After running through the CHSAA basketball schedule undefeated last year, Rice opened its league season with a loss to Christ the King.
“That wasn’t Rice basketball,” senior guard Kemba Walker said after he led the Raiders to an 81-74 overtime win at St. Raymond’s last night. “This definitely was.”
The UConn-bound Walker helped seal the win with a pair of assists early in the extra session and then a steal to put the Ravens away.
“This game is a must-win” Walker said of the matchup against his rivals.
And last night’s contest inside a hot, packed gym was made all the more important by the fact that St. Raymond’s entered undefeated. Walker clearly wanted to end the Ravens’ streak.
“He was tough,” St. Raymond’s head coach Oliver Antigua said after his team fell to 13-1, 6-1 in the CHSAA. “We double-teamed him, did everything we could. It still wasn’t enough.”
Rice (10-1, 4-1) played with intensity that was absent the week before against CTK and Walker played a key role in that. Still, it wasn’t just Walker who toppled the Ravens, as Dorvell Carter added 14 points and Tyler Monplaisir tied the game at 65-65. But if the Raiders are going to meet expectations, which is how things are at Rice, Walker is going to have to play as well as he did last night consistently.
“That’s his job,” head coach Moe Hicks said. “He’s a senior. That’s why he’s going to the Big East.”
Walker thinks he’s up to the task.
“That loss to Christ the King motivated us,” Walker said. “We don’t want to lose again.”
Both teams have a quick turnaround and stiff tests today. Rice faces St. Benedict’s (NJ) today and St. Raymond’s faces St. Patrick’s (NJ) in the Super Six at Madison Square Garden. A year ago, Walker played one of his finest games, shutting down Derrick Rose, who is now at Memphis and likely headed for the NBA.
“That got me a lot of attention,” Walker said. “I can’t wait to play there again.”
OVERTIME Rice 81St. Ray’s 74