By Anthony Bosco
The St. John's Prep girls varsity basketball team will host St. Agnes of College Point at the Astoria School on Monday, Feb. 28 at 4 p.m. for sole possession of first place in the Catholic High School Athletic Association Brooklyn/Queens II girls basketball league.
The two teams have identical 8-1 league records, but St. Agnes holds the edge in head-to-head competition, winning the two teams' only meeting this season handily, 63-41.
St. John's Prep, which will host Monday's game, is not ready to concede anything yet, however.
“They had a real great game,” St. John's coach Ed Flood said of St. Agnes' win. “They shot unbelievably. They had one of their best efforts. We hope to make up for that.”
St. John's Prep, 12-6 overall, has had a solid season so far, beating all other league opponents, as well as three teams from the Brooklyn/Queens 'A' division, Bishop Ford, St. Edmund's and most recently The Mary Louis Academy.
Leading St. John's Prep is 6-foot-1-inch center Theresa Williams, who, according to Flood, is averaging 19 points per game. Williams will need her 'A' game when her teams plays St. Agnes.
The College Point team's only league loss this year came against Fontbonne Hall, when the team played without two of its starters. St. Agnes is now down to eight players on its roster, but retains its core group.
St. Agnes, like St. John's Prep, has fared well against 'A' division competition, going 3-3 with a win over Bishop Ford and two over St. Edmund's while losing twice to Mary Louis and once to St. Savior. The team's improvement over recent years is due directly to the starting five, four of which are seniors Rosemarie Reilly, Jessica Negulic, Judy Leandre and Sheritta Robinson.
“Because of their experience this year we've been holding the leads and playing well,” said head coach Nick Carrione. “We have been consistent all year.”
Carrione said his team has been playing well this year, including winning the Martin Luther Tournament in December, but expects a tough game when he takes his girls to Astoria this week.
“Now we have to play them at their place,” he said. “In the past that has always given us trouble, going from a small court to a big court.”
Both teams will get a bye in the first round of the playoffs and will not play again after Monday until March 5 in the semifinals of the B/Q CHSAA II tournament at St. Francis College. If both teams are successful they would play again in the Diocesan championship on March 11.
The top teams from B/Q II would then play the top two teams from Bronx/Manhattan, with the winners playing for the city championship.
Christ the King 93, Dwight 46. Clare Droesch led the Royals with 20 points, as Tricia Turbidy added 18 points and nine rebounds and Cigi McCollin scored 15 for the defending Class A state champions, who raise their record to 18-5 with the non-league win. Dwight was undefeated coming into the game.
St. Francis Prep 60, Bishop Kearney 45. St. Francis Prep got 16 points from Lauren Kilduff and 14 from Dawn Gorynski in the team's final league game of the season. Megan-Ann Collins added 10 points and 10 rebounds, as Prep improved to 15-7, 9-2 in league play, locking up second place in the Brooklyn/Queens Diocesan.
Notes: The Mary Louis Academy and St. Edmund's will play Monday at St. Edmund's for the eighth-seed in the Diocesan Tournament. The winner earns the right to play the division leader, most likely Christ the King.
