Believe it or not, the PSAL playoffs are back. Really, they are. It feels like a year since the borough playoffs were held at CCNY. We’ve got to do something about this President’s Week break. I’m blaming George W. Bush. Let’s end the regular season later. It doesn’t do the teams – or most importantly me – any good by waiting so long. At least, let’s allow transfers in between to make things more interesting.
Anyway, the second round of the city playoffs starts Tuesday and the quarterfinals are Sunday. I break down this week’s matchups here, but this blog is about what I think will happen, not what will most likely occur.
Predictions work so well during football season, why not try my hand at hoops? For those familiar with my prognostications, expect everything to go the opposite of my take.
Keep in mind, much of this is in jest and should not be taken personally.
The St. John’s eight
It will be a wacky day in Jamaica, Queens. Not only does the Red Storm finish third in the Big East, but two of our top four seeds – Cardozo and Wings – won’t make it to Carnesecca Arena, and neither will No. 6 Wadleigh.
That’s my phone ringing – Judges coach Ron Naclerio isn’t happy with me, but I can’t understand what he’s saying; something about wanting to play everybody during the regular season, but playing nobody.
In a related note, Naclerio and Wings coach Billy Turnage talk of playing a non-league game to stay sharp for the AAU season – the next season – but agree only to play reserves without letting spectators or reporters know. They charge $10 a head for admission.
I see No. 20 Transit Tech pulling the shocker. Guard Anthony Prescott gave Cardozo problems in the semifinals last year – he’s the best player nobody talks about – and junior wing Richard Williams is a budding star. Naclerio bangs his head against the bleachers 100 times at the final horn, looks like he just went three rounds with Brock Lesnar yet still does interviews as medics are treating him.
McKee/Staten Island Tech upsets the Tigers, who are tougher than usual, but also smaller than usual, too. Size is the Seagulls’ greatest weakness, and it won’t be an issue here – unless recent transfer Sidiki Johnson gains eligibility. Down 10 points at halftime, Wadleigh coach Mike Crump slips him into a Wadleigh jersey, but PSAL commissioner Mel Goldstein won’t allow it. Wadleigh senior guard Trivante Bloodman shines, but MSIT’s Josh Good is the best player on the court — he’s a Division I talent, plain and simple. Crump takes a red-eye to Las Vegas, forgets his problems.
And for my third upset? I’ve got No. 14 Curtis taking down Wings. The Wings have the talent and senior leadership to get to – and win – at the Garden. This just is a difficult draw. Curtis has the size to match up and the guards as well. Wings won the first meeting, 54-42, but it was tight and the Warriors were without dynamic guard Dontay Jackson. Look for him to be the difference and for Amdy Fall to get in early foul trouble, never to be a factor.
It will set up an all-Staten Island quartefinal between MSIT and Curtis. Yeah, that’s right. I just jinxed the Island. Let the hate mail ensue.
CCNY’s four
Brooklyn standup – No. 1 Lincoln, No. 2 Boys & Girls and No. 4 Jefferson will all be in Harlem, joined by 11th-seeded MSIT. The Railsplitters won’t have too much problems with undersized Robeson, the ninth seed, as Kamari Murphy goes ham and verbally commits to the Red Storm on the spot.
The Orange Wave get revenge against gritty Transit Tech, pulling away late behind a slew of Thaddeus Hall bombs, and coach Lawrence (Bud) Pollard proclaims Jefferson the city champion, even though Jeff is still two wins away, and somehow in the same sentence throws his players under the bus while saying he has the most talent in the city.
The Kangaroos hold off a game South Shore club, but in defeat the young Vikings show they are the team to beat next year. Fans storm the court, but only to comfort South Shore. Hugs are given out instead of shoves.
In the battle of the outermost borough, MSIT outlasts Curtis in an overtime thriller as Good continues his remarkable postseason, yet nobody from Staten Island knows about it because, well, it’s not on Staten Island.
Dancing again at MSG
What, you thought I wasn’t going chalk at the Garden? In the words of Chad Ochocinco, child please. I picked upsets early; I’m allowed to go favorites late. Anyway, Lincoln and Boys & Girls were clearly the PSAL’s best this season, at least when the Kangaroos were at full strength.
The Railsplitters didn’t have problems with Jefferson during the regular season and they won’t have any issues with them with MSG on the line. The Sea Gulls won’t have the depth or ball handlers to deal with The High’s constant pressure and wave of versatile forwards.
Neither semifinal is very competitive in the second half, which I complain about to anyone within ear shot though I have been secretly rooting for such results to make deadline. Postgame interviews are fun as usual with Lincoln coach Dwayne (Tiny) Morton, who tells me I’m a “Boys High fan” for the 20th time this year as assistant Kenny Pretlow laughs hysterically.
Albany here they come
NYPost.com live blog breaks new records as MSG and PSAL don’t allow any spectators, for fear of repeat of 2007 brawl, which makes me feel important. Game is a classic, two teams trade leads at least a dozen times, and coaches go out for drinks afterward, agree I’m a Boys High fan.
Lincoln prevails, for the eighth time in 10 years, as the best backcourt in the city – senior Shaquille Stokes and freshman Isaiah Whitehead – make the key plays late and Boys & Girls struggles with Railsplitters size. Morton says Stokes is the best player ever to come out of Coney Island, even though he lives in Harlem. He shakes my hand after victory, says he’ll accept me as an honorary member of Railsplitter Nation.
Told I picked Lincoln to win, he ends interview, saying again I’m a Boys High fan. Pretlow is still laughing, even more hysterically.