By SEVE COUSINS
Special to ZAGSBLOG
NEW YORK — After a week off, Bishop Loughlin took the floor against Iona Prep on Sunday afternoon in the quarterfinals of the C.H.S.A.A. Intersectional Basketball Championship at Fordham University and started out of the gate slowly.
But it did not take long for Loughlin to hit their stride behind the play of junior guards Khadeen Carrington and Michael Williams. Williams finished with 23 points and Carrington added 21 to lead Loughlin over Iona Prep, 72-59.
Loughlin advanced to the semifinal round to face Archbishop Stepinac, which defeated St. Raymond’s in the first game of the day, 68-51, behind 17 points from Monmouth-bound Josh James, who also scored his 1,000 point during the game.
That game will take place at 6 p.m. Thursday at Fordham, followed by Christ the King against Cardinal Hayes at 8.
Bishop Loughlin went into the locker room at halftime leading by eight points and started the second half off on an 18-6 run. The fullcourt pressure from the tandom of Carrington and Williams proved to be too much for Iona Prep.
“They come to play all the time and the kids look for them. They’re our top players,” Bishop Loughlin coach Ed Gonzalez told SNY.tv.
Carrington and Williams form one of the best backcourts in the city.
Only now is Williams starting to receive Division I looks.
“In my eyes we’re the best backcourt in the league,” Williams said. “When we share the ball like we do it’s hard to stop us.”
The 6 foot 2 guard holds offers from Rutgers, Drexel, Quinnipiac and Manhattan and lists Rutgers as his early favorite.
“It’s fun playing with Mike because when you need a shot you know he’s going to get you the ball.”Carrington said.
Carrington holds offers from St. John’s, UConn, SMU, Florida State, Iowa State, Pitt and Providence, to name a few.
In the third game of the day, Cardinal Hayes beat Archbishop Molloy, 67- 66, in the most hotly contested game of the day. Hayes was lead by junior guard Shavar Newkirk, who poured in 28 points. Molloy’s Christopher Davis finished with 25 in the loss.
In the fourth and final game, Christ the King took down St. Peter’s, 66-42. The Royals’ star guard, Jon Severe, fought through illness to score 14 points while standout freshman Rawle Alkins finished with 12 points.
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