NEW YORK — Ron Naclerio will get just what he wanted: a rematch with Christ the King.
Aaron Walker overcame his late-game free throw shooting woes and knocked down the game-winning free throw to give Cardozo a 70-69 victory over Mount Vernon in the SNY Invitational semifinals at City College. Cardozo will face Christ the King — a team it defeated last Friday on a game-winning alley-oop layup at the buzzer — in the SNY Invitational championship on Saturday at 4 p.m.
Cardozo will also get a chance to defend its SNY Invitational championship from last season.
“What’s going to hurt us is tonight took so much out of us,” Naclerio said about the rematch. “I hope the pride factor comes in for Christ the King. I’m sure they were cheering for us to win, but I think it’s good for New York City. It’s what people want to see.”
The 6-foot-2 Walker struggled to make free throws down the stretch, but was able to make the deciding one on Cardozo’s final possession to give his team the lead. Despite the poor foul shooting, two late offensive rebounds off missed free throws would salvage a 49-percent performance from the line for Cardozo.
Walker finished with 25 points, nine rebounds and three assists, while shooting just 3-for-10 from the charity stripe.
“Oh man,” Cardozo guard Tareq Coburn said. “I don’t know what to say, man. I have no words for that. It was just so crazy. We shoot free-throws, miss them both, get it back. Shoot more free throws, get it back and then we hit the last two. It was great.”
Walker has received offers from Manhattan, Fordham and Fairleigh Dickinson. He said St. Bonaventure, DePaul and Nevada have also showed interest. Walker said he plans to visit Manhattan next week.
“Aaron Walker is an all-city player,” Naclerio said. “College coaches are starting to call, but I don’t think they realize what a warrior he is.”
Coburn added 12 points, behind a strong third quarter to bring Cardozo back from a nine-point deficit. Coburn will visit St. Bonaventure on Sunday. He’s also received offers from Fairfield, Fairleigh Dickinson, Fordham, Robert Morris, St. Francis (N.Y.) and St. Peter’s.
Junior guard Marco Morency, who holds offers from Monmouth and Iona, led Mount Vernon with 22 points and 9 rebounds, and junior big man Gregory Calixte posted 15 points and 9 rebounds.
ALVARADO FINISHES WITH NEAR TRIPLE-DOUBLE
Video: GEICO SportsNite: Christ the King vs. Brentwood
NEW YORK — Christ the King defeated Brentwood, 78-62, behind a near triple-double from Jose Alvarado to move on to the championship game at the SNY Invitational.
The Royals will face Cardozo on Saturday at 4 p.m in the championship game.
Alvarado finished with 16 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds in front of St. John’s assistant coach Barry “Slice” Rohrssen.
“[St. John’s] is great,” Alvarado said. “Chris Mullin, Mike [Abdelmassih]. They got great coaches around them. They are a great look. They are just another college to me, and I’ll make my decision in the fall.”
The junior’s list includes St. John’s, Seton Hall, VCU, Miami (Fla.) and Indiana, to name a few. Coaches from Cincinnati and Fairleigh Dickinson were also on hand on Friday night.
The workload for Alvarado has increased after teammate Rawle Alkins left for Word of God Christian Academy in North Carolina. Alkins took an unofficial visit to Arizona this week and will take an official visit to St. John’s beginning Saturday.
Brentwood’s Michael Almonacy, who will attend Stony Brook next season, finished with just four points going up against Alvarado.
“He’s a great player,” Almonacy said of Alvarado. “He can shoot. He’s crafty. He gets to the lane. He talks. He talks junk, and I like that.”
Brentwood’s Jamel Allen, who finished with 18 points and 11 rebounds, also noted Alvarado’s trash talking.
“He’s a good player,” Allen said. “He’s funny, He talks a lot of trash. Once he learns to keep his mouth closed, he’ll be alright.”
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