Sports

Bishop Kearney to play in CHSAA B/Q Division II next season

Bishop Kearney will be playing next season in CHSAA Brooklyn/Queens Division II following a year where its varsity and junior varsity girls basketball teams did not win a game at the league’s highest level, athletic director Anthony Troiano told The Post.

“It was my decision,” Troiano said. “I just think it’s the best thing we could do for the program and the kids.”

The Tigers varsity went 0-16 and ended the year with a loss to St. Francis Prep in a CHSAA Class A state play-in game with a roster that included seven seniors including Sam Retas and Taylor Raccuglia, who missed the majority of the year with a dislocated shoulder. Juniors Justine Vento, Cathy Wesolowski and Allison Gasparino all saw some time.

The league changed drastically this year with the addition of eventual state Federation Class AA champion Nazareth, the No. 6-ranked team in the country by USA Today. Kearney lost its CHSAA Brooklyn/Queens diocesan playoff game 70-28 against mostly the Lady Kingsmen’s freshmen. Tigers coach Rocco Sellitto said after his team’s season-ending loss that he was against the idea of moving down.

“It’s definitely tough, but it’s the sign of the times,” Troiano said. “We have to adapt to what’s going on around us. I didn’t think it was a difficult decision. I thought it was a necessary decision.”

He said it was tough watching some of the fun taken away from players as the season went on. Kearney competed in league play against the lower end of the division and even lost just 65-56 at home to Christ the King. The prospects of that continuing didn’t look good for next year with a JV team that did not win a game against a division opponent. Kearney won state Federation Class C titles in 1998 and 2002 under longtime coach Cathy Crockett, who stepped down two years ago. The Tigers also boast the league’s all-time leading scorer in Janelle McManus (2,274 career points), who graduated in 2000.

“It’s so hard to looking these kids in the face on a day of a game,” Troiano said.

Bishop Ford and then-coach Denis Nolan and Bishop Loughlin have also made the move down in recent year. The Lions went to the CHSAA Division II diocesan final both seasons, were winless in its first year back in Division I. This year Loughlin placed sixth with a 5-9 record and have the program on an upward swing. They were in position to finish as high as fourth after posting a win over league power Mary Louis. Kearney is hoping for similar results and a short stay in Division II

“It kind of worked out well for Ford and Loughlin,” Troiano said. “They were able to regroup and get back and that’s our goal, to get back there.”

Check NYPost.com later today for more on this story