By Anthony Bosco
The Christ the King girls’ varsity basketball team remained perfect in league play Monday, scoring a 61-44 victory over the Bishop Loughlin Lions in what coach Bob Mackey admitted was far from his team’s best effort.
The usually dominant Lady Royals struggled mightily in the early going against Loughlin, falling behind 12-8 after the first quarter and 22-20 at the half before finally kicking it into gear.
The team’s inability to hit open looks and convert layups were the crux of the problem, the coach said, not to mention a possible letdown following the team’s hard-fought win over New Jersey’s No. 2 ranked team, St. John Vienney, Saturday.
“It just wasn’t there,” Mackey said. “We didn’t shoot well. They just weren’t falling. We really didn’t play our best game. We were a little flat tonight.”
But, as usual, the defending CHSAA state champions found a way to gut out the win. Behind Tracy Holness, who had eight points in the quarter, the Royals scored 24 points in the third to take a commanding 44-31 lead into the fourth quarter.
Seniors Michelle Softy and Lesley Dickinson, who both had four points, also gave the team a lift in the second half. Corrine Turner was the only team member to score in double figures, however, finishing with 13.
“We deiced to play,” Mackey said. “It was a matter of just getting the ball in the right players’ hands. We really relied on our bench and our bench came through.”
CK improved to 11-0 in the CHSAA Brooklyn/Queens Diocesan and 17-2 overall with only one game remaining on the league slate, a scheduled matchup with St. Francis Prep Wednesday. 17-2 overall.
On Saturday the Royals needed production from all of its stars to defeat St. John Vienney, Holmdel, N.J., 68-56. The game was nip-and-tuck throughout and CK led by just one, 43-42, heading into the final eight minutes of play.
“That was a hell of a game,” Mackey said. “That was a great matchup, lots of fun.”
Shay Doron led the Royals with 23 points, followed by Candice Lindsay with 16 and Cigi McCollin with 12. Both Doron and McCollin keyed the win, scoring seven apiece in the final period.
Bishop Kearney 58, St. Francis Prep 50. The St. Francis Prep Terriers dropped their third league game of the season Sunday with this a surprising eight-point loss to Kearney, led by Caitlin Boyle with 16 and Maryanne Walsh with 13.
St. Francis Prep 67, The Mary Louis Academy 42. Dawn Gorynski led the way with 23 points, while Caitlin Kennedy added 15 points and 14 rebounds for SFP. Mary Louis was led by Donna Lohrey’s 17.
Bishop Kearney 71, Archbishop Molloy 46. The Stanners dropped this league game, as Katelyn Lawler, Jen Lawler, Boyle and Caitlin Morch all scored in double figures.
St. Francis Prep 61, Bishop Loughlin 42. Elizabeth Yuneman powered St. Francis Prep with 16 points, while Kristina Koncewicz chipped in 10.
Reach Sports Editor Anthony Bosco by e-mail at TimesLedger@aol.com or call 229-0300, Ext. 130.
