They were in the same situation against the same team on the same stage last year.
The result was also the same for St. Raymond, which fell to Christ the King in the CHSAA Class AA intersectional semifinals at Carnesecca Arena for a second consecutive season.
But this time, it stung the Ravens much more.
“It’s tough because my team is real emotional, we’re well-connected and put a lot of time in,” St. Ray’s coach Oliver Antigua said. “I’m really proud of my guys. I told them to walk out with their heads up high, they have nothing to be ashamed about.”
A year ago, St. Raymond was a bit of a Cinderella story, a team led by a pair of talented sophomores making an unexpected run to the CHSAA final four.
But with Daniel Dingle and Kerwin Okoro back, this junior-heavy team was a preseason favorite to get to St. John’s and beyond. This time, instead of wilting down the stretch, the Ravens (17-11) pushed the defending champions to the brink before falling 70-67 in overtime Wednesday night.
“It’s a heartbreaker,” Antigua said. “It’s a great game, two great teams, guys competed and regulation wasn’t enough to settle it. It’s a shame someone has to lose tonight.”
There were plenty of positives that Antigua could draw upon Wednesday night. There was a breakthrough performance by Myron Hickman, who exploded for a team-high 21 points, including a 3-pointer at the start of overtime.
Unfortunately for St. Ray’s, Hickman’s emotions got the better of him and the junior was hit with a taunting technical foul for clapping in Omar Calhoun’s face. It sparked a 7-0 Royals run, forcing the Ravens to again play catch-up.
“That wasn’t the call I was really upset about,” Antigua said. “There were a lot of other things, but I thought that was actually the right call.”
Sophomore Shane Rector (13 points) more than held his own against Corey Edwards, Christ the King’s George Mason-bound floor general, Daniel Dingle had 14 points and Kerwin Okoro added 11, including the tying layup at the buzzer to force overtime.
But Okoro walked off the court in tears because his potential game-tying 3-pointer caromed off the side of the backboard, the junior frantically pleading for a call. It was more than Okoro just thinking he was fouled, according to Antigua.
“Oh, he got hit,” he said.
At the end it was Edwards who made all the big plays down the stretch for Christ the King (21-6), scoring seven of his 16 points in overtime, including a 3-pointer that snapped a 65-all tie.
But next year, St. Ray’s will have two of the league’s top seniors and Christ the King coach Joe Arbitello believes the tide will change.
“The league is in a lot of trouble next year,” Arbitello said. “That’s a very good basketball team that plays together and plays as hard as you can play the game of basketball. All things being equal, your seniors are supposed to win that game and my seniors did. Next year, it will be Dingle or Okoro making that big-time shot.”
