Iona Prep Exposes CTK Royals

NEW ROCHELLE, NY - Friday night's game was an epic battle of the number ones as NYCHoops.net NYC #1 ranked Christ the King squared off against Westchester/Upstate #1 Iona Prep.

It would be a hard fought game but when the dust settled one team got exposure while the other got exposed.

Ty Jerome proved why he's currently the #1 player in NY. The Virginia bound senior point guard put his young Iona Prep teammates on his back and carried them to a 69-64 win over Christ the King. It would be the Royals first opening season loss in a hot minute.

Jerome scored a game high 37 points but was the first to say, he couldn't have done it alone. "I trust my teammates," said Jerome. "They're always looking for me."

While Chef Jerome was serving up Royals left and right, Christ the King had too many cooks but no one was the chef. Add to that, a major blow to the Royals front court with the absence of starting big man David Cole '16 who is suspended until January. That along with game long foul trouble for junior PG Jose Alvarado '17 (18 points) and it appeared to be a recipe for disaster.

Iona Prep set the stage early as its big man 6'8" Josh Alexander '18 (4 points & 10 rebounds) began dominating the boards. CK's troubles were compounded when its 6'5" backup big man Malik Anderson '18 was injured during the game and unable to play. "The problem is how beat up we are right now," said Royals Head Coach Joe Arbitello.

The Gaels established an inside presence early as they pounded the boards by committee which put Iona Prep ahead right out the box. The Royals were getting outhustled on the 50/50 balls. That and buckets by 6'4" Nick Brennen '17 (7 points) and a buzzer beater by Jerome gave the Gaels a three point advantage to start the second quarter.

Jerome started using his size advantage to score by posting up or simply shooting over defenders. The Royals started picking up fouls with Alvarado and Tyrone Cohen '16 (10 points) leading the pack. As a consequence, Iona Prep increased its lead to 28-17 midway through the quarter.

Frustration mounted as the Royals deficit increased to double digits and with 2:20 left in the half, Coach Arbitello picked up a technical foul. An and1 by 6'7" Souleymane Koureissi '18 (8 points) would give the Gaels its largest lead at 14 before Jared Rivers (19 points) ended the half with a three-point play to reduce the Gaels lead to 37-26.

The Royals came out intent on getting back into the game. Rivers and Yashawn Bright '16 (6 points) penetrated to score and Jerome starting settling for ill-advised low percentage shots in response. With 3:46, Alvarado attacked the rim and sliced the Iona Prep lead to 41-40.

Jerome, the consummate veteran got his shot back on track by first posting up to score followed by a perimeter shot. A follow-up basket by 6'4" Pat Fleming '16 (8 points) bumped Iona Preps lead back to 4 points as the final quarter ensued.

Rivers and Alvarado tagged teamed and a putback by 6'2" Tracy Cleckley '16 (4 points) gave the Royals a fleeting one-point lead. The Gaels regained the lead but Cohen scored a big bucket to knot the game at 56 with 4:15 left in regulation. The game would tie again at 59 as Jerome and Alvarado exchanged three-pointers.

In a savvy move, Jerome scored a jumper with 2 minutes left to play that simultaneously fouled out Alvarado. Even without a rudder, the Royals still had a chance to pull out a victory from the jaws of defeat but poor freethrow shooting, especially at clutch moments, ultimately spelled d-o-o-m for Christ the King.

Through it all, Arbitello said he's proud at how his players fought through adversity and hammered down a 14 point disadvantage in a hostile away-game environment. He admitted that freethrow shooting made the difference. "We shot 5 for 12 in the fourth quarter," said Coach Arbitello. "They shot 27 for 29 [for the game]."

Overthrowing #1 Christ the King at the start of their season is a confidence boaster and sends a message to a Catholic league that will now be gunning for the Gaels said Jerome. "Now we have an X on our chest and we know that every team will be coming for us just like every team comes for Christ the King," Jerome said. "We have to bring it every single practice and every single game."

Jerome, however, says he's looking beyond the regular season as his high school career winds down and looks to lead this year's team beyond what last year's team achieved. "I remember how painful it was to lose in the [CHSAA] semifinals and I don't want to go out any other way then to win the state finals. I know what it takes now."