Bowne, Van Buren set for semifinal clash

John Bowne and Martin Van Buren pulled off surprising upsets in the PSAL girls Class A quarterfinals. Now, with a shot at the finals hanging in the balance, the two Queens powers will face each other, Saturday morning at Hunter College.
No. 6 Bowne upset No. 3 Medgar Evers, 46-31, behind 14 points from Janisha Mitchell and nine points and 10 rebounds by Khadijah Guthrie. The Vee Bees, seeded seventh, wiped out No. 2 Food & Finance, 74-53. Senior forward Kamesha Lambright led Van Buren with 20 points, 22 rebounds and 10 assists and Justina Boatwright added 18 points and 10 assists.
The two teams, who shared the Queens A regular season crown, split the season series. Van Buren prevailed 59-55 on January 3 and Bowne won 52-46 on February 4.
“I expect it to be a really close game, and once again the team that makes the fewer mistakes will be the team that comes out on top because we mirror each other,” Van Buren Coach Michael McClain said. “I think we’re motivated and I think we’re ready.”
“I’m more excited that either way it goes, we will have a representative from Queens in the championship,” he added. “It’s going to be a great match-up.”
- Zachary Braziller