As I did in my
quarterfinal recap I’d like to begin with some thoughts, this time as a preview
of the final game rather than on the state of the league. I’ve been watching
these games for a while and I can’t recall the last time two champions; New York
champ Stepinac and Brooklyn-Queens champ Christ the King, have met for the
league’s intersectional title. What that means from a competitive standpoint is
that two teams will play each other that share much more than championship
pedigree in common. Both teams are extremely well balanced, both with respect
to multiple scoring options, and with the ability to score inside as well as
outside. They’re both loaded with talented underclassmen, including a freshman
for each team, AJ Griffin for Stepinac and Moussa Cisse for CK, who figure to be
national recruits in 2021, and they both have senior leadership that has helped
their young team mates navigate a tough league in the regular season and
through the playoffs. Add to that mix to fine coaches in Joe Arbitello for CK
and Pat Massaroni and all the ingredients are in place for what should be a
great championship game. Now without further delay let me get to recapping the
games with an eye toward what might happen Sunday.
Christ the King 72
Cardinal Hayes 64 The defending champion Cardinal found a much different
Royals team than the one they beat handily to open the season. Christ the King has gone through a season long
process of learning how to play well together at both ends of the floor and
they appear to be playing their best basketball when it matters most.
On Thursday the
Royals used a 15-0 first quarter spurt to fire what would ultimately be a
decisive blow. In that season opening loss the Cardinal drilled the Royals from
3-point distance and this time they not only did a terrific job closing out to
Hayes’ shooters but also corralling their guards trying to get dribble
penetration. Senior leader Tyson Walker along with talented sophomore Quaron
McPherson played terrific perimeter defense and McPherson, who has been the
team’s best perimeter defender all season gave them a boost offensively during
that run. The Royals’ first quarter margin grew to as many as 19 points and
they maintained nearly all of that leading 41-25 at the half
Hayes got off the
deck quickly to begin the second half behind a triple each from seniors Tyrese
and Jontai Williams. They combined with Joe Toussaint, who had a difficult game
shooting from beyond the arc but made the wise decision to drive to the basket,
to bring the lead to single digits before the Royals, thanks to hard work at
the rim and a soft touch from the key by 6’11” junior Kofi Cockburn who scored
8 points in the third period. Hayes made another run in the final period that
culminated in a trey by Terry Dawkins that trimmed CK’s margin to 63-59 with 2:17
left. A “hoop & harm” 3-point play by Walker who finished with a team high
21 points gave the Royals some breathing room and they put the finishing
touches on a great win at the line. Cockburn added 20 and 19 boards for CK
while Tyrese Williams had a game high 22 for Hayes.
Stepinac 88 Molloy 84 The Crusaders and the Stanners
met for the rematch of last season’s semi-final that saw Molloy escape with a
one-point win on free throws that followed a controversial foul call in the
closing seconds. Perhaps because Molloy knew they’d get Stepinac’s best shot
and Stepinac wanted badly to avenge the loss the two teams traded blows in the
form of great play from start to finish. They emerged from a see-saw first
quarter deadlocked at 16 as both teams played to the strengths of their
offense. For Molloy that meant gaining an early advantage by going inside to
Moses Brown while for Stepinac it meant relying on early scoring and playmaking
from super sophomore RJ Davis.
In the second quarter Stepinac’s
senior backcourt star Alan Griffin picked up the scoring challenge, torching
Molloy’s defense for 16 of his 31 points. Keep in mind though that he is part
of a deep senior class of wing players in our region and his counterpart for
Molloy, Khalid Moore was just as good, doing yeoman work along the base line
and in the paint. The Stanners nearly took a 5-point lead at half but a leaning
triple by the elder Griffin made Molloy’s advantage 38-36.
Stepinac rode the
momentum of Griffin’s triple into the 3rd period when improving
center Joel Soriano surprised Moses Brown with a well-timed block that lead to
a tough Davis basket in transition. Davis followed with another tough basket
and it appeared Molloy was on its heels for a moment. The Stanners rallied
behind Anthony and Moore and regained the lead when Moore scooped up an Anthony
deflection for a powerful finish.
While
Davis and Anthony did not guard each other, they engaged in a terrific scoring
battle throughout the final period. Davis not only used his craftiness to score
at the rim at times against a challenge from Brown, but he was absolute murder
in the middle, pulling up and hitting jumpers with great efficacy. Molloy and
Anthony kept making plays and staying within striking distance. And when Brown
followed an Anthony miss got fouled and converted the free throw the game was
just 82-81 with 21 seconds left. Molloy then fouled Davis who calmly sank both
free throws. When Moore missed a triple that would have tied it Davis was
fouled again and sank two more. Anthony would then bank home an off-balance
triple to make the score 86-84 but Davis was money from the line for the third
time and provided the final margin. Davis finished with a game high 33 for
Stepinac.
Two well-earned
wins by two teams that enter the game as champions set up what should be an epic
final on Sunday. In New York which will forever be known as a pro sports town,
this game between two great high school teams is as good as any you will find
in New York or anywhere else.
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