PSAL girls basketball beat writer Marc Raimondi takes a look at the Class B semifinals, which start 11 a.m. Sunday at Hunter College in Manhattan.
SCHEDULE
11 a.m. – No. 2 Bedford Academy vs. No. 12 Academy of American Studies
1 p.m. – No. 1 Leon Goldstein vs. No. 12 Brooklyn Collegiate
No. 2 Bedford Academy Panthers
Head coach: Kendra Nelson
Record: 18-0
Player to watch: Brianna Perlmutter
No. 14 Academy of American Studies Eagles
Head coach: Juan Faya
Record: 18-3
Player to watch: Eni Lici
Outlook: There’s just one player left on Academy of American Studies who played on the Eagles’ PSAL Class B championship team in 2008. Crystal James is their leader, best scorer and toughest rebounder. She’s also one of the best players in the entire ‘B’ league. A dominant performance from her could send Academy of American Studies to the final again. But the Eagles need the supporting cast – especially precocious freshman Eni Lici – to have big games also.
While American Studies is based around one main player, Bedford Academy is a team in every sense of the word. There are no stars and really no leading scorers. Shadaeya Green, Acire Polight, Jkai Johnson, Kai Jackman, Dakara Spence, Brianna Perlmutter and Eleasha Wiggins are all capable of breakout games. It’ll be up to Perlmutter, the explosive leaper, to keep James in check. If she does that, the Panthers will be in great shape.
No. 1 Leon Goldstein Dolphins
Head coach: Adrian Buchhalter
Record: 19-2
Player to watch: Brittany McDonough
No. 12 Brooklyn Collegiate Lions
Head coach: Juan Franco
Record: 12-2
Player to watch: Emonni Cropper
Outlook: On paper, this could be a battle of the most talented teams in Class B. It’s also a meeting of two of the best players: Goldstein’s Brittany McDonough and Brooklyn Collegiate’s Emonni Cropper.
McDonough, the excellent sophomore point guard, has the stronger supporting cast. Nora Elbassiony and Chrissy McKeever are both capable of going off at any time. The Dolphins also have the most depth in the league with girls like Brianna Rogers, Danielle Natoli, Danielle Bonsignore, Jessica Greenwood, Nicole McKeever and Stephanie Caravello.
Cropper, though, is the best player in the ‘B’ league and it might not be close. She’s a future Division I performer, a superb athlete and does everything well. But as assistant coach Dytanya Mixson noted after the Lions’ quarterfinals win against Environmental Studies, Brooklyn Collegiate is not just Cropper. Stephanie Portis is also an excellent scorer and Victoria Thomas is a lockdown defender and hard-nosed presence inside. The Lions might not have the depth of Goldstein, but their athleticism and speed is far superior.
