Sunday morning, March 16, marked the return of the Manhattan Center Lady Rams basketball team to the PSAL Class AA City Championship game at Madison Square Garden against perennial NYC powerhouse Murry Bergtraum. Despite being forced to sit behind a basket at the end of the court rather than in the middle, MCSM students, parents, and teachers arrived in force and cheered on their favorite high school hoopsters enthusiastically.
Coach Jaywana Bradley’s Lady Rams looked ready for the challenge of stopping a Bergtraum team that was seeking its tenth consecutive PSAL championship. The Lady Ram starting five – Aziza Patterson, China Crosby, Shantale Bramble Donalds, Jessica Gatling, and Sindy Ismael -- charged hard out of the gate, taking their game right at the Lady Blazers with aggressive defense and an attacking style against Bergtraum’s full court pressure. Their fast start slowed a bit, plagued by missed layups and free throws. Meanwhile, Bertraum forged ahead with its scoring machine in high gear, led by strong guard play, good shooting from their forwards, and the presence of a center who could only be described as “Lady Shaq.”
By the end of the first quarter, the Lady Rams already sat at the short end of a 19 – 9 score. The deficit grew to twenty by halftime as Bergtraum’s steamroller basketball team was on its way to its tenth consecutive PSAL championship by a final score of 85 - 47. Shantale Bramble Donalds led the scoring effort with 17 points, while China Crosby added 11 points and a half-dozen floor burns.
The Lady Rams made their fans proud, never giving an inch and leaving everything they had out on the basketball floor. Special recognition to Seniors Shantale Bramble Donalds, Jessica Gatling, and Chidima Uchendu who were each playing their last game for MCSM, and to China Crosby (winner of the game’s Sportsmanship Award) and Aziza Patterson for their incredible effort. China spent as much time diving and sprawling on the floor as Allen Iverson does for the Denver Nuggets and bounced right back after being badly shaken up on one play under the basket.
With China and Aziza returning to next year’s team along with six other players from this year’s team -- and a Girls JV Team that went 11-0 this season -- Coach Bradley and Lady Rams fans have good things to look forward to. Meanwhile, rumor has it that Murry Bergtraum is moving up to a higher league next year, although DOE officials have not yet revealed whether that will be the NCAA or the WNBA.
Congratulations to Coach Bradley and to all the Lady Rams players for their hard work and sacrifices this year and for their success as a team. Most important, many thanks to each and every player for representing Manhattan Center with dignity, pride, and sportsmanship. You are the best of what scholastic sports is all about, and you are each winners in our book, regardless of the final score. This year’s PSAL Championship Team roster:
Seniors - Shantale Bramble Donalds, Jessica Gatling, Chidima Uchendu
Juniors - Allana Beddoe, China Crosby, Astrid Cruz, Nylisha Gilbert
Sophomores - Sindy Ismael, Nijah Lacourt, Aziza Patterson
Freshmen - Kiarah Dunlap, Sonata Mallory
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