South Shore is No. 1 and the rest? Well that’s up in the air.
We moved Murry Bergtraum up to No. 2 this week, but there a number of teams that could claim that spot. No. 7 Banneker beat Bergtraum, No. 6 Francis Lewis beat Banneker and No. 4 Truman beat Francis Lewis. Truman also beat No. 5 John F. Kennedy this week and fell to Bergtraum. Then you have Lincoln, which pushed South Shore and Bergtraum to the brink in a span of three days.
Get all that? Maybe below it’ll seem a little less confusing:
1. South Shore (8-1) (Last week: 1)
Fannisha Price was dominant with 18 points and Aliyah Cooley had 10 points in a 43-38 win over St. Frances (Md.) at the Festival of the Phoenix event Saturday at University (N.J.) HS. With wins over Lincoln and Francis Lewis to follow up last week’s victory over Bergtraum, South Shore is clearly the PSAL’s top team.
Next: Bishop McGuinness (N.C.), Diamond State Classic (Dec. 27, 2:15 p.m.)
2. Murry Bergtraum (4-4) (3)
Ashanae McLaughlin had 19 points and three big 3-pointers in the third quarter and Shequana Harris had 18 points in a 52-48 win Friday over scrappy Lincoln. Bergtraum fell Sunday to Mary Louis and has lost twice in league play. But the Lady Blazers are improving and have already beaten Truman.
Next: @ Manhattan Center (Dec. 21, 5 p.m.)
3. MSIT (8-1) (5)
Kaitlyn Astel had 18 points in a 38-33 win over A.N. Myer (Ontario) in the KSA Holiday Classic fifth-place game Saturday. She’s closing in on 1,000 points for her career and MSIT won two of three games down in Orlando, Fla. This week is a biggie: Wednesday versus Curtis with early Island bragging rights on the line.
Next: No. 8 Curtis (Dec. 21, 6 p.m.)
4. Truman (7-3) (7)
Joella Gibson had 21 points and Krystal Pearson had 19 points in a huge, 58-56 win over John F. Kennedy on Wednesday. It was the first time in coach John Burke’s 10-year tenure that the Mustangs have won on the Knights home floor. Truman fell to Long Island Lutheran on Sunday, but were scrappy in defeat.
Next: No. 7 Banneker (Dec. 23, 5 p.m.)
5. John F. Kennedy (6-4) (2)
Deaisia Acklin had 22 points, but Kennedy fell to rival Truman in PSAL league play Wednesday. The Knights have looked good at times this season and had a 12-point lead at halftime against Truman. Coach O’Neil Glenn was not pleased with the result of that game and promised changes.
Next: Manhattan Center (Dec. 19, 5 p.m.)
6. Francis Lewis (3-4) (9)
Tyese Purvis had 21 points and Jasmine Davis had 15 points in a 51-46 win Monday against Banneker. But Lewis could not build on that in losses to South Shore and St. John the Baptist (L.I.). The Patriots were in both games, though, and are still a dangerous team in the PSAL moving forward.
Next: Brooklyn Collegiate (Dec. 21, 5 p.m.)
7. Banneker (5-1) (4)
Africa Williams dropped 30 points, but didn’t have much support Monday in a loss to Francis Lewis. Senior point guard Jenipher Rodriguez has shown she is the key to the team and she was slowed in the second half of that game by kidney stones. When those two are clicking together, Banneker can beat anyone.
Next: @ No. 4 Truman (Dec. 23, 5 p.m.)
8. Curtis (7-2) (8)
Danielle Leguillou had 17 points in a 51-42 win over Tottenville on Tuesday. She’s been a surprise. The Warriors also fell this week to powerhouse Long Island Lutheran – Bob Daggett has never been shy about challenging his teams. It’ll get a big test Wednesday against McKee/Staten Island Tech.
Next: Petrides (Dec. 19, 4:45 p.m.)
9. Lincoln (5-4) (6)
The Railsplitters are No. 9 this week, but they could have easily been No. 1. Lincoln lost, 44-43, to South Shore on Wednesday and then 52-48 to Murry Bergtraum on Friday. Lincoln is very mentally tough and will be a problem for each and every team it meets this year in the PSAL.
Next: Bishop Loughlin, Chicken Murphy Memorial Classic (Dec. 30, 3 p.m. @ Bergtraum)
10. New Dorp (4-2) (NR)
Jackie Rupelli had 22 points – she’s become one of the Island’s best players – and New Dorp beat Midwood, 54-49, on Saturday. That victory came just a little more than a week after fifth-year coach Alex Immella stepped down for family reasons. Assistant Mike Padmore has taken over the transition has been seamless early.
Next: @ Staten Island Academy, Lady Tigers Holiday Tournament (Dec. 27, 7 p.m.)
New: New Dorp (4-2)
Dropped out: Manhattan Center (1-6)
On the bubble: Midwood (4-6), Tottenville (6-3), Medgar Evers (2-3), Lab Museum United (8-0) and Beacon (9-2)