NYC girls basketball power rankings (3/20/12)

No. 1 Nazareth (18-3)

Can Nazareth make it two straight New York State Federation Class AA titles and put a wonderful finishing touch on a season filled with tragedy? First the Lady Kingsmen will need to get by Breanna Stewart, the country’s top-rated senior, and Cicero-North Syracuse in the semifinals.

Next: Cicero-North Syracuse, NYS Federation Class AA semifinals @ Times Union Center (Friday, 2 p.m.)

No. 2 Christ the King (15-14)

The effort was there, but the execution at key times was a different story for the Royals, which lost to Nazareth, 52-47, in the CHSAA Class AA state semifinals. Still, with Sierra Calhoun, Kollyns Scarbrough and Taylor Butigian back, the future at Christ the King is bright.

Next: Season complete

No. 3 Moore Catholic (22-6)

First the Mavericks beat Bishop Ford and then Archbishop Molloy. But Moore couldn’t complete the B/Q trifecta, losing to Nazareth in the CHSAA Class AA state final. Jaime O’Hare (Lafayette) and Christina Rubin (Iona) will go on to play Division I ball having already put Moore on the tri-state map.

Next: Season complete

No. 4 Archbishop Molloy (19-10)

Carolyn Gallagher scored 20 points and Amani Tatum added 14, but the Stanners couldn’t rally from a slow start and fell to Moore Catholic, 52-47, in the CHSAA Class AA state semifinals.

Next: Season complete

No. 5 Murry Bergtraum (18-7)

In what will undoubtedly go down as Ed Grezinsky’s best coaching job of his storied career, Murry Bergtraum captured a 14th consecutive PSAL Class AA title Saturday, beating McKee/Staten Island Tech, 56-48, at Madison Square Garden. UNC Charlotte-bound Shequana Harris scored 22 points and garnered MVP honors.

Next: NYS Federation Class AA final @ Times Union Center (March 25, 2 p.m.)

No. 6 Bishop Ford (22-6)

A promising season full of state championship aspirations came to a premature end with a 58-51 loss to Moore Catholic in the CHSAA Class AA state quarterfinals. It’s not the way Brittany (Pookie) Martin and Shanice Vaughan wanted to end their high school careers.

Next: Season complete

No. 7 Bishop Loughlin (15-12)

With former teammate Tayshana (Chicken) Murphy on their minds, the Lions went out and beat Mary Louis twice – first for the CHSAA Class A city title and again for the state crown. It’s the first time Loughlin will compete in the New York State Federation tournament since losing in the Class D final in 1998.

Next: East (Rochester), NYS Federation Class A semifinals @ Times Union Center (Friday, 1:30 p.m.)

No. 8 McKee/Staten Island Tech (21-3)

Kaitlyn Astel had 13 points and Brenna DeRosa added 12 for MSIT, which put a scare into the Lady Blazers before falling, 56-48, in the PSAL Class AA title game at Madison Square Garden Saturday morning.

Next: Season complete

No. 9 Mary Louis (13-17)

The Hilltoppers had their chance to exact revenge after a loss to Loughlin in the CHSAA Class A city final, but fell to Loughlin again in the CHSAA Class A state final. In her final high school game, George Mason-bound Reana Mohamed led Mary Louis with 16 points.

Next: Season complete

No. 10 South Shore (21-6)

A third appearance in the PSAL Class AA title game in four years was not to be as the top-seeded Vikings were upset by McKee/Staten Island Tech in the semifinals. Marshall-bound Fannisha Price had 12 points in her final high school game.

Next: Season complete

No. 11 Cardinal Spellman (21-7)

Spellman fell to Mary Louis, 58-53, in the CHSAA Class A city semifinals. It was a much closer game than in the regular season, but it was still disappointing for Onia Webb and the Pilots.

Next: Season complete

No. 12 Francis Lewis (14-10)

The Patriots beat Murry Bergtraum late in the regular season, but couldn’t do it in the PSAL Class AA semifinals, falling 56-48 at St. John’s University. Tyese Purvis had 17 points and Jazmine Hamlet added 14 for Lewis.

Next: Season complete

No. 13 Truman (20-7)

Krystal Pearson’s stellar career has come to an end two games earlier than she would have liked as Truman fell to Francis Lewis, 47-34, in the PSAL Class AA quarterfinals.

Next: Season complete

No. 14 John F. Kennedy (17-10)

JFK has made the trip to the PSAL Class AA Final Four seven straight times. But that ended with a loss to McKee/Staten Island Tech in the quarterfinals at Hunter College.

Next: Season complete

No. 15 St. Joseph Hill (15-11)

Hill’s season came to an end with a lopsided loss to Moore Catholic in the Archdiocesan semifinals. Still, with star Kelsey Carey and point guard Brittany Spoto back, there’s good reason to be optimistic.

Next: Season complete

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