Clark, Rice Crush Xaverian

BRONX, NEW YORK -- This game was being billed as the battle of the big men -- 7-2 Shagari Alleyne of Rice High School and 6-8 Chris Taft of Xaverian High School. But it was one of the smallest players on the floor that stole the show in yesterday's Class "A" NYCHSAA semifinal game held in the Rose Hill gym on the campus of Fordham University.

Keydren Clark torched Xaverian for 27 points, including four three-pointers, to lead Rice High School to an easy 92-54 romp over the Clippers. Rice will face All Hallows this Wednesday night at Fordham University in the championship game.

Rice raced out to a 25-16 lead after the first quarter. The lead stretched to 30-18 on Clark's first three-pointer of the game with 7:10 left. Jason Wingate's three-pointer with 6:30 to go made it 33-18. Chris Taft then picked up his third foul with 47 seconds left in the second. The half closed out with Rice leading 43-28.

It would only get worse for Xaverian. An Alleyne slam preceded Christian Brown's basket with 5:45 left in the third. Rice led, 53-32. Steve Burtt, Jr. knocked in a three right before the third quarter expired, making it 74-44.

It was early garbage time in this game. Alleyne finished with 17 points and five blocks. Taft scored 14 points. His teammate, Shaun Wynn, headed to Boston University, added 10 points.

Burtt, Jr. scored 13, Wingate added eight, Kenney Eusey chipped in with nine, and Brown had six.

It was complete domination for Rice High School, a team that likely could have beat any team in the country yesterday the way they shot the ball from the perimeter.