Nothin’ but net: All-Brooklyn Girls’ Basketball Honors

It was a banner year for girls basketball in Brooklyn.

South Shore finally erased memories of late-season disappointments, clinching the New York State Federation “AA” title after notching a third straight city championship. James Madison also went on an impressive postseason run, capturing an “A” city title before coming up just short in the state semifinals. Grand Street Campus added to the borough’s success in the Public Schools Athletic League, making it as far as the “AA’ semifinals.

Fontbonne Hall once again dominated in the Catholic League, making yet another “A’ championship game appearance and while the Bonnies fell short of a title, the squad was far from disappointed in its performance.

Meanwhile, St. Joseph made history in the “B” division, winning a Brooklyn-Queens title in the program’s first season. Of course, none of that success would be possible without the players and Brooklyn boasted some of the top talent on the hardwood this winter. Read on to see who racked up the victories and padded their stat lines this season:

Player of the Year: Selena Philoxy, Senior, South Shore

Coach of the Year: Anwar Gladden, South Shore

The Lady Vikings’ leader helped his squad get over the Federation hump this winter, as South Shore captured the program’s first-ever state title with a lopsided victory over The Mary Louis Academy in Glens Falls. It was a dominant season for Gladden and his squad, sparked by a fierce determination to not come up short again.

FIRST TEAM

Lynette Taitt, Senior, Bishop Loughlin

The Lions’ long-time standout joined the 1,000-point club this season, averaging 24.4 points per game. Taitt stepped into a more of a leadership role for the young Loughlin squad, but found a way to pack her stat sheet while still helping her teammates. She’s set to take her talents to Manhattan College next season.

Destiny Philoxy, Junior, South Shore

The unquestioned leader of the Lady Vikings’ offense, Philoxy was the squad’s general on the court, pushing the team back to another city title and its first-ever state championship. The point guard, who committed to UMass during the season, tallied up the assists, regularly setting up her teammates as South Shore cruised to a perfect record against city competition.

Ericka James, Sophomore, James Madison

The Lady Golden Knights’ standout did a bit of everything this season, leading her team to a city title and a solid showing in the Federation tournament. James packed her stat sheet during the regular season, averaging 20.5 points, 7.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game. She was just as strong during the post season, averaging 15.2 points, 4.2 rebounds and 2.6 assists per contest.

Asinae Johnson, Junior, Grand Street Campus

A dominant two-way player, Johnson frequently let her defense set up her offense. She was a force to be reckoned with in transition play, pushing past opposing players with ease and averaging 15.4 points, 4.5 rebounds and 3.3 assists during the season.

Alexis Sykes, Senior, Nazareth

A team captain in her final season on the squad, Sykes did a bit of everything for the Lady Kingsmen. She averaged 13 points, 6.6 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 2.3 steals per game, keeping Nazareth focused throughout a season that was chock-full of ups and downs and challenging matchups.

SECOND TEAM

Shanice Graves, Senior, Grand Street Campus

A Mayor’s Cup participant, Graves was a leader for the Lady Wolves in her final season on the hardwood. She averaged 12.3 points and 2.45 rebounds during the regular season and was a spark plug in the back court.

Meghan Glynn, Senior, Fontbonne Hall

A multi-year standout for the Bonnies, the forward was a big reason the squad returned to the Brooklyn-Queens championship game this year. Glynn, who was also named a team captain, averaged 10.1 points and four rebounds per game.

Kelly O’Donnell, Senior, St. Edmund Prep

The senior forward was a scoring force to be reckoned with this season, averaging a whopping 21.2 points per game and even notched a 34-point performance during the year. The St. Joseph college-bound O’Donnell also joined the 1,000-point club this season and also averaged 7.3 rebounds per game.

Tshai Corbie, Senior, South Shore

Corbie, who competed in the Mayor’s Cup, was a big-time shooting threat for the Lady Vikings this season. She connected on a handful of clutch buckets throughout the season, but the Coppin State commit had her best game in the city final, earning MVP honors for her performance.

Nia Bishop, Junior, Boys and Girls

The shooting guard lived up to her position’s reputation this season, leading Brooklyn AA Group 1 in scoring. Bishop averaged 23 points per game during the regular season, in addition to 9.6 rebounds and five assists. In two playoff games she also chipped 16.5 points and 7.5 rebounds.

THIRD TEAM

Raven Pitt, Junior, St. Joseph’s

The guard and team captain was the spark that helped the squad move on both sides of the ball, leading the team to a Brooklyn-Queens championship in its first-ever season. Pitt averaged 15 points and five assists per game.

Lauren Clarke, Senior, Cristo Rey

The emotional spark plug for the squad, Clarke also backed up her talk with numbers. She averaged 15.1 points, four assists and two steals per game, leading Cristo Rey to a Brooklyn-Queens championship appearance.

Earlette Scott, Junior, South Shore

The guard was a picture of cool, calm and collected during the Federation tournament, sinking double-digit buckets from the free throw line as the Lady Vikings notched their first-ever state title. She was just as consistent during the regular season as well, providing another scoring threat for the squad as it notched a perfect record in the city.

Casey O’Shaughnessey, Sophomore, Bishop Kearney

The guard impressed almost every time she stepped onto the court this year, averaging 16 points, five rebounds and three assists. O’Shaughnessey also notched a 25-point performance during the regular season.

Daysiah Smith, Sophomore, Summit Academy

The guard seemingly could not be slowed down all year, averaging 29.4 points during the regular season and 22 points in four playoff games. She also hauled in 6.5 rebounds and dished out 5.5 assists and, for good measure, shot 72 percent from the free throw line.

HONORABLE MENTION

Victoria Brown, Nazareth

Shonnyvelle Regalado, Nazareth

Katie Marquardt, Fontbonne Hall

Emily Bosiacki, Fontbonne Hall

Gabriella Rafaniello, Bishop Kearney

Lizzie Mulvaney, St. Edmund Prep

Lauren Duggan, St. Saviour

Ginelle Phipps, St. Joseph’s

Alexis Davis, Harry Van Arsdale

Destenee Bailey, Canarsie

Emily Sae, New Utrecht