Authors Posts by Bill Landon

Bill Landon

By Bill Landon

Smithtown East’s potent offense was able to keep the Sharks of Eastport-South Manor at bay in a home nonleague contest Saturday, Dec. 9. 

After the Bulls broke out to an early lead, it was the 3-point shooting prowess of ESM that kept the Sharks within striking distance at the half with Smithtown leading 42-40. But the Bulls would slam the door in the late stage of the game to win the nonleague contest 81-67.

For the Bulls, senior Ben Haug drained three triples and six field goals along with three from the line for 24 points. Junior Nico Skartsiaris netted 21 points and senior James Burton banked 20.

The win lifts the Bulls to 2-0 in the early going, and the team will retake the court to open league play Thursday, Dec. 14, with a road game at Deer Park. 

Game time is slated for 7:15 p.m.

Devin Lynch shoots for the Patriots in a road game against Sachem North. Photo by Bill Landon

By Bill Landon

The Ward Melville Patriots offense has always been known to spread the scoring wealth as head coach Alex Piccirillo uses all of his bench in any given game. Thursday’s road game was no different. Five roster members scored double digits in a convincing victory against Sachem North, winning the nonleague matchup 80-62 Dec. 7.

The senior trio of Luke Chitkara topped the scoring chart with 18 points, Jackson Weber netted 17 and Devin Lynch banked 16; Lorenzo Beaton the senior and junior Neelesh Raghurama scored 12 points apiece. 

The win lifts the Patriots to 2-0 and the team will look to build on this momentum when it begins league play Dec. 12 with a road game against William Floyd. Game time is 5 p.m.

— Photos by Bill Landon

Rocky Point forward Max Wignall shoots in a non-league matchup against Shoreham-Wading River. Photo by Bill Landon

With an injury-riddled starting lineup, the Shoreham-Wading River Wildcats had their hands full in a road game against Rocky Point where the Eagles defense was able to hold the Wildcats at bay. The Eagles offense pressed for all 32 minutes to win the nonleague matchup 55-40, Monday night Dec. 11.

Rocky Point guard Casmere Morrow topped the scoring chart for the Eagles with 17 points and forward Max Wignall added 13.

Shoreham-Wading River senior Gordon Votruba led the way for the Wildcats netting 11 points.

The win lifts the Eagles to 2-0.

The loss drops the Wildcats to 1-4. They will desperately need their bench to get healthy and will have to be at full song to make a postseason bid.

Loose ball. Bill Landon photo

Being one of the smallest schools in Suffolk County, when the Lady Royals of Port Jeff play an early season nonleague game, they always face a team from a larger school district. This was the case Friday afternoon with a home game against Miller Place. 

Having lost perennial scoring threats to graduation, Port Jeff’s roster features only one senior as the Lady Royals had their hands full, falling to the Panthers 47-22 in the Dec. 8 matchup.

Returning starter Ava Zicchinelli for Miller Place was the offensive spark for the Panthers, leading her team with 14 points followed by Brooke Callaghan, who banked nine. Sophia Ingenito netted seven.

Rose Meliker-Hammock scored three from the floor and three from the free throw line for nine points for the Royals.

Port Jeff (0-2) retakes the court with another nonleague matchup Saturday, Dec. 16, with a road game against West Islip. Game time is scheduled for 10 a.m.

The Panthers (2-4) face one more nonleague matchup at home to Pierson/Bridgehampton Dec. 20 before league play begins with a home game against Harborfields Thursday, Jan. 4, with tipoff at 5:30 p.m.

The Holtsville Ecology Center hosts its annual Christmas Tree lighting on Friday, Dec. 1. Photo by Bill Landon

The Holtsville Ecology Center held its annual Christmas Tree lighting Friday night, Dec. 1, an event during which, in years past, Santa Claus would make a grand entrance by helicopter.

Due to the inclement weather, the guest of honor was picked up at the airport and delivered to the event by the Holtsville Fire Department.

There were indoor activities for the kids, the hot chocolate was piping hot, and the dance team from the Michelle Ferraros Dance USA studio took centerstage, wowing the crowd with their holiday performance.

Town of Brookhaven Highway Superintendent Dan Losquadro (R) emceed the event while Suffolk County Executive-elect Ed Romaine (R) wished the gathered faithful holiday good cheer.

Despite the steady drizzle and all the umbrellas, the spirit of the holiday season prevailed.

— Photos by Bill Landon

 

By Bill Landon

After a season-opening win against Mount Sinai, the Patriots of Ward Melville looked to make it two in a row with a road game against the Bulls of Smithtown East Dec. 4 but had their hands full against a swarming defensive press. 

Protecting a one-point lead to open the second half, the nonleague contest was a seesaw battle where both teams traded points right down to the final minute. The Patriots had the ball in the final seconds ahead by two which forced the Bulls to intentionally foul to stop the clock, where the Patriots sealed the deal from the charity stripe to put the game away 39-35.

The Patriots retake the court with another nonleague matchup Friday night, Dec. 8, with a home game against Centereach before opening their league season against visiting William Floyd Dec. 12.

Smithtown East looks for that first win in this early season with a road game against crosstown rival Smithtown West Thursday, Dec. 7, with tipoff scheduled for 5:45 p.m.

— Photos by Bill Landon

From sorrow to celebration, Tesla Science Center hosts an evening of festive cheer

The Tesla Science Center at Wardenclyffe hosts its annual Holiday Lighting event on Saturday, Dec. 2, less than two weeks after a devastating fire broke out on the property. Photo by Bill Landon

The resilience of the Tesla Science Center at Wardenclyffe, an international treasure located in Shoreham, was on full display Saturday evening, Dec. 2, during its annual Holiday Lighting event.

The festivities occurred less than two weeks after a disastrous structure fire caused extensive damage to the historical building on-site. [See story, “Devastating fire engulfs Tesla Science Center in Shoreham,” Dec. 1, TBR News Media.]

There were arts and crafts activities, a snowmaking machine, a science exhibit and hot chocolate for all those attending. Marc Alessi, TSCW executive director, recognized the first responders who were just a minute away when the flames broke loose on Tuesday, Nov. 21. Local elected officials addressed the crowd, vowing to help in the historic site’s reconstruction efforts.

Alessi quipped that the fire engine sirens were no cause for alarm as the Shoreham Fire Department escorted Santa Claus, who was then swamped by the children in attendance.

Those looking to help in Wardenclyffe’s rise from the ashes can visit www.teslasciencecenter.org/give.

Shoreham-Wading River senior Alex Makarewicz battles his way to the rim in a road game against Centereach. Photo by Bill Landon

The Cougars of Centereach opened their season when they hosted the Shoreham-Wading River Wildcats (0-2) where both teams looked to put a “W” in the win column in a nonleague matchup Tuesday night Dec. 5.

Shoreham-Wading River had lost to Smithtown Christian and Hampton Bays to begin their season. Although the Wildcats had a 10-point advantage in the final minute of play, the Cougars closed the gap in the timeout-riddled final 20 seconds, where Shoreham escaped with a 42-38 victory.

Centereach retakes the court Dec. 9 when they host their crosstown rival Newfield before league play begins Dec. 12.

The win lifts the Wildcats to 1-2 with two more nonleague matchups before they hit the road to take on Port Jefferson to begin league play Dec. 21.

— Photos by Bill Landon

After dropping its season opener, the Comsewogue girls basketball team looked to put one into the win column with a home game against St. John the Baptist Saturday afternoon. The Lady Warriors trailed by 11 points after the first eight minutes of play but gained back two of those points to open the second half losing by 25-16, only to have their opponent finish strong late, falling to the Cougars 44-28 in a nonleague matchup Dec. 2.

Comsewogue’s Jalynn Kirschenhueter hit for three triples, a field goal and a free throw to lead her team with 12 points. Hannah Ellis banked six points while Keira Andresen and Vienna Guzman netted four points apiece. 

The Warriors have two more nonleague games before league play begins Dec. 19 with a home game against Westhampton. Game time is slated for 6:15 p.m.

— Photos by Bill Landon

Shoreham-Wading River girls basketball head coach Adam Lievre’s strategy last season led the Wildcats to a county championship playing their toughest nonleague matchups early on. The Wildcats, a Division VI team, hosted William Floyd, a Division 1 team, to open their season and hit a brick wall. Having lost key players to graduation and with a returning starter sidelined with an injury, Shoreham-Wading River struggled with Floyd’s pressing defense and fast break ability, lost the battle 50-29.

A bright spot for the Wildcats was Alyssa Bell where the junior put together six field goals, a triple and four free throws for a team high of 19 points. When injured returning starter Juliana Mahan is able to rejoin the lineup, it’ll be a much-needed boost for the Wildcats 2023-24 campaign.

Shoreham-Wading River retakes the court with a road game against Cold Spring Harbor Saturday morning, Dec. 2, at 10 a.m. followed by another away game against Patchogue-Medford Dec. 6. Tipoff is scheduled for 5 p.m. 

— Photos by Bill Landon