The Bayside Commodores (13-3) will face the Wadleigh Secondary School Tigers (18-1) in the second round of the Public School Athletic League (PSAL) A Division “AA” playoffs after both teams received a bye in the first round. Junior point guard Brandon King led the Commodores in scoring with 16 points during the season. Fellow classmate Austin Williams was second on the team with 14.6 points a game with four assists and five rebounds a game. As a team the Commodores have averaged 62 points a game, while allowing 48.7 points a game. For the Tigers, senior Basil Harley led the team during the regular season with 17.38 points a game to go along with 8.56 assists a game. Senior Louis Costen averaged a double-double on the year with 15.07 points a game and 12.20 points a game. As a team, the Tigers averaged 68.6 points a game while defensively they allowed 52.2 points a game. While the Tigers gave up a few more points than the Commodores, they also scored a little more. The Tigers should win a close game and continue to advance through the playoffs.
The Benjamin Cardozo Judges (15-2) will take on the Martin Van Buren Vee Bees (5-9) in the second round of the playoffs. In the first round, the Judges received a bye while the Vee Bees beat the McKee/Staten Island Tech by a score of 74-66. For the Judges, Tajay Henry led the team with 15.38 points a game, while the senior grabbed 8.69 rebounds a game as well. Overall, the Judges have scored 72.8 points per game during the regular season. On the defensive side, the Judges allowed 54.1 per game. Senior Brandon Howard was the top scorer on the Vee Bees during the regular season with 15 points a game. The Vee Bees allowed more points than they were able to score, allowing 60 points a game while scoring 52.3 points a game. This game will be an easy one for the Judges. The Vee Bees will be unable to stop the Judges’ offensive attack.
After beating the James Monroe Campus Eagles (5-11) in the first round of the playoffs by a score of 65-30 the Campus Magnet Bull-Dogs (12-4) will face the Curtis Warriors who are in the midst of a perfect 14-0 season. For the Bull-Dogs, senior Tarik Raynor was number one in scoring with 16.54 points per game. The Bull-Dogs averaged 56.5 points a game while allowing 50.2 points a game. Senior Dontay Jackson led the Warriors during the regular season with 16.69 points a game. The Warriors were able to play both sides of the ball well, averaging 74 points a game while allowing 47.4 points a game. There is no reason the Warriors should not be able to extend their perfect season. While the Bull-Dogs have had a good season, they will not be able to keep up with the Warriors.
The John Adams Spartans (11-4) beat the James Madison Knights by a score of 50-48 in the first round of the playoffs and will now play the Hunter College High School Hawks (16-2). For the Spartans, junior Markell French did it all, scoring 17.14 points a game, pulling down 9.43 rebounds a game, and dishing out 6.29 assists a game. The Spartans scored 59.8 points a game as a team while allowing 48.7 points a game. Senior Sam Gordon averaged a double-double for the Hawks with 19.06 points a game and 11.50 rebounds a game. As a team, the Hawks averaged 71.7 points a game while allowing 54.3 points a game. The Spartans, who just three years ago were 5-11, will put up a good fight but in the end will come up short against the strong Hawks.
