Royals Hold Off Xaverian for 3rd CHSAA Chip

BRONX, NY - The CHSAA title game between Christ the King and Xaverian was being played at Fordham University, just like it is every year.

The tip-off time was 3 o'clock and when the referee walked to midcourt for the toss, CTK's star guard Rawle Alkins wasn't there.

In fact Alkins wasn't even in the gym.

The game started and fortunately for CTK, Alkins subbed into the game after a couple of possessions and one single minute passed in the first quarter. It was fortunate for CTK because Alkins ended up scoring 21 points to lead the Royals to a 59-56 victory over Xaverian, their third straight CHSAA championship.

Alkins was late for the game because he was stuck in traffic. He actually started to panic a little bit as the thought that this could be his last high school game flashed into his head. "I was going crazy. This could potentially be my last high school game. I'm thinking…I'm coming late to my last high school game!" Alkins said.

However, he made it and he was up to the task of trying to win the game. Plus the rest of his teammates were just as ready to make things happen.

Jose Alvarado was the first Royal to make an impression in the game. CTK held a 13-10 lead late in the first period when the sophomore knocked in a three and scored another field goal to make it 18-11 to end the first quarter. Alvarado scored 8 of his 14 points in the first period.

The second quarter saw Xaverian get back into it behind the front court play of Sayon Charles and 6'6" Najee Larcher (10 points). The pair scored 11 of the teams 15 points in the period, helping Xaverian get back into the game. However, Alkins scored the only two field goals of the period for CTK, and free threes allowed CTK to keep a 27-26 lead going into the break.

Xaverian came out fast in the third period. After Alvarado opened the scoring with a bucket, Xavarian scored the next 8 points, including two more inside field goals for Charles. Xaverian had taken a 34-27 lead and were basically winning the battle in the paint. Charles was a rebounding demon in the game, grabbing 13 boards to go with his team high 16 points. But CTK was able to change the tide and ended up outscoring Xaverian 20-6 over the next six minutes and into the final quarter.

The key sequence of the game began with under three minutes left in the third. Xaverian was up 38-34 when Tyrone Cohen made a big three from the top of the key. After a drive and lay-up from Doyin Isaac (9 points), Alvarado made his third three of the game from the right elbow. Xaverian couldn't convert on their possession, and then Alkins pulled up for three early in the shot clock and rattled it in to give CTK a 43-40 lead and all the momentum.

The Royals came out and scored the first six points of the fourth, the last a rebound and put-back by David Cole, his only basket of the game. It made it 49-40 with more than 5 minutes left. It was a big enough cushion to hold off Xaverian, who were able to cut it to three after another inside basket from Charles. They never got any closer than that until the final buzzer.

Alkins had 5 rebounds and 4 assists to go with his game high 21 points. Cohen scored 10 points and pulled down 7 rebounds and helped battle Xaverian in the paint.

The last three years has seen Christ the King raising the trophy at Fordham. They were the favorites to win the title and they were able to do just that. Is this the beginning of a long run, a high school dynasty? They were talking three-peat pretty quickly after last year's chip.

Is anyone thinking about a four-peat? Just wondering.