The Post’s high school staff looks ahead to the most intriguing matchups in boys basketball and girls basketball for the week of March 5 through March 11.
BOYS BASKETBALL
Thomas Jefferson vs. Boys Girls, PSAL Class AA final (Saturday, 12 p.m. @ Madison Square Garden)
For the fourth time, it will be Bed Stuy against East New York, only this matchup is for more than Brooklyn bragging rights. A city championship is on the line. Jefferson won two of the three meetings this season, including the borough championship game, and star senior Thaddeus Hall exploded for 65 points in the two wins. Boys High, however, has been impressive in the playoffs with easy wins over Gompers, South Shore and arch rival Lincoln.
Pathways vs. Newcomers, PSAL Class B final (Sunday, 1 p.m. @ CCNY)
Pathways was expected to get to this point, Newcomers wasn’t. The defending ‘B’ champion, Pathways returned much of that group, led by bruising 6-foot-7 forward Jordan Washington while Newcomers, the Queens B West winner, lost in the second round a year ago and is known more cricket and soccer than basketball.
Mott Haven vs. Brooklyn Collegiate, PSAL Class A final (Sunday, 5 p.m. @ CCNY)
One of these teams will win its first boys basketball city championship Sunday night. Mott Haven is a unique story, considering this is its first year with a team though many of the players come from the old South Bronx. The Mavericks are fresh off a huge semifinal victory over Bedford Academy, Brooklyn Collegiate’s Brooklyn A East rival. The Lions dispatched Long Island City, last year’s runner-up, in the semifinals behind a dogged defensive effort. They will see a similar performance to slow down potent Mott Haven.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Murry Bergtraum vs. McKee/Staten Island Tech, PSAL Class AA final (Saturday, 10 a.m. @ Madison Square Garden)
David versus Goliath wouldn’t be an apt description for this title matchup at The World’s Most Famous Arena. But Bergtraum has been to the Garden the last 14 years and is the 13-time defending PSAL city champion. MSIT hadn’t even made the semifinals before this year, but is playing extremely confident behind stars Kaitlyn Astel and Kelin Walsh, arguably the PSAL’s best 1-2 punch.
Bedford Academy vs. Scholars Academy, PSAL Class B final (Sunday, 11 a.m. @ CCNY)
Don’t adjust your computer screen – this isn’t the 2011 final, but it is a rematch. Bedford Academy is looking to gain revenge on Scholars, the team it fell to last year and the Panthers have the talent to do so led by the Perlmutter twins, Brianna and Brittany. Scholars, led by Jessica Glaz, has the added motivation of playing for cancer-stricken former assistant coach Clare Droesch.
Goldstein vs. Curtis, PSAL Class A final (Sunday, 3 p.m. @ CCNY)
Goldstein has the perfect opportunity to prove all the doubters wrong, that the Dolphins did indeed deserve the No. 1 seed. It’s going to be difficult to stop the momentum of seniors like Chestnut Hill-bound Brittany McDonough and Nora Elbassiony. Curtis, though, is deep and balanced, led by Kristen Olsen, who had 27 points against Bayside in the semifinals.
