Iona Prep Wins First AA Archdiocesan Basketball Title

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Before Iona Prep ascended to the CHSAA AA Division, Gaels’ coach Victor Quirolo used to marvel at the intensity and athleticism of the top-flight teams.

Saturday Iona Prep won the AA Archdiocesan basketball championship when it defeated St. Raymond’s, 74-61, in the gym at Mount St. Michael Academy in the Bronx.

Ty Jerome, Iona’s All-League junior point guard, who had missed the Gaels’ two earlier playoff games and was a doubtful starter due to a hip flexor problem, led the Gaels. He showed he was up to the task early by scoring the first four Gael points and going on to tally 23 points in the first half. He finished with a game-high 33 points, adding eight rebounds and three assists.

The victory was the first Gaels AA championship in school history, having only moved up to the division in 2012. The top-seeded Gael’s (21-5) never trailed in the contest.

“Our goal wasn’t to move up to the AA, it just kind of happened,” Quirolo told CNY. “For years we used to watch the AA teams play—we were always in A division—and I used to be in awe of how hard they played and how talented they were, and then to actually play and win was special.”

For Coach Quirolo, the ingredients of Iona’s success were teamwork and more particularly the presence of three soon-to-be Division I players in the starting lineup: Jerome; senior guard Tom Capuano; and 6-foot-7 senior Matt Ryan. Jerome has committed to play at Virginia, Ryan is a Notre Dame signee and Capuano has drawn attention from Patriot and Ivy League schools.

“I mean the work ethic is very good but you got to have the players and those three guys, Tommy, Ty and Matt, bring us to another level,” said the coach.

Quirolo reserved special credit for Jerome.

“He had a hip flexor injury, and he was out for a week and half. He didn’t know if he was even going to play and then he went out there and had one of the best games he’s ever had for us. He played a great, complete game, both offensively and defensively.”

The Gaels will have had a week to rest and prepare for the next round of competition, the CHSAA intersectionals, which will begin March 8, against a yet to be determined opponent.

“Our goal now to give it our best shot, to be successful in the city playoffs. We just take it one practice, one day at a time,” the coach said.