If the remainder of the CHSAA boys basketball season is anything like the last week in January, it will be a wild ride on the Road to Glens Falls.
No. 1 Rice lost its first league game of the year, a stunning upset at Holy Cross on Tuesday. No. 2 Christ the King was poised to take over the top spot, but the Royals fell at home to No. 3 Bishop Loughlin, and No. 5 Xaverian flexed its muscles in a surprising blowout of eighth-ranked St. Raymond.
Here’s how the entire top 10 shakes out.
1. Rice (14-3) (Last week: 1)
The Raiders did well to shake off a shocking loss at Holy Cross on Tuesday by beating PSAL powerhouses Boys & Girls and Cardozo on consecutive days to win the SNY Invitational, rallying from a 19-point, second-half deficit to beat the Judges. A year ago, a late-season loss to Xaverian seemed to revitalize Rice en route to the Class AA intersectional title. Will history repeat itself?
Next: No. 8 St. Raymond’s (Feb. 5, 7:30 p.m.)
2. Bishop Loughlin (14-4) (3)
The Lions roared in Middle Village Friday night, racing out to a 17-point lead to beat Christ the King, and avenging a loss in Fort Greene five days earlier. While Villanova-bound Jayvaughn Pinkston was huge in the opening eight minutes, role players Davonte Dunham and Kareem Canty stepped up down the stretch.
Next: @ Archbishop Molloy (Feb. 2, 4 p.m.)
3. Christ the King (13-4) (2)
Stymied by a slow start against Bishop Loughlin, Christ the King bounced back big on Saturday at the Prudential Center, beating a solid St. Peter’s Prep (N.J.) squad in the Newark National Invitational. We can’t wait for the showdown with Rice on Sunday, but first the Royals face a stingy St. Francis Prep squad.
Next: St. Francis Prep (Feb. 2, 7:30 p.m.)
4. All Hallows (10-6) (4)
The Gaels were the hottest team in the CHSAA a week ago, having won seven games in a row. Now, after a week without games, All Hallows gets back to the grind Tuesday with a league tilt against Holy Cross followed by a non-leaguer against Peekskill on Saturday.
Next: No. 6 Holy Cross (Feb. 2, 4 p.m.)
5. Xaverian (8-7) (5)
Jack Alesi has often said he doesn’t care about wins and losses during the regular season, that it just serves as a warm-up for the playoffs. With that in mind, it looks like the Clippers are right on track, especially after a 19-point blowout of St. Raymond Friday night.
Next: @ Thomas Edison (Feb. 3, 5:30 p.m.)
6. Holy Cross (13-6) (7)
The Knights had their most significant win since cutting down the nets at Fordham in the 2008-09 title game by beating defending champions Rice at home on Tuesday. Holy Cross followed that by beating Molloy, but took a step backward in a loss to Chaminade Sunday. Will the lesson be learned? We’ll find out this week.
Next: @ No. 4 All Hallows (Feb. 2, 4 p.m.)
7. St. Raymond’s (7-9) (8)
It was a mixed bag for the Ravens, who played three games in less than 72 hours. After a 19-point loss at Xaverian Friday night and a sluggish first half Saturday morning against University (N.J.), Oliver Antigua challenged his squad and they responded in an impressive win at the Prudential Center. That was followed by a loss to Germantown Academy (Pa.) Sunday afternoon in Allentown, Pa.
Next: @ No. 1 Rice (Feb. 5, 7:30 p.m.)
8. Mount St. Michael (15-3) (6)
Perhaps the quadruple-overtime loss to Fordham Prep was a harbinger of things to come. The Mountaineers were stunned on Wednesday, losing at Xavier on a rare four-point play. How will that loss affect Mount? Check in Tuesday when defending Class A intersectional champions Iona Prep come to The Bronx.
Next: Iona Prep (Feb. 2, 4 p.m.)
9. Cardinal Hayes (13-4) (9)
Hayes’ five-game winning streak was snapped Friday night in a 10-point loss to Archbishop Stepinac, but Joe Lods’ squad came back to beat a banged St. Agnes, 69-45, on Saturday afternoon. The Cardinals are still looking for that signature A-North victory, having lost to Iona Prep, Mount St. Michael and Stepinac.
Next: @ Cardinal Spellman (Feb. 2, 4 p.m.)
10. St. Peter’s (16-5) (10)
It wasn’t a pretty performance, but St. Peter’s did just enough to beat New Dorp, 51-49, Friday night and then crushed Port Richmond, 71-48, on Monday. The Eagles have clinched the second seed in the upcoming SIHSL tournament.
Next: SIHSL tournament vs. TBA (Feb. 7)
New: None
Dropped out: None
On the bubble: St. Francis Prep (10-9), Archbishop Molloy (7-10), Bishop Ford (14-5)