Breakdown: Iona Prep vs. Jamesville-DeWitt
-
- March
- 26
Everyone I’ve spoken to this week who asks about this weekend poses the question in the same way:
“Can Iona beat this team?”
To each I respond the same way: “Why couldn’t they?”
Seriously, Jamesville is a very good team, a worthy state champion and, as tough as this might be for some Peekskill people to read, is better than Peekskill.
But just because Peekskill beat Iona Prep doesn’t mean automatically rule out the Gaels’ chances of winning tomorrow night. Not by a long shot.
My breakdown below not only explains why I think Iona Prep can beat this guys, but why I think it will.
Class A Federation semifinal
Iona Prep (26-1) vs. Jamesville-DeWitt (26-1)
When: Friday, 8:30 p.m.
Where: Glens Falls Civic Center
How did they get here: Iona Prep used a monster second half and romped St. John the Baptist 72-42 in the Catholic state final on March 14. Jamesville outlasted Peekskill, 74-72, in overtime in the public state championship game last Sunday.
Jamesville-DeWitt starting five: Brandon Triche (6-4), Sr., PG; Dajuan Coleman (6-8), Fr., C; Alshawn Hymes (6-2), Sr., F; Lamar Kearse (6-0), Jr., G; Steve Thompson (6-3), Sr., F.
What to know about Jamesville:
Offense — The Red Rams really don’t have a weakness. And if you look at the boxscore, you’ll see they have four players who can take the game over at any moment. Coleman, Hymes and Kearse took turns dealing Peekskill crushing blows last Sunday — Hymes with long-range 3s in the second quarter, Coleman by finishing around the basket in the third, and Kearse by creating turnovers and scoring in transition in the fourth and overtime. With the steady Triche controlling the point, this is a incredibly difficult team to match up with.
Defense — Jamesville has several exceptional on-the-ball defenders in Kearse, Hymes and Triche. None of them are going to get beat off the dribble. They do a great job closing the passing lanes and funnell everything inside towards the 6-8 Coleman, who is very disciplined and always holds his ground. Kearse was effective defending Daquan Brickhouse in the second half, so expect him to be assigned on Andre Pope or Sandro Carissimo if either gets hot.
Key matchup: Brian Voelkel vs. Dejuan Coleman. The major advantage the 6-5 Voelkel has on every other forward is that, even if he’s not as tall, he’s always physically stronger. Not in this case. Coleman is as close to Elton Brand as I’ve seen at this age because of how strong his hands and arms are. Voelkel won’t be able to outmuscle Coleman. He’ll have to be more crafty than the freshman.
What’s the gameplan: Having watched Iona Prep a half-dozen times this season and seen Jamesville twice this weekend, this is a very even matchup. Peekskill was effective with Ralph Watts’ ability to shoot over defenders, which Iona Prep doesn’t have. But Iona Prep has far more quickness away from the ball. If I were Iona Prep, I wouldn’t do anything differently. Run the offense the way you’ve run it all season, create in transition and let Bronner, Pope, Carissimo and Voelkel use their extraordinary passing ability to put up points.
Who will win: You might think I’m crazy, but not only do I think Iona Prep will win, I’m rather confident about it. My only hold-up is over the fact the Gaels haven’t played in two weeks. As long as there’s no rust, I think this is a good matchup for them. They’ll learn from the biggest mistake Peekskill made, which is to get out on defend Hymes well behind the 3-point line, and learn from the thing Peekskill did to perfection, which was stop Triche on dribble-penetration. Iona Prep was disappointed it couldn’t get its revenge on Peekskill. But beating Jamesville would be more gratifying.
Prediction: Iona Prep 70, Jamesville-DeWitt 64
If you want to read more…
Check out Rick Carpiniello’s column in today’s Journal News on Lou Panzanaro’s take on the Iona Prep-Jamesville game. Panzanaro said: “Sometimes I’m leaning toward J-D, and other times, because of the chemistry on that Iona team and how well they play together, I say, you know what, that’s what it’s going to take to overcome (J-D).”
You can also read my story from yesterday on Sandro Carissimo, who has continued to emerge as a star for the Gaels this season.
Triche was officially named this week the state’s player of the year. Here’s the story.
This entry was posted
on Thursday, March 26th, 2009 at 8:34 pm by Kevin Devaney Jr..
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
Print This Post
| 
Email This Post
Posted this the other day in a different thread:
I’ve seen Iona Prep once this year and J-D twice – and I can honestly say that they’re evenly matched. Triche seems to have taken a back seat as far as scoring is concerned lately – yet he still has a real knack for controlling the game, moving the ball, and making outstanding decisions. Coleman is one of the largest freshman that I’ve ever seen. I’ve seen kids that tall as freshmen – but he has an NBA body at 15 years old. Just crazy. That said, Voelkel’s skill set is superior to Coleman’s and I think he can really take advantage with good ball and head fakes. Foul trouble will be huge. Also, Pope will be the fastest kid on the court. I think J-D will be really challenged to keep anyone in front of him in the transition game.
My guess for the final score – J-D by 4. Just my unbiased take.
Kevin
Excellent Scouting Report and Analysis- I hope you are correct with the outcome.
Iona not playing for the last two weeks is a factor that could effect some players with their outside shooting.
I am very concerned about the Triche matchup as Bronner who I think will guard him gives up 4 inches.
Iona also needs to box out and be aggressive like Peekskill was in rebounding and going after loose balls.
Voelkel has been taking his opponent off the dribble from the top of the key which will give Coleman major problems. If Voelkel gets into the flow early he will put the big man in early foul trouble and then he will muscle whomever else that guards him. Voelkel needs a 16 point 15 rebound effort for Iona to win this game.
Mack and Lyde need to step up their games as they have leveled off recently. Savage needs to use his quickness and strength to help on Coleman.
Iona does play in your face pressure defense which I do not think Jamesville has seen in the past.
Pope, Carrissimo, Bronner and Mack all need to score in double figures. Iona has been able to win games when one or two of their top 7 players had below par games. This cannot happen against Jamesville.
I think Iona can win this too. People forget that Peekskill beat them with an injured Andre Pope. The juniors are great, but Pope is the senior leader and people seem to forget that he barely played against Peekskill and when he was playing, he had a very bad dead leg. I was at the game and you could see that he wasnt nearly the same player that he usually is. Peekskill beat them in OT essentially without Pope and JD beat Peek in OT. Based on that, and I know, that’s not how to judge a game, but still…Iona definitely has the talent and I think they’ll win a thriller.
Six of one, half a dozen of the other, it all depends how you look at it, it’s all good. I saw that little jab at the Peekskill fans but that’s O.K., we can take it as well as giving it out but this match up does have the Peekskill factor involved. I was at the Iona Prep / Peekskill game and was impressed with the way the Gaels played and knew then that they were worthy of winning that game as well as their respective division and I was right. Thoughout the season Iona Prep has proven they belong right where they’re at, on top. Congratulations to the Iona Prep Gaels on a successful season.
Of course I was at the J-D / Peekskill game, though it could have gone either way but the game was a classic just like the Iona Prep / Peekskill game, both J-D and Peekskill have been licking their chops all season long hoping to face off against each other again this year and got their wishes. Would’ve liked to have seen a different out come but hey, even the Yankees have lost some world series.
I feel this match-up Iona Prep / J-D holds as much anticipation as it’s billed out to be, either team is worthy of beating the other. If Iona Prep plays their brand of basketball they should come out on top but on the other hand if like Peekskill, they become over anxious the Red Rams will be waiting to take advantaged of anything handed to them. Be carefull Gaels, you don’t get to this level of competition by mistake. And no I’m not trying to make excuses for the Peekskill lost.
To bad Lohud is not Webcasting this game, it would have been nice to see it live but if my memory suits me correctly they didn’t Webcast the Iona Prep / Peekskill game in the Slam Dunk Tournament either. I know the MSG Network is up there this weekend recording games to be televised on MSG and My man Peekskill’s own cameraman / editor / producer MJM will be there working with MSG. Maybe they can get Lou Panzanaro to do some T.V. analyses on these two teams, hey it’s just a thought.
Kevin, we’ll be waited on your blogging to keep us up-dated on the action as it’s happening, blog often, blog fast, blog blog away our blog brother and have a good time watching Iona Prep beat J-D in a super close game.
I hear the early ranking polls are already out for next season and Peekskill is right up there again next year.:)
I think Iona will take it. JD looked a little sloppy with the ball in the Peekskill game. Iona is disciplined enough to limit their own mistakes and get plenty of good shots. The two week layoff is definitely something, but a scrimmage last week with Rice was a great way to shake off the rust. Should be a great game with some very good matchups.
fan,
was pope injured in the peekskill game?
IonaPower,
Wouldn’t Coleman guard Lyde or Savage? If Voelkel continues to play on the perimeter I doubt the JD coach would expose his big guy like that. For Iona’s sake I hope they do. I know Voelkel can play out there but the team seems to be tougher when he’s beasting the post. Iona’s two weak spots seem to be rebounding, outside of Voelkel, and transition D, not pressing but seem to be a little sluggish getting back. Seems like this game is gonna shape up to be a great one!!!! Wish I can watch it.
Best of luck to Iona!!!!!!