A fun regular season has turned into a classic postseason.
The story of Sunday’s CHSAA Class AA intersectional quarterfinals was Mount St. Michael shocking two-time defending champion Christ the King, controlling the game from start to finish. Undersized point guard Malik Gill poured in 30 points for the Mountaineers and kept Royals superstar Omar Calhoun in check.
Joining Mount in the semis will be St. Raymond, Cardinal Hayes and Holy Cross. If the pattern continues, expect a pair of wild contests Wednesday at St. John’s.
Check out the rankings below:
1. Holy Cross (23-4) (Last week: 1)
The Knights were down 11 points at halftime against Archbishop Molloy in the CHSAA Class AA intersectional quarterfinals Sunday. Then Holy Cross turned it on in the second half and ended up beating Molloy by 11. Marquise Moore was fantastic again, dropping in 23 points, grabbing nine rebounds and dishing out six assists in the victory.
Next: No. 4 Mount St. Michael, CHSAA Class AA intersectional semifinals (March 7, 7:45 p.m. @ St. John’s University)
2. St. Raymond (19-9) (2)
Daniel Dingle dropped in 27 points in the CHSAA Class AA intersectional quarterfinals Sunday against All Hallows. St. Ray’s took advantage of the much smaller Gaels, feeding the 6-foot-7 Dingle in the post and watching him go to work. The Ravens meet Bronx rival Cardinal Hayes in a grudge match Wednesday in the semifinals.
Next: No. 3 Cardinal Hayes, CHSAA Class AA intersectional semifinals (March 7, 6 p.m. @ St. John’s University)
3. Cardinal Hayes (24-4) (4)
No team looked more impressive in the CHSAA Class AA intersectional quarterfinals than Hayes did against Bishop Loughlin. Amadou Sidibe and Jalen Jenkins were relentless on the boards and in the paint and the Cardinals rolled from beginning to end. It won’t be that easy Wednesday when rival St. Raymond is across the court in the semis in the teams’ fourth meeting of the year.
Next: No. 2 St. Raymond, CHSAA Class AA intersectional semifinals (March 7, 6 p.m. @ St. John’s University)
4. Mount St. Michael (21-7) (5)
It’s been a storybook season for Mount St. Michael and it will continue into the CHSAA Class AA intersectional semifinals on Wednesday. The Mountaineers, one year removed from winning the ‘A’ title, stunned Christ the King in the quarterfinals Sunday as Malik Gill poured in 30 points and stymied Omar Calhoun. Tom Fraher is a frontrunner for Coach of the Year.
Next: No. 1 Holy Cross, CHSAA Class AA intersectional semifinals (March 7, 7:45 p.m. @ St. John’s University)
5. Christ the King (19-8) (3)
This wasn’t the end that Omar Calhoun and Christ the King had in mind. In his three years in Middle Village, Calhoun has won two CHSAA Class AA intersectional titles and a New York State Federation championship. Yet Sunday, CK was stunned in the quarterfinals by upstart Mount St. Michael.
Next: Season complete
6. Bishop Loughlin (13-14) (6)
Khadeen Carrington, Michael Williams and Elisha Boone still have two more years left of high schools, so a loss to Cardinal Hayes in the CHSAA Class AA intersectional quarterfinals shouldn’t be that devastating. However, Loughlin’s plan was to win immediately. It will have to settle for being one of the league’s favorites the next two years.
Next: Season complete
7. Archbishop Molloy (16-12) (7)
The Stanners looked incredible in the first half against Holy Cross in the CHSAA Class AA intersectional quarterfinals. They took an 11-point lead into the break with C.J. Davis, Marko Kozul and Gabe Kilpatrick in leading roles. It all fell apart in the final 16 minutes, though – the good news is that all three of those players will be back next year for Molloy.
Next: Season complete
8. All Hallows (10-15) (NR)
Davon Robinson led All Hallows to a CHSAA Class AA intersectional second-round win over Xaverian on Thursday night. The Gaels’ season came to a close Sunday, though, in a quarterfinal loss to St. Raymond. It was still an unexpectedly fine campaign for Robinson, Ethan Hamlet, John Brens, Raz Council and company.
Next: Season complete
9. Iona Prep (23-3) (9)
Brandon Williams, who suffered through two separate ankle injuries this season, had the best game of his career, scoring 18 points to lead Iona to its second CHSAA Class A championship in four years. The Gaels meet Long Island champ St. John the Baptist for the right to go upstate Saturday. Vic Quirolo’s balanced squad, which has size and depth, is the favorite.
Next: St. John the Baptist (L.I.), CHSAA Class A state final (March 10, 3:45 p.m. @ Fordham University)
10. Xaverian (17-10) (7)
It was a disappointing and stunning end to the season and the fine careers of Brian Bernardi and Dillon Burns. Xaverian fell to All Hallows in the CHSAA Class AA intersectional second round Thursday. Those two are sure to have bright futures, Bernardi at Southern Methodist and Burns running the point at Division II C.W. Post.
Next: Season complete
New: All Hallows (10-15)
Dropped out: St. Peter’s (17-9)
On the bubble: St. Peter’s (17-9), Archbishop Stepinac (10-16), St. Francis Prep (9-18), Nazareth (20-6) and St. Edmund Prep (21-7)
