You can call him
Three-point Sottnick

By Melissa Yerkov
Times Sports Writer

Jeff Sottnick has saved his best for last.
He’s put up some impressive stats during his four years at Archbishop Ryan High School, but his career high in scoring did not come until his final game as a Raider.
The senior scored 12 points during Saturday’s game against North Catholic, all from three-point land. Alongside his teammates, the Raiders dominated the first quarter, racking up a total of 21 points.
"It felt great," said Sottnick. "A couple of the kids weren’t even guarding me, so it was great to not even think about it, and just shoot."
However, despite a strong start by the Raiders — who went five-for-five from the floor, including three from beyond the arc in the first four minutes of the game — Ryan was defeated by North Catholic, 53-48.
While the senior was starring in his final game as a Raider, his supporters also did their job. Every time Falcon point guard Velton Jones touched the basketball, the fans showered him with an avalanche of boos.
But in the end, it was Jones’ strong final quarter (eight points in the final stanza) that doomed Ryan, thus ending their season.
"I thought it was a great game," said Ryan coach Bernie Rogers. "I thought we had a chance to win at the end. The kids played really hard. There were a couple foul shots and we couldn’t seem to get — that kind of hurt us."
Ryan missed all six of its foul shots during the first half. In fact, their first free-throw did not come until the last minute and a half of the third quarter.
But that didn’t stop the Raiders from banking seven treys against the North Catholic defense, four of which were released from Sottnick’s hands.
"It’s good and bad," said Sottnick, who made his debut on the varsity team this season. "It’s bad that we lost, but it’s good to go out on a high note. I’m glad I had my career high during the last game I played at Ryan."
It was a personal victory for Sottnick, but still bittersweet — because now it is time to say goodbye to his team.
"Everything changes after this," said Sottnick. "I’m not going to wear this uniform anymore. I’m not going to play in this gym anymore."
This was the final season for Sottnick alongside fellow seniors Keith Czarny, Eric Dethloff and Tim Kelly, who will all graduate in the spring.
"Losing to North Catholic isn’t as bad as the thought of not having a chance to practice with those four guys again," said Rogers. "They are all great players. Jeff brings a little bit of everything to the team. He plays center for us, even though he’s only six-foot-one. He brings the ball up for us a lot. He’s probably our best overall passer. He just brings a lot to us."
The Raiders will have some big shoes to fill with the loss of these seniors, who have collaboratively scored 261 points this season, 66 of which were Sottnick’s.
"I never think of the overall points when I’m playing," said Sottnick. "I always just play the best I can. I didn’t even know Saturday was my career high until someone told me afterward."
But he definitely knows now, and Sottnick couldn’t be happier to leave his high school basketball memories with a new personal best.
"This entire year was great," said Sottnick. "Everything means more when you’re a senior. And we had a really great year."
The Raiders finished third in the regular season, with a 9-5 record.
"I think we beat a lot of people’s expectations," said Rogers. "We gave everyone a run. If we didn’t win, we were right there to the end. I think we had a great group of kids who always played their best."
And although the season is now over, the Raiders’ camaraderie will continue off the court.
"Everyone on the team is friends," said Sottnick. "We are all there for one another. I’ll definitely be coming back to all the games next year, to watch them play."
There is no doubt about Sottnick’s passion and loyalty to basketball, and to his fellow Raiders — two characteristics that will help him tremendously as the college-bound athlete plans for his future.
"I really don’t know where I’ll be next year. I know I want to do physical therapy, but I don’t know where," said Sottnick, who lives in the Torresdale section of Northeast Philly. "I want to work in sports or something related to sports."
Although the athlete has not made a definite decision regarding where he’ll attend college next year, he knows exactly what he’ll be doing there.
"I want to stay in the game and play next year," said Sottnick, who has been playing basketball since he was 6. "But if I can’t be in the game, I want to be around the game.
I just love everything about the sport. I love basketball." ••