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CHSAA girls basketball rankings

The playoffs are upon us.

The CHSAA Archdiocesan postseason is underway and Brooklyn/Queens gets started this week. Molloy and St. John Villa each won third-place tiebreakers improving their chances for diocesan and state crowns. St. Joseph Hill and Kelsey Carey will play at least one more game after getting coach Jenny Driscoll her first playoff win.

Here are the rankings entering the playoffs:

1. Nazareth (15-2) (Last week: 1)

Wearing socks that read “I Love Haters,” Sadie Edwards turned in one of her best performances of the season in a home win over Christ the King. The junior guard poured in 21 of her 28 points in the first half, scoring inside and out. The top-seeded Lady Kingsmen now await the winner of a game between Christ the King and Bishop Loughlin in the CHSAA Brooklyn/Queens playoffs.

Next: No. 5 Bishop Loughlin/No. 4 Christ the King, CHSAA Brooklyn/Queens semifinals (March 1, 6:30 p.m. @ Bishop Ford)

2. Bishop Ford (20-4) (2)

The Falcons have now won 20 games twice in Mike Toro’s three years on the bench and are the second seed going into the CHSAA Brooklyn/Queens playoffs. Toro has never been to a diocesan or Catholic state final and that’s the next step if Ford is going to make a trip to Albany. Senior center Brittany (Pookie) Martin could be a big factor down the stretch.

Next: St. Francis Prep, CHSAA Brooklyn/Queens quarterfinals (Feb. 28, 7 p.m. @ St. Francis Prep

3. Archbishop Molloy (17-8) (4)

Carolyn Gallagher has made a habit of these dominant spurts. The junior star put a tough three quarters behind her, hulked up and scored nine of her 13 points in the fourth quarter, including seven straight to lead the Stanners to a third-place tiebreaker win over Christ the King. They also took down PSAL power John F. Kennedy in a non-league contest.

Next: No. 7 Mary Louis (Feb. 28, 5:30 p.m. @ St. Francis Prep)

4. Christ the King (12-13) (3)

Bob Mackey called a third-place tiebreaker loss to Archbishop Molloy “disgusting.” Sierra Calhoun was again sensational, scoring 24 points, and CK held a 10-point lead in the fourth. It stopped defending and the turnovers mounted in an eventual loss, its second of the week. The Royals now face a Bishop Loughlin team — that just beat them — in the CHSAA Brooklyn/Queens quarterfinals.

Next: No. 5 Bishop Loughlin, CHSAA Brooklyn/Queens quarterfinals (Feb. 28, 4 p.m. @ St. Francis Prep.)

5. Bishop Loughlin (11-11) (5)

Coach Kasim Alston and his players have talked all season about earning respect and making believers out of people. A late season win over Christ the King certainly did that. A Royals team looking for revenge stands in their way from a semifinal berth. Loughlin’s seniors Ayanna Ratliff and Nyree Alston closed the season strong. Will that carry into the postseason?

Next: No. 4 Christ the King, CHSAA Brooklyn/Queens quarterfinals (Feb. 28, 4 p.m. @ St. Francis Prep)

6. Moore Catholic (18-5) (6)

The Mavericks have had some time to get back to practice and right the ship a bit. Tuesday they start their path to a possible fourth straight CHSAA Archdiocesan crown and second at the ‘AA’ level. If there are two kids you don’t want to face in a playoffs game it’s Christina Rubin and Jamie O’Hare as those close out their careers.

Next: St. Joseph Hill, CHSAA Archdiocesan semifinals (Feb. 28, 5 p.m. @ Moore Catholic)

7. Mary Louis (10-14) (7)

For the first time in four tries Mary Louis didn’t pick up a victory against Long Island Lutheran in a 66-59 defeat. The Hilltoppers were prepping to attempt to make a run at a CHSAA Class A state title and trip to Albany. That quest may have taken a hit when Queen College-bound forward Elizabeth Gully landed awkwardly on her leg, left the LuHi game and did not return.

Next: No. 3 Archbishop Molloy, CHSAA Brooklyn/Queens quarterfinals (Feb.28, 5:30 p.m. @ St. Francis Prep)

8. Cardinal Spellman (20-5) (8)

The strength for Cardinal Spellman all season has been its depth. That was again put on display with Maria Backman and Onia Webb in foul trouble against Notre Dame Academy in the diocesan tournament. Reserved guard Teresa Tartarone scored 13 of her 23 points in the fourth quarter of an eventual 55-43 win. A tough game with St. John Villa awaits in the semifinals.

Next: No. 10 St. John Villa, Archdiocesan semifinal (Feb. 28, 5 p.m.)

9. St. Joseph Hill (15-10) (9)

The Hilltoppers, who did not qualify for the Catholic state tournament, were not ready to let their season end. Kelsey Carey poured in 25 points and grabbed 15 rebounds and Brittany Spoto dropped in 10 of her own in an Archdiocesan quarterfinal win over Maria Regina. The task only gets tougher as Hill get top-seeded Moore Catholic next.

Next: @ No. 6 Moore Catholic, CHSAA Archdiocesan semifinals (Feb. 28, 5 p.m.)

10. St. John Villa (16-9) (10)

Villa took advantage of a unique situation beating Maria Regina in a third-place tiebreaker after losing to them twice during the regular season. Danielle Iacampo scored 16 points and 12 rebounds. The Bears carried the momentum in a balanced performance in a win over St. Joseph by the Sea in the Archdiocesan quarterfinals.

Next: No. 9 St. Joseph Hill, CHSAA Archdiocesan quarterfinals (Feb. 25, 5 p.m.)

On the bubble: Bishop Kearney (13-10), St. Joseph by the Sea (11-12), Fontbonne Hall (12-5), St. John’s Prep (10-4) St. Edmund (9-8) and Preston (18-4)