By Joseph Staszewski
Christ the King coach Bob Mackey said in the preseason that senior center Ashlie Howell was the key to his team’s year, especially with injured star forward Kaela Kinder out until at least January.
The 6-foot-3 Howell proved him right against Bishop Loughlin in a battle between two of New York City’s top teams. She recorded the first triple-double of her career with 22 points, 11 rebounds and 10 blocks. Howell tallied 17 of those points in the second half to help turn a tight contest into a comfortable 66-47 road victory in CHSAA Brooklyn/Queens girls’ basketball Monday.
“I tried to fill in her spot and more,” Howell said.
The Royals, defending diocesan and CHSAA state champions, led just 29-22 at the half before Howell asserted her dominance on both ends of the floor. She took full advantage inside with Loughlin sophomore forward Zaria Dorsey out with an injury. Her teammates saw it and kept going to her to exploit it.
“I was really hyped for her,” Louisville-bound guard Sydney Zambrotta said. “She was grabbing rebounds, going back up. She was going for spins and moves I’ve never seen her do before.”
Howell, who has scholarship offers from St. Peter’s, Mount St. Mary’s and Robert Morris, shot 8 of 10 from the free-throw line and sparked a 12-2 fourth-quarter run that put the game away. CK went from leading by 10 after three to 52-32 on a Dominique Toussaint layup with 4:40 to play in the game.
Zambrotta scored 14 points and dished out eight assists and the Virginia-bound Toussaint added eight points. Brandy Thomas chipped in a team-high 19 rebounds. Milicia Reid paced Loughlin with 18 points and was the only Lion in double figures. CK, playing its fourth game in five nights, is off to a 3-1 start because others have stepped up in Kinder’s absence.
“To play four times in five days and to come out with that type of performance in the second half is good,” Mackey said.
The Royals’ zone defense forced the Lions (3-1) to take jump shots they didn’t make or to drive into Howell’s outstretched arms. The effect of that was negated at times because of the Royals’ turnovers. CK’s back court is young and inexperienced once you get past the ACC-bound pair of Toussaint and Zambrotta.
“Second half, I know my team needed a boost,” Howell said.
Loughlin was able to turn its own miscues and missed jump shots into transition points, and the Lions pulled to within 34-28 with 1:17 to play in the third.
But the Royals—with plenty of help from Howell—pulled it together in time to leave Brooklyn with an important win.
“The past year I’ve been in a shell,” Howell said. “I’m breaking out of that shell now.”
