CHSAA AA SEMIFINALS

The last time Xaverian played at St. John’s University, the Clippers were blown out by St. Mary’s of Manhasset, losing by 28.

“We were a mess,” head coach Jack Alesi said. “Maybe that’s too strong, but we weren’t a complete team at all.”

Xaverian, then in the midst of a seven-game losing streak, hardly seemed like a team that would make a run in the CHSAA AA playoffs.

Yet the Clippers returned yesterday and stunned Christ the King, 57-37, to advance to the title game against Rice, which needed overtime to beat All Hallows, 75-67, in the other semifinal. The two will meet at Fordham University on Wednesday.

“[Christ the King] beat us twice before,” said Saiquon Stone. “There was no way they were beating us a third time.”

The relatively unsung 6-4 senior made sure of it, leading the Clippers with 20 points and 11 rebounds as Xaverian improved to 18-11, while CTK finished its season 24-3.

Stone has been one of the league’s most valuable players, changing roles entirely once Xaverian lost its best interior player, Mike Davis, who is now at Banneker.

“What [Stone] did was so unselfish and he’s so versatile,” Alesi said. “He can play any position on the floor, but he was willing to go inside for us even though that’s not where he’ll play in college.”

Stone doesn’t consider the move a big deal.

“I’ll play wherever I’m asked,” Stone said. “As long as we’re winning.”

Which is something Xaverian has done seven times in a row now, through the Brooklyn/Queens Diocesan tournament and into the intersectionals. This win was keyed by relentless defense that held CTK to 29.8 percent shooting from the floor, including just 1-of-14 from three-point range.

“We picked a bad game to come apart,” the Royals’ Larry Davis said.

Now the Clippers, who also got 13 points from Levance Fields, will have to face the league’s other dominant team, Rice, to win its first ever CHSAA AA title.

“We like that challenge,” Fields said. “Everyone has already has had their shot at them. Now we have ours.”

All Hallows nearly spoiled that plan, as the Gaels led by as many as 14 points in the third quarter. But Rice responded with a 15-0 run to take the lead. When the Gaels (12-16) forced overtime, the Raiders (22-3) answered again with an 8-0 run and weren’t threatened again. Senior Joseph Vines had two rebounds and four of his team-high 17 points during that span.

“I want to leave here on a high note,” said Vines, “with a ring on my finger.”

He still has that opportunity because All Hallows was unable to get a shot off at the end of regulation.

“I was nervous and scared when we were down,” said Curtis Kelly, who added 16 points. “But Joseph was hungry and gutted it out for us.”