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THE WEEK OF DECEMBER 27, 2002
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While a host of high school cagers have basketballs and will travel over the holiday week, the Christ the King and Murry Bertraum lassies already have their No. 1 Christmas present tucked away—the Nike Tournament of Champions trophy.
Both the Lady Royals and the Lady Blazers won branches of the prestigious tournament in Phoenix, Arizona that attracts 72 teams in eight divisions.
The Royals continued their country-wide reputation, while the Blazers are rid
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The “Magnificent Seven” Christ the King college basketball scholarship winners have the Lady Royals on the road to the top of the heap in girls hoops.
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Coach Ed Grezinsky and his Manhattan-based basketeers have built quite a reputation here in the city and in the state by winning four straight city Public High School titles plus having a prestigious win over CK in last season’s State Federation championships.
But Christ the King, “mythical” national champions in 1990, 1993 and 1998, still got all the countrywide ink. But the Blazers are now back in the big picture as they took advantage of the invite to the Nike.
The Blazers capitalized on the invitation from Nike by winning their branch of the tourney, thus proving to the nation that they are among the best.
Now 12-0, they captured the Phoenix title by beating Oak Ridge, Tennessee, 53-44, in the finals of the Swin Cash Division.
“It’s not just about the PSAL. We got to show that we can compete against the best in the nation,” said Grezinsky.
Crystal McFadden led the Blazers with 19 points and eight rebounds and was named MVP of the tournament. Keisha Stokes was also impressive as she added eight points and eight boards to the final win.
In the third quarter, Shameena Felix hit a pair of treys after the game was tied at 31 and the New Yorkers never trailed.
Before the final, Bergtraum handled Archbishop Mitty of California, 64-60, and Campbell County, Wyoming, 76-67, before topping Oak Ridge, the nation’s 16th rated quintet.
Royals push for No. 1
Meanwhile, Christ the King enhanced its national image by topping three of the nation’s nationally ranked female fives to advance to 5-0 by capturing its end of the Nike.
Bob Mackey’s five was ranked No. 2 going in but by winning all three contests and the No. 1 team—Lynwood, California—losing in the same tourney, the Lady Royals could hit the top rung.
CK handled Canyon High of Texas, the team that beat Lynwood, in the finals with a 45-42 win over the weekend.
Shay Doron, a University of Maryland signee, scored five of her 17 points in the final 55 seconds of the victory. Candice Lindsay (Fairfield), another of the seven Lady Royals who inked athletic scholarships, was also in double figures with 10.
The Royals also had wins over Highlands Ranch (Colorado) and Mountain View (Utah).
Pair shows NY talent is best
In last week’s USA Today rankings, CK was No. 2 and Bergtraum was 12th in the nation. The Royals should move up to No. 1, while the Blazers should get a big jump.
It’s not unreal to think that CK, the projected CHSAA champion, and Bergtraum, the probable PSAL titlist, will be playing in the State Federation tournament for the national title as well as the state title in March.
CK gets back in action at home Saturday night when they host Catherine McCauley of Maine in a 7 matchup.
Then it’s the Breck School of Minnesota at 6 p.m. on Friday, January 3. The following night they host upstart Archbishop Molloy who has won its first eight starts. Tip-off is 7:30.
Girls basketball in the city has come a long way baby!
King Tourney in Brooklyn
While the gals unpacked their bags, the boys are on the way to suit up here and on the road.
At the annual Msgr. King Memorial Tournament at St. Thomas the Aquinas in Flatlands, unbeaten St. Francis Prep (7-0) plays neighboring Bayside tonight as Grady challenges Bishop Ford in another opening round game.
Tomorrow night, Poly Prep meets St. Edmund’s, and Xaverian faces New Utrecht. The night opens with a losers bracket game at 5:30. The semifinals are Sunday night with the finals and consolations on Monday.
Stanners, Royals in Beach Ball Archbishop Molloy (3-2), a Queens CHSAA power and long-time competitor in the Beach Ball Classic in Myrtle Beach, will be joined by talented Christ the King (5-0) in the South Carolina Tournament tonight, tomorrow night, Saturday and Sunday.
CK prepped for the tourney with a convincing 75-38 win over young but talented St. John’s Prep.
Japhet McNeil led the Royals with 18 points, while 6’7” Justin Marshall added 14 and guards Mitchell Beauford and Robert Flores added 10 and 12 points respectively.
The Stanners open against Don Bosco of Ramsey, New Jersey tonight, while Bobby Oliva’s Royals challenge Calhoun City, South Carolina tomorrow evening in the opener.
Rice yes, St. Ray’s no
The two top city teams according to the New York State Sports Writers Association and its rankings conducted by CHSAA publicist Bert Beagle had opposite results in the City of Palms Tournament in Fort Meyers, Florida.
St. Raymond’s (6-1), No. 2, dropped a 70-67 decision to St. Patrick’s of New Jersey in the opening round, while top-seeded Rice (6-0) advanced to the final against St. Pat’s after an 88-76 decision over Mater Dei of California. The pair met last night for the title.
Brooklyn’s Abraham Lincoln (8-1) is No. 3 and will play in the Slam Dunk to the Beach Holiday Invitational opening tonight in Lewes, Delaware.
The Honest Abes face Oxon Hill of Maryland Friday night and Bullis Prep of Potomic, Maryland on Saturday.
Amityville, Long Island is also in the tourney playing Bloomfield Tech of New Jersey tonight and Springard of D.C. Saturday.
Unbeaten Christ the King (4-0), fresh from a decision over St. John’s Prep on Monday night is No. 4. Molloy is fifth followed by Cardozo (9-1), a 73-71 winner over Paul Robeson in the Goucho Challenge.
Nick Flagg’s two charity tosses in the final minute was the difference. Flagg, who tied star Cameron Tyler with 20 points, tallied 15 of his points in the fourth quarter.
All Hallows (2-1), who plays New Orleans Jesuit tomorrow night in the Chelsea, Massachusetts Invitational, is seventh.
The PSAL’s Douglas (7-1) is eighth, Bishop Loughlin (4-2 ) is ninth. The Lions meet Cardozo in the opening round of the Dr. Philip Hayes Memorial Classic on Friday. In the other matchup, Bonnicker plays Newtown.
Boys & Girls (8-3) sits in the 10th spot.
Ray’s, Rice play again
Fresh from their play in Florida, Rice and St. Raymond’s are on the road again.
St. Raymond’s plays Kinston, North Carolina in the Glasso-Kline Holiday Invitational in the Reynolds Coliseum at North Carolina State Saturday night.
Blair Academy of New Jersey, a highly rated private school paced by Charlie Villanueva, ex-Newtown star from Woodhaven, is also in the tourney.
Rice plays Westchester of California Friday night in the Academy National Invitational presented by Nike in the Campbell Center in Houston.
St. Patrick’s, who the Raiders faced in the finals of the City of Palms Tournament, is also in the tourney and plays Westbury Christian of Texas the same night.
Prep, McClancy in Conn.
St. John’s Prep and Msgr. McClancy are both set for the Northeast Catholic Tournament at St. Joseph’s in Trumbull, Connecticut.
The Li’l Red Storm faces Cheverus, Maine tomorrow night at 6:30, while McClancy battles St. John the Baptist of West Islip at 8 p.m.
The Julius Kellogg Memorial Tournament run by Benjamin Moore, longtime member of the N.Y. Courtsmen, and Cecil Watkins, will be held starting today at Warwick High School in Newport News, Virginia.
Campus Magnet plays Woodrow Wilson, and Nazareth tangles with First Colonial of Virginia Beach in afternoon contests.
Then at night, Manhattan Center plays Warwick and JFK of the Bronx meets Menchbill of Newport.
Schenectady City Classic
Xavier High plays host Schenectady and Mt. St. Michael faces Union-Endicott in tomorrow night’s openers.
And finally, Long Island Lutheran plays Stow, Ohio, in Friday’s opening round of the Stop DWI Tournament at the Broome County Arena in upstate New York.
Look at future
For those looking to next year, there’s the Longwood Tournament in Middle Island, Long Island on January 2, 3 and 4.
Bishop Loughlin is the only local entry with the Lions facing Lutheran of Pennsylvania.
Prime Time in February
Mark February 6, 7, 8 and 9 on your calender for the Prime Time Shootout at the Soveirn Arena in Trenton with top-notch local teams on display as well as phenom Lebron James, who is destined to the pros right out of high school.
James’ St. Mary’s team plays Los Angeles Westchester at 7:30 on February 8.
That same day, St. Raymond plays Jackson, Mississippi with talented Monte Ellis at 4:30 followed by Rice and Brookhaven of Columbus, Ohio at 6 p.m.
On February 9, Christ the King suits up against CBA of Syracuse with phenom soph Greg Paulis at 1:30. Then St. Anthony of Jersey City meets Lincoln at 4:30 and Rice meets St. Patrick’s against 6 p.m.
I want to wish all our readers a Happy and Healthy New York.