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Friday, March 29, 2024
HomeNewsArchives'Big Smooth,' Kings Bomb Hoyas Into Submission

'Big Smooth,' Kings Bomb Hoyas Into Submission

The Kings' Craig 'Big Smooth' Williams goes up for one of his six three-pointers.Craig “Big Smooth” Williams rained six three-pointers for a game-high 36 points as the young Kings surprised the Hoyas, 86-73, Wednesday night during New Breed Basketball Association action at the Ronald Charles gymnasium on the Central High campus.

Williams, a recent college graduate and basketball player from Temple University, played as if he had something to prove against the best team St. Croix has seen in the last five years. The Hoyas have won the championship in four of the last five years, and a younger Williams has gone through, as did other teams, the growing pains of being dominated by this very squad.

Not this year, though, because Williams—now armed with the experience of playing NCAA hoops—at times looked like a man among boys on the court. He scored from just about anywhere on the court and at around 6’8”, there was not much anyone on the Hoyas team could do about it.

Despite his size, Williams apparently decided to show off his deft touch from beyond the arc, hitting on six of eight three-pointers to the delight of a boisterous crowd that was staunchly behind the upstart Kings.

The game was not all Williams, however, as star point guard Stephen O’Reilly (who also plays collegiate basketball stateside) did an excellent job running the show; and he also hit some huge three-pointers that helped to bury the Hoyas.

With 13 first-half points from Williams, nine from O’Reilly and eight from Deron Baptiste, the Kings would ride their fast start all the way to intermission with an 18-point lead at 48-30 to the surprise of the fans.

Smelling what much in attendance believed was an upset in the making, the crowd began rooting overwhelmingly for the Kings at the start of the third quarter. The lead would swell to as many as 20, but the Hoyas’ Karl John, showing the heart of a champion, took matters into his own hands as he tried to get his team back into the game.

John scored 15 points in the period to bring his team to within seven points but they could not get any closer. They would outscore the Kings 25-18 in the third to head into the fourth quarter trailing 66-55.

The battle was really joined in the fourth quarter as the former champs looked as if they were on the verge of a big rally. They again narrowed the lead to seven, but then "Big Smooth" took over. He would hit on three consecutive bombs from beyond the arc to squelch any further hopes of a Hoyas comeback.

Although the former champs played much better in the second half, the energy they expended to get back into the game took a toll down the stretch, and the youthful Kings were able to pull away for the 86-73, 13-point victory.

An elated coach Stephanie “Pidy” Williams was all smiles after the game. “What we have with this team is consistency,” she said. “We have come a long way together. Many of the guys have been playing together since high school, and they really love one another and enjoy playing together. This was a good win.”

Williams finished the night with a dominating, game-high 36 points, 12 rebounds and five assists. He got good support from super-quick point guard O’Reilly, who finished with 19 points and five assists, while three other Kings finished with eight points apiece.

The Hoyas were led by the hardworking Karl John who finished with 23 points and 11 rebounds. Teammates Eddie Castillo and Darnell Hendrickson dropped in 14 points apiece in a losing effort.

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