Basketball

Federation games yield ultimate basketball bragging rights

By RICHARD A. ROSS

GLENS FALLS, NY — To understand the pecking order in New York State high school basketball requires an understanding of the four separate leagues that play the game across the state. To area fans, the New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) affords the most familiar context as all of Section Nine teams are a part of the state organization.

The NYSPHSAA boys basketball championships held in Glens Falls every year in mid March, and the girls championships held in Troy, yield state champions in Classes AA, A, B, C, and D.

But many fine teams are members of other leagues and not NYSPHSAA. First and foremost is New York City’s Public School Athletic League (PSAL). In addition, there is the Catholic High School Athletic Association (CHSAA) and the Association of Independent Schools (AIS).

Each year in the three largest classes, the champions of each of the four leagues face off at the Federation Games held in Glens Falls to determine the ultimate state champion.

This year’s results were as follows:

In boys basketball, Lincoln High School (PSAL) defeated Holy Cross (CHSAA) 86-67 after beating NYSPHSAA champ Bishop Maginn 67-57 in the semifinals. Lincoln is ranked 14th in the nation in USA Today’s Super 25. Maginn ended up ranked at number 24.

In Class A, Jamesville DeWitt, which recorded an upset over reigning champ Peekskill in the NYSPHSAA championship, went on to defeat Long Island Lutheran (AIS) 70-66 after beating PSAL’s Transit Tech 66-49 in the semifinals.

In Class B, it was Collegiate (AIS) who reigned supreme over St. Agnes (CHSAA) by the score of 57-44.

In the girls Federation tournament, Murray Bergtraum (PSAL) downed St. John the Baptist (CHSAA) 61-47 after routing Rush Henrietta (NYSPHSAA) 67-34 in the semifinals. In Class A, perennial powerhouse Christ the King (CHSAA) downed Franklin Academy (NYSPHSAA) 70-63 after beating Curtis (PSAL) 65-50 in the semifinals.

In Class B, it was Briarcliff, the team that ousted John S. Burke (NYSPHSAA), that defeated American Studies (PSAL) 61-43 after beating Fieldston (AIS) 64-37.

St. Anthony’s of Jersey City finishes perfect season and ends up as nation’s best

JERSEY CITY, NJ — Anyone who has ever followed the career of St. Anthony coach Bob Hurley understands what it takes to produce the very best in high school basketball. This season, the Friars completed a 32-0 mark of perfection by winning the school’s 10th Tournament of Champions (TOC) with a 69-36 win over Science Park of Newark to cement its final ranking of number one in the nation in USA Today’s Super 25. St. Anthony’s had already won its 25th state championship, the most ever by any team. Hurley has been coaching for 36 years and has upward of 900 wins.

For a great read of Hurley’s last perfect season in 2004, read “The Miracle of St. Anthony” by Adrian Wojnarowsi.