John Jay’s passing and poise seal win over Hen Hud

CROSS RIVER, N.Y. - On Friday, January 9, John Jay welcomed Hen Hud to the high school for a Friday night basketball showdown and set the tone early, jumping out to an 8–3 lead. While the margin was small, the style of play told a different story.

Crisp ball movement and physical play in the paint defined the opening minutes, as the Wolves ultimately pulled away for a well-earned 71–62 victory.

After Nate Summer converted a half-court steal into the game’s first basket, John Jay became disruptive in the passing lanes. Summer later connected with Alex Palacio on a pick-and-roll, Patrick Ryan’s penetration freed Owen Gitelson for a layup off the glass, and Ryan found Summer cutting backdoor to extend the early advantage.

Hen Hud answered behind backcourt pressure. Hunter Kennedy-Brown turned a steal into a conventional three-point play, and Justin Parkes earned two at the line after drawing a foul on a spin move, cutting the lead to one.

John Jay responded as Summer’s baseline drive led to a Marc Fein offensive rebound and a Timmy Pastore putback. Palacio added a strong putback of his own before Fein set up Dion Prelvukaj for a finish inside, giving the Wolves a five-point cushion.

The Sailors closed the quarter strong. Off Parkes’ drive, DJ McCarthy knocked down a corner three to trim the deficit to two heading into the second.

John Jay added pace to its attack in the second quarter. Fein fought through traffic for an early basket, Will Green went coast to coast and earned two at the line, and Palacio scored again on a baseline drive. Prelvukaj added a reverse putback, Summer finished a backdoor feed from Fein, and Fein capped a fast break to open a 26–13 lead with 3:25 remaining in the half.

Hen Hud refused to fold. McCarthy hit a jumper, Kennedy-Brown scored on a turnaround in the paint, and Parkes went coast to coast before finding Chris Barreiros for a three. Kennedy-Brown closed the half with another strong move inside, cutting John Jay’s lead to 28–24 at the break.

The Wolves opened the third by leaning on their frontcourt. Palacio and Gitelson converted putbacks, and Gitelson added another finish off the glass to push the lead back to double digits.

Barreiros answered with a pair of three-pointers, sandwiching a perfectly executed inbound play, then added a free throw and another deep ball to make it 38–34. Hen Hud kept coming as Parkes forced a turnover at midcourt and Kennedy-Brown finished the sequence with a tip-in.

Summer briefly stopped the run with a three, but McCarthy answered from deep and turned a half-court steal into a basket, tying the game at 41–41 with 2:36 left in the third.

After a timeout, Hen Hud briefly took the lead on another Kennedy-Brown drive and free throw. John Jay responded immediately, as Summer found Pastore in the corner for a calm, confident three. Kennedy-Brown answered once more in transition, but it proved to be the Sailors’ final lead.

Summer closed the quarter with a teardrop along the baseline, then opened the fourth by scoring off an offensive rebound kick-out from Prelvukaj. The freshman continued to shine, finishing a reverse layup after cutting without the ball and then setting up Prelvukaj for another, pushing the lead to 56–49.

Hen Hud cut the margin to four at the line, but John Jay maintained its composure. Fein scored on a turnaround jumper and then found Palacio underneath to restore a six-point cushion.

Braydon Gates delivered the finishing touches, slipping ahead of the defense for a layup and later burying a three off Will Green’s penetration to make it 65–57. From there, John Jay iced the game at the foul line over the final 80 seconds to secure the 71–62 win.