Elijah Morgan led the Blue Jay offense with 14 points, including this up and under layup in the fourth quarter.

The Blue Jay basketball team returns to the Birdcage on Friday night after a sluggish performance on Tuesday at Rummel. The Jays lost to the Raiders, 50-44.

The Jays led most of the game and entered the fourth quarter with a four point lead and the promise of victory. Their hopes were dashed, however, as Rummel surged ahead, outscoring the Jays 18-8 in the final quarter.

The Jays came out the blocks strong behind the hot hands of Collin Kulivan, who scored most of Jesuit’s early points. Hunt Conroy came off the bench in the first quarter to stifle a 6-0 Raider run with a deadly three point ball. He pulled the same trick in the second quarter, helping the Jays regain the lead with two three pointers, one at the five minute mark and another with four minutes to play in the half. The Jays entered the locker room at halftime with a 21-19 lead.

The third quarter saw fairly even scoring between the teams. Elijah Morgan found a spark mid-quarter with a three pointer from the wing followed by a graceful, 15-foot, pull-back jump shot over a Rummel defender. The Jays found themselves in foul trouble early in the second half, however, putting Rummel in the bonus with 1:33 left in the third quarter. Their foul trouble repeatedly sending the Raiders to the foul line, giving up turnovers, and allowing Rummel multiple offensive rebounds as play moved into the fourth quarter ended up costing the Jays the game.

Faint signs of life came from Elijah Morgan and Will Hillery scores toward the end, but the fourth quarter was all Rummel as they hit big shots and carried the momentum for eight full minutes of play.

Elijah Morgan led all scorers with 14 points, followed by Hunt Conroy (12) and Collin Kulivan (11).

The Jays spent the few day interim working up their appetite for a big match-up on Friday night at 7 PM in the Birdcage against Brother Martin.