Upheaval is the word to best describe this week’s rankings.
The first three spots remain the same as we reward No. 2 Staten Island Academy for playing a ‘AA’ team like MSIT, despite a tough loss. Top-seeded Poly Prep’s loss came against unbeaten Hackley and it has a big game with Horace Mann coming up.
The biggest winner was Fontbonne Hall, which beat rival Bishop Kearney last Monday. It jumps from No. 7 to fourth. We also have a new member this week in St. Edmund Prep. The Eagles are on an emotional ride with assistant coach Clare Droesch being diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer. They knocked off Bishop Kearney to send shockwaves through CHSAA Brooklyn/Queens Division II.
Here are the rest of the rankings:
1. Poly Prep (12-2) (1)
The Blue Devils continue to beat the teams they are supposed to defeat, including Riverdale last week. Hackley has been a different story as Poly fell, 56-28, for the second time to the Westchester school this season. A showdown with Horace Mann is scheduled for this Wednesday.
Next: Holy Child (Feb. 6, 4:30 p.m.)
2. Staten Island Academy (14-3) (2)
Staten Island Academy was in position for a possible upset, hanging right with Island power McKee/Staten Island Tech. A poor shooting fourth quarter was its undoing, but the game was a good sign for a young team. SIA will look to claim the ACIS postseason title Thursday.
Next: @ Packer Collegiate (Feb. 3, 4:15 p.m.)
3. Wings Academy (14-2) (3)
Wings has owned The Bronx and is certainly among the PSAL Class A favorites this year. On Saturday, though, the Wings have a chance to make serious waves against Staten Island powerhouse Moore Catholic at the Lady Falcons Coaches vs. Cancer High School Showcase.
Next: @ South Bronx (Feb. 6, 4 p.m.)
4. Fontbonne Hall (5-4) (7)
Fonbonne is now in the driver’s seat for a third straight CHSAA Brooklyn/Queens Division II title. The Bonnies knocked off rival Bishop Kearney last Monday behind a big night from Kate Oliver. Getting by St. John’s Prep on Monday is imperative to a three-peat.
Next: @ St. John’s Prep (Feb. 5, 4 p.m.)
5. Horace Mann (9-3) (5)
The Lions took the court twice last week. They took care of Riverdale 48-37 behind 18 points from Rachel Lander and beat Sacred Heart thanks to 13 points and three 3-pointers from Madison Gordon. A huge game with Poly Prep takes place Wednesday in Bay Ridge.
Next: Calhoun (Feb. 6, 4 p.m.)
6. Lab Museum United (18-3) (6)
There’s no better inside-outside duo in the ‘A’ than Jenny Ramirez and Ashanti Plummer, but Kelly Niles has also been an invaluable performer for Lab Museum United. Everyone talks about the two future scholarship players, but Niles, a wily guard, deserves a lot of credit.
Next: @ Bayard Rustin (Feb. 6, 4:30 p.m.)
7. Bishop Kearney (10-5) (4)
The Tigers were rolling along as CHSAA Brooklyn/Queens Division II’s top team. That changed this week when Kearney dropped games to Fontbonne Hall and St. Edmund, leaving themselves on the outside looking in for a regular-season crown and a top seed in the diocesan playoffs.
Next: St. Joseph Hill (Feb. 6, 6 p.m.)
8. Townsend Harris (13-1) (8)
The Hawks aren’t just undefeated in league play, they have absolutely dominated the competition. It’ll be interesting to see how well Townsend Harris does in the PSAL Class A playoffs and even more interesting to see what kind of seed the high-level academic school gets in the draw.
Next: @ Grover Cleveland (Feb. 6, 4:30 p.m.)
9. Goldstein (17-2) (10)
It was your typical Brittany McDonough performance Wednesday in a win over Madison – 11 points and seven assists. She’s arguably the city’s best passer and sharpshooter Nora Elbassiony continued her fine year with 18 points.
Next: Lafayette (Feb. 6, 4:30 p.m.)
10. St. Edmund Prep (6-8) (NR)
Don’t look now, but here come the Eagles. St. Edmund is playing with a heavy heart with assistant coach Clare Droesch battling stage 4 breast cancer. She was on the bench for her club’s one-point upset of Bishop Kearney. They also picked up a victories against St. Saviour and Susan Wagner and are working their way up the division standings.
Next: St. Agnes (Feb. 9, 6:30 p.m.)
New: St. Edmund Prep (6-7)
Dropped out: Beacon (17-4)
On the bubble: Beacon (17-4), St. John’s Prep (8-3), Fieldston (10-6), Loyola (13-3), Brooklyn Tech (14-1), Baruch College Campus (11-7), Columbia Prep (13-4) and August Martin (11-5)