By Dylan Butler
Originally hoping to give Christ the King a run for its money, Molloy would now like to move down from the Class AA to the Class A. And that was before the Stanners were crushed by Bishop Loughlin – a Class B school – 62-38 Monday night. “We're probably not even on the 'B' level the way we're playing right now,” Towey said. “I've already notified Rick Matzelle that this letter is written and is on my athletic director's desk. We're second guessing ourselves. Is there more we could have done?”The 24-point loss to Loughlin is the fifth – and certainly worst – loss in a row for a Molloy team that had won back-to-back state Federation titles. The Stanners are still without star Rosalyn Gold-Onwude, who has now missed eight games with a sprained left knee and had an MRI Monday, and NYU-bound standout Jessica McEntee, out with flu-like symptoms.”We have some kids here whose skills are very limited and it gets totally exposed when you don't have your best players here to protect them,” Towey said. “It just goes to show how good those two are because they make the other kids look better.”Those players who were left were manhandled by a Bishop Loughlin team without its best player in Akeeda Barrett. Led by senior Sharda King, who scored a game-high 24 points, the Lions used a full court press to stymie the Stanners. “We don't know how to handle pressure,” said junior guard E.J. Dreyer, who led Molloy with 12 points. “We played a lot of games in a row now and we need to find a way to play together and not let that get us riled up and play hard against us. We just need to finish off games. We'll have runs but we have to close it out.”After an even first quarter, Loughlin (7-1, 2-0 CHSAA) went on a 11-0 run in the second quarter and went into halftime ahead 27-13. The Lions lead ballooned to 15 in the third quarter before the Stanners got within six, 36-30 on an 12-foot jumper by Katie Pastina. But Thomasine Crowder (11 points), Amanda Burnett and King scored consecutive layups off Molloy turnovers to give Loughlin a 42-30 lead heading into the fourth quarter. After 23 turnovers in a 63-46 loss to Mount Vernon Sunday, Molloy had 28 turnovers against Loughlin.”I think Sharda is a quiet killer and I want her to have a bigger impact,” said Loughlin coach Debbie Mortley, who was serving the first of a two-game suspension after being ejected from the Lions' league win against Bishop Kearney Dec. 18. “You have to almost pull it out of her.”St. Francis Prep 55, Cardozo 43. Jill Degnan had 16 points, Kim Coward added 11 second-half point, Maiza Mock had 11 points and Gina Catherall added 10 for St. Francis Prep (3-4) Sunday at the second annual Tom Crotty Memorial Classic at Hofstra University. Cardozo (11-3) was led by Marissa Flagg, who had a game-high 23 points and Lekesha Harris, who added 11 points.Mary Louis 57, Dominican Academy 17. Elyse Busch had 10 points and Martina Honovich added 8 points for Mary Louis (4-5) in a game played at Christ the King Saturday.Christ the King 73, Georgetown (Tex.) 33. Tina Charles had 19 points, 10 rebounds and 3 blocks and Careem Gay added 13 points for Christ the King (8-0) Dec. 29. Reach Sports Editor Dylan Butler by e-mail at TimesLedger@aol.com or call 718-229-0300, Ext. 143.
