CTK wins another state title

Christ the King admittedly did not know much about St. Michael Academy, their talented opponent in the CHSAA Class AA state title game.
It didn’t matter.
The Royals ran roughshod over the Manhattan school, 66-46, Sunday evening at St. John’s University, earning their 17th straight Catholic state crown, and an invitation upstate to Glens Falls this weekend and the Federation tournament. “It’s nice when you can maintain and sustain that excellence, and we’ve done that,” Christ the King Coach Bob Mackey said.
All-American Tina Charles, the UConn-bound center, led the way with 25 points and 22 rebounds, junior point guard Lorin Dixon added 19 and junior Sky Lindsay scored 18. After a slow start, the Royals went on a 13-2 run, forging ahead 25-11 when Lindsay capped the spurt with a 3-pointer. St. Michael never threatened again.
St. Michael has made the unprecedented climb from a Class D school four years ago to competing against the defending state AA champions. Though they had the athleticism to compete, the Eagles lacked the experience to hang with the Royals.
The triumvirate of Charles, Lindsay and speedy point guard Lorin Dixon was too much for the Eagles (23-4). In a match-up of perhaps the top two point guards in the city, Dixon limited Anjale Barrett, the sister of former Seton Hall star Andre Barrett, to 16 points.
For the Royals, the top-ranked team in the nation, their 55th straight victory sets up a possible showdown not only for local bragging rights but nationwide with the eight-time PSAL champions Murry Bergtraum (No. 2 in the country), 81-66 winners Sunday over Francis Lewis.
But first, Christ the King (28-0) will have to take care of Rush-Henrietta of Rochester in the state semifinals Friday afternoon in Glens Falls. “I love going back up, I love going to Glens Falls,” Mackey said. “It’s a great tournament and we’re looking forward to it.”
A late third quarter collision gave the Royals pause when Lorin Dixon collided with the Eagles’ Natasha Dixon (no relation) head on, causing a slight gash on the top of Lorin Dixon’s right eye, forcing her to leave the game momentarily. She would return, however, for the fourth quarter, well enough to finish off the Royals’ latest title and prepare for a run at another state championship.