The PSAL season has 20 teams remaining — four in the ‘AA’ and eight apiece in the ‘A’ and ‘B.’
The PSAL Class AA playoffs has yet to see an upset, even if Sunday’s quarterfinals were memorable. For that reason, our top seven holds. There are changes as Forest Hills returns after pushing top-ranked Lincoln to the brink. By this time next week, we will have an ‘AA’ champion and the other two divisions will each be down to a final four.
Make sure you stop by to see all the latest movement in The Post’s PSAL boys basketball rankings.
1. Lincoln (27-2) (Last week: 1)
The Railsplitters came out sluggish and didn’t exactly finish with a flourish in their 50-42 victory over Forest Hills on Sunday. That’s a nod to Lincoln’s talent: It can play subpar basketball and still cruise to the ‘AA’ semifinals. Coach Dwayne (Tiny) Morton’s team will have to be much better – we’ll go out on a limb and predict it will be – to get by Cardozo on Wednesday.
Next: No. 6 Cardozo, Class AA semifinals @ CCNY (March 9, 7 p.m.)
2. Boys & Girls (22-6) (2)
If Mike Taylor was the star of last March for the Kangaroos, Antione Slaughter was right behind, making almost as many big shots. The point guard was working his March magic again Sunday, scoring all 12 of his points in the fourth quarter of Boys & Girls’ thrilling 57-54, come-from-behind win over South Shore.
Next: No. 4 Wings Academy, Class AA semifinals @ CCNY (March 9, 5 p.m.)
3. Wings Academy (25-3) (4)
Deonte Houston has spent a large part of this season out of the spotlight. He’s ceded to teammates like Amdy Fall, Gerrell Martin and Justin Jenkins. With his career on the line, Houston took charge by scoring 17 points and dishing out five assists in Sunday’s dramatic 47-44 win over Wadleigh in the quarterfinals. Wings will need the uncommitted senior to be even better Wednesday against defending champion Boys & Girls with a shot at Madison Square Garden on the line.
Next: No. 2 Boys & Girls, Class AA semifinals @ CCNY (March 9, 5 p.m.)
4. Cardozo (28-2) (6)
Ron Naclerio’s kids swear by him, even the ones he drives nuts. The longtime coach can be a handful, but players get better under his watch. How else to explain Shelton Mickell’s development as an all-city caliber guard and Tyrel Hunt from a spare part to all-borough performer and two-way difference maker? Naclerio and his staff deserve kudos for their development.
Next: No. 1 Lincoln, PSAL Class AA semifinals @ CCNY (March 9, 7 p.m.)
5. Wadleigh (24-5) (5)
There are no moral victories this time of year. Losses end seasons. Even so, Wadleigh coach Mike Crump and his players should be proud of their performance in Sunday’s 47-44 loss to Wings Academy, a heavy favorite in the quarterfinal. The Tigers pushed the Wings to the brink and would be playing Wednesday if not for six fourth-quarter shots rimming in and out.
Next: Season complete
6. South Shore (16-13) (6)
In time, the Vikings will forget about Sunday’s devastating loss to Boys & Girls in which they coughed up a 10-point lead with five minutes remaining. South Shore will remember its successful final two months of the season, its nice playoff run and get ready to be even better next year as coach Mike Beckles returns his entire team outside of senior Danny Thompson. The Vikings fell short this winter; next March will likely be another story.
Next: Season complete
7. Thomas Jefferson (16-13) (7)
Sunday’s 68-58 season-ending loss to Cardozo was emblematic of the Orange Wave’s inconsistent year: spurts of excellence and periods of dysfunction. It wasn’t good enough to get back to the semifinals and it’s what typified the uneven campaign.
Next: Season complete
8. Forest Hills (15-12) (NR)
On paper, the quarterfinal matchup between Lincoln and Forest Hills was a rout, one team loaded with Division I prospect and nationally ranked by USA Today against a plucky group not even expected to get past the second round. Yet, halfway through the fourth quarter, the Rangers were within one point, and fell by just eight, 50-42. It was a hard-nosed, gritty effort by a bunch of seniors playing without their coach, Ben Chobhaphand, who was suspended Feb. 15 for illegal recruiting.
Next: Season complete
9. John F. Kennedy (17-11) (8)
This was an un-Kennedy like season, from its six league losses to second-round exit in the ‘AA’ playoffs. Don’t expect that to continue next year, not with talented juniors Muhammed Ahmed, Carlos DeJesus, David Hardy and Darius Ward all back. Look out for the Knights next winter.
Next: Season complete
10. Midwood (25-3) (10)
The Hornets have to be scratching their heads: They earn the top seed in the Class A playoffs and their reward is No. 9 Brooklyn Collegiate in the quarterfinals? The Lions would’ve been a top seed if not for forfeiting six games because of an ineligible player. These are likely the two best teams in the ‘A.’ The contest is at Midwood, which is one positive for Bryan Smith, Enees Nikovic and Co.
Next: Brooklyn Collegiate, Class A quarterfinals (March 8, 5 p.m.)
New: Forest Hills (15-12)
Dropped out: McKee/Staten Island Tech (21-9)
On the bubble: Acorn (19-7), Bayside (16-11), Bedford Academy (22-5), Brooklyn Collegiate (16-10), Curtis (21-9), Gompers (13-11), Long Island City (24-2) and Robeson (13-13)