Boro Bounce

With two weeks of New York City high school hoop action now in the books, here are some highlights from around the boroughs and beyond.

Archbishop Stepinac opened its regular season in White Plains on Friday night against Monsignor Scanlan. The Crusaders entered the game ranked 32nd in the Ballislife Fab 50 and 23rd in the USA Today Super 25 and did not disappoint, topping Scanlan 81-69.

North Carolina commit RJ Davis put up 28 points and Duke commit Adrian Griffin Jr. had 23 points and 8 rebounds. There was no shortage of media coverage for Stepinac's opener and the attendees included former Detroit Pistons star Isiah Thomas and former Rice High School and St. John's University standout Felipe Lopez. Stepinac will visit Cardinal Hayes in the Bronx on Friday for its second game of the young season and will face St. Raymond on a neutral court (Mount Saint Michael) next Sunday.

At the HoopHall West showcase in Arizona, Christ the King topped Chaparral High School (AZ) 77-73 on Thursday and took Rancho Christian (CA) to the wire before falling 77-74. Rancho Christian boasted top national prospect Evan Mobley, but behind hot perimeter shooting, primarily from Ryan Myers, the Royals stayed within striking distance throughout and were in a position to tie the game on the last possession.

The defending CHSAA AA champs open their league schedule on Tuesday, when they will host Holy Cross.

The Lady Royals, defending New York State Federation Champs, entered the season ranked 10th in the USA Today Super 25. Led by Notre Dame commit Natalija Marshall, Christ the King opens CHSAA play with a road game at Monsignor Scanlan in the Bronx on Tuesday night.

Brooklyn Collegiate is 3-0 in the grueling PSAL Brooklyn AA, with all three wins coming on the road, including at Jefferson and at Lincoln. The Lions are led by seniors Majesty Johnson, Amahrie Simpkins and Jaylin Anderson, and junior Tahron Allen. Brooklyn Collegiate will host PSAL Brooklyn AA newcomer Canarsie on Tuesday, and they get defending PSAL AA champs South Shore at home on Thursday.

Staying in the PSAL Brooklyn AA, Boys & Girls is the division's other unbeaten team at 3-0. Khalil Brantley put up 40 points in the Kangaroos' 75-67 win at South Shore and had 18 in a 51-46 win over Abraham Lincoln. Boys & Girls will host George Westinghouse on Tuesday and will visit Jefferson on Thursday.

Jefferson put up 109 points in its win at Bishop Loughlin on Saturday. The Orange Wave get a shot a nationally-ranked Long Island Lutheran on Saturday. LuHi is ranked 9th in the USA Today Super 25 and 20th in the Ballislife Fab 50.

Loughlin played its last two games (win over Holy Cross, loss to Jefferson) without Head Coach Ed Gonzalez, who was hospitalized after fainting at the end of the Lions' league opener against St. Francis Prep. We wish Coach Gonzalez a speedy recovery. 

St. Raymond is off to a hot start in the CHSAA, with wins over Holy Cross 78-51, Cardinal Hayes 84-64 and St. Peter's 79-61. The Ravens looked sharp in their win against Hayes, a rematch of last year's Archdiocesan championship game, with Malachi Smith, Gary Grant and Luis Kortright providing the bulk of the offensive punch. St. Raymond will visit Mount on Friday and face Stepinac on Sunday, an intriguing matchup that will be the Ravens' second game on Mount's court in three days. 

Francis Lewis is 5-0 in PSAL Queens AA league play after a 64-63 squeaker at Van Buren on Friday. The Patriots will be tested on Thursday when they face John Bowne, which is 4-0 in the PSAL Queens AA standings, with all wins by lopsided margins.

Cardozo is 3-0 and will visit John Bowne on Tuesday December 17th and host Francis Lewis on Thursday December 19th.

Xaverian is 4-0, all non-league wins, and will open CHSAA AA league play when they host Iona Prep on Friday.

* This post has been updated to reflect that Christ the King's girls basketball team opened CHSAA play in a road game against Monsignor Scanlan. An earlier version of this post indicated that CTK was opening its season against Monsignor Scanlan. The Lady Lions played two non-CHSAA games (losses to Paul VI and Elizabeth Seton) on December 6th and December 7th). Natalija Marshall did not play in the two opening season losses.