NEW ROCHELLE – Darius Ratliff called it a “dagger,” but it was more like an exclamation point, the punctuation of an authoritative statement.
The game was already in hand, Archbishop Stepinac having stifled any sense of suspense, but in a five-second sequence this basketball team showed its immense talent and flexed a little.
Ratliff got a block then collected the loose ball on the wing and, in one motion like a 7-foot infielder, he slung the ball downcourt. That outlet pass hit Jasiah Jervis in stride for a spectacular two-handed dunk that drew loud cheers even from an Iona Prep-centric crowd.
“The second he got to (the ball), I knew it was gonna be a dunk,” Jervis said with a grin. “That was a great way to kind of end it and let everybody know, ‘We’re here.'”
That highlight-worthy play came with 2:47 remaining as Stepinac was putting the final touches on a 76-49 win over the Gaels at Iona University, capturing the Brother Stoldt Trophy.
“A win like this, and being able to get everyone in the game, is great,” said coach Pat Massaroni, whose team pulled out a nine-point win over Iona Prep in the Crusader Classic last month. “You throw out the records whenever you’re facing a huge rival, but to have the kind of second half we did and win decisively, it was awesome.”
Stepinac led from the outset, taking a 13-point lead in the first quarter, then pulled away in the third and eventually went up 72-45 with two minutes remaining and the benches already emptied.
Takeaways
Even more encouraging for the Crusaders — and largely contributing to this result — was them being healthy and having their full complement of players. Stepinac has withstood a spate of injuries, having gone stretches this winter without Josh Rivera and Dylan Perry. Adonis Ratliff, one of their three McDonald’s All-Americans, had missed seven games while recovering from an ankle injury.
The forward had a game-high 17 points, nine rebounds, two steals and two assists in 19 minutes.
“This was the first game that I’ve been fully healthy in a minute,” said Adonis, a senior headed to USC alongside his twin brother. “I found myself trying to get a rhythm, but it felt great being out there. And with everyone back now, I think we’re dangerous.”
That’s saying a lot for a squad that MaxPreps has ranked sixth in the country, that held its own against other powerhouses even while shorthanded. But it’s obviously true and that, of course, isn’t welcomed news for the rest of the CHSAA with the playoffs ahead.
“It was tough, but that’s the great thing about our team,” Jervis said of them excelling despite the injuries. “We can have somebody go down, but we know somebody else will step up and do great. Now, with everybody back, we can really take off.”
Player of the game
Adonis still is on a minutes restriction, Massaroni said, but he showcased his skillset, working in the post, knocking down baseline jumpers, getting put-backs and hitting two 3-pointers. That was in addition to his defensive versatility, capably guarding the perimeter on switches.
Turning point
Perry’s three-point play, converting a layup through contact in transition, gave Stepinac a 19-7 lead with 1:53 left in the first quarter. The Gaels are typically a good three-point shooting team, but hit just 4 of 22 from outside and shot 33.9% from the field overall.
The defense, Massaroni said, “was the key.” Jervis, Perry, Hassan Koureissi and Rivera consistently pressured the ball and contested shots, and the length of the Ratliff twins made finishing drives especially difficult.
“Every time we play Iona it’s a dogfight,” Darius said, “so to come in and punch them and make a statement was big for us.”
Box score
Stepinac (18-4, 13-0) — Darius Ratliff had 14 points, 11 rebounds, four blocks and two assists. Koureissi added 10 points and four assists, Rivera scored 11 points, and Jervis had nine points, 10 rebounds, seven assists and three steals.
Iona Prep (14-8, 7-7) — Tommy Wolf had 11 points, nine rebounds and three assists. Mike Kmetz added 10 points, Elijah Joseph had nine points and six rebounds, and Chase Graham had five assists.
They said it
“It’s truly a blessing,” Jervis said of being named a McDonald’s All-American earlier this week. “It’s something I’ve thought about since I was a kid, so it’s a dream come true. And for three of us to make it from the same school, that doesn’t happen a lot. That’s special.”
Stephen Haynes covers sports for The Journal News/lohud.
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Ratliff twins shine as Stepinac dominates basketball rival Iona Prep
Reporting by Stephen Haynes, Rockland/Westchester Journal News / Rockland/Westchester Journal News
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