Pitts Taft Bounces All Hallows

Keyed by Chris Taft's (right) 22 points, Brooklyn's Xaverian High School advanced to the CHSAA semifinals with a decisive 61-39 win over All Hallows at Iona College on Wednesday night.

Xaverian will take on St. Raymond's Sunday at 3 pm in the semi's at Fordham University.

Xaverian's size proved troublesome for an All Hallows team that played without star guard Ronald Ramon. The 6'0'' junior combo guard was nursing a badly sprained ankle, having already missed the Gael's seeding round match-up. Ramon will get plenty of exposure this summer at the sneaker camps and with The New York Gauchos.

Xaverian opened up a 33-14 lead against the Gaels by the half, and were never really threatened the rest of the way. Taft was double-teamed and swarmed in the post, but still got his points. In a match-up of two teams with similar systems, All Hallows had lots of trouble contending with Taft and Xaverian's other threats in their halfcourt sets.

All Hallows was led by sophomore combo guard Terrell Elliston, who chipped in 10 points. Elliston and fellow sophomore guard Codi Oliver are going to be fun to watch over the next two years as they comtinue to develop. Burly 6'5'' junior Albert Forbes will also be returning for John Carey's crew, along with Ramon.

Xaverian opened up a twenty-point lead late in the forth, as All Hallows struggled to generate points. With Jack Alesi's team moving the ball well and feeding the post, the Clippers were never threatened.