
The New York State High School Boys Basketball Championships are held annually in March, with the tournament winners progressing to the Federation Tournament of Champions. The tournament comprises winners from various athletic associations, including the Public Schools Athletic League (PSAL), which consists of public schools in New York City. The PSAL Class A and B boys' championship games are often held at LIU-Brooklyn, with the winners advancing to the state Federation tournament in Albany.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the tournament | Federation Tournament of Champions |
| Conducting authority | New York State Federation of Secondary School Athletic Associations (NYSFSSAA) |
| Participating associations | New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA), Public Schools Athletic League (PSAL), Catholic High School Athletic Association (CHSAA), New York State Association of Independent Schools Athletic Association (NYSAISAA) |
| Location | Times Union Center, SEFCU Arena, Glens Falls, Syracuse, Rochester, Albany |
| Timing | Annually in March |
| Teams | Winners of the various high school athletic associations in New York |
| History | Originally called the Super Sixteen tournament, the tournament was banned for 45 years until 1978 when it was approved again on an experimental basis |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
- The PSAL boys 'A' game features Washington Heights and Bedford Academy
- The PSAL Class 'A' and 'B' boys championship games were held at LIU-Brooklyn
- The PSAL tournament is for public schools in New York City
- The tournament has been held annually since 2023
- The original boys tournament was called the Super Sixteen tournament

The PSAL boys 'A' game features Washington Heights and Bedford Academy
The PSAL boys A game features two powerhouse teams: Washington Heights and Bedford Academy. The game, which is part of the New York state high school boys basketball championships, was held at LIU-Brooklyn and the winner would progress to the state Federation tournament in Albany.
Washington Heights, led by Emile Lewis and Eddy Rafae Polanco, had a comfortable path to the final, beating No. 5 Brooklyn HS for Law and Technology 64-54. Lewis had an impressive 26 points and nine rebounds in the game, showcasing his talent and impact on the team. Bedford, on the other hand, defeated No. 7 Frederick Douglas Academy 75-57 to secure their spot in the final. They are a consistent team, having made the final four in each of the past five seasons.
Washington Heights coach Joshua Krinsky acknowledged the challenge ahead, recognising Bedford as "the standard in the division". However, he expressed confidence in his team's ability to rise to the occasion and achieve their championship goal. Bedford coach Robert Phelps took a more measured approach, emphasising their focus on playing hard defence and giving their best effort. While Washington Heights had won their previous meeting by 17 points, Phelps believed his team had improved since then and would be prepared for the upcoming match.
The game promised to be a thrilling contest between two highly competitive teams, each driven by their aspirations for victory. With Washington Heights' determination to claim the title and Bedford's commitment to maintaining their standard of excellence, the stage was set for an intense and memorable championship game. The outcome would determine which team would represent their school's pride and basketball prowess in the state Federation tournament.
Mastering the Triple Threat: Basketball Strategies for Success
You may want to see also
Explore related products

The PSAL Class 'A' and 'B' boys championship games were held at LIU-Brooklyn
The PSAL Class A and B boys championship games were held at LIU-Brooklyn, with the winners heading to Albany for the state Federation tournament. The PSAL boys' championship tournament is an annual event, with the championship games usually held each March. The tournament comprises the winners of the various high school athletic associations in New York, including the Public Schools Athletic League (PSAL), which consists of public schools in New York City.
The PSAL Class A boys' basketball championship game featured powerhouse teams Washington Heights and Bedford Academy. Washington Heights, led by Emile Lewis, who had an impressive 26 points and nine rebounds in the previous game, was confident going into the final, having beaten Brooklyn HS for Law and Technology 64-54. Bedford Academy, on the other hand, had a challenging road to the final, facing Frederick Douglas Academy and winning with a score of 75-57.
The PSAL Class B boys' championship game was also held at LIU-Brooklyn, with the winners heading upstate to compete in the state Federation tournament. The girls' Class B championship game was between Brooklyn College and East Harlem Pride, with the game starting at 11 a.m. The boys' Class B game featured a matchup between two CHSAA boys teams, Regis and St. Mary's (Buffalo), which was held at Fordham University.
The PSAL boys' championship tournament has a rich history, dating back to 1978 when the New York State Education Department approved the first boys' Federation tournament. The tournament has undergone several name changes and format revisions over the years, but it consistently provides a platform for talented student-athletes to showcase their skills and represent their schools.
Purdue Men's Basketball: Ranked Number One?
You may want to see also
Explore related products

The PSAL tournament is for public schools in New York City
The Public Schools Athletic League (PSAL) is one of the four high school athletic associations in New York that compete in the annual New York state high school boys basketball championships. The other three associations are the New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA), the Catholic High School Athletic Association (CHSAA), and the New York State Association of Independent Schools Athletic Association (NYSAISAA). The PSAL tournament is specifically for public schools in New York City.
The New York state high school boys basketball championships are won in the Federation Tournament of Champions, conducted annually by the New York State Federation of Secondary School Athletic Associations (NYSFSSAA). The tournament is held each March, and the winners of the PSAL tournament represent public schools in New York City in the championships.
The PSAL tournament has been held at various locations over the years. The first two tournaments were held in Syracuse and Rochester in 1979 and 1980, respectively. The competition then moved to Glens Falls, where it was held through 2010, before moving to Albany. In 2015, due to the use of the Times Union Center for the NCAA Women's Basketball Albany Regional, the tournament was held at SEFCU Arena, the home court of the University at Albany, SUNY basketball teams. The tournament returned to Glens Falls in 2017.
The PSAL tournament features Class A and Class B boys and girls championship games. The Class A and Class B designations are based on student body size, with Class A typically comprising larger schools and Class B comprising smaller schools. The PSAL Class A and Class B boys and girls championship games are often held on the same day, with the winners advancing to the state Federation tournament, which is held the following weekend in Albany.
The Early Adopters of Basketball in Education
You may want to see also

The tournament has been held annually since 2023
The New York State High School Boys Basketball Championships is an annual tournament held in March each year. The tournament comprises winners from various high school athletic associations in New York, including the Public Schools Athletic League (PSAL), which is for public schools in New York City.
In 2000, the tournament became known as the Federation Tournament of Champions, and since 2004, the competition has been held in three classes: AA, A, and B. The tournament venue has changed over the years, with the first two tournaments in 1979 and 1980 held in Syracuse and Rochester, respectively. From 1980 to 2010, the competition moved to Glens Falls, then to Albany. In 2015, the tournament was held at SEFCU Arena, the home court of the University at Albany's SUNY basketball teams, due to the use of the Times Union Center for the NCAA Women's Basketball Albany Regional.
The PSAL Class A and B boys' and girls' championship basketball games are a highlight of the tournament, with the winners heading to Albany for the state Federation tournament. The PSAL boys' 'A' game features powerhouse teams, such as Washington Heights and Bedford Academy, showcasing the talent and competitiveness of the tournament.
The Future of Kuroko's Basketball: Continuation Conundrum
You may want to see also

The original boys tournament was called the Super Sixteen tournament
The New York State High School Boys Basketball Championships are held annually in March, with the tournament winners progressing to the Federation Tournament of Champions. The original boys tournament was called the Super Sixteen tournament, and it was first approved by the State Education Department in 1978, following a 45-year ban on high school basketball state championship tournaments in New York State. The inaugural tournament was held the following year, in 1979, in Syracuse, and the second tournament took place in Rochester in 1980.
The Super Sixteen tournament name derived from the fact that the four associations (NYSPHSAA, PSAL, CHSAA, and NYSAISAA) competed across four classes, primarily based on student body size. In 1979, these classes were called AAA, AA, A, and B. From 1981 through 2003, the class names changed to A, B, C, and D. The tournament name changed in September 2000 to the Federation Tournament of Champions, and since 2004, the competition has been held across three classes: AA, A, and B.
The PSAL Class A and B boys' championships are a pathway to the state Federation tournament. For example, in 2019, the PSAL Class A boys' basketball championship was played at LIU-Brooklyn, with the winners progressing to the state tournament in Albany the following week. The PSAL boys' A game featured powerhouse teams Washington Heights and Bedford Academy, with Washington Heights led by Emile Lewis and Eddy Rafae Polanco, and Bedford by senior guard Darren Thomas.
The original Super Sixteen tournament and its subsequent iterations have provided a platform for talented student-athletes and teams to showcase their skills and compete for the prestigious New York State High School Boys Basketball Championships. The evolution of the tournament structure and naming over the years reflects the changing landscape of high school basketball in the state.
Mastering H2H Fantasy Basketball: Strategies for Success
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
The PSAL boys basketball championship is held in March every year.
The championship has been held in various locations, including Syracuse, Rochester, Glens Falls, and Albany. In 2019, the PSAL Class A and B boys basketball championship games were played at LIU-Brooklyn.
The PSAL boys basketball championship is open to public schools in New York City.


















