By Dylan Butler
Before he stepped back and buried a three-pointer Thursday night, Erving Walker stepped back and thought about the magnitude of the CHSAA Class AA intersectional quarterfinal game against St. Raymond's.
“Last year this was the city championship game,” Walker thought when he arrived at St. Francis Prep. “And this year, it's a quarterfinal game.”
It's hard to believe the rematch of last year's city final, won by Christ the King, would be played so early in the playoff season. But that's how wild the CHSAA has been this year.
“I've been in the league for 30 years and it's the first time two teams of this caliber played this early in the playoffs after a city final,” Christ the King coach Bob Oliva said.
Led by the dynamic duo of Walker and Ryan Pearson, who combined for 60 points, Christ the King defeated St. Raymond's, 81-70, to advance to the intersectional semifinals to face Bishop Loughlin Wednesday at St. John's University.
“They almost beat us by themselves,” St. Raymond's coach Oliver Antigua said. “They tag-teamed us. Ryan killed us in the first half and Erving finished us off.”
Pearson, a 6-foot-5, George Mason-bound forward, scored a game-high 33 points and added 19 rebounds, while Walker, heading to Florida, added 27 points, eight assists and seven steals.
With the score tied at 31 at the half, Christ the King (21-5) took control of the game in the third quarter, going on a 19-6 run to take a 57-44 lead on a bucket by Pearson inside.
“Every time, every night, Ryan scores and rebounds,” Walker said. “He just brings his best for us. He's the vocal leader every night. He's great.”
Walker, meanwhile, dominated St. Raymond's guard Darryl Bryant, who scored 16 points and became the Ravens' all-time leading scorer in his final high-school game.
Using his quickness to get to the basket at will and to get his team out in transition, Walker scored 13 points in the pivotal third quarter before Antigua gave Tyreak Johnson the assignment of defending Walker.
“Erv did what Erv could do, he came down, pulled up and hit those three-pointers,” Oliva said. “It's three points on the scoreboard, but it means so much more to our team. They're killers, literally daggers.”
Omari Lawrence had 21 points and Bryant added 18 for St. Ray's (20-7), which briefly led early in the third quarter after an even first half.
Next up for Christ the King is a third meeting with Bishop Loughlin, which destroyed All Hallows, 89-50, in Thursday's other quarterfinal. Loughlin, the Brooklyn/Queens Diocesan champion, twice beat the Royals during the regular season.
“We're going to celebrate tonight and a little tomorrow,” Walker said. “And then get ready for Bishop Loughlin.”
Reach Sports Editor Dylan Butler by e-mail at news@timesledger.com or call 718-229-0300, Ext. 143.
