Undefeated Hackley was the clear choice in the Massey Ratings to be the top seed in this year’s NYSAISAA Class C girls basketball tournament. The Hornets, the Ivy League champions, returned all the key parts from a team that lost to Staten Island Academy in last season’s final.
In a down year, there are no New York City teams among the top four seeds. IPPSAL champion Portledge, which is 25-1, is No. 2. Third-seeded Holy Child fell to Hackley, 51-30, and beat No. 4 Rye Country Day, 65-59, during the regular season. Ivy League runner-up Horace Mann, which owns a win over Holy Child, is the fifth seed and faces Rye 5 p.m. March 1, the day of all the quarterfinals.
The other seeds await the winner of play-in games, all at 5 p.m. Feb. 29. Fieldston hosts Chapin and the winner plays Hackley in the quarterfinals. Poly Prep welcomes York Prep and the winner draws Holy Child at SUNY Purchase.
NYCAL champion Columbia Prep travels to face ACIS winner Staten Island Academy. The Lions and coach Andy Chappell upset the Tigers in the NYSAISAA girls soccer tournament in the fall.
The semifinals are scheduled for 5 p.m. March 3 at the higher seeds. Fieldston will again host the final at 1 p.m. March 4.
Unchallenged Long Island Lutheran will get a chance to defend its New York State Federation Class B title in Albany.
