Ariel Edwards and Christ the King felt they had to prove their doubters wrong this season. (Damion Reid)
Bria Smith and Nia Oden share a secret hand signal that dates back to Glens Falls two years ago. The then-freshmen were a part of Christ the King’s Class A state Federation title team, a championship that left them thirsting for an even bigger one.
“I told Bria before we graduated we have to get a ‘AA’ title,” said Oden, a junior.
The two found each other after the Royals defeated defending ‘AA’ Federation champion St. Michael Academy in the CHSAA state final on March 14 to earn a trip upstate. When they did, they flipped their wrists down and extended their index and middle fingers on each hand to form a “AA.”
“We did the same thing, like ‘Yes, we are going to the ‘AA,'” Smith said with a laugh.
It is Christ the King’s first trip to Glens Falls at the highest classification since it won its last ‘AA’ Federation crown in 2006 against rival Murry Bergtraum. It is fitting CK faces the Lady Blazers at 2 p.m. Saturday in the semifinals and would mee NYPHSAA winner Sachem East if it advances to Sunday’s final. CK has won a record 13 state Federation titles at the top level.
“It’s always great to have tradition, but we didn’t win those,” Penn State-bound forward Ariel Edwards said. … “We want to win it for us and we want to win our own championship.”
The players said they heard all the naysayers after last year’s CHSAA state quarterfinal defeat to St. Michael Academy and the loss of guard Geleisa George (American) and Tahira Johnson (South Florida). All of it has added a chip to this group’s shoulders.
“Every year it seems like somebody says something about it being the last year Christ the King is going to be a good team, they are falling apart,” Edwards said. “We hear that stuff all the time. For us to prove everybody wrong is a good feeling.”
The season didn’t start well as Christ the King (24-5) was upset in overtime by Bishop Ford on the road in December, just its second regular-season division loss in 10 years. But it would be the last time it would lose to a New York State opponent. The team split four games against national-level opponents at the Nike Tournament of Champions in Arizona, had a 10-game winning streak at one points, again won the Brooklyn/Queens regular season and diocesan title and owns a win over nationally ranked Archbishop Carroll (Pa.) on the road.
“It’s been a big maturing year for everyone,” CK coach Bob Mackey said. “It’s definitely been a year where I think everyone kind of stepped it up. They grew up a lot.”
No one more than Edwards, who was named a WBCA All-American. She has been the Royals’ most consistent player, has grown tougher and can score inside and out. Smith, a freakishly athletically guard and a top-five junior recruit in the country, is devastating in transition and slashing to the rim. Oden has seen her mid-range game blossom to go along with her ability to rebound and defend. But the trio isn’t ready to accept all of the accolades.
“I feel like people really need to look at every body and realized that it is not just me, Bria and Nia doing all the work,” Edwards said.
Sophomore Rayne Connell has developed into the squad’s top defender and she and classmate Lauren Nuss have taken some of the pressure off Smith at the point. Nuss is a streaky shooter who has contributed big 3-pointers and senior Jackie Michel has come off the bench to provide some toughness and another strong shooter with junior Jackie Mullen.
The squad chock full of offensive talent has defined their season on the other end of the floor. Christ the King has arguably been the city’s best defensive team. It won its three CHSAA state playoff games by an average of 23 points and held opponents to 44 points per contest.
“Especially in the last three games [defense] has sparked our offense,” Oden said.
In Bergtraum, they don’t get an ordinary opponent. The Lady Blazers are the 13-time defending PSAL champions, unbeaten and ranked No. 6 in the country by USA Today. The team’s core, CeCe Dixon, Doris Ortega and Shukurah Washington won a state crown two years ago and lost in the final last season.
“They are loaded this year,” Mackey said.
That’s no problem for the Royals. They have spent the entire season trying to prove those who bet against them wrong. Oden, Smith and Co. can see their goal in reach. Two more wins and the secret hand gesture can come out one final time.
“It feels great to be at that point right now,” Oden said. “Now we just have to follow through.”