By Mitch Abramson
Campus Magnet, a talented yet underachieving team, eclipsed Cardozo as the highest seed in Queens.Bryant, a team that had a sparkling regular season and went undefeated in Queens 1-A, losing just one regular season game to defending PSAL champion John F. Kennedy, which lost to No. 1 seeded Wings in the Bronx Borough Championships- received the No. 12 seed, one spot ahead of Springfield Gardens, which like Bryant lost in the borough semifinals.The Owls may have drawn the toughest early round assignment with a match-up against Malcolm Grant and Robeson in the second round provided that Robeson gets by Monroe.While those seedings follow a logical, if debateable train of thought, putting Van Buren, a team that didn't even qualify for the borough championships at No. 32, ahead of Bayside (No. 42) and Flushing (No. 40), which both played in the borough tournament, is hard to justify. If Van Buren was rewarded for having a good regular season, then why weren't they chosen for the borough playoffs? The other seeds from Queens went like this: Jamaica at No. 26; John Bowne at No. 25. Forest Hills (No. 41), John Adams (No. 45), Beach Channel (No. 46) Hillcrest (No. 47) and Long Island City (No. 51).If there is a dark horse in the tournament among the Queens' schools it might be Jamaica, which lost by six to Cardozo in its final regular season game and was edged by Springfield Gardens, 86-83 in the first round of the boroughs. Coach Alex Crossland has an athletic group of unheralded seniors and juniors led by senior Carlos Avila, an undersized forward and a master of the offensive rebound. The Beavers will play No. 39 Samuel Gompers at home Feb. 28, when all first round games are scheduled. Flushing, in the only Queens match-up of the first round, will face John Bowne, and John Adams could meet Springfield Gardens in the second round if the Spartans defeat No. 20 Truman. The first 13 seeds have first round byes, and the second round begins March 7. The most fortunate team in the bracket could be Cardozo, which could have fallen to eighth or ninth after being upset by Magnet. The talented but erratic Judges will meet the winner of Bronx Science and Manhattan Center.Reach reporter Mitch Abramson by E-mail at TimesLedger@aol.com or call 718-229-0300 Ext. 130.
