PSAL Girls A Division championship Bergtraum, Francis Lewis.

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Author: Evans, Howie1

It's the greatest run in girls PSAL sports. The Murry Bergtraum girls basketball team will hit the Madison Square Garden hardwood on Sunday seeking their eighth straight PSAL A Division championship.

The seemingly invincible team, led by high scoring guard Epiphanny Prince, a senior headed for Rutgers, and Erica Morrow, a junior, will tip off against Francis Lewis High School as they shoot for the title and another trip to the State Federation Tournament next week at Glens Falls. Bergtraum, who has won eight straight division championships and made 10 playoff appearances under coach Ed Grizinsky, is 40-0 in the playoffs, a streak that dates back to the 2001 season. Grizinsky is in his 10th season at the helm of Bergtraum, one of the top girls programs in the country, along with Christ the King, the team that whipped them for the Fed title last season. CK also beat them earlier this year and more than likely, the two programs will clash again for the state championship.

Epiphanny Prince gets all the headlines. And rightly so. Without a question, she ranks among the greatest female hoop stars in the history of the PSAL. She averaged 42.0 points per game during the regular season, and is averaging 22.5 points a game in the playoffs. She is the author of the national high school single-game scoring record of 113 points, accomplished on Feb. 2 against Brandeis High School. In leading Bergtraum back to the Garden, "The Princess" drilled John F. Kennedy for 27 points in the semifinals. But this is not a one-girl team. Taking her place among the top players in the city and country is junior guard Erica Morrow, who is among the most sought-after players in the country. Erica is averaging 19.5 points a game to go along with 8.0 assists. She's stepped up her game during the playoffs, averaging 28 points a game.

On the other side of the court on Sunday, Francis Lewis has their own all-America and all-city player in Vionca Murray, a senior who plays both the center and forward positions for coach Mike Eisenberg. Vionca is averaging 19.6 points and 6.6 assists a game. She scored 25 points in Bergtraum's 69-61 semifinal win over Grand Street. On the help side comes Diatiema Hill, a senior guard/forward averaging 13.7 points and 7.0 rebounds, 22 points during the playofls. She's committed to UMass. This could be the year for Francis Lewis.

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By Howie Evans, AmNews Sports Editor