New York Post girls basketball beat writer Marc Raimondi takes a look at the CHSAA Class A state tournament, which resumes Friday with the quarterfinals.
SCHEDULE
Quarterfinals, Friday
@ St. Dominic (L.I.)
5:45 p.m.: St. Anthony’s (L.I.) vs. Nardin (Buffalo)
7:30 p.m.: Moore Catholic vs. St. Francis Prep
@ Kellenberg (L.I.)
6 p.m.: Archbishop Molloy vs. St. Mary’s (L.I.)
7:45 p.m.: Cardinal Spellman vs. Sacred Heart (Buffalo)
Semifinals, Saturday
@ St. Dominic
11 a.m.: Molloy/St. Mary’s vs. Spellman/Sacred Heart
1 p.m.: St. Anthony’s/Nardin vs. Moore/SFP
Final, Sunday
@ Cardinal Spellman
3 p.m.: Semifinal winner vs. Semifinal winner
TEAM CAPSULES
Moore Catholic Mavericks
Head coach: Rich Postiglione
Record: 22-5
Player to watch: Nicole Arnone
Outlook: Moore beat Holy Trinity (L.I.) in the opening round and is one of the tournament favorites. The Mavericks have never been to the New York State Federation tournament and are trying to make school history.
Moore has been led all year by Taylor Baggs inside and Christina Rubin outside. Nicole Arnone, a star last year, has shaken some early-season struggles and is back to being the player she was when she led the Mavericks to the 2009 CHSAA Class A Archdiocesan title.
Coach Rich Postiglione’s team is tough, physical and one of the best defensive teams in the tournament. Baggs is one of the most underrated bigs in New York City and Jessica Coscia is a steady, if unspectacular, point guard.
St. Francis Prep Terriers
Head coach: JoAnn Wagner
Record: 12-11
Player to watch: Jenna Halaby
Outlook: St. Francis started out as one of the feel-good stories of the season back in December. The Terriers earned their first CHSAA Brooklyn/Queens Division I victory in two seasons by beating Bishop Ford and for awhile they had a winning record in league play.
It has still been a good season in Fresh Meadows, but the last month or so hasn’t been as stellar as the start. SFP has not been a good offensive team of late, but plays hard-nosed tough defense and that can keep the Terriers in just about every ball game.
Prep exacted a measure of revenge against Notre Dame Academy in the first round. NDA beat SFP on the Terriers’ Senior Night at the end of the regular season. There won’t be as much motivation against Moore, a similar, defensive team. Jenna Halaby, Prep’s lengthy post, is a major key and it seems like every time Nicole Lenard shoots well the Terriers are in the game.
Archbishop Molloy Stanners
Head coach: Tom Catalanotto
Record: 12-15
Player to watch: Kyra Aloizos
Outlook: The record is unsightly, but few teams have played as tough a schedule as Molloy. There were little to no easy victories in a season that featured non-league games against Murry Bergtraum, St. Peter’s and a handful of other local powerhouses.
So despite being three games under .500, Molloy is actually a favorite to make a trip to Glens Falls. With Binghamton-bound forward Kyra Aloizos, the Stanners have an advantage inside over just about every other team in the tournament. St. Mary’s, in particular, has no size.
Guards Marielle Duryea, Amana Tatum and Kathryn Edwards and forward Elizabeth (Gurt) Lynch have played well down the stretch. If Molloy is to make a run, though, it is going to eventually need contributions from Mount St. Mary’s-bound sharpshooter Kelly Guerriero, who has been bothered by an ankle injury.
Cardinal Spellman Pilots
Head coach: Jane Morris
Record: 21-5
Player to watch: Tia Scott
Outlook: Spellman is a dark horse in this tournament. Outside of The Bronx, the Pilots are a bit of an unknown commodity. But just ask Bishop Kearney, the team they beat in the first round. Spellman is legitimate.
It all starts with junior point guard Tia Scott. She’s a whiz at breaking down defenses and finding open teammates either down low or beyond the arc. Junior Troi Melton, a 5-foot-10 wing, is one of the best scorers that no one talks about. She can hit from mid-range and beyond and is a solid slasher also. With springy and long forwards Amber Griffin and Cari English, Spellman makes for a tough matchup inside for any team.
Usually, Spellman coach Jane Morris, who is on the CHSAA executive board, goes to fellow board member Sr. Maria Pares, who she has known for decades, for information on Buffalo teams. But she can’t this time – Pares is the Sacred Heart (Buffalo) coach.
Sacred Heart, the Pilots’ quarterfinals opponent, lost the Monsignor Martin regular-season title to Nichols, which will play in the ‘AA’ state tournament.