Christchurch took a 23-point lead in the first half en route to a 81-71 victory over the varsity basketball team in the Prep League semifinals Friday at Collegiate.

Rodney Williams '13 had a monster night, pouring in a career-high 42 points and grabbing 16 rebounds, eight offensive and eight defensive.

But the first half did the Saints end as CCS took advantage of turnovers, bad decision making and poor shooting from the Saints. 

The boys gave valiant effort in the second half, cutting the lead to eight several times, but they couldn't get the margin down any further.

Giles Thompson '14 put in eight points for the Saints off the bench, Findley Bowie '14 seven and Porter Reinhart '13 six. Nick Sherod '16 missed the entire second half with an injury.

The Saints are 18-10 and should've done enough to receive a third straight state tournament bid from the committee. The first round is Tuesday, and the Saints will likely be on the road.

Christchurch       24 19 13 25 - 81
St. Christopher's 10 13 20 28 - 71
CCS (23-6): Wallace 5, Douglas 13, Cole 10, Reed 21, Horbal 0, Robinson 18, Peebles 14, Olenyik 0, Burton 0. Totals: 26 24-39 81. 3-point goals: Peebles 3, Reed, Robinson.
StC (18-10): Thompson 8, Reinhart 6, Bowie 7, Reece 3, West 1, Yorgen 0, Hall 0, English 2, Fiorelli 0, Williams 42, Sherod 2. Totals: 24 16-32 71. 3-point goals: Thompson 2, Reinhart 2, Bowie 2, Reece.