Sports

Christ the King, Bishop Ford Win State Basketball Titles

High school basketball teams from the Diocese of Brooklyn made their mark this past weekend at the N.Y.S. Federation basketball championships in Albany, N.Y.

The Christ the King R.H.S., Middle Village, boys’ team and the Bishop Ford H.S., Park Slope, girls’ team each won their respective state titles.

The Christ the King Royals earned a 73-64 victory over Long Island Lutheran H.S., Brookville, L.I., in the Class ‘AA’ state championship. It was the Royals’ third-ever state Federation title.

Christ the King's Jon Severe (Photo by Jim Mancari)
Christ the King’s Jon Severe (Photo by Jim Mancari)

Senior guard Jon Severe continues to add to his resume as he remains unsigned to play in college. He scored a game-high 28 pts. in the victory after netting a career-high 40 pts. in Christ the King’s semifinals win.

He earned tournament M.V.P. honors to go along with this year’s Mr. New York Basketball award, becoming the first Royal to win the award in the school’s history.

Senior Malik Harmon also turned in a solid effort with 13 pts., five assists and four steals. Freshman Rawle Alkins shot 5-of-7 from the field for 12 pts. and pulled down seven rebounds in 24 minutes off the bench.

On the girls’ side, the Bishop Ford Lady Falcons defeated Ossining H.S., Ossining, N.Y., 75-60, to capture the school’s first-ever Federation crown.

Junior Aaliyah Jones scored 25 pts. in the victory and had eight steals and seven assists, while senior guard Jill Conroy added 14 pts.

The Lady Falcons received heavy contributions from role players in the win. Freshman Giolibeth Perez scored 11 pts. on 5-of-6 shooting, and senior Brittany Henry grabbed 16 boards to go along with seven pts.

In the Class ‘A’ boys state semifinals, the Nazareth R.H.S., East Flatbush, boys’ team dropped a 43-40 heartbreaker to Albany Academy, Albany, N.Y.

Albany Academy senior Jack Morrow drilled a buzzer-beating three-pointer to give his team the win.

Nazareth junior Samson Usilo scored a game-high 21 pts. in the defeat.

The Nazareth girls’ team also fell in the Class ‘A’ state semifinals, dropping a 44-36 contest to Long Island Lutheran.

Long Island Lutheran relied a 14-0 run to close out the game to propel the team to victory.

Junior Jennifer Fay led the Lady Kingsmen with 11 pts. Both Nazareth teams will return most of their starting players next season.