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Final lohud girls basketball rankings of season with no doubt No. 1

nancy haggerty, rockland/westchester journal news
·5 min read

With state Federation basketball championships discontinued, the 2023-24 girls season ended for Section 1 teams Saturday in Troy.

Three Section 1 teams (Albertus Magnus, Panas and Putnam Valley) made it to the state Final 4 in three classes, indicating the strength of local girls high school hoops.

One, 2023 state Class A champion Panas, came up a basket shy of retaining its title.

But another, Albertus Magnus, finished the season on top of the mountain, winning its first state title in 32 years. That came in convincing fashion in Class AA.

Below are the final Journal News/lohud girls basketball rankings for the season. Solid arguments can be made for any number of bubble teams to be in the top 10. But there can be no arguing about who deserves the top spot.

10. Kennedy Catholic (18-3) and New Rochelle (11-12) — It's difficult to compare public and private schools since, traditionally, they play completely different schedules. But the Kennedy Gaels had several crossover games, dropping only one. Of note, was its regular season win over White Plains, a team that was a virtual fixture in the top 10 this season until it suffered a bad upset loss in the playoffs with one of its top players absent — a sad, what-might-have-been story. But Kennedy did more than look solid vs. public school teams. It won its first Catholic High School Athletic Association Tier 2 championship and, while ultimately losing ,it also looked strong in the state Catholic semifinals. New Rochelle was an, at-best, mediocre, 9-11 during the regular season. But then, as the No. 6 seed, it made a legitimate bid for the Section 1 Class AAA crown. It beat, in part, No. 3 John Jay-East Fishkill before falling to Ketcham, arguably the second best team in the Section 1 area, by only seven points in the final. Previously: Neither ranked

Brianna Foody of Putnam Valley battles Amalie Jadwick of Utica Notre Dame in a New York State girls Class B basketball semifinal at Hudson Valley Community College in Troy March 15, 2024. Notre Dame defeated Putnam Valley 57-47
Brianna Foody of Putnam Valley battles Amalie Jadwick of Utica Notre Dame in a New York State girls Class B basketball semifinal at Hudson Valley Community College in Troy March 15, 2024. Notre Dame defeated Putnam Valley 57-47

9. Putnam Valley (18-8) — The Tigers began the season 0-4, adjusting, it was clear, to the graduation loss of their leading scorer. They didn’t have an overly tough schedule and only beat three teams during the regular season that entered the playoffs with winning records. But in those playoffs, the Tigers more than proved they were a top-10 team. Yes, they play in Class B.  But class doesn’t always equate to skill and worth. The way this team played when it mattered, it might well have beaten many teams ranked above it here and, in fact, did beat Hen Hud during the regular season. It fell by 10 points in the state semifinals to eventual state-champion Utica-Notre Dame. but it was tied with that team with fewer than four minutes to play. Previously: Not ranked

8. Pearl River (18-4)  — The Pirates, who entered the Section 1 Class A tournament as the top seed, were tripped up by No. 5 Hen Hud in the semifinals.  But they still had a season to remember, including an 11-game winning streak entering the playoffs. Previously: 6

7. Tappan Zee (13-10) — Here’s how you’re a top-10 team despite 10 losses, including two to No. 8 Pearl River. You play bigger and better opponents to improve for the playoffs. And that’s exactly what TZ, the No. 6 seed in Class A, did. It edged No. 3 Ardsley in the Section 1 Class A tournament before falling by just one basket to eventual state Class A runner-up Panas in the semifinals. Previously 8

6. Hen Hud (16-8) — The Sailors weren’t as multi-dimensional as many top squads, lacking the depth of some. But, as the No. 5-seeded team in Class A, Hen Hud upset No. 1 Pearl River in the semifinals before falling to eventual state runner-up Panas in the final. Previously: Not ranked

5. Harrison (16-7) — The Huskies had a fine season, including an early win over Panas, before being routed by Ursuline in the Class AA semifinals with one of Harrison’s top scorers sidelined by injury. Previously: 4

4. Ursuline (21-3) — The Koalas dropped the Section 1 Class AA championship game to eventual state-champion Albertus Magnus. The loss was by seven points, significant because the only other local team to fall by so few points to Magnus was Section 1 AAA champion Ketcham during the regular season. Previously: 3

Sofia Tavarez of Walter Panas drives past Kristen Finn of Catholic Central during the New York State girls Class A basketball championship at Hudson Valley Community College in Troy March 16, 2024. Catholic Central defeated Walter Panas 64-62.
Sofia Tavarez of Walter Panas drives past Kristen Finn of Catholic Central during the New York State girls Class A basketball championship at Hudson Valley Community College in Troy March 16, 2024. Catholic Central defeated Walter Panas 64-62.

3. Panas (24-4) — The Panthers were even better than their strong record would indicate. Panas beat Ursuline during the regular season, dropped one game with its two leading scorers hurt and lost the state championship by one bucket in the game's final seconds. The great news for the Panthers is most of their players will be back next year, including their leading scorers. Previously: 5

2. Ketcham (21-3) — The Storm lost to only one Section 1 team and that was Albertus Magnus during the regular season. After winning the Section 1 Class AAA championship, Ketcham’s season ended in the state regionals with a loss to eventual state Class AAA champion Our Lady of Lourdes of Poughkeepsie, a former Section 1 team that now plays in Section 9. Previously: 2

Allie Falesto of Albertus Magnus goes to the hoops against Hilton during the New York State girls Class AA basketball championship at Hudson Valley Community College in Troy March 16, 2024.
Allie Falesto of Albertus Magnus goes to the hoops against Hilton during the New York State girls Class AA basketball championship at Hudson Valley Community College in Troy March 16, 2024.

1. Albertus Magnus (23-4) — From the season’s opening days, it was apparent last year’s Section 1 Class AA runner-up was on a different level from all other teams in Section 1. It turns out, it was also on a different level from just about every girls high school team in the state. Pat Buckley’s crew had height, speed, poise and, most of all, multiple talented players who willingly shared center stage. And, while it will miss its seniors, especially sharp-shooting Allie Falesto, who’ll be playing collegiately next year, the bulk of this squad will be back to make a run at a section and possibly state championship repeat. One thing of note with this team is that its four losses were to high-level squads from outside Section 1 — a how-to-improve lesson for other teams. Previously: 1

Girls basketball Class AA: Falesto, Harold help Albertus Magnus win first state title since 1992

On the bubble: Ardsley (19-3), Irvington (18-4), Mahopac (15-7), Ossining (13-9), Pelham (16-7), Putnam Valley (19-8),  Tuckahoe  (16-8), White Plain (15-6)

Nancy Haggerty covers cross-country, track & field, field hockey, skiing, ice hockey, basketball, girls lacrosse and other sporting events for The Journal News/lohud. Follow her on Twitter at @HaggertyNancy.

This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: lohud girls basketball: No doubt No. 1 leads final rankings of season