Clockwise from top left, Will Rickel scores a layup on a fast break. Colin Bishop goes up for a dunk in victory over Walter Panas. .Will Civetta drives the lane for John Jay. Brendan Corelli gets fouled on his way to the hoop. Jim MacLean photos
By Jim MacLean
On the court it was a perfect display of what the senior class means to the John Jay varsity boys basketball team as the Wolves hosted Walter Panas for senior night on Wednesday, Feb. 5.
The eight seniors on the roster all did their part, one pass after another unselfishly finding the open man, the epitome of teamwork for a bunch of friends used to sharing the ball together. John Jay used a balanced attack to dominate the first half building a 33-11 lead, and the Wolves cruised to a 59-36 victory with 12 different players scoring.
“To spend this night together, it’s just a pleasure to play alongside these guys for so long,” senior Ryan Valdes said of his teammates. “This group has been playing together since elementary school. We’re all friends and we love basketball. We’re so deep to have eight or nine guys involved who can score double digits any given night is our advantage. Back in December when we started 1-5, coach said what matters is how you play in February come playoff time and I think we’re ready.”
Most of the seniors were finished for the night by the end of the third quarter as they dominated to build a 29-point lead heading into the fourth. Sophomore Colin Bishop led the Wolves with 13 points scored, but the score sheet revealed the balance overall. Seniors Will Civetta, Will Rickel and Dylan Cooper each scored six points, while seniors Brendan Corelli and Valdes each scored five points. Senior John Tortorello scored four points, and senior Sam Rickel added three. Marc Fein scored six points, Jack Green and Alex Palacio each scored two for the Wolves.
“They play really hard in games and almost play harder against each other in practice, they’re so competitive and they’re all in on getting better and playing unselfish,” John Jay coach Tyler Sayre said of his senior class. “I have eight seniors and all of them could say I should be playing more, but there’s never been a complaint. They just keep working really hard together, a great group of kids.”
That hard work in practice is paying off. The Wolves are on a roll with four-straight wins after the victory over Panas. John Jay started the season at 1-5, and the Wolves are now 10-7 overall.
“It all starts in practice, every practice we play as hard as we can and compete, this is a special group, we have that bond that you can’t create, it only comes from playing together for so long,” added senior Will Civetta. “It means so much to have this night, our senior year. Starting our sophomore year, this is what we’ve been working for. It’s crazy and bittersweet that it’s here, but we only get this one time and we want to make the most of it and finish strong.”
Prior to the win over Panas, John Jay scored a 59-47 win over Lakeland on Thursday, Jan. 30. Bishop led the way with 21 points, while Will Rickel scored 11 points and Valdes finished in double figures with 10 points and also added six assists.
John Jay scored a 55-43 victory over Riverside on Jan. 27, as Bishop once again had a big game with 20 points to lead the way. Valdes scored seven points, Fein had six points, and Will Rickel added five points. Jack Green scored four and Owen Gitelson had three points. Civetta, Tortorello, Corelli and Palacio each scored two points as the balance once again made the difference for the Wolves.
“We’re playing well, four-straight wins in the league which is great,” added Sayre. “The kids are really focused. Our balance really helps us, Colin (Bishop) is scoring a lot of points, but that’s also with the other guys making plays finding him for dump offs. We’re moving the ball really well, and defensively they’ve been intense and playing hard.”
John Jay had three games on the road left in the regular season, starting with a game at rival Somers on Friday, Feb. 7.