Jesuit Dallas rebounded from an 18-point deficit early in the second half with a 30-11 run that resulted in a one-point halftime lead, but a second half push from New York top-ranked Long Island Lutheran resulted in an 81-69 setback on Thursday evening in Brookville, New York. Thursday's contest is the first of three in New York City for the Blue and Gold, who saw their eight-game season-opening winning streak snapped by one of the top 50 teams in the MaxPreps National Pre-Season Rankings.
 
Senior Marcus Hill shot 7-of-15 for a squad-leading 18 points, adding additional team-highs with nine rebounds and three steals. Junior Max Abmas buried a team-best five three-pointers to finish with 17 points while junior Julius Marble tacked on 12 points. The Rangers struggled from the floor in the opening portion of the contest but ended up out-shooting the Crusaders from behind the arc, 38.2 percent to 33.3 percent, adding 29 rebounds while forcing nine turnovers.
 
How it Happened
 

• Lutheran built a double-digit lead five minutes into the opening quarter, going 5-of-6 from the floor while Jesuit did not hit its first jumper until the 1:42 mark of the opening stanza. Marcus Hill snagged a loose ball in the final seconds of the quarter and scored a fast break layup to help continue a critical, 13-0 Jesuit run.
   
• The Rangers got back into the contest with a 19-9 run to open the second quarter. During that stretch, the Rangers hit 6-of-11 shots and three buckets from behind the arc, cutting the lead to two points after back-to-back threes from Hatzmann and senior Chris Horton.
   
• Jesuit closed the half with five unanswered points, taking the lead for the first time in the contest on Marble's first three-pointer of the year. The Rangers out-scored the Cavaliers 24-11 in the second quarter to take a 33-32 lead into the break.
   
• After halftime, the Crusaders worked their way back into the lead with an 18-12, half-opening run. Jesuit reduced the lead back to three after a three-pointer from Hill and a Hatzmann free throw but Long Island Lutheran regained a multi-possession lead with a six-point run.
   
• Down the stretch of the fourth quarter Jesuit Dallas shot 4-of-8 from behind the arc, but Long Island Lutheran clinched the win by going 13-of-15 from the free throw line in the final stanza.

 
Inside the Numbers
 

• The contest featured no ties and seven lead changes with Long Island Lutheran holding the advantage for 81.7 percent of the contest. Long Island Lutheran closed out the contest out-rebounding Jesuit, 41-29, scoring 28 second chance points and 30 points in the paint.
   
• Despite the second-quarter scoring rush, Jesuit hit nine three-pointers in the second half compared to the four converted in the first. However, the Rangers earned five trips to the free-throw line in the first half compared to four in the second.
   
• Both squads ended the game with 64 possessions as Jesuit averaged 14 seconds per possession in comparison to 11 seconds per possession by Long Island Lutheran.

 
Up Next
 
Jesuit Dallas will open the 2017 Knight Classic at Holy Cross High School in Flushing, New York against Our Lady of Lourdes High School. Tip-off is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. CST.