CK girls head into playoffs riding high

After a season full of molding and growing, Christ the King Coach Bob Mackey is confident his Royals are ready for the postseason. Their 12-11 record is uncharacteristic of their elite program, but those losses, many of them to ranked opponents, should pay off, Mackey projected.
“I’m very confident in the way we’ve finished the season,” he said. “We’re playing hard, we’re playing well together. They have been finishing plays. Defense has been key. We’re starting to get in sync.”
It was a tough season, Mackey admitted, filled with injuries to starters Bianca Martinez, Tahira Johnson and Jael Pena. Center Taylor Burner had her ups and down fitting into a new system. In addition, the freshmen, Nia Oden and Bria Smith, were inserted near the start of the season, and battled through the usual pratfalls first-year players must go through.
However, the Royals did win their final four games, beating league rivals St. Francis Prep, Mary Louis and Bishop Kearney, and New Jersey power Absegami. It is for that reason, Mackey is optimistic that when the weekend ends, Christ the King will be hoisting their 24th consecutive Brooklyn/Queens Diocesan crown.
“I’m really happy with the performance I’ve received the last four games,” he said. “I’m looking forward to the playoffs.”

- Zachary Braziller