By Joseph Staszewski
Rawle Alkins wasn’t ready to face an uncertain future if Christ the King’s run at a third straight city title was to end prematurely.
The Royals’ junior star scored his team’s first eight points of the third quarter to spark a game-changing run. It erased a sluggish first half and propelled Christ the King to a comfortable 73-57 victory over Holy Cross in the CHSAA Class AA Intersectional boys’ basketball semifinals at Fordham University Tuesday night.
Alkins ignited a 14-3 spurt that put Christ the King 35-25 with 4:12 to go in the frame. He scored 23 points, grabbed 13 rebounds and dished out five assists. Alkins may not be eligible to be back at CK next season because he played varsity games as an eighth grader in Florida before enrolling at the Middle Village school as a freshman. Christ the King coach Joe Arbitello reminded the team at halftime that this could be their last half of basketball together.
“I don’t really know if I am going to come back next year.” Alkins said. “I took that personal. Every game from now on I am going to play like it’s my last.”
He gave the Royals life for at least another game. They face Brooklyn/Queens rival Xaverian in the final 3 p.m. Sunday back at Rose Hill. Christ the King won two of the three meetings, including the diocesan final. Arbitello knows beating the Clippers a third time won’t be easy.
“It’s going to be a war,” he said. “Fourth time. Beat them for Brooklyn/Queens.”
Alkins’ play sparked the rest of his teammates. Christ the King (24-4) turned the Knights (14-14) over with its press, hit five three-pointers and shot 55 percent from the field in the second half after just shooting just 36 percent before the break. Jared Rivers had 21 points and Jose Alvarado added 13 points and five boards.
“Rawle, when we need him he comes in,” Alvarado said. “He’s scoring like a machine we just follow him.”
The defeat ends Holy Cross’ unlikely run under first year coach Terry Tarpey. The Knights controlled the tempo in the first half and trailed just 21-18 at the break before Christ the King, which led 46-34 after three, broke the game open. Senior Jermaine Bishop scored a game-high 26 points and grabbed six rebounds. Christian Wilson tallied 11 points and 10 boards and Jamel Horton added 10 points and eight rebounds.
“We shocked the world when we beat St. Ray’s,” Bishop said. “Unfortunately we lost this game tonight. It was a long road, but we believed in coach Tarpey.”
Alkins carer as a Royals on the other hand continues. He has not plans for that to end any soon that it have too.
“If I end up coming back next year that’s great,” Alkins said. “Right now I’m just playing like its my last game of high school basketball in New York City.”
