When Forest Hills beat William Bryant and Flushing to start the new year, the Rangers were tied with Cardozo and a game behind Campus Magnet for the lead in Queens AA.
A week later, a lot has changed - however, not for the better.
Forest Hills has dropped four straight, including league games to Martin Van Buren and Cardozo and non-league match-ups with PSAL Brooklyn powers Thomas Jefferson and Robeson.
Star guard Andre Armstrong was benched for the two divisional losses after he was not in school for the last three weeks, as per team rules. Armstrong played sparingly in Saturday’s loss to Jefferson, but Coach Ben Chobhaphand would not clear him to play this week.
The absence of the Rangers’ leading scorer had a crippling effect. However, Chobhaphand is optimistic his team will turn it around.
“It will definitely bring them a lot closer and they are learning what it takes to play at this level,” Chobhaphand said.
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Cardozo, meanwhile, has turned it around, winning five in a row after beating Landstown H.S. of Virginia in the MLK Classic at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, VA. Senior Edy Toussaint led the Judges with 26 points and Trinity Fields added 16 points and seven assists. The Judges also received contributions from senior Vincent Scott and freshman Reynaldo Walters. Besides the victory, the trip allowed Cardozo to mesh as a team. They took tours of Norfolk State and ODU.
“It really helped us as far as becoming a basketball family,” Naclerio said. “It’s something I’m going to try a couple more times in the next couple of years.”
The Judges have turned it around since falling to Edison December 20. They have won all four league games, all by double digits. “We’re definitely heading in a positive direction,” Naclerio said.
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The Christ the King girls are just 5-5, yet they are still quite formidable. Archbishop Molloy learned as much Saturday night, when the Royals breezed, 58-39, at the Briarwood school. Freshman guard Bria Smith led CK with 16 points, Geleisa George had 13 and Jael Pena chipped in with nine as CK improved to 3-0 in the CHSAA.
“I’m happy with the performance, I’m happy with the way we rebounded, I really liked the defense; we extended to 25 feet,” Coach Bob Mackey said.
