The seeding is out, the borough playoffs are over. It’s time for the real postseason. Well, not for the PSAL’s power brokers. The lesser programs take the court first this week in outbracket games.
Though the top seeds won each borough, there were some surprises this week such as Kennedy reaching The Bronx final and McKee/Staten Island Tech winning its first Staten Island High School league crown by knocking off rival Curtis and Catholic power St. Peter’s.
As a result, those two move into The Post’s PSAL boys basketball rankings top 10, replacing Curtis and Forest Hills.
1. Lincoln (24-2) (Last week: 1)
When you consider the Railsplitters have arguably the best big man (Kamari Murphy); the best guard (Shaquille Stokes); and best freshman (Isaiah Whitehead), maybe it shouldn’t be all that surprising to see Lincoln atop our rankings. Throw in experienced coach Dwayne (Tiny) Morton and a solid supporting cast and the Coney Island dynamo is tough to beat for a reason.
Next: Gompers/Beach Channel, PSAL Class AA second round (Marc h 1, 5 p.m.)
2. Boys & Girls (20-6) (2)
Receiving the second seed in the PSAL Class AA playoffs isn’t necessarily crushing – Boys & Girls received the same seed last winter too – but the road back to Madison Square Garden is filled with possible potholes. The Kangaroos can meet dangerous South Shore in the quarterfinals and loaded Wings Academy in the semis. Neither is an easy task.
Next: Campus Magnet/Manhattan Center, PSAL Class AA second round (March 1, 5 p.m.)
3. Wings Academy (22-2) (3)
The Wings completed their Bronx dominance on Saturday with a 73-54 rout of rival Kennedy, claiming their second straight borough crown and fourth in five years. But Bronx glory isn’t what Wings had in mind for this season – it wants to get to Madison Square Garden for the first time. Lincoln and Boys & Girls are the favorites to get there, but Wings, one of the most complete and well-rounded teams in the entire city, is next in line.
Next: Curtis/Thurgood Marshall Academy, PSAL Class AA second round (March 2, 5:30 p.m.)
4. Cardozo (25-1) (4)
The Judges may be the most underrated 25-1 team in the history of New York City basketball. That’s partly the result of the soft schedule coach Ron Naclerio compiled, but it is also a snub to Queens. Cardozo will have the chance to show the entire city what is made of soon enough.
Next: Eagle Academy/Transit Tech, PSAL Class AA second round (March 2, 5 p.m.)
5. Wadleigh (23-5) (5)
It’s always a pleasure to cover the Tigers if for no other reason than to speak with coach Mike Crump afterward. Postgame interviews often evolve into the hilarious Crump doing his standup routine. This winter, he’s a secondary reason to see Wadleigh; his undersized yet talented and tough team is capable of going deep in the PSAL Class AA playoffs.
Next: McKee/Staten Island Tech/Thomas Edison, PSAL Class AA second round (March 3, 5 p.m.)
6. South Shore (15-12) (8)
Danny Thompson is a rare commodity on South Shore: a contributing senior. The Vikings are loaded with talented youngsters, be it juniors, sophomores or freshman. But the 5-foot-11 Thompson is arguably their most important piece, and he showed it during the Brooklyn borough playoffs, particularly his 29-point performance in a 55-51 win over Robeson.
Next: John F. Kennedy/Martin Van Buren, PSAL Class AA second round (March 1, 5 p.m.)
7. Thomas Jefferson (15-12) (6)
It’s hard to fault the Orange Wave for their effort Saturday in a 78-61 loss to Lincoln in the Brooklyn borough championship game since it was Jefferson’s third game in as many days. The East New York school has played well of late and made a nice late run against the powerhouse Railsplitters before coming up short.
Next: Bayside/Martin Van Buren, PSAL Class AA second round (March 3, 5 p.m.)
8. John F. Kennedy (16-9) (NR)
The Knights have talked about how important the late-season additions of Darius Ward and Anthony (Face) Givens was to their resurgence and run to The Bronx borough finals, but getting back guard Carlos DeJesus shouldn’t go overlooked. The slick, sharp-shooting junior was Kennedy’s best player in Saturday’s 73-54 loss to Wings Academy and will be paramount to the Knights’ playoff success.
Next: Martin Van Buren, PSAL Class AA first round (Feb. 17, 5 p.m.)
9. McKee/Staten Island Tech (20-8) (NR)
The Seagulls’ run to their first Staten Island High School League title is a story that writes itself. Star senior Josh Good missed virtually the entire season with academic ineligibility, returns for the postseason and after a few quiet performances, explodes for 20 points in the title game. Remarkably, there is a chapter still left to be written as Good leads MSIT into the PSAL Class AA playoffs as the 11th seed.
Next: Thomas Edison, PSAL Class AA first round (Feb. 17, 5 p.m.)
10. Midwood (23-3) (7)
The Hornets failed their greatest test, hardly showing up in a 75-42 loss to Thomas Jefferson in the Brooklyn borough quarterfinals. The setback doesn’t mean Midwood isn’t ready for the PSAL Class A playoffs (it’s seeded first). It faced one of Class AA’s best teams in a small and loud gym when everything that could go wrong did. In the least, it will serve as a wakeup call for the citywide playoffs.
Next: Newtown/Riverdale/Kingsbridge Academy, PSAL Class A second round (March 1, 5 p.m.)
New: John F. Kennedy (16-9) and McKee/Staten Island Tech (20-8)
Dropped out: Curtis (20-8) and Forest Hills (14-10)
On the bubble: Acorn (17-7), Bayside (15-10), Columbus (18-2), Curtis (20-8), Eagle Academy (18-6), Forest Hills (14-10), Gompers (12-10), Long Island City (22-2), Robeson (12-12) and Smith (20-6)