Tru-Ballaz Pre-HS Classic Saturday

BRONX, NY - Saturday's games at Tru-Ballaz Pre-HS Classic included two interesting match-ups. Monsignor Scanlon went up against W.H.E.E.L.S. followed by Iona Prep versus John F. Kennedy Campus.

Scanlon falls to W.H.E.E.L.S., 51-43

Scanlon kept game close with offense from sophomore Saquan Singleton and led by PG George Pena. While overall Pena was an effective floor general, at times he over committed on drives causing turnovers. Seniors Ceasar Ramirez and Jason Puello would counter, giving W.H.E.E.L.S. a 21-19 halftime advantage.

Pena quickly put Scanlon ahead at the top of the second half with a long range trey bomb. Scanlon's lead grew to five but turnovers would allow W.H.E.E.L.S. to take charge once again. With 5 seconds left, senior forward Judah Woney would power up giving W.H.E.E.L.S. 11 point lead to begin the final stanza.

Scanlon stepped on defensive and Pena began to more effectively penetrate and dish. With 2:37 the W.H.E.E.L.S. lead was only 44-39. Scanlon tried to make a run but W.H.E.E.L.S. justified their recent Class AA upgrade in their defeat of the longstanding Bronx Class AA opponent.

Woney led W.H.E.E.L.S. with 12 points while Singleton was high man for Scanlon with 16 points.

Iona Prep Snaps Kennedy, 62-45

Matt Ryan took a hot second to warm up but his second shot, a catch and shoot three-ball, put Iona Prep up. With his first high school game back from injury, Ryan was a bit rusty missing his next four shots before nailing another trey but point guard and recent Virginia commit Ty Jerome and senior Tom Capuano picked up the slack.

Kennedy ran a nice weave and benefited for former Boys & Girls point guard Darrell Williams trailed by 5 at the top of the second quarter. The Jerome-Ryan tandem began to kick in and with 4:47 two treys by Ryan put Iona Prep up 24-9.

Kennedy began to press late in the second and it yielded results. With a minute left in first half, the Iona Prep lead was cut to 9 when Dixon Guilty drained a three-ball.

Ahead 27-18 to begin the second half, Iona Prep would stick to the formula of solid ball movement to get their shooters open.

During one exciting play, Jerome broke Williams's ankles sending him to the floor before nailing a trey before the transfer could get up. To his credit, Williams would respond with a trey of his own. While Iona Prep play a more organized game, Kennedy's pure athleticism began to make head way and with 2:35 their deficit was only 36-31.

Iona Prep would live by the three late in the quarter as Jerome popped a three to put them back up by double-digits. Williams netted a trey at the buzzer but Iona Prep still held into a 7 point lead to start the fourth.

Kennedy made another run at Iona Prep as Ryan offense went on hiatus in the second half but they trailed 54-44 with 3:45 left to play.

Ryan would sit out the remainder of the game but Iona Prep had enough of a cushion I pull off the victory.

Jerome scored a game high 17 points with Ryan adding 15 points (including four first half three-pointers). Williams scored 9 points for Kennedy with Darrius Webster adding six points.