WEEK FIVE: St. Edmund nabs No. 1 seed, Nazareth Regional slides into semifinals on Saturday in New York Catholic High Schools Athletic Association springtime season (Final Standings Updated thru May 22)

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. — The New York Catholic High Schools Athletic Association boys’ basketball season may have been shortened but it’s living up to its reputation as one of the nation’s best.

Due to the COVID-19 coronavirus the CHSAA did not hold a true 2020-21 season but it’s been salvaged with a six-week term featuring 22 teams in four pools with each team playing four or five games. When the season ends there are two rounds of playoffs and two champions crowned.

After nearly five weeks of pool play exclusively at Archbishop Stepinac High School, there has one hiccup with a positive team test but mostly the competition has gone off without a hitch. Although some seniors have opted out that gives more playing time for the hungriest.

Next week there are three days of playoffs, with two title games on Thursday.

The springtime season will give closure to seniors and a segue for underclassmen who will prepare for summer travel ball and then a planned 2021-22 season.

Blue Star Media’s Christopher Lawlor updates the scores and pool standings daily. The two rounds of playoffs are Sunday May 23 and Monday May 24 with the semifinals and two title games on Thursday May 27.

Stepinac coach Patrick Massaroni said the CHSAA will hold a June Team Camp from June 25-27 at Iona Prep in New Rochelle. The event has been sanctioned by the NCAA and will feature only CHSSAA brethren. Christ the King coach Joe Arbitello and Massaroni will co-chair the three-day weekend run. The event was last held in 2019 to much success at Archbishop Molloy.

Additionally, there is a Senior Combine scheduled, aimed to give players from the Class of 2021, exposure lost during the pandemic. We’ll provide that information when it is finalized. — Christopher Lawlor

Kevin Pigott Division Final Standings

1-Archbishop Stepinac (White Plains) 5-0, (9-2 overall)*

2-Cardinal Hayes (Bronx) 4-1*

3-Monsignor Scanlan (Bronx) 3-2

4-Fordham Prep (Bronx) 2-3

5-St. Raymond (Bronx) 1-4

6-St. Peter’s (Staten Island) 0-5

Ray Nash Division Final Standings

1-St. Francis Prep (Fresh Meadows) 5-0*

2-Xaverian (Brooklyn) 4-1*

3-Bishop Loughlin (Brooklyn) 3-2

4-Archbishop Molloy (Briarwood) 2-3

5-Holy Cross (Flushing) 1-4

6-Christ the King (Middle Village) 0-5

Tom Murray Division Final Standings

1-Monsignor Farrell (Staten Island) 5-0*

2-St. Joseph by-the-Sea (Staten Island) 4-1*

3-La Salle (Manhattan) 3-2

4-Cristo Rey (Manhattan) 2-3

5-Moore Catholic (Staten Island) 0-5

Rich Tricario Division Final Standings

1-St. Edmund (Brooklyn) 4-1*

2-Nazareth Regional (Brooklyn) 3-2*

3-Cathedral Prep (Elmhurst) 3-2

4-St. John’s Prep (Astoria) 1-4

5-Monsignor McClancy (Flushing) 0-5

Schedule 

April 19

Scanlan 69, Fordham Prep 57

Archbishop Molloy 60, Bishop Loughlin 65

April 20

Christ the King 61, Holy Cross 69

Cardinal Hayes 60, Archbishop Stepinac 70

Stepinac freshman Boogie Fland had 17 points, 7 rebounds; and Isaiah Alexander added 16 points.

April 21

Cristo Rey 32,  Monsignor Farrell 69

St. Francis Prep 55, Xaverian 47

April 22

St. Raymond 68, St. Peter’s 52

The Ravens break into the win column.

St. Joseph 71, McClancy 49

April 24

La Salle 60, Moore Catholic 53

St. Edmund 40, Nazareth 32

St. John’s Prep 65, Cathedral Prep 77

April 25

La Salle 38,  Cristo Rey 36

McClancy 45, St. Edmund 72

April 26

St. Raymond 39, Monsignor Scanlan 64

Bishop Loughlin vs. St. Francis Prep, PPD

Played on May 7.

April 27

Msgr. Farrell 54, LaSalle 43

After two wins in the opening week, La Salle drops to 2-1. Farrell’s junior Matt Hanley had 18 points, 8 rebounds.

St. Peter’s 46, Cardinal Hayes 71

Hayes jumped to a 17-3 lead after one quarter and cruised.

April 28

Xaverian 72, Christ the King 58

The Brooklyn Boys are 1-1; CK is winless in two.

Fordham Prep 55, Archbishop Stepinac 62

Stepinac stud freshman Boogie Fland poured in 23 points and Boston University-bound center Malcolm Chimezie hit the daily double with 21 points, 13 boards. Stepinac led 46-43 after three and closed on 16-12 run. Prep dips to 0-2.

April 29

Archbishop Molloy 68, Holy Cross 58

The Battle of the Boulevard goes to the Stanners.

Monsignor Farrell 61, St. Joseph’s 55

The Lions beat their Staten Island rivals and move to 3-0 atop the Tom Murray Division table.

April 30

LaSalle 42, Nazareth 38, OT

LaSalle moves to 3-1. The game was rescheduled from May 22.

May 1

St. John’s Prep 66. St. Edmund 69

The Purple Eagles fly to a 3-0 mark and first place in the Rick Tricario Division.

Cathedral Prep  vs. Nazareth, PPD

Moved to May 7.

May 3

St. Francis Prep 70, Holy Cross 47

The Terriers are 2-0 this spring after beating their Queens borough neighbors.

La Salle 41,  St. Joseph’s 49

The Vikings of Staten Island are 2-1 with Monday’s win and currently in second place of the Tom Murray Division.

May 4

Fordham Prep 71, St. Peter’s 53

The Rams broke into the spring win column using a 13-2 spurt to open the third quarter to pull away from a 33-27 lead. Ryan McPartland bucketed a game-high 25 points and Jake Okon added 17. St. Peter’s dipped to 0-3.

Christ the King 48, Archbishop Molloy 63

The Stanners (3-0) continue a brilliant springtime run and are tops in the Ray Nash Division. The Royals sink to 0-3.

May 5

St. John’s Prep 63, McClancy 54

The Red Storm improve to 1-2 in the Tricario Division and McClancy slips to 0-3.

Bishop Loughlin 40, Xaverian 63

Brooklyn bragging rights belong to the Clippers. The Loughlin Lions were off since April 19.

May 6

Cardinal Hayes 78, St. Raymond 56

Hayes (2-1) led by 20 points midway through the third quarter before settling for a 53-41 edge after the Ravens’ press created turnovers. However, the Cardinals, who return their starting five next season, pulled away late.

Monsignor Scanlan 49, Archbishop Stepinac 53

Scrappy Scanlan’s four-guard attack wasn’t enough and the Stepinac Crusaders (3-0) remained spotless in pool play. Stepinac trailed 38-35 after three but regained the lead and iced it from the free throw line in the waning seconds. Boston University-bound Malcolm Chimezie pumped in 10 points and 12 rebounds, Samuel Gibbs had 10 points and 6 rebounds and freshman sensation Boogie Fland tossed in a game-high 15 with 4 assists, 4 rebounds and 3 steals. Stepinac’s next test is New York Archdiocesan Class AA rival St. Raymond on May 12. Scanlan plays St. Peter’s on Monday.

May 7

St. Francis Prep 63, Bishop Loughlin 40

The Terriers (3-0) move into a tie for first in the Nash Division. It appears Tuesday’s Prep vs. Molloy showdown winner will decide top seed in playoffs.

Cathedral Prep 66, Nazareth 72 OT

In a rescheduled game, Nazareth (1-2) needed an extra session to break into the win column. Naz is back at it Saturday morning.

May 8

Nazareth 70, St. John’s Prep 49

Monsignor Farrell 64, St. Edmund 50

Cristo Rey 58,  Moore Catholic 47

Cathedral Prep 59, McClancy 50

May 10

Cardinal Hayes 68, Fordham Prep 64

The Cardinals held off Prep after leading 41-29 at the break.

St. Peter’s 34, Monsignor Scanlan 55

Scanlan moves to 3-1. St. Peter’s is winless after four games.

May 11

Archbishop Molloy 62, St. Francis Prep 69

The Terriers (4-0) are unbeaten and have the inside track to win the Ray Nash Division. Molloy is 3-1.

St. Joseph by-the-Sea 71, Moore Catholic 48

A Staten Island rivalry is renewed and St. Joe’s prevails, improving to 3-1.

May 12

Bishop Loughlin 81, Christ the King 53

The Lions (2-2) led by 13 points at halftime and poured it on in the second half.

St. Raymond 58, Archbishop Stepinac 68

Samuel Gibbs contributed 20 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists and Malcolm Chimezie posted 10 points and 5 boards. Stepinac freshman guard Boogie Fland, who picked up another offer today from TCU, added 15 points, 6 rebounds and 4 dimes. The Crusaders are 4-0 and St. Ray’s dropped to 1-3.

May 13

Holy Cross 37, Xaverian 62

McClancy 33, Nazareth 78

May 14

Monsignor Farrell 59, Moore Catholic 29

Farrell ups its record to 5-0 in beating their Staten Island rivals.

May 17

Xaverian 67,  Archbishop Molloy 60

X marks the spot for the Brooklynites who are 4-1 and will play Archbishop Stepinac in next week’s semifinal as the No. 2 seed from the Nash Division.

Holy Cross 53, Bishop Loughlin 57

It’s the end of the line for both teams. Loughlin went 3-2 and Holy Cross 1-4.

May 18

Fordham Prep 68,  St. Raymond 46

The battle of Bronx schools goes to the Rams (2-3).

Monsignor Scanlan 76, Cardinal Hayes 80, 2 OT

In one of the best games this spring, Hayes (4-1)extended the win streak to four games needing two overtimes. It was a winner heads to the playoffs Monday and the loser is done. Scanlan, which led 31-30 at halftime, dips to 3-2. The large-school semifinals are confirmed.

May 19

Christ the King 50, St. Francis Prep 56

The Terriers (5-0) jumped to a big lead and subbed liberally. CK finishes 0-5.

St. Peter’s 51, Archbishop Stepinac 64

On day when freshman guard Boogie Fland learned he was invited to USA Basketball U16 Junior National Team minicamp next weekend, he produced 19 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists. Samuel Gibbs had a double-double with 13 points, 10 assist and 7 rebounds and Boston University-signee Malcolm Chimezie added 10 points and pulled down 8 rebounds. The Crusaders finish 5-0 in pool play and next play Monday in the large-school semifinals vs. Xaverian. St. Peter’s finished 0-5.

May 20

St. Joseph’s 65, Cristo Rey 39

The Seasiders are in the semifinals.

Moore Catholic 38, Cathedral Prep 59

May 22

St. Edmund 54, Cathedral Prep 44

Cristo Rey 58, St. John’s Prep 50

May 23

1 p.m. – Semifinal – Nazareth (Rich Tricario #2 Seed) vs. Monsignor Farrell (Tom Murray #1 Seed)

3:15pm – Semifinal – St. Joseph by-the-Sea (Tom Murray #2 Seed (Away) vs. St. Edmund (Rich Tricario #1 Seed)

May 24

5 p.m. – Semifinal – Cardinal Hayes (Kevin Pigott #2 Seed) vs. St. Francis Prep (Ray Nash #1 Seed)

7:15 p.m. – Semifinal – Xaverian (Ray Nash #2 Seed ) vs. Archbishop Stepinac (Kevin Pigott #1 Seed)

May 27

5 p.m. – Tom Murray / Rich Tricario Championship

7:30 p.m. – Kevin Pigott / Ray Nash Championship

* Denotes clinched playoff berth