There were plenty of interesting games last week, just not a whole lot of movement in the rankings – and no upsets. No. 7 Kennedy looked to be on the verge of one against No. 1 Bergtraum and unranked Boys & Girls made things interesting against No. 5 Thomas Jefferson. But neither came to fruition.
This coming week is a big one for the league. Five of the teams in these rankings will collide with the CHSAA’s best five teams in the New York Post CHSAA vs. PSAL Invitational at Christ the King on Sunday. Which league will come out victorious? That remains to be seen.
1. Murry Bergtraum (12-0) (Last week: 1)
Bergtraum played its two league rivals this week with mixed results. No. 7 John F. Kennedy hung around for a half and the Lady Blazers blew No. 6 Manhattan Center out of the water early Sunday at the PSAL Mid-Winter Classic. The latter performance is probably what we’ll see more of in February and March. Bergtraum’s toughest challenge of the season might come Sunday against Neptune (N.J.) at the Hoop Group Boardwalk Showcase at Monmouth University.
Next: Truman (Jan. 13, 5 p.m.)
2. Francis Lewis (12-0) (2)
The Patriots got awful news this week: star point guard Kelly Robinson will be out for the season with a torn left ACL. We’ll get a bigger glimpse into how they respond this week. Lewis plays Boys & Girls on Friday and St. Michael Academy, the city’s top team, at the New York Post CHSAA vs. PSAL Girls Basketball Invitational on Sunday at Christ the King.
Next: Boys & Girls (Jan. 15, 5 p.m.)
3. South Shore (9-2) (3)
The Vikings looked back in top condition Sunday in a rout of No. 5 Thomas Jefferson at the PSAL Mid-Winter Classic. It was a major improvement over a rough, 1-2 holiday break. Now, young South Shore must get ready for its toughest test of the season: CHSAA giant Christ the King on Sunday in Middle Village at the New York Post CHSAA vs. PSAL Girls Basketball Invitational.
Next: @ Christ the King (Jan. 17, 7 p.m. @ New York Post CHSAA vs. PSAL Girls Basketball Invitational)
4. McKee/S.I. Tech (13-1) (4)
Kaitlyn Astel returned this week for the Sea Gulls and that spells trouble for the rest of PSAL Staten Island – and the city for that matter. MSIT’s schedule the rest of the way is light, but coach Peter LaMarca is looking to pick up a game somewhere along the way.
Next: @ Curtis (Jan. 11, 6 p.m.)
5. Thomas Jefferson (5-6) (5)
The Orange Wave are still searching for that signature win. It could have come multiple times over the holiday break and Danielle Pearson’s foul trouble didn’t help in a rout at the hands of South Shore. Jefferson can’t wait to get guard Kierra Cargill back from academic ineligibility.
Next: Beach Channel (Jan. 15, 5 p.m.)
6. Manhattan Center (9-4) (6)
Coach Jaywana Bradley said after her team’s blowout loss to No. 1 Bergtraum on Sunday that she’s tired of hearing about how good her team could be, she just wants the Rams to show it. After three leagues games this week and an intriguing matchup with St. Peter’s in the New York Post CHSAA vs. PSAL Invitational at Christ the King on Sunday, Center can prove just how much potential it has.
Next: Frederick Douglass (Jan. 11, 5 p.m.)
7. John F. Kennedy (10-4) (7)
The Knights hung around with No. 1 Bergtraum for a half Friday and even led by seven points in the second quarter before the Lady Blazers asserted their will. It was yet another positive sign for Kennedy, which is playing its best basketball of the season. How good is JFK? We’ll find out Sunday when it plays Bishop Ford at the New York Post CHSAA vs. PSAL Invitational at Christ the King.
Next: Clinton (Jan. 11, 5 p.m.)
8. Midwood (6-7) (8)
This is a big week for Midwood. We’ll see if the Hornets have rebounded from an uneven holiday break when they meet pesky Boys & Girls on Monday. Then they’ll take on Mary Louis at the New York Post CHSAA vs. PSAL Invitational at Christ the King on Sunday. It’ll be another litmus test for a team that has played a difficult non-league schedule.
Next: Boys & Girls (Jan. 11, 5 p.m.)
9. West 50th Street (12-3) (9)
The Seahawks had a solid test Saturday against Long Island Lutheran and did nicely. They lost, 44-33, but the score was tied heading to the fourth. Justine Perry, their 6-foot-5, LIU-bound center, had 13 blocks. The biggest game of the season is coming up Saturday: No. 10 Medgar Evers at the PSAL ‘A’ Showcase at HS of Construction in Queens.
Next: A. Philip Randolph (Jan. 12, 4:30 p.m.)
10. Medgar Evers (11-1) (10)
The No. 1 seed in the PSAL Class A playoffs could be decided Saturday at the league’s ‘A’ showcase at the HS of Construction in Queens. Medgar Evers will meet No. 9 West 50th Street Campus. It certainly could also be a championship preview. But there’s a long way to go for that.
Next: @ Canarsie (Jan. 12, 4:30 p.m.)
New: None
Dropped out: None
On the bubble: Wings (9-1), Boys & Girls (4-2), Tottenville (7-2), Banneker (5-5), Truman (6-7), Lincoln (6-4), Baruch College Campus (9-3), Beach Channel (3-4) and Fort Hamilton (11-1)
