Christ the King's 72-61 win over
Bishop Loughlin at Fordham that gave the Royals their second straight CHSAA
title and was very much a reflection of what would become a great year.
Christ the King's season was not
without its struggles. Seniors Andre Walker and Adonis Delarosa, who had played
complimentary roles last year were going through the process of assuming
leading roles. Junior wingman Travis Atson and sophomore Rawlie Alkins
struggled to fit in as well. Alkins, who's the team's most talented player and
a top national recruit would often move through games cautiously in an effort
to fit in with teammates. Even though there were difficult losses along the way
to Hayes, and Molloy and at Loughlin the Royals found their way to familiar
ground in the Diocesan championship game where they lost again to the Lions.
There were moments of struggle in
the game also even as the Royals maintained a slight advantage. Loughlin was
ready for the new and improved version of Delarosa. They varied the timing and
direction of their double teams. And he did not score his first field goal
until a short corner pop in the third quarter. Even Alkins who finished with a
game high 24 points had some early miscues.
The Royals built a 4 point
advantage and maintained it through to even quarters in the second and third.
Their transition defense improved markedly from their Diocesan title loss and
while Loughlin torched the Royals from beyond the arc in that game shot a
combined 3-21 in this one.
Williams and Carrington fought
through their three point shooting woes to trim the deficit to one in the
closing moments of the third quarter but when Delarosa got a rebound and made a
quick pass to Walker, the senior guard made a half court shot to keep the
margin at four 51-47.
From there a back and forth
struggle was taken to another level in the final stanza. Alkins, who scored the
bulk of his 24 points closer to the basket, scored his most important hoop on a
triple with 2:32 left in the game. Delarosa made a terrific defensive play to
deflect a pass, got to the loose ball and again made a terrific outlet pass to
Walker in a play that began similar to the one that ended the third quarter. This
time, Walker snapped a perfect diagonal pass to Alkins who rose up and drained
a right wing triple with the confidence of an elite level player.
From there it was left to the
Royals, and in particular Delarosa to clinch the game from the free throw line.
Travis Atson, the Royals' high flying 6'5" junior finished with 21 points
and earned tournament MVP honors. His
first basket came on a beautiful pass and cut combination with Walker for a
dunk and was indicative of the energy he gave his team and ability to score and finish within the flow of
the offense. Delarosa overcame that slow beginning with 10 points and 15 boards
while Walker added 13 points 8 boards and 6 assists. For the Lions Carrington
had 22 points while Williams added 17. Loughlin had a tremendous year of their
own and like the Royals deserve congratulations on a great season. Christ the
King won the day and became the first team since Chick Keegan's St. Francis
Prep team s of the mid and late 1950's to win 4 titles in 5 years. In a season
that many thought would be a down year for the Royals they drew from previous
success and found familiar championship ground. Congratulations to the Royals
on a job well done.
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