was the consummate playmaker in the opening half on Saturday in Bergtraum's game against Mott Haven out of league in the Msgr. Scanlan Invitational, and with his shot coming on late Davis would finish with 28 points in an 81-65 win for the Blazers over Mott Haven, yet another AA win this season for the Manhattan A power. It's just a one game week coming up here for Bergtraum as Tuesday they will play host to Hunter College High School in what should be another easy league matchup for a potent Blazers team.
3) Msgr. Farrell (14-3)- For the second time this season Farrell fell to their major Staten Island rivals in St. Peter's this past Friday as the Lions went on the road and fell 59-51 as Justin Zieris '20 again proved why he is one of NYC's more underrated talented as he had 24 points in the loss. 2 of the 3 losses this season for Farrell came to the Eagles, and with a big game on Monday with McKee/Staten Island Tech, and an easier one on Friday at Moore Catholic, it's two more chances for Zieris and the Lions to show why they are among the Empire State's elite.
4) Beacon (21-1)- As we near the end of the season it's been another magical ride for the Blue Demons who are on the cusp of being a top seed in the PSAL A Division playoffs once again as Sam Pohlman '21 has been one of the better shooters this season, and Theo Ghartey '20 gives Beacon a tough and long defender around the rim to really give them a difference dimension. Wednesday is when Beacon will take to the court again in their final home game of the regular season when the Blue Demons play host to West 50th Street Campus.
5) Xavier (12-3)- On Monday it was Xavier making the trip out to Staten Island to take on Msgr. Farrell in a game that the Knights lost 64-58 but it was a game that showed even on a long road trip and playing in hostile territory they could more than compete. Xavier led in the third quarter behind the play of Blair Thompson '21 who is continually showing himself to be one of the best in the CHSAA this season, but a rough fourth quarter saw Xavier fall on the road by 6. It will be a busy week ahead here for Xavier who host Msgr. McClancy and Nazareth on Wednesday and Friday, before hitting the road on Saturday for another Staten Island trip, this time at St. Joseph by the Sea.
6) Bedford Academy (18-3)- Going up against their big rivals from Brooklyn Law & Tech on Saturday afternoon meant a chance for the Panthers to make a statement and solidify themselves as the team to beat in the Brooklyn A Division. Statement made for Bedford as Ethan Edwards '20 went off for 28 points as they took a 12 point lead after one and never looked back en route to an impressive 77-43 victory over the Jets, a win that definitely puts the Panthers in a major position to damage come postseason time. Friday will next see Bedford take the court as they will host Grady before a Saturday matinee with Bushwick Campus finishes out the week.
7) St. Edmund Prep (12-4)- Getting two impressive wins this past week were the Eagles who squeaked by Fordham Prep on the road on Tuesday 60-59 in a game that saw Shemar Latty '20 scored 11 points in the fourth quarter to lead Edmund's back from a 6 point deficit entering the final stanza to the victory. The week closed out with a solid 60-47 home win over Msgr. McClancy that makes St. Edmund winners of 5 straight now as they enter this week that see them go on the road on Friday night, going into Manhattan to take on a tough LaSalle squad.
8) Graphics Campus (18-2)- There were no games because of regents exams this past week for the 49ers, but they will get back to work this week with two games. One coming in league play on Tuesday against Martin Luther King Jr. at home, and the other a road non-league date as Graphics Campus will go to Westchester County to face off with Blind Brook in a game that will show exactly what kind of team Joselito Rosario '22 and the rest of the 49ers are against out of area competition for the last time this season.
9) Transit Tech (17-3)- Another team that didn't hit the court last week because of exams, Jeremy Moranta '20 has been one of the more dynamic and dangerous offensive threats in the PSAL overall this season as he averages close to 35 points per game, scoring over 50 twice this season for an Express team that has one of the more fast paced tempos that you will see. A trip to John Jay will open this week up for Transit Tech, with the two game week closing up on Friday with a home date against Automotive that should allow the Express to keep the strong play going.
10) Far Rockaway (12-3)- A new team enters into the Top Ten for the first time this season as the Sea Horses make their charge into the rankings. The leaders in the Queens A East Division, Far Rockaway are coming of a 52-50 road win at Forest Hills as Alpha Sacko '20 had 15 points and 17 rebounds down low to be a major force and lead the way for the Sea Horses who are now winners of 10 in a row. This week will begin with a Tuesday non-league contest on the road at John Dewey before two league home games close it out on Wednesday and Friday against August Martin and Flushing respectively.
Class B
1) Uncommon Charter (17-2)- Tuesday saw the Sabers take the floor for the only time this past week when they hosted Spring Creek Campus, and while it proved to be far from easy Uncommon got 13 points from Ahzariah Douglas '20 as he helped push his Sabers team to a 57-54 victory. It was far from Uncommon's best performance of the year but they still managed to get the job done and remain perfect against PSAL competition on the season. Two fairly easy games on paper await this week as Uncommon will play host to School for Classics on Tuesday, and then have EBC/Bushwick Leaders coming to them to finish the week on Thursday.
2) Summit Academy (16-4)- It was a week off this past week for the Eagles but they are now in prime position to put their stamp down as one of the favorites entering PSAL playoff time. We aren't quite there yet but when you have players like Donte Howard '20 and Jeremiah Hewitt '20 leading the way you have potent offensive weapons who look primed for big things ahead for a talented Summit team. The final two league games of the season are this week for the Eagles as on Wednesday they will go to a tough Adams Street Academt team before playing host to Cobble Hill School on Friday to wrap up regular season league play.
3) Poly Prep (11-3)- In terms of Ivy League play for a while now it's looked as if it's Poly Prep and Riverdale at the top, which is why Saturday's matchup between the two was looked at as a good test to see which of the pair would be thought of as the best heading into playoff time. It ended up being all Blue Devils as Nasir Muhammed '23 had 18 points to lead a great Poly Prep effort in what ultimately was a dominating 68-47 win. Two home games are up next now for the Blue Devils with Collegiate coming to them on Wednesday before a matchup with Hackley on Saturday.
4) Academy of American Studies (14-1)- They haven't been a longtime power but the
Eagles have quickly become a team to reckon with in Class B as Amit Singh '20 continues to dominate as he had 21 points this past Thursday in a 50-32 victory over Pathways in a non-league contest that again showed that American Studies aren't just a strong and solid offensive team, but a very skilled defensive unit as well. Tuesday will see the Eagles next hit the floor when they take on Frank Sinatra School of the Arts before a road game with Newcomers on Thursday, though it won't be a long trip as American Studies and them share a home court.
5) Achievement First (14-4)- Winners of 6 in a row in league play and 12 of their last 13 overall, Achievement First has one of the better front court forces in the B Division in big 6'7" Emmanuel Smith '20 as he is not just a long defensive weapon around the rim, but someone who can stretch out and be a dangerous offensive force as well with a strong midrange attack. Having been off for the past week Achievement First will get back on the floor again for the first time in ten days on Tuesday when they host a talented Spring Creek Campus, and then on Thursday to wrap up the week it will be another home game, this time with All City Leadership.
6) Townsend Harris (18-0)- Because of the level of competition that Hawks have played in their Queens B West Division we have been reluctant to put Townsend Harris in the Top Ten but it's just becoming too much to deny as the Hawks are game after game taking it to opponents, also while holding a pair of wins over Class A opposition as well. Their last time out Townsend Harris breezed past Queens School of Inquiry 74-45 as Jahdon Jerome '21 had 32 points to lead all scorers in the victory. Looking to stay perfect on the year, the Hawks will go to East-West School on Wednesday before hosting second place RFK on Friday.
7) Riverdale (13-3)- With two of their three losses now coming to Poly Prep after Saturday's 68-47 loss at home to the Blue Devils the question now goes to what does Riverdale have to do to get over the top of their Ivy League rivals. Sam Klores '20 had 19 points in their setback on Saturday, and the Falcons will look to try and move past that loss quickly as on Wednesday Riverdale will play their only game of the week when they step out of league to play fellow NYSAIS does in Rye Country Day at home in a nice out of conference test before the postseason gets underway.
8) Bathgate Educational Complex (14-3)- We had the Bulldogs ranked for a good portion of the season a few weeks back, and after falling out for a couple weeks Bathgate now re-enters after winning 5 straight behind the play of guard Jeffrey Agyeman '20 who is averaging 19 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists a game this season, including pouring in 23 in Bathgate's last game, an 88-55 victory over Bronx Studio School. The week ahead will now see the Bulldogs play host to a tough Frederick Douglass Academy III team on Thursday in Bathgate's only game of the week.
9) Brooklyn College Academy (15-4)- Even with a strong effort from Deon McLaughlin '20 as the senior wing scored a game high 22 points it was not enough as Brooklyn College Academy fell in their non-league game this past Thursday against CHSAA A Division school Nazareth, 57-45. It was a strong performance for nearly three quarters for the Bobcats, but they couldn't close the deal late in losing to the Catholic League school. It's back to league play for BCA starting on Wednesday when they host Brooklyn Studio Secondary School, and then to finish out league play it will be a road game at Leon Goldstein on Friday.
10) South Bronx Prep (14-5)- Saturday provided the Cougars with a chance to really shoot themselves up the Top Ten with a game at the Gotham Hoops Classic against one of the best in Class B in New York State in Center Moriches from Long Island. Steven Turner '21 had a solid effort for South Bronx Prep but the defense never was able to contain all the Center Moriches weapons in what ended up as a 94-67 loss in Queens to the Long Island power. Hoping to recover and get back on track this week, South Bronx Prep will go to rivals South Bronx on Wednesday before stepping out of league to play Class A school Lehman on Friday, and Class AA school James Monroe on Saturday in what will be a pair of tough tests for sure.
