Basketball is easily the sport we associate most with the Diocese of Brooklyn. We’re lucky to have a robust boys’ and girls’ CHSAA league — hands down among the most competitive leagues in the country.

The hoops action wrapped up with a bang this season, so here’s a look at the champions on the diocesan, city, and state levels.

Boys’ Varsity

In the ‘AA’ division, St. Francis Prep, Fresh Meadows, defeated rival Christ the King H.S., Middle Village, to capture a second consecutive Brooklyn-Queens championship.

Both teams advanced to the semifinals of the city championship tournament, with Prep falling to St. Raymond’s H.S. for Boys, the Bronx, and Christ the King losing to eventual tournament champion Archbishop Stepinac H.S., White Plains, N.Y., which won a third-straight ‘AA’ city title.

For the first time in 20 years, the St. John’s Prep, Astoria, boys’ varsity team won the ‘A’ division city championship with a tightly contested 46-43 victory over St. Joseph by-the-Sea H.S., Staten Island. In a rematch of last year’s state title game, the Red Storm fell to St. Anthony’s H.S., South Huntington, L.I.

Boys’ Junior Varsity

After a 23-2 regular season to win the Brooklyn-Queens regular season title, the squad from Archbishop Molloy H.S., Briarwood, turned in a dominant performance in the ‘AA’ city championship game, defeating St. Peter’s Boys’ H.S., Staten Island, 69-48.

Andrew Koumoullos led the Stanners with 22 points, while the trio of TJ Alor, Michael Nembhard, and Sincere Ferguson each poured in 13 a piece.

In the ‘B’ division, Cathedral Prep and Seminary, Elmhurst, made history — becoming the first junior varsity basketball team in school history to win a city championship. In a 45-38 win over Regis H.S., Manhattan, the Crusaders were led by Tyai’n Bonne, who tallied 17 points and grabbed nine rebounds.

Girls’ Varsity

As is always the case, Tier 1 of the girls’ diocesan basketball league brought plenty of excitement to the local hoops scene.

While Christ the King was tough all season, it was the Lady Kingsmen from Nazareth H.S., Flatbush, who pulled off the upset over the Lady Royals in the Brooklyn-Queens title game. Yet in the city tournament, Christ the King once again rose to the occasion, taking down Msgr. Scanlan H.S., the Bronx, for a second-straight city title.

In the state tournament, Nazareth, having qualified based on their diocesan championship victory, reached the final bout against, local basketball powerhouse St. Mary’s H.S., Manhasset, L.I. The Lady Kingsmen played a sound game, led by senior forward Makylah Moore’s double-double of 18 points and 10 rebounds.

In the end, Nazareth claimed the state title with a 51-47 win.

In Tier 2, Fontbonne Hall Academy, Bay Ridge, defeated St. Edmund Prep H.S., Sheepshead Bay, for the diocesan crown. All season, the Bonnies were paced by standout senior shooting guard and team captain Noelle Polanco, a graduate of St. Francis de Sales Catholic Academy, Belle Harbor, who finished her high school career as Fontbonne’s all-time leading scorer. The Bonnies advanced to the state semifinals, ultimately losing to Moore Catholic H.S., Staten Island.

Tier 4 saw the Pandas from St. Saviour H.S., Park Slope, defeat Montfort Academy, Mount Vernon, N.Y., for the city championship title.

Girls’ Junior Varsity

For the Tier 1 junior varsity Brooklyn-Queens championship, Xaverian H.S., Bay Ridge, earned a hard-fought victory over Archbishop Molloy.

Contact Jim Mancari via email at jmmanc@gmail.com.