Postseason champions will be crowned in the coming weeks and the road to Albany begins.
Can anyone stop No. 1 Nazareth from repeating as state Federation Class AA champions? Will Bishop Ford and South Shore finally claim an elusive title or will old favorites Murry Bergtraum and Christ the King rise to the occasion? Can Mary Louis erase a disappointing year with a run in the Catholic Class A tournament? Will Spellman upset Moore Catholic again for an Archdiocesan crown? All those questions and others will be answered soon enough.
For now, here are this week’s rankings:
1. Nazareth (15-2) (Last week: 1)
The quest for a second straight state Federation Class AA title gets underway this week as the Lady Kingsmen await the Christ the King/Loughlin winner in the Brooklyn/Queens semifinals. They enter the postseason off a win and a strong performance from Sadie Edwards against Christ the King. She could be a huge factor in a return trip to Albany.
Next: No. 4 Christ the King/No. 5 Bishop Loughlin, CHSAA Brooklyn/Queens semifinals (March 1, 6:30 p.m. @ Bishop Ford)
2. Bishop Ford (20-4) (2)
The Falcons are unbeaten at home this season and the CHSAA Brooklyn/Queens semifinals are in Park Slope this season. That can’t be a good thing for the Archbishop Molloy/Mary Louis winner. Coach Mike Toro has never been to a diocesan final in his three years at the helm. He and his team will look to change that this week. Could a rematch with Nazareth await?
Next: St. Francis Prep, CHSAA Brooklyn/Queens quarterfinals (Feb. 28, TBA @ St. Francis Prep)
3. Archbishop Molloy (17-8) (4)
The Stanners have already exceeded what they accomplished last year by earning a spot in the Class AA tournament. They earned a third-place finish in CHSAA Brooklyn/Queens by beating Christ the King in a tiebreaker last week. First-year coach Scott Lagas and Co. will try to keep that going and earn a berth in the diocesan semifinals.
Next: No. 7 Mary Louis (Feb. 28, 5:30 p.m. @ St. Francis Prep)
4. Christ the King (12-13) (3)
Sierra Calhoun again showed everyone why she is one of the city’s best players. The sophomore scored a career-high 30 points against Nazareth and had 24 versus Archbishop Molloy. Both were losses as CK couldn’t find a complementary scorer. The Royals still have some time to find one as they face Bishop Loughlin in the diocesan quarterfinals.
Next: No. 5 Bishop Loughlin, CHSAA Brooklyn/Queens quarterfinals (Feb. 28, 4 p.m. @ St. Francis Prep.)
5. Bishop Loughlin (11-11) (5)
The Lions haven’t played since they ended the regular season with an upset of Christ the King. It’s the Royals who stand in their way from reaching the CHSAA Brooklyn/Queens semifinals. Rust could be a factor, but expect Jasmine Alston, Imani Tate and Co. to play with plenty of energy. Loughlin has been one of the city’s hungriest teams all season.
Next: No. 4 Christ the King, CHSAA Brooklyn/Queens quarterfinals (Feb. 28, 5:30 @ St. Francis Prep)
6. Moore Catholic (18-5) (6)
The fine careers of Jamie O’Hare and Christina Rubin will come to a close soon, but the Division I duo has some business to take care of before then. Rubin can win her fourth straight Archdiocesan crown and second at the ‘AA’ level with two more wins. Then they will try to pick up a few wins in the Catholic Class AA state tournament.
Next: St. Joseph Hill, CHSAA Archdiocesan semifinals (Feb. 28, 5 p.m. @ Moore Catholic)
7. Mary Louis (10-14) (7)
A few playoff wins could erase the sting of a disappointing season for Mary Louis, which included a loss to LuHi last week. The Hilltoppers have been to three straight CHSAA Brooklyn/Queens finals and will try to make it a fourth. They will likely do so without senior forward Elisabeth Gully, who hurt her knee against the Crusaders.
Next: No. 3 Archbishop Molloy, CHSAA Brooklyn/Queens quarterfinals (Feb.28, 5:30 p.m. @ St. Francis Prep)
8. South Shore (20-5) (8)
The Vikings ended the regular season with a blowout win against Trenton (N.J.) Central at the Prime Events Shootout. Now Fannisha Price, Jenice Winter and Co. turn their attention to their elusive PSAL Class AA city title. The playoffs finally get underway this week and the top-seeded Vikings will settle for nothing less than hoisting the trophy.
Next: Banneker/Midwood, PSAL Class AA quarterfinals (March 3, 5 p.m. @ Hunter College)
9. Murry Bergtraum (15-7) (9)
This is the time of year the Lady Blazers have been working all season for. Bergtraum is again one of the favorites to head to Madison Square Garden, its home away from home. There it will try to win a 14th straight PSAL Class AA city title. Seniors Shequana Harris and Dionne Coe know nothing but hoisting hardware.
Next: Lincoln/Brooklyn Collegiate, PSAL Class AA quarterfinals (March 3, 11 a.m. @ Hunter College)
10. Spellman (20-5) (10)
Super sub Theresa Tartarone was just that for Spellman last week. She scored 13 of her 23 points in the fourth quarter of an eventual 55-43 win over Notre Dame Academy in the CHSAA Archdiocesan quarterfinals. The Pilots now have to beat St. John Villa for the second time this year to earn a trip to the finals and a possible rematch with Moore Catholic.
Next: St. John Villa, Archdiocesan semifinals (Feb. 28, 5 p.m.)
New: None
Dropped out: None
On the bubble: Truman (17-6), John F. Kennedy (17-8), Francis Lewis (12-9), McKee/Staten Island Tech (19-2), St. Joseph Hill (15-10) and St. John Villa (16-9)