The Christ the King High School Lady Royals (CTK) of Queens led the Tier One City Varsity girls’ basketball championship from the tip-off, winning over Archdiocese of New York champions, Staten Island’s St. Joseph by the Sea High School Lady Vikings, 64-42.
It was a team effort for the Diocese of Brooklyn’s CTK, with eight players scoring during the game, led by 6’4″ sophomore center Olivia Vukosa with 14 points, senior Amanda Smith with 11, and senior Aiyanna Culver adding another 10.
CTK jumped out to a quick 8-0 lead, with the first quarter ending 13-4. The second quarter continued similarly, with CTK taking a 38-21 lead into halftime.
St. Joe’s showed some life in the third quarter, narrowing the gap to 11 points, but that quarter ended with CTK ahead 49-35. St. Joe’s Head Coach Josh Suslak chose not to have his players intentionally foul in the last two minutes, instead giving some of his team’s younger and auxiliary players time on the court and a taste of play in a city championship.
Juniors Daniella Cordova and Madeline Lanza led the Lady Vikings’ scoring with 11 and 10 points, respectively.
Last weekend, St. Joe’s had gained the Archdiocese of New York’s number one seed in the city intersectional playoffs by defeating The Bronx’s Monsignor Scanlan High School in a close game, 60-57.
St. Joseph by the Sea is the Archdiocese of New York’s largest high school by student population. Senior Danielle Williamsen has already committed to Marist College. A number of the other players St. Joe’s players are expected to commit to playing college basketball this spring.
The season is not over for either team. On Friday evening, March 8, St. Joe’s will play Cardinal O’Hara High School of Tonawanda, followed by CTK vs. the winner of the Diocese of Rockville Center playoffs, both to be played at Holy Trinity High School in Hicksville. The winners of those two games will then play for the Catholic High School Athletic Association “AA” championship on Sunday, March 9, at 3 p.m. at Hofstra University. The CHSAA “B” championship, featuring the Bronx’s Cardinal Spellman High School against Mount St. Mary Academy of Kenmore, will follow the “AA” title game, at 5 p.m.
— Sarah Trombley contributed to this report.
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