New York City & New Jersey High Hoops

2/26/03 John P Miciotta: 'Christ the King and Xaverian each got clutch shots from their senior stars, and survived terrific challenges from Molloy and Loughlin in last night's Brooklyn-Queens Diocesan semi-final at St. Francis College. CK used a three point basket with just under a minute to go by Japhet McNeil to escape with a 51-49 win over Molloy. And Xaverian won the night cap 59-58 on an old fashioned 3 point play by Chris Taft.

In the opener, Christ the King appeared to have the game in hand early as they raced to a 35-19 half-time lead. In the first period the inside work of Justin Marshall, who scored 8 points in the period, and Brian Williams led the way. In the second stanza Japhet McNeil got going, finishing with 11 for the half. He combined with Williams, who had 14 points and 12 boards for the game, to help the Royals surge ahead.

Molloy coach Jack Curran switched defenses, going to a triangle and two on McNeil and fellow senior guard Mitchell Beauford to open the second half. That got the Stanners going defensively, while Marlon Smith, who scored 15 of his 20 points in the second half brought them to life offensively. The Stanners outscored the Royals 26-10 throughout the third and much of the fourth period. They tied the game at 45 with just over 3:30 left after Sundiata Gaines got to a loose ball just ahead of Beauford and hit senior John Miller with a long outlet pass for a layup. Two free throws by Smith and a tough pull up jumper from the key by Gaines gave the Stanners a four point lead. But the Royals' experience allowed them to regroup. First, McNeil found Chris Martin with an inbounds pass and he hit a one hander in the lane in heavy traffic. That basket and a Molloy turnover set the stage for McNeil, who used a screen from Brian Williams and hit a trey for his only basket of the second half but the most important of the game. Molloy had several final tries before Ivan Marneka was fouled but missed two free throws. Justin Marshall secured the rebound and made the front end of a one and one. When he missed the second Mitchell Beauford made a big play by contesting, and nearly getting the offensive rebound. That kept Molloy from getting a final shot and helped the Royals earn their place in Friday's final.

Unlike the Stanners, Loughlin's Lions threw their hay maker at the top seeded Clippers early in the game, surging to a 7 point lead after the first quarter and a nine point edge at the half. The Lions defensive quickness and intensity set the tone, while hot early shooting from senior guards Courtney Johnson and Andrew Wright provided the offense. Kojo Mensah had his typical all around game scoring in all kinds of ways, defending and providing a big lift on the boards.

The Clippers comeback was not nearly as dramatic as the Stanners' had been. It had several stops and starts as the Lions made key plays both offensively and defensively to keep the Clippers at bay. Finally, down four they got it to two on a layup by Clive Chapman with just under 30 seconds to go. After a Loughlin turnover Clipper point man Lavance Fields, who fed Chapman for the previous hoop, probed the defense with his dribble twice, then he brought the ball to the left of the key and hit Chapman at the top. Chapman hit Taft, who posted up in the middle of the lane. He put up a jump hook and was bumped as he followed through. The ball settled on the rim for a moment before nestling through the hoop. With the game tied at 58, Taft stepped to the line and shot the free throws as he always does, with an unusually low release that makes one wonder how he gets his shots softly on the rim. This shot used some of the rim but went in and gave Taft the last of his 20 points and the Clippers a victory and a rematch with CK in the finals. The two teams split two meetings in the regular season with each team winning at home. Round three is a championship game not only because of what's at steak but because of the two great teams, great players and coaches involved. The game is scheduled to begin at 8:15 on Friday and fans in attendance are sure to see a terrific game and some great individual talent.'