When the PSAL formed the Queens ‘AA’ super division, Cardozo and Campus Magnet were the two games a year that were circled on everyone’s calendar.
This season, their first feud comes early - on Thursday - just three games into the respective seasons for the undefeated clubs.
The two teams couldn’t be any more different. While the Judges added six new transfer students and play at a frenetic pace, Campus Magnet returned 10 players and three starters. Ron Naclerio is known for his zany sideline routine while Charles Granby is the epitome of old school, a no frills, no-nonsense disciplinarian.
The two are similar in one way: They win.
Last season, Cardozo swept the season series, although the year before Campus Magnet knocked them off in the borough championship.
“Every time we play Campus Magnet, it’s a neighborhood rivalry,” Naclerio said. “They’re dying to beat us.”
Granby denies such a mentality. Unlike Naclerio, who has a scouting report on the Bulldogs, Granby knows little about the new Judges, except for their dynamic point guard Trinity Fields. To him, it is just another early-season league contest.
“There’s no difference, you got to play them anyway,” he said. “Edison was the defending Queens champion and we played them and won that game. Every game is important onto itself.”
There haven’t been many surprises for Cardozo so far. Fields has led them in scoring and they are just as quick and talented on the perimeter as advertised. Campus Magnet, by contrast, has been led by senior center Kyle O’Quinn, who rarely saw important minutes last year. Averaging 17 points and six rebounds, the 6-foot-8 pivot has made a difference.
“He finally decided he wanted to try and play,” Granby said.
With on-the-rise programs Edison and Forest Hills garnering publicity before the season began, Magnet was slightly forgotten at the season’s outset. But not by Naclerio.
“Right now,” he said, “I would say in a series they’re the best team in Queens besides us.”
On the girls Queens ‘AA’ side, August Martin and talented wing Patrice Lewis are off to a flying start, edging Francis Lewis, the seven-time defending borough champs, 63-60, in overtime, and beating up Canarsie, 83-54. Lewis had 27 points and 13 rebounds in the win over the Patriots and Krystina Agard added 16 points, six assists and six rebounds. Against Canarsie, Lewis tallied 36 with 11 boards.
The Falcons should be tested this week. In three games they host Benjamin Banneker and South Shore and travel to Beach Channel.
In Queens ‘A,’ Martin Van Buren, Long Island City and Townsend Harris are off to 2-0 starts. Center Kamesha Lambright leads the Vee Bees with 16 rebounds per game and 8 points while guard Cecilia Ehresman is scoring over 10 points per game for the Hawks and forward Sana Hafeez is putting up 17.5 and 8.5 for the Bulldogs.
