(
)
Players of the year
Omar Calhoun
Christ The King
It was a season that ended earlier than expected for Christ the King – in the quarterfinals for the two-time defending CHSAA Class AA intersectional champion. But it’s hard to place blame on Calhoun, the UConn-bound scoring machine.
All the 6-foot-4 guard did this year was place his name among the greatest players in New York City history by becoming Christ the King’s all-time points leader, surpassing former Arizona star and NBA player Khalid Reeves. On top of that, Calhoun was named to the All-American Championship Game.
Calhoun will leave CK as the winningest player in program history, including a pair of CHSAA Class AA intersectional titles and a New York State Federation championship.
“He is one of the most highly decorated players in Christ the King history,” Royals coach Joe Arbitello said.
Sierra Calhoun
Christ The King
Sierra, Omar’s younger sister, was hailed as the next great Christ the King player when she was moved up to the varsity as a freshman. This year in her sophomore campaign she became that, often carrying the Royals and consistently making the big plays down the stretch. Calhoun, ranked 11th in her class by HoopGurlz, can score in the lane, knock down jumpers, rebound, defend and feed open teammates.
She scored 19 points in an upset win over Nazareth in the CHSAA Brooklyn/Queens semifinals and netted 14 of her 22 points in the fourth against Bishop Ford in the final. Calhoun helped CK claim its 26th diocesan crown in the last 28 years. She also had 20 points, including two big buckets late, in an upset of nationally ranked Cicero North Syracuse and Gatorade National Player of the Year winner Breanna Stewart.
Coaches of the Year
Paul Gilvary
Holy cross
The last time one of Gilvary’s teams made the CHSAA Class AA intersectional title game back in 2008, things were a little different. He had a star in Sylven Landesberg, who was one of the top players in Holy Cross history.
This year, the Knights were a group of blue-collar, unselfish kids, none of whom have signed with a Division I school. Though Cross fell to St. Raymond in the championship game, it still took home a CHSAA Brooklyn/Queens Diocesan title, which the Knights won just days after the death of Gilvary’s mother. From that point on, the players said they were competing for him.
“It’s not about me,” Gilvary said. “It’s always about them. They’re the ones that do all the work and they’re the ones that should reap all the benefits and get all the accolades.”
Bob Mackey
Christ the King
Seemingly every year the pundits and the basketball community write Christ the King’s dominance off and the rumblings were there again this season with a young group back. Things didn’t start well as CK went 0-6, with five games against nationally ranked teams in a schedule constructed by design to get the Royals battle tested.
As Mackey envisioned, his team peaked late with a win over Bishop Ford and an upset of eventual state Federation Class AA champion Cicero-North Syracuse. He had them keep every game in perspective and cultivated his players and their team chemistry. His work culminated with the Royals beating Bishop Loughlin, Nazareth and Bishop Ford en route to their 26th CHSAA Brooklyn/Queens title in the last 28 years.
BOYS
By ZACH BRAZILLER and MARC RAIMONDI
There were titles, championship games, deep runs and renaissance seasons for Queens in 2011-12.
Holy Cross advanced to the CHSAA Class AA intersectional title game for the first time since 2008. Joining the Knights in the quarterfinals were Christ the King and Archbishop Molloy.
In the PSAL, Cardozo reached the Class AA quarterfinals and shared a division title with surprise Bayside. Pathways was the big winner, taking home its second straight PSAL Class B championship behind future Division I big man Jordan Washington, and Long Island City reached the ‘A’ semifinals.
First team
F Mairega Clarke, Holy Cross
A year after being sidelined for a large chunk of the season due to a scary bout of high blood pressure, Clarke was a key ingredient in Holy Cross’ run to the CHSAA Class AA intersectional final. The skilled, 6-foot-5 big man had 15 of his 19 points in the second of the semifinals against Mount St. Michael.
F Tajay Henry, Cardozo
When national prosect Jermaine Lawrence abruptly left in January, Henry emerged. The gutty, gritty and skilled 6-foot-5 forward became Cardozo’s heart and soul, its top defender, rebounder and scorer, and led the Judges to a share of the Queens AA regular season crown, the borough title and a PSAL Class AA quarterfinal berth.
G Marquise Moore, Holy Cross
After missing parts of the season with a toe injury, Moore took his entire game to a new level in the playoffs. Already a versatile piece in the lineup, the 6-foot-2 combo guard had 25 points in the CHSAA Brooklyn/Queens final and 17 in the intersectional semifinals to lead Holy Cross to the title game.
G Jon Severe, Christ the King
As a junior, Severe became an electric, versatile scorer for Christ the King with a deadly 3-point shot and an innate finishing ability around the basket. The 6-foot-2 guard tied the school’s single-game 3-pointer record in January against Xaverian with eight 3s to match Larry Davis’ total from 2006.
F Jordan Washington, Pathways
The 6-foot-7 man-child led Pathways to a second straight PSAL Class B crown, averaging 23 points and 13 rebounds in five playoff contests. The junior with multiple high Division I offers may not return to the Queens school – he’s considering prep school – but if he does, you can pencil in Pathways for another crown.
SECOND TEAM
F Uzonna Akazi, Bayside
G C.J. Davis, Archbishop Molloy
G Will Davis, Holy Cross
F Jordan Fuchs, Christ the King
F Marko Kozul, Archbishop Molloy
THIRD TEAM
G Dupree McBrayer, Springfield Gardens
G Brandon King, Bayside
G Anthony Libroia, Holy Cross
G Tarik Raynor, Campus Magnet
F Arthur Santanna, Long Island City
HONORABLE MENTION
F Ismail Abdullah, Beach Channel
F Morrell Gaskins, Archbishop Molloy
F Andrew Winter, St. Francis Prep
G Ed Roscigno, Holy Cross
F Ryan Yearwood, Cardozo
GIRLS
By MARC RAIMONDI & JOSEPH STASZEWSKI
As always, Queens was one of the power boroughs in girls basketball.
Christ the King came back from an 0-6 start to win its 26th CHSAA Brooklyn/Queens Diocesan title in the last 28 years. Archbishop Molloy earned a trip to the CHSAA Class AA state semifinals and Mary Louis advanced to the CHSAA Class A state championship game.
In the PSAL, Francis Lewis appeared in its second straight Class AA semifinals and Scholars Academy repeated as champion in PSAL Class B. Bayside had an unlikely run to the Class A semifinals.
First team
G Rayne Connell, Christ the King
The UPenn-bound guard was one of the keys to Christ the King’s late-season success after surgery to remove a cyst on her back sidelined her early. Connell is one of the best shut down defenders and scored 16 points in an upset of Cicero-North Syracuse.
F Carolyn Gallagher,
Archbishop Molloy
It’s never flashy, but Gallagher never ceases to get the job done. She is a treat inside and out and one of the city’s most consistent free throw shooters. The junior helped Molloy reach CHSAA Class AA state semifinals.
G Reana Mohamed, Mary Louis
Mohamed finished her career playing her best basketball. The George Mason-bound guard and 1,000-point scorer came on late and helped lead Mary Louis to the CHSAA Class A state final. She poured in 21 points in a state semifinal victory.
F Tyese Purvis, Francis Lewis
The 5-foot-10 senior’s game evolved this year from just an athlete to a multi-faceted wing who could finish inside and step outside and hit jumpers from 18 feet and beyond. Purvis, who has Division I interest, helped lead Lewis to a second straight PSAL Class AA semifinals.
G Amani Tatum,
Archbishop Molloy
Tatum is the Stanners’ unquestioned leader. Molloy was known to rally late and the determined junior was usually leading the way. The junior had 18 of her 28 points in the second half in a win over Mary Louis in the diocesan quarterfinals.
SECOND TEAM
G Mei-Lyn Bautista, Mary Louis
G Shiclasia Brown, August Martin
G Jasmine Davis, Francis Lewis
G Kamille Ejerta, Archbishop Molloy
F Kollyns Scarbrough, Christ the King
THIRD TEAM
F Jordan Agustus, Mary Louis
F Syndy Durugordon, Bayside
G Veronica Ganzi, St. Francis Prep
F Liz Gully, Mary Louis
G Nyasha Irizarry, Archbishop Molloy
HONORABLE MENTION
G Chelsea Brandimarte, St. Francis Prep
G Alyssa Gatti, Christ the King
G Jessica Glaz, Scholars Academy
G Jazmine Hamlet, Francis Lewis
G Danielle Pearce, Hillcrest
ALL-CITY SCHEDULE:
TOMORROW: All-Brooklyn boys, All-Brooklyn girls
Sunday: All-City boys, All-City girls