John Jay Continues to Grind in 64-46 Defeat of Somers

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On February 7, John Jay and Somers matched up for the second time in two weeks, and the crosstown rivalry was high strung on Friday night. This time at Somers, all the noise didn’t complicate the Wolves game plan, and Colin Bishop revealed the simplicity on the receiving end.

“The ball moves around, and I’m just there,” said the senior, and four such successful destinations in the first period set the tone for a 64-46 victory.

This first time came early. After Chris Spano muscled a put back for a 2-0 lead, Ryan Valdes drew the double, and his bounce pass connected to Bishop’s parallel move on the baseline.

Two from the line resulting, the defense was up next. From behind, Will Rickel swiped away Chris Decker’s drive, and the Wolf was seamless on the changeover. Up court, the senior received back from Brendan Corelli and willed his way through the collapsing interior defense.

A rim bounce and in, the iron wasn’t as kind for Phil Santore, and Valdes' fighting tip for the rebound let Bishop show that he could play small ball too. Off Corelli’s Penetration, Bishop faked above the arc and hit a pull up just outside the paint.

6-2, John Jay went long range. Valdes spotted up and increased the lead to 9-2.

Not really the game game, Coach Sayre conveyed what was learned early in the season. “We shot a ton of threes in the first couple of games at a very low percentage,” said Sayre.

Of course the coach took this swish, and after Ben O’Brien matched from downtown, John Jay got back on point. Corelli came around Bishop’s handoff, and on the roll, the point guard lofted a perfect pass over Decker into his center.

In at 4:42 for an 11-5 lead, the duo teamed up again a minute later. Not so fancy, Corelli saw Bishop with a step, and another layup kept the lead at six.

Of course, with so much Bishop inside, Will Rickel took advantage. He came around Dylan Cooper’s pick and hit from just inside the arc.

Nonetheless, Santore hit from three to keep John Jay honest. So John Jay continued to move their Bishop around the chessboard. Valdes pulling the strings this time, the guard didn’t hesitate when O’Brien came out to defend, and that left Bishop to close the first with a 17-13 lead.

Still, the center redirected credit. “My guards make it easy for me,” Bishop assured.

So the center returned the favor a minute into the second quarter. After receiving from Mathias Baez at the top of the key, Bishop’s bounce pass was in perfect sync when Valdes shook Julian Rosa for an uncontested layup.

A 21-16 game now, John Jay was poised to lose the rest of the Tuskers. In accordance, Valdes initiated the missing persons case with another layup, and next, John Jay piled on with a twin killing. So as Sam Rickel ran into a double team by the Somers bench, brother Will broke from the same corner, and received on the baseline for a 25-17 lead.

Leo Keimig did respond with a triple, but the blip had the Wolves answering by knocking the game out of the park. A 12-3 run that had Bishop using both height and versatility to kick it off. On Sam Rickel’s missed layup, Bishop came flying in for the follow, and without touching back down, the sophomore banked the glass for two.

Then the action got set on rewind. Bishop received from Will Rickel on the right, and Valdes made the break again. Perfect bounce pass to the hoop, the double take built a 31-20 lead and had Sayre beaming. “Everyone is so unselfish,” the coach boasted.

Staying the course, the duo reversed themselves. Valdes came straight down the paint, and while still up in the air, the guard lofted to Bishop on the right. A little fake and the lead was 13.

Down with 1:35 left in the half, Bishop added a pull up, and Will Civetta gave John Jay a commanding 14 point halftime lead when he burst through the paint for two.

Somers did score the first six points in the third, but the Wolves didn’t blink. Will Rickel answered with a three, and on the next time down, the boys went back to their bread and butter. Valdes penetrated the paint, and Bishop was the beneficiary.

Another layup for a 42-29 lead prompted Somers to call for time, and while Nico Quinones responded with a layup, Will Rickel made sure Santore didn’t have his way on the next incursion.

Rickel stayed straight up, got the block, and Valdes showed how it was done the other way. On the break, Valdes steamrolled the paint, and the lead was 13.

From there, the lead hovered around ten, but the John Jay mindset persisted. “We just keep going,” said Sam Rickel. “Even when it doesn’t go our way, we just grind them out.”

The proof is in the turnaround. 1-5 to 11-7, Sayre clarified and deferred credit. “I wish I could say I did anything great. It’s more the kids staying in it,” he concluded.