The Post’s PSAL boys basketball beat writer Zach Braziller breaks down the Class B quarterfinals, which will be held the next two days at Lehman College in The Bronx and City College of New York in Manhattan.
WEDNESDAY @ LEHMAN COLLEGE
5 p.m.: No. 6 Eleanor Roosevelt vs. No. 3 Queens High School of Teaching
7 p.m.: No. 26 Cobble Hill vs. No. 2 Brooklyn College Academy
THURSDAY @ CITY COLLEGE of NEW YORK
5 p.m..: No. 5 High School For Construction vs. No. 4 Bushwick Campus
7 p.m.: No. 9 Brooklyn Community vs. No. 1 FDA III
No. 6 Eleanor Roosevelt Huskies
Head coach: Mark Strasser
Record: 17-1
Player to watch: F Erando Halilaj
No. 3 Queens High School of Teaching Tigers
Head coach: Michael Shelton
Record: 17-0
Player to watch: G Lerone Lashley
Outlook: The Huskies improved four games in the standings from last year, led by a balanced attack. Halilaj averaged 21 points and 17 rebounds during the regular season and has averaged 14 boards in two postseason victories. Seniors Darren Garson and Drion Shrkeli are also capable of breakout performances.
Queens HS of Teaching is back in the quarterfinals, but have higher hopes after an undefeated regular season in Queens B East. Lashley, a lightning-quick 5-foot-6 point guard, keys the Tigers’ attack. He has help in the backcourt from senior Troy Singleton, another 5-foot-6 guard who averaged 17 points during the regular season.
No. 26 Cobble Hill Stallions
Head coach: Timothy Rice
Record: 11-8
Player to watch: F Clarence Crawley
No. 2 Brooklyn College Academy Bobcats
Head coaches: Sandy Jones and Alicia Braswell
Record: 17-1
Player to watch: G Tarik Phillip
Outlook: This year’s Cinderella story faces last years. Brooklyn College Academy was the 28th seed a season ago en route to a city title. Now Cobble Hill is hoping to do the same as the 26th seed. The two Brooklyn B West rivals met twice during the regular season, with BCA winning both times by a combined 16 points. Cobble Hill depends on the 6-foot-3 Crawley, an inside-out threat, and point guard Andre Richey.
This winter, the favorite tag has fit Brooklyn College Academy well. Four starters – Phillip, shooting guard Keyon Aigle and forwards Jamaal James and Onyema Utti – returned to form a potent nucleus. The Bobcats’ only league loss, to Clara Barton Jan. 7, was without Phillip, the versatile junior point guard who was out for academic reasons.
No. 5 High School For Construction Red Hawks
Head coach: Jason Salamanca
Record: 16-1
Player to watch: F Kyle McQueen
No. 4 Bushwick Campus Tigers
Head coach: Walter Jordan
Record: 16-0
Player to watch: F Devon Carr
Outlook: In just two years, Salamanca has taken HS for Construction a long way, to the quarterfinals last year and an undefeated regular season in Queens B West this season. The Red Hawks don’t overly rely on any one player. McQueen averages a double-double while sophomore Joe Sewsanker and junior John Galimi have come on recently.
The Tigers are in the quarterfinals for the first time in five years. They have three seniors – Carr, Jahseth Lloyd and Jarred McDonald – to thank for that accomplishment. The trio all averaged at least 14 points per game during the regular season.
No. 9 Brooklyn Community Lions
Head coach: Lawanda Greene
Record: 12-6
Player to watch: G Rasheem Jones
No. 1 FDA III Lions
Head coach: Jumel Carlos
Record: 16-1
Player to watch: F Moussa Kone
Outlook: Brooklyn Community may have finished 10-6 in Brooklyn B West, but three of those losses were forfeits. The Lions have a nice mixture of guards and forwards. Jones led them in scoring at nearly 17 points per game and 6-foot-3 forward Najee Chimming tallied 11 points and nine rebounds.
FDA III was the city title favorites last March, but got tripped up by East New York Family Academy in the semifinals. The one positive: The Bronx school returned its entire team, and that group is back, looking for postseason glory. Forwards Kevin Douglas and Kone, a 6-foot-5 junior, are extremely tough to deal with inside.