Last season, I screamed from the hills about the injust and faulty format of the CHSAA Class AA state playoffs. Someone obviously heard me.
A year ago, the second-place team from the New York Archdiocese matched up with the Brooklyn/Queens winner in the first round and the tournament final was slated for Christ the King. It helped fuel rumors that St. Michael Academy and coach Apache Paschall did not play its Archdiocesan championship against St. Peter’s to win because the loss set up a first-round matchup with CK on a neutral site instead of a possible finals meeting in Middle Village. St. Mike’s won the game against the Royals en route to its first-ever New York State Federation title.
This year, the higher ups in the CHSAA took my advice and set up the AA bracket exactly as I suggested. Apparently, the matchups and sites were set up to change each season. Now the Royals and Eagles wouldn’t meet until the semifinals at the earliest. The new format should also allow the best four teams a chance to advance to the semifinals.
The one wrinkle this season, with Bishop Loughlin back in Brooklyn/Queens Division I, is that the last team from that league will not qualify for any state playoffs. It should make for some interesting games come March. The Class A and B formats were also redone to make travel easier on the Buffalo teams and create a city champion in the ‘A’ playoffs.
Here is the schedule:
Class AA
March 12 (Quarterfinals)
@ Bishop Ford
Buff 1 vs. Arch 2, 5 p.m.
BQ 1 vs. RC 2, 7 p.m.
@ Archbishop Molloy
Arch 1 vs. BQ 3, 5 p.m.
RC 1 vs. BQ 2, 7 p.m.
March 13 (Semifinals)
@ Christ the King
Arch 1/BQ 3 winner vs. RC 1/BQ 2 winner, 5 p.m.
BQ 1/Arch 2 winner vs. BQ 1/RC 2 winner, 7 p.m.
March 14 (Final)
@ Cardinal Spellman, 5 p.m.
Class A
Downstate Playoff
March 5
@ St. John Villa
G1 – Arch 1 vs. RC 3, 7:45 p.m.
G2 – Arch 2 vs. BQ 3, 6 p.m.
@ St. Francis Prep
G3 – BQ 2 vs. Arch 3, 5 p.m.
G5 – Arch 5 vs. RC 1, 7 p.m.
@ St. Anthony’s (L.I.)
G 4 – RC 2 vs. Arch 4, 6 p.m.
G 6 – Arch 6 vs. BQ, 7:45 p.m.
March 12 (Quarterfinals)
@ St. Dominic
G5 winner vs. Buff 2, 5:45 p.m.
G1 winner vs. G3 winner, 7:30 p.m.
@ Kellenberg
G6 winner vs. G4 winner, 5:15 p.m.
G2 winner vs. Buff 1
March 13 (Semifinals)
@ St. Dominic, 11 & 1 p.m.
March 14 (Final)
@ Cardinal Spellman, 3 p.m.
Class B
City Playoffs
March 5 (City Quarterfinals)
@ Cardinal Spellman
G3 – Arch 2 vs. BQ 3, 5 p.m.
G1 – Arch 1 vs. BQ 4, 7 p.m.
@ St. John’s Prep
G2 – BQ 2 vs. NY 3, 5 p.m.
G4 – BQ 1 vs. Arch 4
March 6 (City Semifinals)
@ St. John’s Prep or Convent of the Sacred Heart
City 2 – G3 winner vs. G4 winner, 5 p.m.
City 1 – G1 winner vs. G2 winner, 7 p.m.
March 7 (City Final)
@ St. John’s Prep or Convent of the Sacred Heart, 3 p.m.
March 13 (State Semfinals)
@ Cardinal Spellman or St. John Villa
City 1 vs. Buff2/RC 1 winner, 3 p.m.
Buff 1 vs. City 2, 5 p.m.
March 14 (State Final)
@ Cardinal Spellman, 1 p.m.
Key: BQ = Brooklyn/Queens ; Arch = Archdiocesan; RC = Rockville Center ; Buff = Buffalo
