The Class AA quarterfinals didn’t go by without some wild happenings. Manhattan Center managed to upset Francis Lewis, Kennedy beat Midwood to make its fifth straight semis, South Shore looked very strong against McKee/Staten Island Tech and Murry Bergtraum did what it needed to against Thomas Jefferson.
The semifinals should be extremely interesting. Games between Kennedy and Manhattan Center aren’t going to set the scoreboard afire, but they always go down to the wire. With even more at stake than usual, this one is going to be an all-out war.
Then, the remaining question will be can South Shore do the unthinkable and upset Bergtraum? Some have said the best time to get the Lady Blazers is before the Garden, where they’re at their best. We’ll soon find out if that’s true or myth.
Here’s how the rankings look before the semis:
1. Murry Bergtraum (23-0) (Last week: 1)
Bergtraum didn’t rout Jefferson in the quarterfinals Saturday like many people expected. The Lady Blazers grinded out a victory and still won with a significant cushion. It proved one thing: you have to play your ‘A’ game throughout in order to even think about beating the 11-time defending champion.
Next: No. 3 South Shore, PSAL Class AA semifinals (March 2, 7 p.m. @ St. John’s University)
2. John F. Kennedy (19-8) (3)
Mental toughness and big plays down the stretch led Kennedy to a quarterfinals win against Midwood on Saturday. Those two things and a pair of huge 3-pointers by Isis Alonso put the Knights into their fifth straight semis. There’s no doubt that coach O’Neil Glenn’s program has been one of the elite ones in the PSAL over the past few years.
Next: No. 4 Manhattan Center, PSAL Class AA semifinals (March 2, 5 p.m. @ St. John’s University)
3. South Shore (18-8) (4)
It’s hard to blame coach Anwar Gladden for feeling like his team should have been the No. 3 seed after South Shore dismantled McKee/Staten Island Tech in the quarters. But he knows the Vikings need to get back into the gym and work on figuring out how to beat Bergtraum. It hasn’t been done in more than a decade in the PSAL playoffs.
Next: No. 1 Murry Bergtraum, PSAL Class AA semifinals (March 2, 7 p.m. @ St. John’s University)
4. Manhattan Center (16-11) (7)
A few weeks ago, Manhattan Center had a brutal stretch – games against Bergtraum, Kennedy and Midwood in a six-day span. The Lady Rams went 0-3, but could have easily been 3-0. Maybe that big-game experience helped in a quarterfinals upset of Francis Lewis.
Next: No. 2 John F. Kennedy, PSAL Class AA semifinals (March 2, 5 p.m. @ St. John’s University)
5. Francis Lewis (19-5) (2)
The Patriots went into the playoffs with a lot of bluster – appealing the PSAL’s original seeding and winning. As it turned out, that would be Lewis’ only big postseason victory. Coach Steve Tsai’s team was ousted in the quarterfinals by Manhattan Center in one of its worst performances of the season.
Next: Season over
6. McKee/S.I. Tech (24-3) (5)
Things might have been different for MSIT if freshman point guard Kelin Walsh didn’t go down with an injury in the second quarter against South Shore. The good news is that she and star guard Kaitlyn Astel will be back next year. The bad news? Senior leader Kristen Markoe, the team’s heart, soul and best shooter, will graduate.
Next: Season over
7. Midwood (15-12) (6)
Coach Artie LaGreca said it best – 1:28 and his team’s season was over. That’s all it took for Kennedy to turn a 1-point Midwood lead into a seven-point advantage. The Hornets played poorly for a small stretch and the Knights took advantage. LaGreca will sorely miss seniors like Gisell Peguero, Beranda Felder and Jewel Tunstull.
Next: Season over
8. Thomas Jefferson (13-8) (8)
The Orange Wave have had an up-and-down season, but – in a way – it ended better than last year’s did. Though Jefferson had more talent in 2008-09, this team gave Bergtraum a run Saturday in the quarterfinals. The score was tied late in the third quarter. Last year, Jeff was routed by Bergtraum. Guards Alicia Cropper and Danielle Pearson should do well at Providence.
Next: Season over
9. Medgar Evers (21-2) (9)
The Cougars needed 32 points from guard Jasmin Robinson to beat Evander Childs in the Class A second round. With the presence of guards Camera Miley and Ashley Castle in doubt, Medgar Evers is not an absolute lock to win the ‘A’ title by any means.
Next: Bronx Science, PSAL Class A quarterfinals (March 7, 5 p.m. @ Hunter College)
10. West 50th Street (22-4) (10)
The Seahawks had an extremely balanced scoring attack in a Class A second-round victory against Robeson. Four players were in double figures. That is definitely the formula for success for West 50th, which has a number of players who can step up in a given game.
Next: LIC/Columbus, PSAL Class A quarterfinals (March 7, 1 p.m. @ Hunter College)
New: None
Dropped out: None
On the bubble: Wings (22-1), Banneker (11-8), Truman (12-11), Lincoln (12-11), Baruch College Campus (16-3), Bronx Science (17-3), School of the Future (12-3) and Leon Goldstein (18-2)
