Iona Prep Serves Notice to Defending Champs

MIDDLE VILLAGE, NY - This game was marked on our calendar said Iona Prep junior guard Ty Jerome. The Gaels came into the Christ the King Royals house and executed their plan with precision and leaving with a 64-50 win.

If Christ the King was going to defeat Iona Prep on Saturday, they would have to be disciplined on both ends of the court. The Gaels, however, defused the Royals athletic advantage and had them discombobulated for the majority of the contest.

"We just ran our stuff," said Iona Prep head Coach Vic Quirolo but Jerome, who led Iona Prep with 34 points and 3 rebounds, elaborated. "Rawle [Alkins] '16 and Jose [Alvarado] '17 are great penetrators and so our game plan was when they had the ball everyone put pressure on them. Get them to kick it out and close out on the shooters."

Christ the King pulled ahead 11-4 in the opening quarter as Alkins (21 points) scored but Tom Capuano '15 (10 points, 6 rebounds & 3 assists) and Matt Ryan '15 (12 points, 10 rebounds & 2 assists)) closed the gap to a point to end the warm-up quarter. At the top of the second Jerome drained a three-ball from the key then drew a foul on Alkins while attempting a follow-up trey. With 6:33, Iona Prep led 16-11.

Christ the King looked to pick up the pace as Tyrone Cohen '16 (7 points) made some inroads but the Gaels countered as Nick Brennen scored inside off a screen. Jerome's three-point threat was a magnet, sucking Royals to him, allowing him to feed teammates for buckets. Capuano pushed Iona Prep lead to seven with 2:30 left in the half.

Yashawn Bright '16 (8 points) scored to defuse the Gaels momentum as Royals coach Joe Arbitello to keep Iona Prep out of the lanes. But with Alkins and Alvarado benched with early foul trouble, the Gaels began to feast. At the half, Iona Prep led 28-21.

Jerome continued to use defenders as the Royals struggled to score. Coach Arbitello picked up a tech and the Gaels increased their lead. Alvarado had problems defending the bigger point guard and Jerome emphasized that fact with a dagger from the perimeter, putting Iona Prep ahead 37-24 with 4:30 remaining in the third quarter.

Jared Rivers '16 (8 points) put a band-aid on the Royals issues with a three-point play and a deuce but Capuano drew a foul on Rivers off a strong drive to the hole. Alvarado scored his first and only two points from the line with 2:15 left in the third but CK still trailed by ten.

Arbitello confessed that his sophomore point guard was outplayed the Gaels junior PG. "Alvarado's upset and he's gonna go through some growing pains," said Coach Arbitello. "Ty Jerome's going to Virginia for a reason." The Royals coach added, "Anybody who doesn't think he belongs at Virginia is out of their minds. [Jerome] defends; he runs the team and Jose, he struggled."

Jerome increase the Gaels lead to 13 with a NBA range three-pointer but the Royals shave off two point to begin the final quarter down, 44-33.

A touchdown pass from Ryan to Capuano pumped Iona Prep's lead to 46-33 at the start for the fourth quarter but the Royals cut into the lead inch by inch. Bright scored a transition bucket and with 4:21, CK was only down 47-41.

Alex Belbusti '15 (9 points), who hit clutch momentum busting shots, ended the Royals run but Tracey Cleckley '15 (6 points) countered and Belbusti raised the bet with a three-ball. 2:34 was left in regulation and Iona Prep still held a 52-43 advantage.

Jerome put on a clinic as he weaved through the Royals defense to score. Capuano punctuated things drawing a charge on the following possession. Christ the King was down by 13 with 1:33 left to play and Iona Prep ran the gamut for the win.

Jerome say the win was a team effort. I think that's what makes us so special. We don't care who's the man on any given night. We just wanna win. Tom made huge plays in the first half. Matt was on fire in the first half. And coming down the stretch I hit some shots."

"This was probably one of the biggest wins in school history," said Quirolo but Coach Arbitello was not surprised. "When you win back to back state championships, you're the target for everybody," he said. "When you're nationally ranked and have players like we do, you're everybody's target."

Jerome reemphasized how big the victory was for the Gaels but said his focus is beyond the regular season. "Hopefully we have more wins in March."

Coach Arbitello believes Iona Prep will be more than just another Catholic School in the playoffs. When asked did he expected it to be a Iona Prep versus Christ the King CHSAA City championship, Arbitello paused for a moment and answered, "Yes."