CK gets another crack at Rice

This time of year, motivation is rarely needed. When any team reaches the CHSAA Class AA semifinals with a city championship there for the taking, nothing in the past really matters.
For Christ the King, that may not be the case.
When they meet Rice, it will be difficult for them not to think about the last few years. Last season, they lost their final three meetings to the Raiders, including the heartbreaking city title game at the buzzer and the Catholic state championship. In addition, just a few weeks ago, Rice, ranked ninth in the country by USA Today, blitzed CK by 19 at the Gauchos Gym in the Bronx.
“We’ve been waiting on this,” said center Andrew Gabriel, who led the Royals (22-5) with 20 points and 20 rebounds in their 63-57 quarterfinal victory over St. Francis Prep last week. “We definitely want to get them back.”
Unfortunately, it will not be so easy. Rice (24-2), who relies on tenacious full court pressure from a four-guard lineup, hasn’t lost since mid December, winning all 15 of their league games.
“We’ve got to handle their pressure and stop their 3-point shooting,” CK Coach Bob Oliva said.
- Zachary Braziller