By SEVE COUSINS
Special to ZAGSBLOG
NEW YORK — Josh James may go down as one of the most decorated basketball players in the history of White Plains (N.Y.) Archbishop Stepinac High School.
On Thursday night, the Monmouth-bound James poured in 34 points but his season came to an end when Stepinac lost to Bishop Loughlin 78-56, in the CHSAA AA semifinals at Fordham University’s Rose Hill Gym.
The Loughlin junior trio of Michael Williams (17 points), Javian De La Cruz (15) and Khadeen Carrington (15) was simply too much and Loughlin (20-6) will move on to face Christ the King (24-3) for a fourth time this season in Sunday’s championship at 3 p.m. Christ the King has won all three previous meetings.
After the game, James was named to the All-CHSAA first team to add to his list of accomplishments. He made quite an impression on Loughlin assistant Bob Leckie, the program’s former head coach and the former coach at St. Peter’s College.
“Tonight he showed that he could be a great player,” Leckie told SNY.tv. “I’d be recruiting him if I was a college coach.”
In Stepinac’s CHSAA AA quarterfinal matchup against St. Raymond’s, James eclipsed the 1,000-point mark on his way to 21 points in the victory.
He entered the semis averaging James has averaged 18.1 points, 5.0 rebounds and 5.0 assists.
Most recently, James was selected for the Jordan Brand Regional game set for April 13 at Barclays Center.
“It’s a great honor; you’re taking the best of the best in New York, which is one of the best states in the world for basketball,” said Tim Philp, the Stepinac coach and CHSAA Coach of the Year.
James, a resident of Greenburgh, N.Y., will play on the away team featuring some of New Jersey’s best players, including Hudson Catholic’s Reggie Cameron (Georgetown); St. Benedict’s Mike Young (Pittsburgh); and Roselle Catholic’s Tyler Roberson (Syracuse).
“Being selected for the game is a great honor.” James said. “I was kind of surprised but you know hard work pays off.”
In the second semifinal, Christ the King defeated Cardinal Hayes 65-59 in a shootout.
Christ the King was propelled by clutch shooting from senior guards Malik Harmon, who scored seven of his 13 points in the fourth quarter, and Isaiah Cosbert (11). Hayes (21-8) was led by junior Chris Robinson, who finished with a game high 23 points.
Robinson’s 3-point shot tied the game with 3:05 left in the third quarter, bringing Hayes back from a seven-point deficit.
Then it was Robinson striking again and cutting the lead to two with a 1:33 left in the game. But a late 3-pointer from CHSAA MVP and Jordan Brand Regional game selectee Jon Severe proved to be too much for Hayes.
Severe fought through a leg cramp during the second half and finished the game with 10 points, including the 1,000th of his career on the 3-pointer.
“He was cramping up, he was due to have a sub-par game but he should be great in the championship, I hope,” Christ the King coach Joe Aribitello said.
“CHSAA Finals four times in five years I’m living a Cinderella coaches life,” Arbitello added.
Loughlin against Christ the King. One more time for the CHSAA championship.
Photo: Daily News
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