Carrington's 42 Lift Loughlin to B-Q Title

              Ironically Khadeem Carrington. the star of Bishop Loughlin's 90-71 Diocesan Title win, did not make two of  his team's most back breaking shots.  In a twist that captured how good a night it was for the champion Lions fellow seniors Mike Williams and Darius James  combined for 7 points on buzzer beating shots to end each of the first 2 quarters. Williams buried his signature shot, a deep right corner trey, was knocked down on the play and converted the free throw to give Loughlin a 23-18 first quarter lead. Then James connected on a left side three pointer as the second quarter buzzer sounded. His basket pushed Loughlin's margin to a robust 16 points.

              In between those two plays,  and for the entire game ,Carrington was flawless connecting for 23 of his game high 42 points in those first two quarters. He scored with his patented lefty jumper from the right elbow and on an assortment of tough drives to the basket.  Surprisingly he did not make a three pointer, but he more than compensated  up for it with great decisions and athleticism that got him to the line for 14 free throws. He made every one of them.

              Darius James' three to end the second quarter came at a time when Christ the King was beginning to find its stride on offense. Adonis Delarosa scored 8 of his 23 points in the first half and Travis Aston connected on two left corner triple on his way to 16 points when before that basket. Carrington then had his own signature moment , a beautiful baseline drive from right to left for a reverse layup to open the third period and seemingly take away any hope of a Royals' comeback. Williams added 19 points for the  Lions and Javian Delacruz chipped in nicely with 16.

              Thanks to this convincing win Loughlin earns the top seed from Brooklyn-Queens in next week's intersectional playoffs. Christ the King will enter the playoffs as the second seed.