STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.— Tipping off this Friday night, the third annual Borough President’s Cup will bring together Staten Island’s Catholic, public and independent high schools for a 12-game tournament spanning eight days, all in pursuit of ultimate local bragging rights while continuing to elevate girls’ sports on the Island.
“The tournament has been a great success. We are delighted to give the girls the opportunity to compete and enjoy themselves. We wish to thank the Jacques Committee and all the volunteers who make this tournament possible,” BP Fossella told the Advance/SILive.com.
Tournament committee member Gerard Nicholson also noted that while the event is now in its third year, its relative newness should still remind the community that it was “30 years in the making,” as Staten Island previously featured only an all-borough boys’ tournament before the girls’ competition began in 2024.
“A few years ago, Borough President Vito Fossella, who has been fully committed to youth sports, made it a priority to level the playing field and give the girls the same opportunity the boys have had,” he explained.
Nicholson also praised the fellow organizers on the tournament’s board, saying, “Over the years, the tournament has seen great success, and much of that is due to our committee. We have an experienced and dedicated group of committee members, and without them, this tournament simply wouldn’t be possible,” he went on.
This year, the Moore Catholic Mavericks enter the tournament as the No. 1 overall seed, earning a bye to the semifinals after posting a perfect 8–0 record in CHSAA AA league play and a rock-solid 12–2 mark overall.
“We are obviously very humbled and grateful to get this opportunity to be the #1 seed. We recognize the committee has a difficult job in seeding teams that play in different leagues; our only focus now is getting ready for the tournament,” Mavs head coach Gene Henderson said.
St. Joseph by-the-Sea, the two-time defending champions and the Island’s lone CHSAA AAA squad, enter as the Catholic schools’ No. 2 seed, aiming to remain the tournament’s only winner.
“We are doing all we can to put ourselves in a position to play our game. We have half of our roster getting the chance to participate in this tournament for this first time, which they’re excited about,” Sea bench boss Josh Suslak shared.
The Vikings are then followed by Notre Dame Academy at No. 3 and St. Joseph Hill at No. 4, while Staten Island Academy— the borough’s only ACIS school— stands alone in its private-school distinction.
On the PSAL side, the Tottenville Pirates— unbeaten at 12–0 in league play— earn the public schools’ top seed and likewise receive a bye to the semifinals. Head coach Jessica Althoff said, “We are really excited to come to the BP Cup and compete.”
“These girls have worked really hard all season and receiving the PSAL’s No. 1 seed is well-deserved. I’m looking forward to coaching some good games,” she continued.
After the Pirates comes Curtis at No. 2, Susan Wagner at No. 3, New Dorp at No. 4, McKee/Staten Island Tech at No. 5, Petrides at No. 6, CSI/McCown at No. 7, and Port Richmond rounding out the field at No. 8.
MSIT’s Thalia Treasure turns the corner against Petrides in their Borough President’s Cup play-in game at Moore Catholic H.S. in Graniteville on Friday, Jan. 24, 2025. (Staten Island Advance/Jason Paderon)Staten Island Advance
Schedule:
Play-in round- Friday, Jan. 23, @ Moore Catholic (3 games): PSAL No. 5 McKee/Staten Island Tech vs. PSAL No. 8 Port Richmond (5 p.m.); PSAL No. 4 New Dorp vs. Staten Island Academy (6:30 p.m.); PSAL No. 6 Petrides vs. PSAL No. 7 CSI/McCown (8 p.m.)
Round 2- Sunday, Jan. 25, @ St. Joseph Hill (4 games): PSAL No. 2 Curtis vs. winner of MSIT/Port Richmond (11 a.m.); CHSAA No. 3 Notre Dame Academy vs. winner of New Dorp/Staten Island Academy (12:30 p.m.); CHSAA No. 2 Sea vs. winner of Petrides/CSIM (2:00 p.m.); PSAL No. 3 Susan Wagner vs. CHSAA No. 4 St. Joseph Hill (3:30 p.m.)
Quarterfinals- Tuesday, Jan. 27, @ Petrides (2 games): TBD Round 2 winner vs. TBD Round 2 winner (5 p.m.); TBD Round 2 winner vs. TBD Round 2 winner (7 p.m.)
Semifinals- Thursday, Jan. 29, @ Petrides (2 games): CHSAA No. 1 Moore Catholic vs. quarterfinal winner (5 p.m.); PSAL No. 1 Tottenville vs. quarterfinal winner (7 p.m.)
Final- Saturday, Jan. 31, @ Petrides: Semifinal winner vs. semifinal winner (5 p.m.)