NYCHoops.net Top Ten Teams North of NYC (Week 8 Recap)

There were a number of marquee games this past week that really upset the apple card in the NYCHoops.net Upstate/Westchester Top Ten Rankings meaning a lot of movement, and one new entrant into the fray.

While last week was a week full of action, this coming week ahead looks to be even bigger with a number of notable games on the docket that could once again provide a big shift in the way to Top Ten looks one week from now.

For now, though let's go over where we stand at the moment as we bring to you the new and updated Top Ten for the best boys’ teams North of NYC.

1) Albany Academy (9-2)- It was easy work this past week for the Cadets who were able to down Albany 80-40 in a game that saw August Mahoney '19 score his 1,000th career point. Over the weekend Albany Academy would come down to New York City to take on Collegiate School, and it was all Cadets from the start there as well as Mahoney again led Albany Academy with 25 points in what was an 81-51 win. Staying out of the region, the Cadets on Monday will head to Middletown to take on the longtime Section 9 power before coming back on Saturday evening to play Green Tech in the Zero Gravity North/South Classic in Downtown Albany. Ending the week will see the Cadets come to NYC again on Monday to play in the Big North Shootout against famed Coney Island power Abraham Lincoln.

2) The Park School (10-1)- Another team with a milestone performance this week as Noah Hutchins '19 eclipsed the 1,000-point barrier as well last Tuesday in a 29-point effort which helped propel Park past a very game St. Francis team 80-79 in OT in one of the Pioneers toughest games to date of the season. Thursday then saw The Park School step out of league where they would get 24 points from improving sophomore Keonjay Carter '21 as the Pioneers downed McQuaid Jesuit 72-64. Saturday then was the rivalry game between Park and Canisius, a game that this time saw the Pioneers win handily as a balanced offensive attack helped them to a 64-53 win. The week ahead here should be easy enough for The Park School as they just have one game on the schedule coming this Tuesday when they go on the road to take on Nichols.

3) Niagara Falls (11-2)- A busy week without question was taken care of ease by the Wolverines as they started things out with a 108-32 win over Kenmore East on Tuesday in a game that had Jalen Bradberry '21 score 40 points, including his 1,000th in his still young high school career. Things didn't get much tougher after that as Niagara Falls went to CSAT on Friday and took an 85-51 victory before hosting Lockport on Saturday in what was again a comfortable 92-59 win that had Willie Lightfoot '21 scoring 27 to pace the Wolverines. There is just one game on the schedule this week, but it's a big one as Niagara Falls will go on the road on Friday night to take on Lewiston-Porter in what is no doubt a game of the week.

4) Saratoga Springs (11-0)- In a pair of home games this past week the Blue Streaks took care of business as they opened on Tuesday with a 63-53 victory over Christian Brothers Academy in a game that saw big 6'8" Nate Chudy '19control the paint and lead Saratoga with 17 points in the win. That trend continued on Friday when the Blue Streaks hosted Niskayuna as it was Chudy again with 24 points, while grabbing 11 rebounds, to help Saratoga Springs to a 67-57 win. While they stayed at home last week, this week is an all road affair for the Blue Streaks with a trip to Bethlehem for a marquee showdown of unbeatens on Tuesday, before a game at Schenectady closes the week on Friday.

5) Mt. Vernon (7-3)- Many looked at this past week as the chance for the Knights to finally get knocked off in Section 1 league play as they hosted Scarsdale on Wednesday and then went to New Rochelle on Saturday. Both had the making of trouble for Mt. Vernon, but the Knights found a way to get a pair of wins as they rallied back from a halftime deficit to blow past Scarsdale 70-54 as Troy Hupstead '20 had 24 points and 20 rebounds in the victory. Going to New Rochelle is never easy either, but Charles Lovett '20 made the big shot down the stretch, connecting on a three in the waning seconds to help give the Knights a 61-57 victory. From Thursday to Saturday this week Mt. Vernon will had to Vancouver, British Columbia to play in the Snowball Classic, facing off against some of Canada's top high school programs.

6) Lewiston-Porter (11-0)- Unbeaten at this point in the season for the first time in over 30 years, the Lancers were challenged for really the first time all season last Tuesday when they went on the road to North Tonawanda, but when you have someone the ilk of Roddy Gayle '22 on your side it's always possible to find a way through. Gayle, the superstar freshman, would score 27 points as Lew-Port came back for a 63-57 win after trailing by 4 at the half. Friday's game against Kenmore West proved to be a bit easier as Trenten Scott '19 had season high 25 points to pace the Lancers to an 85-59 victory. The week ahead here will see Lewiston-Porter going on the road on Tuesday to take on Lockport, before coming home on Friday for one of the games of the season in a matchup of ranked teams when they face off against Niagara Falls.

7) Corcoran (12-0)- This past week was Corcoran's chance to really show that they are the class of Section 3 this season as on Tuesday they played host to a fellow undefeated team going in West Genesee. It was a classic from start to finish as all the big stars shined bright, but down the stretch it was all about Cougars guard De'Jour Reaves '20 as he 27 points, 18 of which came in the fourth quarter and overtime, to help push Corcoran to a 67-64 extra session victory. Off the heels of that one the Cougars then would down Baldwinsville on Friday as it was Daimarr Miller '19 this time who paced Corcoran with 32 points in the high scoring 86-74 win. Looking to keep their unbeaten run going the Cougars will go on the road to take on Fayetteville-Manlius on Tuesday, and then go to Cicero-North Syracuse on Friday in a two-game league play filled week.

8) Bethlehem (12-0)- Two road games meant two wins this past week for the Eagles who opened things up by going to Niskayuna and getting a 63-45 win behind the 14 points of Jake LaClair '19. Going to Christian Brothers Academy on Friday night proved to be more of a test, but with Michael Ortale '19 scoring 14 of his game high 20 points in the second half it was Bethlehem pulling away down the stretch for a 62-54 victory. This coming week here opens up with a big matchup of a pair of undefeated schools as the Eagles host Saratoga Springs in a matchup for Section 2 Suburban Council supremacy, with a road game coming up after that on Friday as Bethlehem will hit the road again to take on Columbia.

9) Northstar Christian Academy (12-0)- Unbeaten and having proven themselves against some of Section 5's top programs already this season, the Knights finally enter into our Top Ten this weeks on the back of a 12-0 record and wins over the likes of Aquinas, Mekeel Christian Academy, and Leadership Academy. This past week alone saw them win a high scoring duel with Finney 95-81, and then against a battle tested University Prep team it was Miles Brown '19 scoring 44 points to lead Northstar to a 76-74 hard fought win to stay undefeated. Looking to stay perfect the Knights will have a busy week ahead as on Tuesday they will go on the road to play Vertus, then on Thursday it's another expected tough one at home against Rochester East, before finishing things out on Saturday on the road against at Wilson.

10) Iona Prep (7-6)- When you play the type of schedule that Iona Prep has played, and combine that with the youth of starting two freshmen it's going to expected to have weeks like they had over the past seven days as they played three extremely tough teams in Christ the King, Cardinal Hayes, and Wings Academy and fell in close decisions in each of the three. R.J. Greene '22 continues to be a bright spot for the Gaels who lost their three games against some of NYC's finest by an average of 10 points. The week ahead won't see things get much easier as another rough week will knock Iona Prep out of the Top Ten with the Gaels scheduled to face Msgr. Scanlan at home on Tuesday, then it's a road game on Friday against Mount St. Michael before going to the HoopHall Classic in Massachusetts on Sunday to take on Rice of Vermont, and then coming back to NYC to play in the South Shore MLK Classic on Monday against The Dwight School.