By Anthony Bosco
Christ the King senior Clare Droesch capped her brilliant high school basketball career Saturday, competing in the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association’s All-American game in Hartford, Conn.
The Belle Harbor native played a solid all-around game despite struggling from the field, scoring seven points on 3-of-14 shooting, grabbing eight rebounds, dishing out five assists and snatching four steals, helping her White team to a 111-80 victory over the Red team.
The White team was coached by current WNBA star and Astoria native Chamique Holdsclaw, the first of four All-Americans to come out of Christ the King, including UConn’s Sue Bird, George Washington’s Kristeena Alexander and Droesch.
Droesch, who is headed for Boston College next year to play with longtime friend and former high school opponent Janelle McManus, who attended the game, made some fantastic dishes to wide open teammates under the basket in the third quarter of the game, helping the White team pull away.
It was Droesch’s final high school game, a career that included national rankings, diocesan and state championships, as well as some adversity along the way this season.
Droesch missed this year’s Brooklyn/Queens Diocesan title game, serving a two-week school suspension. Still, the Royals defeated St. Francis Prep for the crown, and, with Droesch back in the line-up, later captured the CHSAA state title.
The Royals’ season came to an end in the semifinals of the State Federation tournament, as they lost to PSAL champs Murry Bergtraum, 67-59, despite 31 points from Droesch. Christ the King had entered the tournament in search of its 12th consecutive title.
Reach Sports Editor Anthony Bosco by e-mail at TimesLedgr@aol.com or call 229-0300, Ext. 130.
