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By Joseph Staszewski
Brooklyn Daily
My original plan was to write a column encouraging hoops fans to experience the boys’ basketball rivalry between Christ the King and Bishop Loughlin. That plan changed after the display the teams put on last Friday night. You might want to proceed with caution.
What transpired was something I expect to see at a streetball game at Gauchos Gym or a late-night contest in Dyckman’s summer league — not in a Catholic High School contest.
Loughlin athletic director Angela Proce had to get on the microphone as the game became increasingly physical — much like announcer Joe Pope would do at Dyckman — to tell the players she’d stop the game if they couldn’t control their emotions and actions.
“The tradition of our league is good, hard-nosed play and very competitive,” Lions coach Ed Gonzalez said. “We don’t need that stuff.”
It took Loughlin star Mike Williams getting hurt for things to finally settle down. He was clotheslined by Christ the King center Adonis Delarosa while going up for a dunk. The Rutgers-bound guard hit the back of his head hard and ended up in the hospital with a deep cut.
Delarosa was then pushed in the back of the head by a fan rushing on the court as another tried to land a punch, but was stopped by security.
Christ the King coach Joe Arbitello called his player’s actions “ridiculous” and “childish.”
He was right — there is no place for that on any basketball court.
Both teams lost their composure early. There were constant first quarter stoppages because of chippy play. Loughlin’s Issak Bodon retaliated with a shove of CK’s Travis Atson after he pushed Lions teammate Keith Williams, who had just blocked his shot. Delarosa was the first over to play peace maker.
“It was out of control,” Arbitello said.
They finally got down to just playing basketball after Williams’ injury, but left us with 76–74 Loughlin victory that did not include Williams or Delarosa over the final quarter and a half.
Rivalries can lead to high emotions. I get it. But this isn’t many of these kids first time in games like this. They need to know better and better represent their school and league.
I commend the coaches and administrators for doing the best they possibly could to get things under control.
A game that was supposed to promote the teams and the league for all the things good about them will be remembered only for the inexcusable ugliness that transpired instead.