Royals expose Jefferson @ Apparel Challenge

MIDDLE VILLAGE, NY- Coming into this season there were many who may have questioned just how talented a Christ the King team this truly was, especially when comparing it to Royals teams of the past. Losing several key cogs from last year's group there were more than a few detractors who wondered if this was a season the Royals would not be among the cream of the crop in New York City.

Those who did have that mindset continue to be proven wrong by a Christ the King team that may not boast an elite level high-major Division 1 talent but are full of hard working and tough players who play together, and for the team on every possession.

With wins over Cardinal Hayes and Stepinac on the resume already, Sunday just put another notch in the Royals belts as they put together a big fourth quarter, and behind the 27 points of junior guard Quaran McPherson '20 were able to down one of the PSAL's best in Thomas Jefferson 71-64 in the finale of the 5th Annual Apparel Challenge.

Understanding just how explosive an offensive team that Thomas Jefferson is, Christ the King head coach Joe Arbitello had one thing in mind when he led his team onto the floor before the game, make sure that every basket the Orange Wave got was earned, and even more importantly hold them under 65 points, a number he said he put out there with his team during practice this week.

"We were trying to slow it down and hold them to under 65 points, trying to not let them get out on the break and not let them get us isolated on the wing," Arbitello explained.

Wanting to limit Jefferson is good to say, but Arbitello felt as if this team could back it up and accomplish what he wanted because for as much as he feels his team this year is a potent offensive group with its dynamic guard play, he more than anything loves the way they hustle and play on defense making them one of the toughest groups he has ever coached.

From the outset Christ the King played in their tight zone defense and were refusing to give up easy looks around the rim, not allowing the likes of Jaquan Carlos '21 and Kareem Welch '19 to attack the basket and moving side to side extremely well in not allowing good Orange Wave looks from the outside.

It wasn't until just before the end of first quarter buzzer that Thomas Jefferson hit on their first three as Ramsey Saleh '21 knocked down a three from the corner to get the Orange Wave within 11-9 after one, but with McPherson and Ryan Myers '20 feeling it in the early going it was a good sign for the Royals with their strong start.

Christ the King maintained a lead for much of the second quarter until the defense allowed a three to Dashan Crittenden '19 with 2:52 to go in the half, giving Jefferson the lead for the first time at 26-24, a lead they were able to cling onto the rest of the half as Carlos was able to get out in transition and finish enough off of missed Royals shots around the rim, helping Jefferson to a 31-30 lead at the break.

The strong Orange Wave play continued into the third as Kevin Tabb '20 knocked down a pair of shots in the opening minute to give Thomas Jefferson their biggest lead of the game at 37-30. With the Royals needing someone to step up in the biggest moments for them in the game it was Nate Curry '19 who rose up to that challenge.

All year it's been Curry who has been a driving force to Christ the King's strong start, and with the senior forward scoring 9 points in the third he was able to propel a 10-0 run to give the Royals back the lead midway through the stanza. Seeing Curry be the one lifting Christ the King up may have been a surprise to some watching, but to Arbitello it was just business as usual from one of his top performers so far on the year.

"Nate is the glue guy," Arbitello said about his rugged forward inside. "Every game he is a double-double so it's not surprising to me and it doesn't go unnoticed how important he is for us."

Both teams would end up trading the lead back and forth for much of the rest of the third, and for a good portion of the fourth as well though Sterling Jones '21 was able to score on back to back possessions to give Christ the King the lead with 3:35 to play, a lead they would not again relinquish.

Myers would come up clutch at the charity stripe, but in the closing minutes it became the McPherson show as he hit the biggest three ball of the game with just over a minute remaining to make it a 64-58 game, a shot that he admitted once it left his hand, he knew it was good.

"Coach just says take open shots regardless if you make or miss so I was open I put up the shot, it felt good, and I made it," McPherson said when describing his thoughts on his big shot to put the game away.

Ultimately it was that three from McPherson that was the dagger that did in Thomas Jefferson as Christ the King never was threatened after that as the Royals finished off their first game of 2019 is style with a commanding 71-64 victory over a strong Orange Wave team.

With 27 points it was a game to remember for McPherson who has become one of Christ the King's go to players so far on the season but getting 13 points from Curry and 10 points from Nick Molina '20 shows just the kind of depth that the Royals do have this season.

In a losing effort it was Jefferson getting 15 points apiece from Saleh and Carlos as the Orange Wave couldn't get a second straight big win after defeating South Shore at home on Thursday with the Royals in Queens proving to be too much to take on.

For all the non-believers in Christ the King coming into this season with the losses to transfer and graduation, and because of the injury to Moussa Cisse '21, who still remains out for the Royals. it's time for them to reconsider getting back on the bandwagon according to McPherson who says this team, much like Christ the King teams in the past, has the chance to do some very special things come the end of March.

"We can win the whole thing, that's the goal," McPherson passionately said.

Cardinal Hayes tops Brooklyn Law and Tech, 64 - 53

This was a back and forth contest early in the opening boys game of the day at the Apparel Challenge with the Jets opening a 15-10 lead in the early going. Jaylen Murray '20 helped put the Cardinals on a 12-2 run late in the quarter, including knocking down a three to end the stanza, putting Hayes up 22-20 after a quarter.

From that point the Cardinals wouldn't trail again as even though Law and Tech played tough the entire way, they just didn't have the firepower to overcome a balanced Cardinal Hayes attack with the CHSAA power leading by as many as 20 in the second half before ultimately settling for the 64-53 win.

Murray had 21 points to lead for the Cardinals with Jalen Smith '20 and Joe Toussaint '19 adding 15 and 11 points respectively as well in the win, while in the loss it was Davonta Cook '19 with a truly impressive outing in leading all scorers in the game with 25 points.

Long Island Lutheran batters Boys and Girls, 69 - 43

For the slightest of moments, it looked as if the Kangaroos of the PSAL were going to make this a game to remember as they held a 15-12 lead after one behind the shooting touch from the perimeter Dorian Haynes '19 and Jahi Mukoro '21 who each connected from deep in the opening period.

That didn't last long though as the Crusaders dominated the second quarter to take a 34-21 lead into halftime, a lead they just continuing to expand upon the rest of the way as the depth and the toughness inside of LuHi became too much for Boys & Girls to handle in what ended up being a 69-43 total team victory for NYSAIS Class AA power.

Zed Key '20 was the high man for Long Island Lutheran as he had 18 points for the winner, with Tyler Stephenson '19 scoring 14 of his 17 points in the second quarter that put the Crusaders up for good. Mukoro and Haynes each had 12 points to pace the Kangaroos in the defeat.

South Shore clobbers Chaminade, 76 - 45

Coming in South Shore was a heavy favorite against Chaminade, but with the Flyers missing key pieces due to injuries it just made this one even more lopsided toward the PSAL favorites as from the opening tip the Vikings used their athleticism and depth to take control, pulling away with ease for the 31-point win.

Philpps Joseph '19 was the first to get going for South Shore as he was able to score at will in the opening half be it from the outside, or around the rim with his size and skill set playing to his advantage as a mismatch all over the floor, while it was Kadary Richmond '19 who took over early in the third quarter before the Vikings played most of their bench for the final 8 minutes of the one sided matchup.

Richmond would finish with 14 points, and Joseph would add 13 in a game that saw 12 South Shore players score in the complete team victory over the Flyers who in the loss were led by Michael O'Connell '20 who did all he could do against the tough Vikings defense to finish with 13 points on the night.