City of Basketball Love

Zak Wolf (@ZakWolf22)
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The game is slowing down for Archbishop Ryan junior Darren Williams. 

After being a defensive specialist during his freshman season, Williams turned into a second-team all-Catholic League player last year. The shooting guard averaged 12 points, 4 rebounds and two assists per game, helping Ryan make it to the Catholic League championship. Williams flashed his potential, scoring 20 points against Archbishop Wood in the quarterfinals.

After an improved sophomore campaign, Williams has taken another step this season. The junior’s all-around game has gotten better, sacrificing more and doing the little things to help his team win. WIlliams was everywhere in Ryan’s 62-44 victory over Archbishop Carroll on Tuesday, recording 19 points, eight rebounds, six assists and four steals. 

“It always happens in your second year, playing varsity level in the PCL,” Ryan head coach Joe Zeglinski said. “He's recognized just how good he is when he lets the game come to him and he's making plays for his teammates and being really unselfish.”

“In his mind he knows how the game is gonna go,” Ryan big man Thomas Sorber said. “He tries to slow us down and he's a great leader.”

Williams is seeing the floor better and becoming a willing passer. Instead of looking for his shot every time he gets the ball, the junior is keeping his eyes open and reading the defense. Williams has learned, playing every night against tough opponents in the PCL and during the non-league schedule this year. 

The lefty loves to operate from the left side of the floor, doing most of his damage from there. Ryan will clear out for him so he can operate in one on one situations. With his experience, Williams is more patient, knowing when the right time to shoot a pull-up, drive to the basket or pass the ball to a teammate.

“When I receive the ball I get to see what opportunities are open,” Williams said. “I can read the floor more, see where people are and where openings will be. I watch cutters and see how screens develop so I can get my teammates involved and see them succeed.”

Even with his improved passing ability, Williams still loves to use his patented one-dribble pull-up mid range jumper. He uses a strong jab step to freeze his defender before putting the ball on the floor, then stopping on a dime to rise up for a jumper. Williams elevates well on his jumper with a high release point, making it difficult for defenders to contest.

“He's so quick off the dribble,” Zeglinski said. “He gets defenders leaning back and he pulls up. It's a great move for me because you can do a bunch of different things on that. He's a dynamic guard and he just keeps getting better.”

The junior has worked for “hours” in the gym to perfect his jumper, starting to expand his range. Williams has always been able to shoot the deep ball, but wanted to get even better on the perimeter. 

“I keep practicing the pull up because I know when I get in the lane there’s going to be a big and it's not that easy,” Williams said “You have to finish strong, especially in the PCL, or pull up jump shot or kick out to a shooter.”

The shooting guard did everything in Ryan’s victory. He knocked down three threes while playing hard on defense. Zeglinski praised him, saying he’s “one of the best defenders in the PCL.” Williams “takes it personally” when defending, making other players work for their points. 

With Williams on the wing, Ryan used a zone to disrupt a potent Carroll offense. The Patriots have multiple guards who can hurt you including Dean Coleman-Newsome, Jake West and Ian Williams. Carroll shoots the 3-ball well, so Ryan didn’t sit back in their zone, extending it out past the 3 -point line. Although Carroll hit 11 threes, it took them 29 attempts. West hit four triples, finishing with a team-high 12 points, while Williams has three finishing with nine. Coleman-Newsome struggled to get it going, scoring a quiet seven points after a couple 20-plus outings to open PCL play. 

For Ryan, Sorber dominated early on, scoring 12 of the Raiders’ first 14 points, without missing a shot. Sorber’s production slowed until the end of the third quarter where it picked up. The big man finished with 24 points and 13 rebounds going 11-16 from the field.

“It's great when Thomas gets started early because then once they all focus on him I know that opens opportunities for me and for my other teammates,” Williams said. “It gives more room to attack, when cut guys are collapsing on him we could get easy layups.” 

Sorber is Williams’ “right hand man”, explaining that they’re close off the court which helps them on it. On a couple of plays, Sorber faked a screen for Williams, diving to the basket. With defenders biting on the screen, Wiliams fired passes on the money for Sorber to finish. 

Outside of the dynamic junior duo, Rocco Morabito and Michael Paris provided solid guard play. Morabito finished with seven points while Paris had nine, plus three steals. 

Ryan’s physicality allowed them to control the game, with Carroll’s only lead coming at 5-4 in the first quarter. The Raiders responded with a 9-2 and lead by six at the end of the first. A slow second quarter where both teams scored a combined 16 points was followed by Ryan outsourcing Carroll 20-7 in the third. Ryan led by as much as 20, with the Patriots never making a run as the Raiders closed out the game. 

After bouncing back from a loss to St. Joe’s Prep, Ryan faces off against a red-hot Roman Catholic team. The Cahilites have won all three of their PCL games and will be a tough test for Ryan.

“We have to take what we've done so far and continue to get better,” Zeglinski said. “We have Roman on Friday night, which we know right now they’re playing really good basketball. So we're gonna be over this one, get ready to practice tomorrow and get ready for Friday night.”

By Quarter
AR:  18  |   7   |  20  |  17  ||  62
AC:  12  |   9   |   7   |  16  ||  44

Scoring
Ryan: Sorber 24, Williams 19, Paris 9, Morabito 7, Everett 2, Murray 1

Carroll: West 12, Williams 9, Coleman-Newsome 7, Alleyne 7, Ralls 5, Dixon 3