Kasim Alston did something he said he would never do late in the fourth quarter.
With his Bishop Loughlin team looking to close out a win over Christ the King and his daughter Nyree Alston at the free throw line he twice put the rest of his players at half court.
“I just let them know, ‘Listen, that’s the coach’s daughter. She better make them dam free throws,’” Alston said.
She didn’t disappoint, making all four free throws to seal the Lions’ 51-47 victory over the visiting Royals in CHSAA Brooklyn/Queens Division I girls basketball Wednesday. Loughlin got consecutive 3-pointers from Alston and Ayana Ratliff in the fourth and never looked back with 3:00 remaining in the game. Just two seasons ago, the Lions went winless in their first year playing at the highest level after two years in Division II.
“They’re the reason the program is headed in the right direction,” Alston said of his players. “They took the program to another level. … Those seniors are really pointing the program in the right direction.”
Alston dropped in a team-high 15 points and Ratliff had 13 for Loughlin (11-11, 5-7 B/Q), which earned its first-ever win against CK (11-11, 6-4). Sierra Calhoun tallied 21 points and Kollyns Scarbrough chipped in 11 points for a Christ the King team coming off a win over nationally ranked Cicero-North Syracuse. Simone Charles had a big basket late for Loughlin.
“This is the time of the year when good teams should be performing and coming together as one,” Kasim Alston said. “I said, ‘You girls are starting to show that.’”
Nyree Alston banked in a 3-pointer to end the first half and give the Lions an eight-point lead. They came out stagnant to open the third quarter and watch CK build a slim lead.
“They held their head,” Kasim Alston said. “They never lost their composure.”
Mary Louis 65, St. Francis 36: George Mason-bound guard Reana Mohamed scored 24 points, including the 1,000th of her career, on a fourth-quarter drive for Mary Louis (9-14, 3-9). Mei-Lyn Bautista dropped in 19 points and Jordan Agustus had 12. The Hilltoppers shot 8-of-12 from 3-point range. Melissa Pearson paced St. Francis Prep (1-18, 0-12) with 10 points and Veronica Ganzi added seven.
IVY LEAGUE
Fieldston 43, Poly Prep 41: Larissa McPhee scored 16 points, including the winning putback at the buzzer for Fieldston (14-6, 6-3). The Eagles scored the last seven points of the game as McPhee, who also had eight rebounds, put in the follow of a miss by Kalijah Terilli (five points, 15 rebounds).
“It gives us confidence going into the playoffs,” Fieldston coach Rock Rosa said. “It really reiterates how the hard work in practice is playing off. They have learned to not be so kiddish and focus in practice. They see what the end result is now.”
Fieldston tied the score thanks to three free throws and a bucket by Carolyn Susman, who had 18 points. The sophomore was playing in her first game after breaking her nose in practice. Jacquie Kennedy scored 13 points and Katie Friel had 12 for host Poly (15-6, 7-4).
“She really is the heart of the team,” Rosa said of Susman. “Her aggressive nature really helps the team and pushed them to work even harder.”
CHSAA BROOKLYN/QUEENS DIVISION II
Bishop Kearney 52, St. John’s Prep 48: Allison Gasparino dropped in 12 points for Bishop Kearney (13-9, 10-2). Cathy Wesolowski added 10 points and six boards and Christina Heyer and Emily Hiltunen each had eight. The win clinches at least a first-place tie for the Tigers with rival Fontbonne Hall. Justine Vento scored all six of her points in the fourth quarter on her birthday and Hiltunen was 4-of-4 from the line in the final frame to seal the win. Lexus Avila scored 23 points and Carla Marfe had 10 points for St. John’s Prep (10-4, 7-4).
AAIS
Packer 31, Brearley 30: Shannon Rhodes dropped in 12 points for Packer, which begins the AAIS playoffs on Feb. 22.
NON-LEAGUE
Long Island Lutheran 83, Staten Island Academy 37: Staci Barrett scored 18 points and grabbed 13 rebounds and Lauren (Boogie) Brozoski added 13 points and 11 assists for Long Island Lutheran (16-5). Jenna Silletti tallied 13 points. Bethany Claps paced Staten Island Academy (18-4) with 21 points.
Riverdale 58, Columbia Prep 52: Rachel Copulsky led Riverdale with 15 points and Meg Martin added 13 for Riverdale (6-13). Jessica Gibbs added 11 points. Penny Savryn tallied 18 points for Columbia Prep (15-6), which clinched the NYCAL title and an NYSAISAA berth with a Loyola loss Monday. Alanna Aurelien added 10 points.