John Jay Wins Easy over Riverside

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On Monday January 27, John Jay played host to Riverside, but it was the Wolves who took a little time to show up. Riverside scored the first five, and John Jay did not get on the board until three and half minutes came off the clock. No problem, John Jay scored most of the points the rest of the way.

The Wolves got the lead early in the second and didn’t look back in an easy 55-43 win.

So after a few turnovers, and several missed free throws and layups, John Jay got back to their main game. Brendan Corelli hit Colin Bishop on the baseline, and on the foul, the center went two for two from the line.

The ice broken, the Wolves really got going. Will Civetta did the dishing next, and Bishop doubled his scoring line at 3:19.

Time for the press, Ryan Valdes harried in the back court, and Will Rickel intercepted for a fast break layup.

Riverside answered when Mekhi Martin hit a short jumper for a 9-6 score, but the lead would not be lasting. After John Jay missed four straight free throws, Corelli had the visitors turning away on the inbound. No look, he caught Bishop on the cut, and the layup closed the quarter at 9-8.

Onto the second, the lead for good was next. Corelli grabbed the defensive rebound, dribbled forward, and Bishop was already on the other end for the long ball at 7:30.

A three point lead on the way, the roles remained reversed. Civetta grabbed the rebound, Bishop received past mid court, and gave penetration a go. The defense converged on the center, and Corelli was rewarded with an open layup.

Ahmad Abu-Mallo’s hard drive to the hoop only prolonged the inevitable, though. First Will Rickel’s tip kept the play alive for John Jay on the offensive board, and possession returned normalcy to the home team. Corelli drove the paint, sent a bounce pass to Bishop on the baseline, and he scored the layup.

Of course, Bishop did it on defense too. He blocked Joseph Lopez-Mendy at the key and also did the rest. The big put the ball on the floor and went the distance for a 16-11 lead.

Time out for Riverside, the respite didn’t help. The Rams couldn’t advance the ball on multiple tries, and the lead went to nine when all the dogs got a sniff. Around the perimeter, Corelli to Sam Rickel to Civetta, Bishop was left alone and dropped two more.

20-11, two more easy layups for Bishop extended to 11, and then Civetta got on his horse. He received from Valdes on the defensive rebound and went all the way from half court to double up Riverside at 26-13.

Under a minute to go, John Jay remained there when Will Rickel came up short. Corelli found him ahead by himself, but the senior could not throw down the dunk.

Jhensen Lugardo responded with a floater to make it a ten point lead at the half, and maybe a little momentum would carry. No chance, Valdes launched a three on the first possession and opened a 29-16 lead.

Turnovers then traded, the game was about to go out of reach. Corelli penetrated for another Bishop layup, Bishop did the same for a Will Rickel triple, and Civetta went the distance on another steal.

A 21 point lead at 5:16, John Jay continued to pour it on. Dylan Cooper dribbled up court to find Valdes underneath for two, Sam Rickel passed inside to Owen Gitelson for a baby hook and pressure on the inbound led to an uncontested layup for Sam Rickel. The 24 lead proved too much, and left John Jay 8-7 on the season.