Bishop Ford sent a shockwave through the girls basketball world by knocking off New York City power Christ the King, 73-64, in overtime Monday. It was just the Royals’ second CHSAA Brooklyn/Queens regular season loss in 10 years and Ford’s first ever over CK. The win and how it came about will be significant going forward this season. Here is the breakdown of some of the key things to take from the events in Park Slope.
Listen to Mike Toro
The first-year coach and the youngest in the league at 22 years old, has been saying since the summer that his Falcons were ready to challenge Christ the King for the league title. He delivered. Toro had his squad emotionally ready to play. They dug in on defense and executed a game plan that had CK on its heels for large portions of the game. The question now is if Ford can muster that kind of emotion again when needed.
This isn’t your older sister’s Christ the King team
The Royals are vulnerable. They have three of the best players in the city in Bria Smith, Ariel Edwards and Nia Oden, but right now they lack the killer instinct — and the overall talent — of the Christ the King teams of old. Ford dictated the pace of the game and out muscled and worked them throughout. Smith has the ability to be a heartless assassin. We saw it at Mary Louis last year when she dropped 40. She is just not consistent yet. If and when she gets there, watch out.
Ford is deep and quick
Everyone who came of the Falcons’ bench contributed, even those like Brittany Martin, who was playing in her second varsity game. Diani Mason added energy, rebounds and blocked shots. Christ the King struggled to stay in front of guards Shanice Vaughan and Anjali Moncrieffe.
Nia Oden is much improved
The athletic junior showed off a consistent and technically sound shooting stroke, something she lacked a year ago. Oden proved she can control a game in spurts. She did just that with Smith and Edwards in foul trouble, taking to the glass and keeping CK in the game.
Shayra Brown and Vanessa D’Ambrosi are ready for prime time
The seniors were the poster girls for inconstancy last season. Brown, who is headed to Boston College, would let frustration get to her and D’Ambrosi wouldn’t be active enough night in and night out. Monday they both delivered. The St. Anselm-bound D’Ambrosi had 19 points, played with no hesitation and scored 13 points in an electric third quarter. Brown led all scorers with 24 points and coolly buried the Royals in overtime.
The Royals reserves have some work to do, but have plenty of potential
CK showed its inexperience in big games, it shot the ball poorly from the free throw line and the field and turned it over way too much. But there were signs of how deadly that can be when things are clicking. Jackie Michel, Jackie Mullen and Lauren Nuss all showed they can knock down the 3. If any of them are on together it could be a long night for the opposition.
It’s only one game
The real test for Ford will be when the teams meet in Middle Village on Jan. 15 They now have Christ the King’s full attention and the Royals will be angry and more battle tested after the Nike Tournament of Champions later this month. Smith will not score just four points again. She, Edwards and Oden will not all foul out again and CK will shoot better. A lot of things went the Falcons’ way and Christ the King still had a chance to win the game with less than 30 seconds left.
