St. John's Prep struggling to find wins

The entire starting five back, Jim Gatto expected his St. John's Prep team to be vastly improved after last season's rebuilding campaign. Four games into the season, however, the opposite is true.
The team's chemistry is off, they are not shooting the ball well, or even taking smart shots for that matter, and their defense is soft.
After dropping their league opener to Iona Prep in overtime, Gatto expected to see his team's best effort against perennial power Cardinal Hayes. Instead, what he got was a disappointing 65-44 defeat, a game his team trailed by 15-2 to start, in the Bronx Friday afternoon.
&#8220They're a good team,” the coach said, &#8220but I'm not too happy with the way we played. It was a total breakdown.”
There wasn't one area Gatto was pleased with afterward, except the play of point guard Rashad Smith, who led the Red Storm with eight points. The Red Storm offered little resistance to Cardinal Hayes's inside-outside duo of center Andy Garcia and smooth point guard Jeffrey Paulino, who combined for 35 points.
After a stern talking to, Gatto's players wholeheartedly agreed with his assessment. Because of the time they spent apart over the summer, many felt, the comfort level they gained with one another last winter has been lost.
Too often, they took the first average look instead of working the ball around. When adversity hit, they couldn't handle it. For instance, they trailed by just 10 at halftime, reeling off a 13-4 run to end the half, only to see Cardinal Hayes quickly push the lead to 15. The differential would not get into single digits the rest of the way.
&#8220We got to play smart, play together and try not to argue as much,” said center Lionel Lorquet, who scored six points. &#8220[It] just happens with some people and it's like a chain reaction.”
&#8220We lose our composure a lot,” Gatto said. &#8220Once we overcome that, I think we'll be better.”
Before last season, St. John's Prep (1-3, 0-2 CHSAA A) finished first and reached the CHSAA Class A city championship game in successive years, winning it all in 2004-05. Last year was a completely new team. Even so, an early exit from the playoffs wasn't too disappointing; it was a building year. For some reason, the cement has loosened, and the bricks have tumbled down.
&#8220I thought we'd be doing better and our team chemistry would be there,” Lorquet said. &#8220But it takes time. Basically, we need to find out what people do well and try to capitalize on that.”
Smith has a solution: &#8220We have to come prepared ready to play hard.”