There wasn’t a single change after Christmas week and that’s really no surprise. But chances are, that will not be the case after the week upcoming. New Year’s means a whole new ball game.
Just about every team in these rankings has a pivotal game this week – which has to be the most important one of the early season. In fact, we might not see another week this action packed until March.
Here are the soon-to-be changing rankings:
1. Murry Bergtraum (7-0) (Last week: 1)
The Lady Blazers are in the midst of one of the tougher parts of their schedule. Bergtraum beat Regis Jesuit (Colo.) last week and have three solid games in three days at its holiday event: Archbishop Molloy on Monday, Sachem East (L.I.) on Tuesday and St. John’s College (D.C.), featuring three Ivy League-bound players, on Wednesday.
Next: Archbishop Molloy (Dec. 28, 3 p.m. @ Bergtraum Holiday Classic)
2. South Shore (6-0) (2)
The Vikings had a nice break after beating Mount Vernon last weekend. Now they face some stiff competition – Mary Louis on Tuesday and Bishop Ford on Wednesday. Coach Anwar Gladden’s team will have to grow up fast this week.
Next: Mary Louis (Dec. 29, 1 p.m. @ Bergtraum Holiday Classic)
3. Francis Lewis (8-0) (3)
Lewis is clearly a different team this season. That was demonstrated once again in a victory against Archbishop Williams, a Massachusetts state title contender, at Bishop Ford on Sunday. The Patriots’ bench – led by Theodora Alexandrou and Shenita Urquhart – was the difference in the game. Big games, though, are coming up: Western (Md.) on Tuesday and Mary Louis on Wednesday.
Next: Western (Md.) (Dec. 29, 6:30 p.m. @ Big Apple Recruiting Christmas Classic)
4. McKee/S.I. Tech (10-1) (4)
MSIT rebounded from a tough loss to Moore Catholic without star sophomore Kaitlyn Astel by beating Peru (N.Y.), 52-28, up at a holiday tournament in Lake Placid. Astel will be out the next few weeks. MSIT has another game upstate Monday.
Next: Lake Saranac (N.Y.) (Dec. 28, TBA @ Lake Place holiday tournament)
5. Thomas Jefferson (4-2) (5)
For a second straight time against a tough opponent, Jefferson scratched and clawed late before falling short. It happened against Francis Lewis two weeks ago and again Sunday against Rhode Island powerhouse South Kingstown at the Big Apple Recruiting Christmas Classic. The Orange Wave have a chance to rebound this week when they meet Largo (Md.) and, of course, Post NYC No. 1 St. Michael Academy on Wednesday.
Next: Largo (Md.) (Dec. 28, 6:30 p.m. @ Big Apple Recruiting Christmas Classic)
6. Manhattan Center (6-2) (6)
The Rams solidified their rankings this week. Manhattan Center beat Medgar Evers last Tuesday and Wings at the Pro-Am holiday classic Sunday. Coach Jaywana Bradley’s squad has a busy week ahead. It plays Brooklyn Collegiate at home Monday, Woonsocket (R.I.) at the Big Apple Recruiting Christmas Classic at Bishop Ford on Wednesday and Bishop Ford over the weekend at Aviator.
Next: Brooklyn Collegiate (Dec. 28, 2 p.m. @ Pro-Am holiday classic)
7. Midwood (4-4) (7)
Jewel Tunstull, the Hornets’ 6-foot-2 Northeastern-bound center, is back and Midwood looks like a whole new team. Her presence in the paint enables tough-as-nails senior Beranda Felder to move to small forward and sharpshooting junior Francess Henry to shift back to the wing. Coach Artie LaGreca’s team looked good in a win against Bishop Loughlin last weekend.
Next: North Babylon (L.I.) (Dec. 28, 1 p.m. @ Bergtraum Holiday Classic)
8. John F. Kennedy (6-3) (8)
Kennedy didn’t fare well against upstate power Corcoran at the Amsterdam holiday tournament Sunday, but it won’t matter if it takes care of business the rest of this week. The Knights meet No. 9 West 50th Street upstate Monday and take on No. 7 Midwood in the Bergtraum Holiday Classic on Wednesday. Those games have massive rankings – and playoff seeding – implications.
Next: No. 9 West 50th Street Campus (Dec. 28, 5 p.m. @ Amsterdam holiday tournament)
9. West 50th St. Campus (9-1) (9)
It’s time for the Seahawks to show just how good they really are. West 50th Street Campus, formerly known as Food and Finance, meets perennial ‘AA’ contender Kennedy at the Amsterdam holiday tournament Monday. A win would show the city that the ‘A’ squad isn’t just good for its league, but not to be taken lightly by any team regardless of classification.
Next: No. 8 John F. Kennedy (Dec. 28, 5 p.m. @ Amsterdam holiday tournament)
10. Medgar Evers (7-1) (10)
The Cougars almost gutted out a huge win against No. 6 Manhattan Center last Tuesday. Jasmin Robinson tied the score at 49 with 52 seconds left before the Rams won it. Medgar Evers competes in the Baseline NYC Holiday Madness tournament this week, starting with a game against Columbus on Monday.
Next: Columbus (Dec. 28, 11 a.m. @ Baseline NYC Holiday Madness Tournament)
New: None
Dropped out: None
On the bubble: Wings (7-1), Boys & Girls (4-1), Tottenville (5-2), Baruch College Campus (5-1), Banneker (2-3), Truman (6-5), Lincoln (3-3), Beach Channel (2-3) and Fort Hamilton (10-1)