Quick Start Lifts Red Storm Over Peacocks 91-70

 

    Coach Mike Anderson referred to last season’s 76-75 win over St. Peter’s as “a nail biter”.  In that game the Johnnies needed a last second jumper from the since departed Vince Cole to avoid an upset. Anderson reminded his team that the Peacocks had brought nearly the entire roster of that team back. To avoid a repeat of last season’s drama things would have to be a bit different.

    “We wanted to establish how we defensively how we wanted to play”, Anderson said following his team’s 91-70 win at Carnesecca Arena last night. “We emphasized keeping them out of the lane and using our size advantage on the glass and of course we made some shots.”

   Making shots provided the early springboard for the Johnnies fast start. Julian Champagne and Posh Alexander each connected on 3-pointers and Joel Soriano had two early dunks, one on a pretty drive and dish from Alexander to sprint to an early 13-5 advantage. Following a bucket by St. Peter’s Clarence Rupert hot shooting by Champagne and Hofstra transfer Tareq Coburn propelled St. John’s on a 21-5 spurt and effectively broke the game open. Alexander tied his career high with 9 assists with just one turnover. Champagne finished with an efficient 22 points on 5-10 shooting from beyond the arc. Alexander had 12 his own while grad transfers Coburn and Wheeler finished with 17 and 11 respectively. Wheeler’s defensive energy was perhaps his most important contribution to the win since he and Soriano improve St. John’s ability to challenge shots at the rim with their length. The Johnnies blocked 7 as a team but changed several more. And they negated the effectiveness of St. Peter’s driving guards and undersized bigs, including Elmont native and former Lincoln High standout KC Ndefo, who was held to just 5 points and 3 rebounds.

    Champagne noted that St. John’s has done a good job playing “with an edge” defensively and that will become important as they hit the road for a step up in weight class against Indiana on Wednesday where they will see former Knicks’ head man Mike Woodson who’s in his first year coaching at his alma mater.

Notes and Observations O’mar Stanley continues to make a terrific first impression with his energy, strength and finishing ability. In two games he has made all of his first 10 career shots, and given consistent energy as a rim runner and rebounder.

 St. John’s shot 30-59 from the floor including 13-29 from beyond the arc.

 

   A pair of stellar New York City guards Dwayne Pierce (’24) and Markell Alston (’25) were at the game with their coach Joe Arbitello of Christ the King High.

As mentioned in the game story St. Peter’s has nearly everyone back from last season. It’s worth noting that they received a strong effort from a newcomer who is familiar to fans of local basketball. Jaylen Murray a Bronx native who played at both Wings Academy and Cardinal Hayes finished with 11 points and 3 assists in 21 minutes.