Christ the King Crushes Molloy

MIDDLE VILLAGE, NY - Royals Head Coach Joe Arbitello holds his players to high standards. Christ the King would crush Archbishop Molloy, 73-53 on Friday but Arbitello was not satisfied even though they led the entire game. "We didn't guard in the first half," said Arbitello. "We gave up 33 points."

Molloy stayed neck and neck with Christ the King throughout most of the first half due to baskets by 6'4" junior John O'Connor (14 points) and 5'10" junior Dominic Priolo (9 points). The Royals inched ahead late in the second quarter but offensive barrages by 6'2" senior Stanner Dante Warren (17 points) made it a horse race.

Rawle Alkins (19 points & 12 rebounds) put CK up 32-24 with 3:20 but O'Connor and Warren kept the Stanners in the hunt. The Royals kept separation primarily due to 6'0" junior Jarred Rivers 15 first half points that put Royal up by 10. Molloy did manage get the lead down to 42-39 at the half.

As a result of the poor defensive effort, Arbitello said he told his players, they were only allowed to give up ten points in the third quarter and 12 in the fourth.

Christ the King opened it up in the second half as their transition play kicked in. An alley-oop from PG Jose Alvarado (12 points & 4 assists) to Tyrone Cohen (5 points & 4 rebounds) put the royals ahead 48-34 with 5:46. Molloy tried to counter but had no answer for Christ the Kings over the rim play.

Molloy remained competitive as Warren slashed his way to score. The Stanners pulled to within 9 points with a minute left in the third quarter but Alvarado quickly pushed it back to 56-45 to begin the final quarter.

6'5" junior Isaac Grant (7 points) started the fourth quarter, cutting the Royals lead down again but could not contain the Royals offense. Five minutes remained and the Stanners were suddenly in a 62-49 hole and it well downhill from there, quick, fast and in a hurry for the Briarwood, NY school

"We wound up giving up only 20 [points] in the second half so I was pleased with that," Coach Arbitello told NYCHoops.net after the game. In addition to achieving his second half goal, Arbitello also said he was pleased with play of Rivers who led the Royals with 21 points, 5 rebounds and three rebounds. "He makes shots, defends and makes the right decisions."