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By Joseph Staszewski
Brooklyn Daily
Bishop Loughlin coach Ed Gonzalez preached the importance of a fast start against an Archbishop Stepinac team coming off an upset victory in the quarterfinals. His squad more than delivered by putting the game away in the first quarter.
The Lions went on to dominate Stepinac from start to finish during a 78–56 thrashing in the Catholic Class AA Intersectional boys basketball semifinals at Fordham University on Thursday night. Loughlin outscored the Crusaders 29–8 in the opening frame.
“I expected them to come out strong, but they really came out strong,” Gonzalez said.
The Lions squad will make its first championship game appearance since 2010 and will face Christ the King at 3 pm on Sunday back at Fordham. Loughlin will look to win its first title since 1992.
“We are trying to bring it back to the school,” said junior guard Khadeen Carrington, who scored, 14 points.
Winning a championship would be extra sweet for Carrington, Mike Williams and Jordan Nanton. They stayed at the school after other top players, Travis Charles, Joel Angus, Tyliek Kimbrough and Elisha Boone transferred out during the last two years. Carrington believed they still had enough talent left to get the job done.
“Even with all the transfers leaving I knew we had a good team,” he said. “I stayed. Mike stayed. We knew what was coming up and now we are here.”
Loughlin (21–7) got there by playing suffocating defense, controlling the boards and pushing the ball in transition. Consecutive 3-pointers from Javian Delacruz (15 points) set the tone for a big quarter. Carrington added a trey and Williams (17 points) ended the frame with a 3-point play. Nanton added 11 points as everything clicked.
“We were making our shots, finding each other,” Williams said. “Those are the key things that help us win the game.”
The Lions didn’t let up from there. Stepinac (20–8) showed life in the second quarter, but Loughlin led 49–25 at the half and 63-35 after three. Maintaining the advantage is what impressed Carrington the most.
Christ the King is the team Loughlin wanted to play in the final. The players feel they still have unfinished business with the Royals after losing all three meetings to them this season, including the diocesan championship.
“That’s what we want,” Carrington said. “That’s all we want.”
Reach reporter Joseph Staszewski at jstaszewski@cnglocal.com. Follow him on twitter @cng_staszewski.