Sports

NYC boys basketball rankings

Throw out the last three months. Forget who beat who. The playoffs are here. The next two weeks’ heroes will be made and memorable moments created. The PSAL and CHSAA Class AA playoffs will each be down to four teams by next Sunday and the lower levels will either decide their champions or get pretty close.

Before the madness begins, catch up with our latest rankings, which has plenty of upheaval. Thomas Jefferson takes over the top spot after Christ the King’s loss to Bishop Loughlin in the Brooklyn/Queens playoffs. Boys & Girls follows at No. 2 and B/Q champion Holy Cross is No. 3. For the complete rundown, read below:

1. Thomas Jefferson (22-6) (Last week: 1)

The Orange Wave is the hunted, the top seed in the PSAL Class AA playoffs. They are expected to get to Madison Square Garden, a dangerous proposition for a team that excelled as an underdog during the regular season. Jefferson was No. 1 in the Brooklyn borough playoffs and needed huge rallies to get by South Shore in the semifinals and Boys High in the finals. Playing from behind is tricky this time of year, when a few bad bounces equal crushing heartbreak.

Next: Robeson, PSAL Class AA second round (Feb. 29, 5 p.m.)

2. Boys & Girls (20-6) (3)

The Kangaroos have the right seed in the PSAL Class AA playoffs. Each of the last two years, they were second en route to winning city titles. Boys High is No. 2 yet again, hoping the number works its magic a third time.

Next: Gompers, PSAL Class AA second round (Feb. 29, 5 p.m.)

3. Holy Cross (22-4) (8)

Holy Cross is every bit the surprise in the CHSAA as Jefferson is in the PSAL. The Knights lost current Division I players Evan Conti (Quinnipiac) and Marcus Hopper (Siena), spent much of the year without star Marquise Moore, yet won their first Brooklyn/Queens crown since 2007.

Next: St. Peter’s/Molloy, CHAAA Class AA intersectional quarterfinals (March 4, TBA @ Fordham University)

4. St. Raymond (18-9) (9)

Joe Lods may want an asterisk next to the Ravens’ wins over Boys & Girls and Lincoln because the two PSAL superpowers weren’t at full strength, but the victories gave St. Raymond the jolt of confidence it needed. It gave rhe Bronx dynamo momentum heading into the Archdiocesan tournament and the Ravens are now red-hot after winning its first such crown in seven years.

Next: Xaverian/All Hallows, CHSAA Class AA intersectional quarterfinals (March 4, TBA 2 Fordham University)

5. Lincoln (17-9) (5)

Of the many positives that could be taken from Lincoln’s 51-45 loss to New Jersey powerhouse St. Anthony last week, the most important was the play of junior point guard Ethan Telfair. He had 11 points and eight assists in the setback, creating for himself and others. And most telling, he did so with sensational sophomore Isaiah Whitehead back from a left ankle sprain. If the two can both play at a high level this postseason, Lincoln will be hard to stop.

Next: Beach Channel, PSAL Class AA second round (Feb. 28, 5 p.m.)

6. Christ the King (18-7) (1)

The Royals’ Brooklyn/Queens reign came to an end last week in a disappointing loss to Bishop Loughlin. But as coach Joe Arbitello said afterward, a postseason loss was going to happen eventually – and better in the diocesan playoffs than the intersectionals. If anything, the setback could prepare Christ the King, which was red-hot at the time, for the one-and-done format.

Next: Archbishop Stepinac, CHSAA Class AA intersectional second round (March 1, 7:45 p.m. @ St. Francis Prep)

7. Cardinal Hayes (22-4) (4)

It wasn’t so much that the Cardinals lost as the Ravens won in the Archdiocesan semifinals last week as Hayes fell to St. Raymond for the first time in three meetings. It was a classic clash and possibly not the last one this year either. If all goes as expected, the two foes could meet again in the intersectional semifinals. Who’s not rooting for that?

Next:
St. Francis Prep, CHSAA Class AA intersectional second round (Feb. 29, 6 p.m. @ Christ the King)

8. South Shore (18-8) (6)

The PSAL did the Vikings no favors with their seeding. First off, they are No. 7 – way too low in our estimation – and second they have to host dangerous John F. Kennedy, the Bronx borough champion. Kennedy and South Shore are both quarterfinal quality clubs – only one will reach the final eight however.

Next: John F. Kennedy, PSAL Class AA second round (Feb. 29, 5 p.m.)

9. Wings Academy (24-3) (7)

Much has been made of Wings’ dissatisfaction with facing Bronx AA rival Eagle Academy for a third time in the PSAL Class AA second round. While the Eagles are familiar with Wings and it is hard to beat a team three times, Wings knows Eagle very well, too.

Next: Eagle Academy, PSAL Class AA second round (Feb. 29, 6:30 p.m.)

10. Mount St. Michael (20-7) (NR)

Hard-nosed, resilient and clutch, the Mountaineers nearly won the Archdiocesan crown before falling to St. Raymond, 60-58, on Saturday. It’s been a memorable first year in Class AA for Mount, which has a bye into the intersectional quarterfinals. There, coach Tom Fraher’s club will likely see two-time defending champion Christ the King. The Royals will have their hands full.

Next: No. 6 Christ the King/Stepinac, CHSAA Class AA intersectional quarterfinals (March 4, TBA @ Fordham University)

New: Mount St. Michael (20-7)

Dropped out: Xaverian (17-9)

On the bubble: Bishop Loughlin (13-13), Xaverian (17-9), Cardozo (23-6), Wadleigh (22-6), Bayside (20-5) and John F. Kennedy (19-9)

zbraziller@nypost.com