The basketball players from Harlem high schools, Wadleigh and Manhattan Center, know each other too well. They live in the same neighborhood, play together on summer league teams, and even attended the same elementary and middle schools.

So when the PSAL Manhattan East “A” division rivals meet on the basketball court, it’s a big deal in this close knit Harlem neighborhood.

“We just play for respect,” said Wadleigh’s Steven Liebert. “It’s more exciting when you know what you’re facing.”

Wadleigh, one season removed from a trip to the Elite Eight, showed that it’s still the class of Harlem, with a convincing 78-59 victory over visiting Manhattan Center. Liebert led the Tigers (6-0, Manhattan East) with 18 points, while Diloo Brown (14), Julien Allen (13) and Dominique Jones (13) provided balanced scoring. Christian Cabral scored 16 points to lead Manhattan Center (4-3, Manhattan East).

“This is a longtime rivalry,” said Wadleigh coach Michael Crump, who has relatives on the other side. “We all live in the neighborhood. It’s for neighborhood bragging rights. We are friends on and off the court. This is a family affair.”

The first quarter showed how intense the rivalry can be as the teams traded leads six times and Manhattan Center held a slim 20-19 lead after eight minutes. But Manhattan Center’s fortunes went south soon after. The Rams’ top scorer, John Pressley, who is fighting mononucleosis, had to leave the game and his absence proved costly.

Pressley, also one of the top PSAL scorers, scored his teams first four points, but after one quarter could not muster the energy to continue.

Taking advantage of a depleted Manhattan Center offense, Wadleigh opened the second quarter on a 15-4 run to break the game open. The Tigers led by 12 at the half and seemed to be in control.

But a lackluster third quarter let Manhattan Center back in the game. With less than eight minutes to go and Wadleigh clinging to a 46-40 lead, Liebert reasserted his presence in the paint and scored eight points to ignite a 22-8 run that put the game out of reach.

“I’m happy for the win,” said Liebert. “We worked together as a team. We started slacking off. We needed to pick up the pace. You let someone hang around and then anything can happen.”

The win helped Wadleigh remain unbeaten in Manhattan East and also maintain the upperhand against its neighborhood rival.

“It’s a big win for us,” said Crump.

Wadleigh is looking to be a force come playoffs time. The 2005-06 Tigers might be even better than last year’s team that went deep into the playoffs.

“It’s a different team. We have less individual play and more of a group effort,” said Crump, who has eight players that could score in double figures. “We are looking to make some noise in the playoffs.”

Brown has seen the progress in his four years in the program.

“Our work ethic got better,” said Brown. “We are working as a team. We want to go to the Garden.”

Notes: Wadleigh went 16-0 in Manhattan East in 2004-05… The Tigers handed Manhattan Center their only two division losses last season… Wadleigh won the PSAL “B” division title in 1998.