NYCHoops.net Top Ten Girl Teams (Week 11)
The end of the regular season is now upon us as most everyone across New York State will be playing their final games before the playoffs begin next week.
What that means is that there is just a few more chances to make a name for yourself in the NYCHoops.net Girls Top Ten before the postseason starts, and then it becomes win or go home in what is one of the best times of the year.
There were some big games this past week, and some more big ones ahead over the next 7 days as well so let's take on more look now at what to expect before we head into playoff play in the new and updated girls rankings.
1) Cicero-North Syracuse- After a solid trip down to NYC, the Northstars continued to dominate the local Section 3 competition as on Tuesday they went on the road to Nottingham and easily took a 69-38 win. Forward Amani Free '18 had 23 points and 12 rebounds, and sharpshooting guard Beth Bonin '16 added 16 points. Friday was senior night for Cicero and it was a big day for guard McKayla Roberts '16 as in her last regular season home game she scored her 1,000th point and led the team with 19 points in CNS's 88-34 victory. The final regular season game for the Northstars comes this Tuesday when they head on the road to play Fayetteville-Manlius
2) Jamesville-DeWitt- Two games and two blowout victories this past week for the favorites in Class "A" in New York State this season. The Red Rams were up 22-2 after one quarter on Tuesday and ended up cruising past Mexico on the road 65-20 as guard Carly O'Hern '16 had 16 points to lead the way. Friday was another one sided affair as J-D was up 40-7 at the half and blew right back Fulton 78-24 in a game that saw forward Julia Kelner '17 and guard Kasey Vaughan '18 each score 13 points apiece to lead the way. Just one more regular season game left for Jamesville-Dewitt and that will take place on Tuesday at home against Cortland.
3) Ossining- You have to be impressed with the way Ossining reloaded this season and are once again among the favorites to bring home a Class "AA" State Championship. On Tuesday the Pride hosted Peekskill, and with forward Kailah Harris '19 scoring 33 points and grabbing 16 rebounds, Ossining was able to pull away for a 103-76 victory in a game that also saw senior wing Shadeen Samuels '16 go for 29 points and 15 rebounds. A trip to Panas was awaiting on Thursday and another freshman in forward Aubrey Griffin '19 led the Pride with 39 points and 11 rebounds in an 86-40 victory. It was the 81st straight Section 1 win for Ossining as they continue to dominate the region. No games on the schedule this week for the Pride as they await the Section 1 playoffs which begin next week.
4) Long Island Lutheran- With guard Sarah Mortensen '16 out with an injury this past week, LuHi had to survive a scare at home on Tuesday against Msgr. Scanlan. The Crusaders were down 7 heading into the half, but a 4th quarter rally allowed Long Island Lutheran to take a lead with just over a minute to play and hold on from there for the 66-62 win. Celeste Taylor '19 had 26 points from her backcourt position, while fellow guard Grace Stone '18 added 17 points as well in the victory. Saturday saw LuHi host the Coaches Choice Showcase and in it they defeated Allentown (NJ) handily 68-39 with Stone scoring 21 points to lead the way. The week ended for LuHi on Sunday as they hosted, and easily defeated Troy from Upstate New York, 49-24. Finland native guard Marika Korpinen '18 had 13 points and 6 assists to pace the Crusaders in the win. This coming week will see a highly anticipated matchup when LuHi heads to Queens on Friday to take on Christ the King, and then on Sunday it's a home date with the PSAL's Boys and Girls.
5) Baldwin- The week started out with a pair of blowout league wins as on Monday the Lady Bruins easily dispatched of Plainview JFK at home 75-31 as forward Lames El Gammal '16 had 19 points and 10 rebounds, and guards Aziah Hudson '18 and Jenna Annecchiarico '18 each had 18 points as well in the win. Thursday saw El Gammal and fellow forward Meaghan George '17 both go for 11 points and 10 rebounds in a 71-32 destruction of Valley Stream Central on the road. Saturday closed the week out for Baldwin when they played at LuHi at the Coaches Choice Showcase where they dismantled Roselle Catholic from New Jersey with ease 61-31 in a game that had Annecchiarico and Hudson both led the way with 14 points each. There is just one more regular season game left for Baldwin as they travel to East Meadow on Tuesday before the start of the Nassau County playoffs next week.
6) St. Anthony's- It was supposed to be 2 games this past week for the Friars, but a big snowfall on Long Island caused Friday's game against Holy Trinity to be moved back a couple weeks so it was just a big 55-24 road victory over St. Dominic this past week for St. Anthony's. It was a real balanced effort as 11 Friars got in the scorebook led by the 8 points a piece of guards Etalyia Vogt '16, Maia Moffitt '17, and Lauren Hackett '18. This week will see St. Anthony's try to get in 2 games as on Tuesday they will host Sacred Heart, and then on Friday it's a road trip to take on Mercy to close the week.
7) South Shore- Congratulations to the Lady Vikings as they are the first team in New York State to get to the 20 win mark this season, and they were also awarded the #1 seed in the upcoming PSAL Girls Class "AA" playoffs, though those playoffs don't start for South Shore until March 1st, so they will definitely have time on their hands. This past week was busy though to close our league play as they defeated Boys and Girls at home 57-50 with wing Earlette Scott '18 scoring 20 points, and guard Valena Hickerson '17 adding 14 to lead the way. Friday saw a trip to Midwood and once again it was Hickerson who paced the Lady Vikings with 19 points in a 53-42 victory. Two non-league games closed out the week with a 53-24 blowout of St. Mary's on Saturday at the Coaches Choice Showcase at LuHi, and then it was a 58-32 win over Nazareth at Super Ball Sunday at the Brooklyn Stuy Dome in a game that saw forward Selena Philoxy '17 lead South Shore with 14 points and 11 rebounds in a very strong effort.
8) Bishop Loughlin- It's a bit of a drop for the Lady Lions and that was caused by a 62-57 loss this past Tuesday on the road at Archbishop Molloy. How you respond to losses can tell more about a team though than any win and less than 24 hours late Loughlin took on The Mary Louis Academy at home, a team who had handily beaten them earlier in the season. Not this day though as guard Milicia Reid '17 had her best game of the season going off for a season high 30 points and 10 assists in a 78-67 victory. Reid wasn't done there as she then scored 24 points in Saturday's 61-39 victory over Holmdel (NJ) at the Coaches Choice Showcase in a game that also had guard Lynette Taitt '17 score 13 points and grab 7 rebounds as well. This week will just see Bishop Loughlin have one game, but it's a big one as on Saturday they will travel to Queens to take on Christ the King in a game with major playoff implications.
9) Christ the King- Having beaten Capital Prep of Connecticut the week before in CT, the Trailblazers came to Middle Village, Queens for a return match against the Royals as a part of the Christ the King Apparel Challenge that took place this past Saturday. It was CK's only game of the week, and while they were pushed late, forward Ashlie Howell '16 had a big time game with 19 points, 10 rebounds, and 7 assists to help lead the Royals to a 79-74 victory. Guards Sydney Zambrotta '16 and Kaela Kinder '16 each added 16 points apiece at well in an impressive victory for Christ the King. This week the Royals will be very busy as they finish out the regular season with 4 tough games. Tuesday will see CK host Nazareth, then on Wednesday it's a trip to Holy Cross H.S. to take on The Mary Louis Academy, Friday will then see a non-league date at home with our #4 team Long Island Lutheran, and then on Saturday to finish things out it will be a game with our #8 Bishop Loughlin team in a matchup to be played at Christ the King.
10) Shenendehowa- After two rough games at The Mecca down in the Bronx, Shenendehowa was hoping to have an easy test this past Tuesday at Shaker, but it proved to be anything but easy. It was a tight game throughout, but guard Carly Boland '16 hit big shot after big shot when her Plainsmen team needed it most, scoring 23 points in the game to help Shen pull out a 52-48 tough league road victory. That certainly seemed to have gotten the Plainsmen back on track as on Friday they were able to blow right by Niskayuna at home 71-42 in a game that saw Boland again have 23 points, while wing Sydney Brown '17 added 13 points as Shenendehowa are once again seemingly clicking on all cylinders. This Tuesday will see the Plainsmen have their senior night as they host a solid Saratoga Springs team in Shen's last regular season game with the Section 2 playoffs due to start next week.
On The Bubble:
Cardinal O'Hara
Penfield
Binghamton
Francis Lewis
The Mary Louis Academy
