Uncharted Territory for the Royals

BRIARWOOD, NY - Seeing the Christ the King Royals playing in the first round of the Brooklyn/Queens Diocesan Sectional Playoffs on Monday versus Xaverian was a new unusual visual experience. For a team that has won three NYS Federation Championships, four B/Q Chips and four City Chips, the Royals have always earned a BYE in the first round of the playoffs but this season is different. Due to a subpar 9 – 6 regulation season, the Royals were not afforded the same luxury as Molloy and Loughlin who were exempt from playing in the first round.

“In eleven years, this is the first time,” admitted Christ the King Head Coach Joe Arbitello and while the Royals ultimately dominated Xaverian (0 - 15), 73 – 52, CK started off playing down to the competition. “I thought we were playing well and then we stayed on 18 [points] for about four minutes, missing lay-ups and free-throws,” Arbitello confessed.

Only ahead by six points at the half, Coach Arbitello knew that complacency could result in an unprecedented early exit from the playoffs. ”I told them the problem with this game is no one is in the gym, it’s six o’clock on a day you were off and we’re playing a team we don’t think is very good.”

Fortunately, 6’10” Kofi Cockburn ‘19 heeded Arbitello’s warnings and began to take over the game. Slam dunks in the paint by the sophomore big man along with baskets by Jaylen Davis ‘19, Jose Alvarado ’17 and Tyson Walker ‘18 eventually wore Xaverian down.

Trailing by 21 points at the end of the third quarter, the Clippers would lose by as many points. Cockburn, who paced the Royals with 20 points and double digit rebounds, said that after Coach Arbitello spoke to the team at half time, they approached the game with a new attitude. “We locked in,” said Cockburn. “He told us what to do and we executed.”

Davis added 19 points with Alvarado contributing 14 points before he went down and out with back spasms in the third quarter. Zack Bruno ‘17 was high man for Xaverian scoring a game high 21 points.

As Christ the King advances to the semifinal round, winning either a B/Q championship or a City chip becomes paramount in the Royals ability to retain its royal status.

Holy Cross snaps St. Francis Prep, 65 -53

Wednesday 2/22 @ Christ the King

6:00 pm #4 Holy Cross (Dark) vs. #1 Molloy (White)

7:45 pm #3 Christ the King (Dark) vs. #2 Bishop Loughlin (White)

"AA" Intersectional 1st Round:

Sunday 2/26 @ Molloy