Sunday with Iona Prep in the quarterfinals for the second time
in just 48 hours.
8) Christ the King (15-9)- After a strong non-league 55-44 win at the Metro
Classic last Sunday over Rumsen-Fair Haven of New Jersey in a game that saw Nate
Curry '19 go off for 13 points and 12 rebounds, it was a disappointing effort on
Thursday as Valentines Day proved to be a bust for the Royals as they fell at
home to Mount St. Michael 64-57, even though Ryan Myers '20 had 21 points. Rally-
ing back on Saturday to defeat Campus Magnet to close the regular season, Christ
the King will be the #2 seed in the CHSAA Brooklyn/Queens Diocese Playoffs and
will advance to Wednesday's semifinals to face the winner of Monday's game be-
tween Xaverian and Molloy.
9) Xaverian (18-6)- Getting 21 points from Nick Folk '21 wasn't enough last
Sunday afternoon as the Clippers fell to their rivals from Bishop Loughlin
95-84 in one of the highest paced offensive performances you will find. They
would then go on to close out the season with an 83-73 win on the road over
Archbishop Molloy to secure the #3 seed in the upcoming CHSAA Brooklyn/Queens
Diocese Playoffs which get underway on Monday with Xaverian taking on Molloy
for the second time in just a few days, this time with a semifinal berth on
the line.
10) Msgr. Scanlan (11-13)- We have talked a lot about the Crusaders this sea-
son and their helter skelter like play. They have losses that make you scratch
your head, but when they get wins like they had last Sunday by defeating our
previous #1 St. Raymond team 85-80 you truly realize how good this Scanlan team
is and can be. Matt Mayers '19 and Koby Brea '20 each had 23 points to lead the
Crusaders to the win that locked up the #4 seed in the CHSAA Archdiocese of New
York Playoffs, a tournament that gets underway on Sunday with Msgr. Scanlan fac-
ing off in the quarterfinals with a very improved Archbishop Stepinac.
11) Brooklyn Collegiate (17-9)- Opening the week up with a quarterfinal win in
the PSAL Brooklyn Borough Playoffs over Class A power Brooklyn Law and Tech 75-
61, it was a big matchup on Thursday with South Shore on the road with a berth
in Saturday's title game on the line. The Lions just didn't have the offensive
firepower to keep pace with the Vikings though as even with Majesty Johnson '20
shining from his floor general spot it wasn't enough in a 56-43 loss. Next up
will be the PSAL City Playoffs starting up on a date and time still to be
announced.
12) St. Peter's (18-6)- As one of the better teams in New York City who once
again this season doesn't get the credit they deserve, the Eagles were able
to defeat Msgr. Farrell in the semifinals, and then get 28 points from Chris
Clancy '19 in the SIHSL Championship Game on Friday night to defeat their ri-
vals from Curtis 61-58 to claim the prestigious championship. While St.
Peter's could enjoy that win for a day the CHSAA Archdiocese of New York
Tournament now awaits with the Eagles drawing a tough Cardinal Hayes team in
the quarterfinals to open things up on Sunday afternoon.
13) Curtis (20-7)- Playing their best basketball of the season the Warriors
were easily able to take down McKee/Staten Island Tech in the SIHSL Semi-
finals on Tuesday 79-66 in a game that saw big man Darnell Askew '19 go off
for 30 points in a victorious effort. The championship game against St.
Peter's on Friday was a chance at redemption after losing to the Eagles to
start off the season, but it was more heartbreak as Curtis fell 61-58. Now
it's onto the PSAL City Playoffs where the Warriors will be a very high seed,
with the tournament getting underway come next week at this time.
14) John Bowne (18-6)- Expectations weren't all that high coming into the
PSAL Queens Borough Playoffs with the Wildcats earning the #3 seed, but
after blowout wins over Hillcrest and Francis Lewis it was a berth in the
title game against perennial power Cardozo, and with Aguibou Balde '21 scor-
ing 21 points and grabbing 8 rebounds it was John Bowne pulling off the sur-
prising 59-57 victory to help them enter into the Top 15 for the first time
this season as a solid seed in the upcoming PSAL City Playoffs is surely
soon on there way.
15) JFK (16-11)- As the #7 seed entering the PSAL Bronx Borough Playoffs there
really were no expectations at all for the Knights who haven't been a team on
the radar of many for most of this season. All it takes though is one good
week to really get things going as JFK were able to defeat Wings Academy and
Eagle Academy in a 4 days stretch to finish off a great run, culminating in a
borough title by defeating Eagle on Friday night 44-42. It was a fantastic win
for legendary head coach Johnny Mathis who is in his 31st season in charge,
and hopefully just the start of a very special run for him and his team the
rest of the way.
Class A
1) All Hallows (18-6)- Without playing a game this past week it's the Gaels
moving up to the #1 spot in the Top Ten rankings as they have been incredibly
consistent all season long and look primed for a major run in the CHSAA Class
A Playoffs as led by Nick Johnson '19 it will be All Hallows moving right
into Saturday's quarterfinals where they will take on the winner of an open-
ing round matchup on Tuesday between LaSalle and Kennedy Catholic.
2) Nazareth (18-6)- Getting 19 points from star sophomore guard T.J. Morris
'21 it was the Kingsmen who made quick work of Msgr. McClancy on senior night
91-63 to claim the #1 seed of the CHSAA Class A South Division. As the top
seed Nazareth will get an opening round bye as they will be advancing right
into the quarterfinals which will take place this coming Saturday where the
Kingsmen will be taking on either St. Joseph by the Sea or St. Edmund Prep in
a strong Q/F matchup.
3) Brooklyn Law and Tech (21-4)- Still the top PSAL team in the Top Ten this
week, the Jets were hoping to make some noise against the very best of the
Brooklyn AA in the PSAL Brooklyn Borough Playoffs, but a quarterfinal matchup
with Brooklyn Collegiate would do them in as even with Davonta Cook '19 put-
ting in another strong outing against top flight competition it wasn't enough
as Law and Tech fell 75-61 after leading by 2 at the half. Next up will be the
PSAL City Playoffs where the Jets will likely be the #1 overall seed when they
are announced on Sunday afternoon.
4) Fordham Prep (19-5)- Another team that had off over the past week, the Rams
have been strong from start to finish this season led by the sophomore brother
duo inside of Kyle Filipowski '21 and Matt Filipowski '21, each of whom have
tremendously versatile skill sets in helping Fordham Prep to a surprisingly
good run this year. It's a bye straight into the CHSAA Class A Quarterfinals
coming up for the Rams who will be taking the court again on Saturday against
an opponent still to be determined.
5) Msgr. Farrell (18-5)- It was a strong run in the SIHSL Playoffs for the
Lions who had a good run against the eventual champions in St. Peter's in the
semifinals with Farrell actually holding a lead at the half. Justin Zieris
'20 had a team high 15 points for the Lions in what was ultimately a 56-48
defeat for Farrell who will next take on Moore Catholic on Monday in a game
that will end the regular season and device where the Lions end up seeding
wise for the upcoming CHSAA Class A Playoffs.
6) Frederick Douglass Academy (19-6)- No question it was a magical run for
the Lions who lost their first three league games of the season and then
rolled off 13 straight to get themselves the #3 seed in the PSAL Manhattan
Borough Playoffs. Defeating a pair of AA teams in the quarterfinals and semi-
finals in Wadleigh and WHEELS, Frederick Douglass found themselves in Satur-
day's Manhattan title game. Down by just 5 at the half to #1 seed Thurgood
Marshall Academy, the second half saw the game get away from them in what
would be a 66-37 loss for FDA, but not before the deepest run in boroughs of
any Class A team this season.
7) Lehman (23-3)- After knocking off Fannie Lou Hamer, one of the best in
Class B, 43-40 in the quarterfinals of the PSAL Bronx Borough Playoffs it was
a home date against JFK in the semifinals on Thursday standing between the
Lions and a date in Friday evenings title game. While Lehman were considered
the favorites coming in they never were able to find their footing with so much
on the line, losing to the Knights 56-41. Even with the loss you can expect
Lehman to be among the top seeds come Sunday evening when the PSAL City Playoff
seeds are revealed.
8) New Dorp (16-5)- For three quarters it was a nip and tuck battle between the
Cougars and Msgr. Farrell in last Sunday afternoon's SIHSL Quarterfinals, but
getting outscored in the fourth quarter 13-3 meant that New Dorp were elimin-
ated after losing to the Lions 60-46. David Shkolniy '21 had 12 points to lead
the Cougars in the loss who now sit back and wait their seeding for next weeks
PSAL City Playoffs where a lot is expected of this season's New Dorp squad.
9) Beacon (22-2)- As good of a start as the Blue Demons could've hoped for,
Beacon were able to get 16 points from Michael O'Brien '20 in a 59-49 over
fellow Class A power Louis Brandeis in the quarterfinals of the PSAL Manhattan
Borough Playoffs. The win meant a date against the eventual champions in Thur-
good Marshall Academy with Beacon going on the road hoping for the upset, but
the Panthers had too much in what was a 60-47 loss for the Blue Demons who
should be among the highest seeds in the soon to begin PSAL City Playoffs.
10) Benjamin Banneker (20-4)- After falling behind by double digits early it
was the Warriors rallying in the second half to knock off Class B power Un-
common Charter in the opening round of the PSAL Brooklyn Borough Playoffs 46-
40 as Gabriel Holley '21 had 12 points and 11 assists from his lead guard spot
to pace the way. That win put Banneker into the quarterfinals against top Class
AA foe South Shore, a game that the Warriors tried to hang in but couldn't in
an 80-44 loss. It was a good test for Banneker though who will next take the
court in the PSAL City Playoffs which begin now in just over a week.
Class B
1) Uncommon Charter (20-2)- Only 3 Class B teams got the chance to play in the
PSAL Borough Championships, with Uncommon Charter being the first ever in
Class B to make it in Brooklyn. The Sabers put together a great effort too
against Benjamin Banneker on the road in the opening round leading by 8 at the
half before faltering late in what would be a 46-40 loss that had Caleb Brown
'20 leading Uncommon with 17 points and 11 rebounds. The PSAL City Playoffs
are next for the Sabers were a very high seed is certainly in the cards for a
very talented Uncommon Charter team.
2) South Bronx Prep (23-3)- The second of the three teams to get invited to
play in the Borough Playoffs, South Bronx Prep was the #4 seed in the Bronx
and got a home game against James Monroe in the quarterfinals, a team they had
already beaten on the road this season. Call it jitters or nerves but it wasn't
a great Cougars performance as they went behind early and never were able to
rally back in a 76-57 defeat. Still a great season so far, South Bronx Prep will
look to bounce back come PSAL City Playoff time which gets underway in just one
week.
3) Fannie Lou Hamer (21-4)- Finally it was the Panthers as the final Class B
team to make it to the Borough Playoffs as Fannie Lou was the #6 seed and got
a quarterfinal date on the road against Class A power Lehman. It was a slow it
down type of game that saw both teams trade the lead back and forth quite often
though Lehman did just enough to get by with a 43-40 win, even though Tyree
Morris '19 was the games high man with 17 points for the Panthers who will now
await their seed for next week's PSAL City Playoffs.
4) Achievement First (21-4)- Having finished off their season over a week ago
now, Achievement First have shown to be a top quality team with two of their
losses this season coming to our #1 Uncommon Charter team by a combined 8
points. They have great defensive prowess, and can step up and be a run and gun
offensive type team when the situation calls for it as well. Jalen Fenton '19
has been a big key so far this season, and that will only continue when they
enter the PSAL City Playoffs where a lot will be expected this season.
5) Summit Academy (18-2)- There were quite a few teams in the PSAL that had
off this past week as if you didn't make the PSAL Borough Playoffs you didn't
have a game. Summit just missed out on a bid out of Brooklyn though you can
expect them to really be a team to reckon with in the PSAL City Playoffs as
Jordan Council '20 has been among the top point guards in Class B this season,
and his play should be a big reason as to why the Eagles put together a strong
postseason run.
6) Bronx School for Law, Government, and Justice (18-2)- One of the tops in
the Bronx this season, Law, Government, and Justice's only two losses this
season have come to teams ranked above them in our Top Ten in Uncommon Charter
and Fannie Lou Hamer, with both games being tight and closely contested con-
tests that showed that the Jaguars can compete with anyone. Frantz Jean-Pierre
'19 has been a major force down low this season for the Jaguars and it will be
his play that dictates what kind of playoff run Bronx School for Law, Govern-
ment, and Justice are able to make.
7) Dalton (19-4)- With wins over both Hackley and Riverdale just that would've
made it a fantastic week for the Tigers, but what was most impressive was in
the midweek Dalton found a way to take control early on and never let go on
their grasp in what would be a 76-63 win over Poly Prep to give the Tigers the
Ivy League regular season title. Mark Engel '20 continued his fantastic play
with 24 points in the win for Dalton who were given the #3 seed in the NYSAIS
Class B playoffs where they will open up on Wednesday with Riverdale, with the
semifinals and championship after that if needed to be played on Friday and
Sunday.
8) Poly Prep (16-6)- Dropping a few spots off of their loss to Dalton in the
midweek in a game that saw freshman star Max Ragusa '22 pour in 18 points for
the Blue Devils in their 76-63 defeat, that was Poly Prep's only game of this
past week but even with the loss they still qualified for the NYSAIS Class B
playoffs which will get underway on Wednesday as the Blue Devils will go on
the road to take on The Dwight School in an intriguing quarterfinal duel be-
fore the semifinals and finals if necessary to be played over the upcoming
weekend.
9) Regis (18-5)- Even while losing to LaSalle Academy in the CHSAA Class A
Division this week, Regis still found a way to get an important win as they
knocked off the other Class A foe they faced in Cardinal Spellman on Saturday
in impressive fashion, 62-38 as Joe Manfredi '20 had another stellar outing in
going 8 for 12 from behind the three point line to finish with 33 points in
the victory. The Raiders were awarded the #1 seed in the CHSAA Class B Tourn-
ament, getting a bye into the semifinals which won't be until the 25th where
they will take on either St. John's Prep or Cristo Rey.
10) Epic H.S. South (20-4)- The winners now of 10 straight for the first time
we welcome Epic South into the Top Ten as they have mowed down PSAL Queens B
East II competition this season, and especially as of late have taken control
of the division with wins over quality opponents such as Pathways, Scholars
Academy, and Democracy Prep when they stepped out of league just over a week
ago in the PSAL Class B Showcase. Trevon Randolph '19 has been a major catalyst
this season, and he looks primed to help Epic to a strong PSAL City Playoff
run.
