John Jay Stands Tall in Second Round Win versus Hillcrest

On Friday March 10, the John Jay Howlers matched up against Hillcrest in the second round of the Tri-County Basketball League playoff. After an even up game in the early going, the visitors jumped out to a nine point lead on the strong play of Luke DeSola and Owen Farrell, and it looked like the game was going to get away. But John Jay refused to worry about appearances, and when the final buzzer sounded, Hillcrest were the ones who got the dress down.

“We just knew we could always come back. We played as a team and got the job done,” Jake Blank said after the 52-37 victory.

The game began with John Jay getting out to a 5-2 lead. Nate Summer and Blank hit jumpers, and Blake DiMatteo got to the line for one.

DeSola and Farrell were only laying in wait, though. DeSola hit two jumpers and a layup, and his running mate buried a three and arched a floater for a 14-5 lead.

Fortunately, Blank broke 12-0 run at the line, and the quarter then closing on foul shots was not where the foretelling was. Cody Jones fouled on the put back, John Jay knew going in where their bread would get its spread. “They weren’t as big as us. Coach (Jacob Mercado) told us to focus on rebounding, and we would probably win,” Jones said.

So a 15-8 lead, John Jay wasn’t above going low either. Nate Summer dove to the floor, shoveled to Jones, and his layup got the home team within five.

Of course, Hillcrest’s flashy backcourt didn’t dim. Farrell burst straight through the paint, and putting on a ball fake beyond his years, his layup re-upped the lead to seven.

5:32 left in the second, John Jay did a little man-up in reply. After Jones missed in the paint, Theo Worner man-handled the bound, and his put back made it 17-12.

Even so, the team’s 6th man is far from all muscle and takes a studious role while waiting for his turn. “I get to watch the other kids on the court,” he revealed.

Extra insight, the idea is to get an edge, and Blank took the one he was given on the next possession. Left open, the guard let fly, and the triple made it a two point game.

Enter Hillcrest’s playmakers again, DeSola scored a baseline jumper on Farrell’s penetration. “They were pretty good,” Blank assured.

No doubt, John Jay still did them one better to pull even. After Summer scored on a layup, Worner to Summer to Jones triangulated a low post layup for the latter.

DeSola and his team were not fazed, though. DeSola drove through heavy traffic for two, hit Ari Bershita off the penetration and hauled in Farrell’s long outlet pass for a 25-21 lead.

1:15 left in the half, Farrell took his turn in the passing lanes. He hit Bershita inside for the layup, and John Jay was looking at separation again.

Not to worry, DiMatteo put back a loose ball in the paint, and on the final possession, Blank had no apology for making a last second deposit. Launching a three, the point guard banked off glass, and it was a 27-26 game.

The third period's opening had Hillcrest get the better off the boards when Bershita was fouled on the put back, but John Jay was up to the task. Summer sank one from the line on his put back attempt and then was the beneficiary of Blank’s penetration for a 29-29 tie.

Keeping up, Farrell sank two from the line and one from outside. A four point lead, Hillcrest was in position again.

So John Jay obviously had the Yonkers based team exactly where they wanted them, and Blank did the honors first. On the drive, he drew the defense and fed DeMatteo for a two point game. “My job is to pass the ball,” Blank said succinctly.

Hit open shots too, and he’s not the only one. Alone above of the arc, Chase Nevins took his time, and any doubt didn’t last long. “I knew it was going in from the start,” he clarified, and the 34-33 score was the last lead change.

Nevins wasn’t the only one feeling it either. Blank followed with a three, and John Jay was up four with 4:04 left in the third.

Of course, DeSola and Farrell still loomed. They combined for a fast break layup, and things remained contained.

Both teams then showed some nifty passing. Nevins found Andrew Fridie for a short jumper, and Ferrell’s masterful kick out for Ryan Keene had more synergy than any 6th grader should be allowed to have.

Still, Summer’s foul shot gave John Jay a 40-37 lead to close the third, and he went to the circus to open the fourth. In the paint, Summer’s off balance drive found the net, and the lead was five.

Sniffing blood, John Jay fell back on their strength. Off a Nevins miss, DiMatteo stayed on with the put back “I usually just take a dribble, pound through and put it up,” he said.

Then came the dagger, and it was Summer who had the edge. “When I saw that ball go in the net, it felt so good,” said the shooter.

A 12 point lead with three minutes to go, John Jay had the game in the bag, but their coach wasn’t celebrating yet. “They know the job isn’t done," concluded Mercado. “We still got two more games.”