And here we go.
The bulk of the CHSAA state playoffs start this weekend. Season and careers will come to an end, story book endings will be written and teams in three classifications will punch their tickets to Glens Falls.
Who will take home the big prize, the ‘AA’ crown? St. Mike’s showed most of its midseason troubles are behind it with a gutty win over St. Peter’s in the ‘AA’ Archdiocesan title. The Staten Island power, though, again proved why it could easily be heading up state. Christ the King owned Brooklyn/Queens again and division rivals Mary Louis and Ford are in the mix for a state championship.
The change in the rankings other than St. Mike’s jumping from three to two, came from the Class A state playoffs. Cardinal Spellman kept its stellar season going with an impressive win over Bishop Kearney. The Pilots finally get out of the No. 10 spot and are now at nine.
Here are this week’s rankings:
1. Christ the King (21-5) (Last week: 1)
One down. Two more to go. That’s what the Royals have planned for the next two weeks as they hope to hoist the state Federation ‘AA’ championship trophy. First CK, which topped Mary louis for the CHSAA Brooklyn/Queens Division I title, must win three games in three days starting Friday with St. John the Baptist if it wants to win the CHSAA Class AA state crown.
Next: St. John the Baptist, CHSAA Class AA state quarterfinals (March 12, 7 p.m. @ Bishop Ford)
2. St. Michael Academy (17-5) (3)
Taylor Ford said she wasn’t losing and then made sure that didn’t happen. The St. Mike’s forward’s 3-point play with 13 seconds left helped give her team a thrilling 55-54 win over St. Peter’s to reclaim the CHSAA Class AA Archdiocesan title. The game’s biggest shot still may have been a long 3-pointer from Brianna Sidney just seconds earlier thatfinally got the score tied.
Next: No. 4 Mary Louis, CHSAA Class AA state quarterfinals (March 12, 5 p.m. @ Archbishop Molloy)
3. St. Peter’s (22-2) (2)
The Eagles put on a clinic on how to beat St. Michael Academy. They were patent, smart and never backed down. But St. Peter’s couldn’t match St. Mike’s big plays in the final minutes in a loss the in CHSAA ‘AA’ Archdiocesan final, 55-54. One of the biggest positives from the game is that forward Ashley Motrechuk continues to develop into a star. She put on a fabulous shooting display.
Next: Nichols (Buffalo), CHSAA Class AA state quarterfinal (March 12, 5 p.m. @ Bishop Ford)
4. Mary Louis (18-6) (5)
Karin Robinson’s spinning layup in transition sent the crowd at St. John’s Prep into a frenzy Tuesday and TMLA trimmed the Christ the King lead to two with three minutes to go. It was the Hilltoppers’ last highlight in the Brooklyn/Queens Division I title game. Mary Louis will need to play arguably its best game of the season to beat St. Michael Academy on Friday. Either way, the Eagles should be prepared for another emotional effort.
Next: No. 2 St. Michael Academy, CHSAA Class AA state quarterfinals (March. 12, 7 p.m. @ Archbishop Molloy)
5. Bishop Ford (20-5) (4)
The Falcons didn’t achieve their goal of winning a Brooklyn/Queens title. All of that can be erased with three wins in three days. Ford hasn’t always been the model of consistency this season, but has enough talent to pull the feat off. The first step is to stop Kellenberg’s Marist-bound forward Emma O’Connor.
Next: Kellenberg, CHSAA Class AA state quarterfinals (March 12, 7 p.m. @ Archbishop Molloy)
6. Archbishop Molloy (12-15) (6)
Coach Tom Catalanotto shook up his starting lineup for disciplinary reasons in a CHSAA Class A first round game against Aquinas. Kyra Aloizos and Elizabeth (Gurt) Lynch both came off the bench. The Stanners cannot afford an off game moving forward especially against quarterfinal opponent St. Mary’s (L.I.) if they hope to make a trip to Glens Falls.
Next: St. Mary’s (L.I.), CHSAA Class A state quarterfinals (March 12, 6 p.m. @ Kellenberg)
7. Moore Catholic (22-5) (7)
The Mavericks secured their second straight CHSAA Class A Archdiocesan title with a win over Cardinal Spellman. Star forward Taylor Baggs scored her 1,000th point in the process. Moore rolled past Holy Trinity in the first round of the state playoffs to get back to the round the Titans eliminated them from last season. A pesky SFP team is the obstacle in the semifinal.
Next: No. 8 St. Francis Prep, CHSAA Class A state quarterfinals (March 12, 7:30 p.m. @ St. Dominic)
8. St. Francis Prep (12-11) (8)
Nicole Lenard has been an unsung hero for St. Francis Prep this season. The senior guard has had big shooting performances in most of the Terriers’ big wins. She did so again in a 63-44 win over Notre Dame Academy on Friday in the CHSAA Class A first round. It was redemption for SFP after the Gators topped it on Senior Night last month.
Next: No. 7 Moore Catholic, CHSAA Class A state quarterfinals (March 12, 7:30 p.m. @ St. Dominic)
9. Cardinal Spellman (21-5) (10)
Julia Blasl may have made up for a season filled with missed games in just one contest. The senior was out the majority of the season after abdominal surgery, but she was the one producing daggers against Bishop Kearney. She scored nine points including two clutch 3-pointers to help the Pilots to advance to the CHSAA Class A state quarterfinals.
Next: Sacred Heart (Buffalo), CHSAA Class A state quarterfinals (March 12, 7:45 p.m. @ Kellenberg)
10. Bishop Kearney (12-12) (9)
The Tigers promising season came to a halt against Cardinal Spellman in the CHSAA Class A state first round. Kearney hasn’t play with the same toughness since it lost senior Meaghan McGoorty to academic ineligibility. The positive is the majority of the team are juniors, including star Sam Retas, and will be back for another go next season.
Next: Season over
New: None
Dropped out: None
On the bubble: Notre Dame Academy (13-15) and St. Joseph Hill (14-12)