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Loose ball. Photo by Bill Landon
Port Jeff freshman Addison Tuttle blocks a shot in a home game against Miller Place. Photo by Bill Landon
Miller Place senior Ava Zicchinelli banks two for the Panthers. Photo by Bill Landon
Miller Place sophomore Julie Orenzo nails a three-pointer for the Panthers. Photo by Bill Landon
Port Jeff senior Mia Cormier fights for the rebound in a home game against Miller Place. Photo by Bill Landon
Miller Place freshman Jaleeah Archer drives the baseline for the Panthers. Photo by Bill Landon
Miller Place senior Brooke Callaghan drives the lane for the Panthers. Photo by Bill Landon
Emma Batter boxes out Isabella Zaher. Photo by Bill Landon
Miller Place sophomore Julie Orenzo lets a three-pointer fly for the Panthers. Photo by Bill Landon
Mia Cormier battles Brooke Callaghan for possession. Photo by Bill Landon
Port Jeff senior Maitreya Driscoll-Stremich shoots from the top of the key in a home game against Miller Place. Photo by Bill Landon
Port Jeff senior Anna Matvya passes inside in a home game against Miller Place. Photo by Bill Landon
Port Jeff senior Anna Matvya shoots in a home game against Miller Place. Photo by Bill Landon
Port Jeff freshman Addison Tuttle
Sascha Boldley battles Rose Meliker-Hammoch for possession. Photo by Bill Landon
Port Jeff freshman Addison Tuttle shoots in a home game against Miller Place. Photo by Bill Landon

By Bill Landon

Both the Royals of Port Jefferson and the Miller Place Panthers were deadlocked at 39-39 through three quarters of play in the nonleague matchup on Dec. 14, and the outcome wouldn’t be decided until the final second of the game. Port Jefferson trailing by two points inbounded the ball, but couldn’t get a shot off when the buzzer sounded, falling to the Panthers 53-51.

It was the Panther’s second win of the season, having defeated Wyandanch earlier in the season. Senior Ava Zicchinelli led the way for the Panther, banking 9 field goals a three-pointer and 3 from the free throw line for a team high of 24 points, along with teammate Julie Orenzo, a sophomore who added 21.

Port Jeff senior Matreya Driscoll-Stremich led the way for the Royals with 20 points, and freshman Addison Tuttle notched 13.

— Photos by Bill Landon

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Jack Degen drives the lane for the Patriots. Photo by Bill Landon
Commack senior Zain Carvan scores for the Cougars. Photo by Bill Landon
Tyler Wilhelm banks two for the Cougars. Photo by Bill Landon
Commack sophomore Ryan Curcio drives the baseline in a road game against Ward Melville. Photo by Bill Landon
Commack sophomore Jonny Ehlers shoots in a road game against Ward Melville. Photo by Bill Landon
Tyler Wilhelm nails a three-pointer for the Cougars. Photo by Bill Landon
Commack sophomore Ryan Curcio drives to the baseline in a road game against Ward Melville. Photo by Bill Landon
Ward Melville’s Jack Salgado breaks up-court. Photo by Bill Landon
Freshman guard James Coffey breaks to the basket in a home game against Commack. Photo by Bill Landon
Ward Melville senior Neelesh Raghurama drives to the basket. Photo by Bill Landon
Ward Melville senior Logan Seta shoots for three. Photo by Bill Landon

By Bill Landon

It was Ward Melville’s Neelesh Raghurama who set the tempo for the Patriots in a home game against Commack, where the senior guard seemed to be able to score at will.

Whether it was driving the lane, shooting from long distance or being error free at the charity stripe, Raghurama led his team with 8 field goals, two triples and three from the free throw line, for 25 points defeating Commack 60-44 on Dec.16. Teammates James Coffey, the freshman point guard, netted 15 points, and Logan Seta and Jack Degen banked 6 points apiece in the League II matchup.

Jonny Ehlers topped the scoring chart for the Cougars with 10 points and Tyler Wilhelm added 9.

The win lifts the Patriots to 3-3 in the early season, while the loss drops Commack to 2-3.

— Photos by Bill Landon 

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Sean Cogan drives to the basket against North Babylon. Photo by Steven Zaitz
Brody Gazzo hits a short jumper. Photo by Steven Zaitz
Owen Boylan gets some air for two points. Photo by Steven Zaitz
Patrick Gimpel hits game-winning shot for Northport. Photo by Steven Zaitz

By Steven Zaitz

The Northport Boys Basketball team earned their first league win on Thursday, Dec. 12, on the road against North Babylon — but it certainly wasn’t easy.

Down by as many as 12 points to the Bulldogs, Northport came storming back with a dominant 17-9 4th quarter. But after a free throw by North Babylon guard Kameron Quinn, the Tigers were down by one point with 20 seconds remaining in the game.

Northport elected not to take a timeout and guard Shamus Burke rushed the ball up court and gave it to big man Sean Cogan in the corner. Double-teamed, Cogan handed it off to senior guard Patrick Gimpel, who drove diagonally through the lane and threw up a right-handed scooping layup that evaded the outstretched block attempt by North Babylon’s Logan Artherly. It gave Northport a 49-48 win and stopped the Tigers three -game losing streak.

Gimpel scored all 11 of his points in the second half — obviously none bigger than his last-second game winner. Senior forward Owen Boylan led the Tigers with 13 and Cogan had 10. Brody Gozzo had 9 and Burke 8.

Northport began its comeback when they scored 7 straight points midway through the third quarter. Boylan hit a short jumper in the lane and Gimpel spun out of a pick and roll and scored on a nice feed from Cogan, as North Babylon committed three turnovers in a two-minute span in that third quarter which allowed Northport to sneak back in.

The final ten minutes were hotly contested before Gimpel scored the final bucket of the game.

Northport moved to 2-3 overall on the year and 1-1 in the newly configured Suffolk County League 3. They play league contests against Copiague and Huntington this week.

  • Photos by Steven Zaitz

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Coach Billy Cosh

First Coach in Program History to Earn Award

First-year head coach Billy Cosh has been recognized as the 2024 AFCA FCS Coach of the Year, a significant milestone following Stony Brook’s remarkable turnaround season. This prestigious honor, announced earlier today by the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA), makes Cosh the first head coach in program history and second ever first-year FCS head coach to receive this accolade. 

This marks the third Coach of the Year award for Cosh this season. Previously, he was named the 2024 CAA Coach of the Year and the 2024 AFCA Regional Coach of the Year. After inheriting a team that endured a winless 2023 campaign, Cosh led the Seawolves to their best season since 2017. At just 32 years old, Cosh is the second-youngest coach in Division I football and has revitalized a program that was projected to finish last in the CAA Preseason Coaches Poll. Under his leadership, Stony Brook achieved an impressive 8-4 overall record (5-3 CAA), marking their first winning season since 2018 and their highest national ranking in six years.

This season represents the most significant turnaround in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), with Stony Brook improving from a 0-10 record in 2023 to 8-4 in 2024. Cosh’s eight victories also place him among the top-performing first-year head coaches in FCS history, and he is now the fastest head coach in program history to reach this milestone.

Stony Brook’s offensive and defensive statistics saw dramatic improvements under Cosh’s leadership. On offense, the Seawolves improved their scoring average from 15.2 points per game in 2023 to 29.6 points per game in 2024. They also increased their average total yards from 314.2 to 403.9, rushing yards from 104.1 to 170.3, and passing yards from 210.1 to 223.6. The team’s touchdown total soared from 19 in 2023 to 44 in 2024.

Defensively, the Seawolves allowed just 24.0 points per game this season, compared to 39.2 points per game in 2023. They also reduced total yards allowed per game from 470.7 to 373.5 and limited opponents to 32 touchdowns compared to the 53 allowed last year.

Under Cosh’s leadership, Stony Brook has excelled on both sides of the ball, ranking among the top 10 in FCS for several key categories: red zone defense (70%), red zone offense (90.2%), time of possession (32:27), fumbles recovered (14), turnover margin (0.83), and turnovers gained (26). The team also ranked in the top three in the CAA for fourth-down conversion percentage (63.6%), blocked punts (1), blocked punts allowed (0), passes intercepted (12), punt return defense (6.2), scoring offense (29.7), tackles for loss allowed (4.5), and several other categories, including time of possession, turnover margin, red zone offense, red zone defense, and fumbles recovered.

Cosh’s guidance has elevated several players to national recognition. Running back Roland Dempster became only the second player in program history to be nominated for the Walter Payton Award and earned First Team All-CAA honors. Defensive lineman Rushawn Lawrence also secured First Team All-CAA recognition. Tight end Cal Redman, kicker Enda Kirby, and cornerback Rudy Silvera were named to the Second Team All-CAA, while offensive linemen Niko Papic and AJ Roberts earned spots on the All-CAA Third Team.

The head coach for the Seawolves and Keiser’s Myles Russ join Colorado Mines’ Brandon Moore, Richmond’s Mike London and Valdosta State’s David Dean as the only coaches to earn AFCA National Coach of the Year honors intheir first season as a head coach. Dean was the Division II winner in 2007, London was the FCS winner in 2008, and Moore was the Division II winner in 2022.

The winners are selected by a vote of the Active AFCA members at four-year schools in the Association’s five divisions. The AFCA has named a Coach of the Year since 1935. The AFCA Coach of the Year award is the oldest and most prestigious of all the Coach of the Year awards and is the only one chosen exclusively by coaches.

The current balloting procedure involves selection of 25 regional winners: five regional winners in each of the five divisions – FBS, FCS, Division II, Division III and NAIA, who become finalist for national coach of the year. Following regional voting, five national winners – one from each division – are chosen. The other recipients for the 2024 AFCA Coach of the Year were Indiana’s Curt Cignetti (FBS), Valdosta State’s Tremaine Jackson (Division II), Salisbury’s Sherman Wood (Division III) and Keiser’s Myles Russ (NAIA).

To purchase season tickets, call 631-632-WOLF (9653) or email the ticket office at [email protected].

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Dallysshya Moreno looks to pass the ball during Wednesday's game. Photo courtesy of Stony Brook Athletics

The Stony Brook women’s basketball team returned to the Island on Dec. 18 with a 67-29 victory over Georgian Court. The Lions were held to just 25 percent from the field for a 12-for-47 shooting performance as the Seawolves’ defense dominated with 18 forced turnovers.

Stony Brook had three players score in double figures, led by Zaida Gonzalez, who had 17 points and six rebounds. Dallysshya Moreno recorded her first career double-double off the bench with a career-high 16 points and 11 rebounds. Breauna Ware chipped in as well with 13 points, six rebounds, and a team-high five assists and three steals.

Lauren Filien helped on the boards, grabbing a team-high 12 boards as Shamarla King added seven of her own as the Seawolves held a 58-20 advantage over Georgian Court.

Ioanna Giannopoulou made her collegiate debut with Stony Brook, adding a three-point bucket with less than 10 seconds to go in the contest.

After falling behind 8-6, Stony Brook went on an 11-0 run with 5:12 left in the first quarter, culminating in a bucket from Moreno, to take a 17-8 lead. The Seawolves then lost some of that lead but still entered the quarter break with a 17-9 advantage. Stony Brook did most of its first quarter damage scoring 14 points in the paint.

Stony Brook kept its first quarter lead intact before going on an 8-0 run starting at the 3:04 mark in the second period, highlighted by a bucket from Lauren Filien, to increase its lead to 32-16, a score that would hold until halftime. Stony Brook was strong from deep in the period, knocking down two three-point shots to account for six of its 15 points.

Following intermission, Stony Brook continued to expand its advantage, pushing it to 41-20 before going on a 6-0 run, punctuated by a basket from Moreno, to expand its lead further to 47-20 with 14 seconds to go. Stony Brook continued to play well near the basket, scoring 10 of its 15 points in the paint during the third quarter.

Stony Brook held a scoring advantage going on a 13-0 run, finished off by Giannopoulou’s three, to grow the lead to 67-29 with five seconds to go in the contest, a score which would hold for the rest of the game. Stony Brook took advantage of its opportunities in the post, scoring 14 of its 20 points in the paint highlighted by Moreno.

“Great win for our team! Feels good to be back in the win column. Proud of our team’s defensive effort of holding them to single digits each quarter. We continue to stress the importance of getting multiple stops in a row and limiting opponents offensive rebounds and we showed growth in that area. We finished 21-0 on the offensive glass and finished the night with 58 total. Rebounding is a measuring stick of our effort so very pleased with that tonight. There are areas we must still improve, but we will enjoy this win tonight and move on and focus on Cornell tomorrow,” noted head coach Joy McCorvey postgame.

The team closes out the year on Sunday, Dec. 22 at home against Cornell at 1 p.m. This will be the eighth meeting between the Seawolves and Big Red in program history. Coverage is set to be available on SNY and FloCollege.

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Andre Snoddy looks to pass the ball during Saturday's game. Photo courtesy of Stony Brook Athletics

Stony Brook men’s basketball picked up a road win over Rider in Lawrenceville, N.J. on Dec. 14, topping the Broncs 72-55 behind a 20-point performance by CJ Luster II and Andre Snoddy’s second double-double of the season.

The two sides were deadlocked 8-8 through seven minutes of action to open the contest. Stony Brook gained a six-point advantage, maintaining it until a 7-0 Rider run that put the Broncs ahead, 21-20, with five minutes to play in the half.

After grabbing a 25-22 lead, Stony Brook went on a 9-0 run with 1:36 left in the first half, culminating in a three from Luster, to increase its lead to 34-22. 

The Seawolves then lost some of that lead, but still entered halftime with a 34-24 advantage. Stony Brook relied on its three-point shooting in the period, knocking down seven shots to account for 21 of its 34 points. Rider trimmed its deficit to five points, but Stony Brook responded with a 12-0 run, finished off by a Joe Octave jumper, to grow the lead to 50-33 with 12:57 to go in the contest. 

Stony Brook’s lead grew to as large as 19 points down the stretch, maintaining a double-digit advantage for the remainder of the contest. The Seawolves held on to secure the 72-55 win. Stony Brook shot well again from three-point range in the half, hitting six shots from deep to score 18 of its 38 points.

“Great win for the guys. We have been getting better in practice, but we needed a solid game performance from a confidence perspective. I also thought that was the best game of Andre’s career, he was terrific,” head coach Geno Ford noted. 

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Photo courtesy of Stony Brook Athletics

The Stony Brook women’s basketball team was defeated by the University at Buffalo, 72-55, on Dec. 14 at Alumni Arena. Shamarla King registered a double-double as Breauna Ware and Janay Brantley both scored in double figures for the Seawolves.

After falling behind 10-0, Stony Brook went on a 5-0 run with 5:31 left in the first quarter, culminating in a bucket from Brantley, to narrow its deficit. The Seawolves continued to close the gap, cutting the Buffalo lead to 17-13 by the end of the first period.

The Seawolves would find their footing and ultimately tie up the game and then take a one-point lead off a pair of three-pointers from Zaida Gonzalez and Ware. Buffalo pieced together some plays that gave them a 32-26 lead heading into halftime. Stony Brook tallied six three-pointers through the first half, a season-high.

The Bulls continued to increase its lead after the intermission, building a 44-28 advantage.  Stony Brook then went on an 8-0 run, punctuated by a basket from Devyn Scott, to trim its deficit to 44-36 with 2:40 to go in the third. Buffalo countered and stretched its lead to 50-36 heading into the fourth.

Buffalo kept widening its lead, scoring a game-high 22 points through the fourth quarter. They constructed a 65-43 advantage before the Seawolves went on a 5-0 run to shrink the deficit to 65-48 with 2:45 to go in the contest. Stony Brook was unable to cut further into the Bulls’ lead by the end of the game.

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Coach Andy Ronan

Stony Brook cross country head coach Andy Ronan has earned his third consecutive CAA Men’s Cross Country Coach of the Year honor, as announced by the conference office on Dec. 12.

Ronan led the Seawolves to a third consecutive CAA Championship and a 13th place ranking in the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Northeast Region this fall. The Seawolves captured the championship in the closest team finish in conference history, scoring 48 points to edge out second-place Northeastern (49 points) by a single point.

Stony Brook had five runners finish in the top 17, including three in the top eight. Henry Gartner (24:44.50) led the Seawolves with a fourth-place effort followed by Collin Gilstrap in fifth (24:48.3) and Steven Struk in eighth (25:02.50). Also scoring for SBU were Michael Hawkes (25:19.9) in 14th and Ethan Green (25:34.7) in 17th.

In Stony Brook’s three seasons as a member of the CAA, Ronan has produced 23 All-CAA Cross Country performers and helped the men’s squad capture the conference championship in all three years. Ronan has now been named conference coach of the year 12 times during his tenure on Long Island.

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Town officials broke ground for the new Destination KP Sports Park on Dec. 12. Photo courtesy of Town of Smithtown

On December 12, Town of Smithtown elected officials joined with Agape Community Sports Services and developer Prospect Sports Partners LLC for the official groundbreaking ceremony for Destination KP Sports Park, a state-of-the-art, 44-acre sports complex that will serve as a premier destination for athletic events and community recreation. The $92 million facility, located at 350 Old Northport Road, will feature a variety of amenities, including:

  • Seven outdoor athletic fields
  • Two outdoor practice fields
  • A 64,800-square-foot multi-floor indoor sports facility
  • A concession building, retail space, and health club
  • 100,000 square feet of medical and commercial office space, primarily focused on sports medicine

The project will be operated by Agape Community Sports Services (ACSS), Inc., a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to developing, maintaining, and operating recreational sports facilities on behalf of the general public, State, and local governments.

The groundbreaking marks a major milestone for the Town of Smithtown, aligning with the community’s vision outlined in the updated Master Plan. The Destination KP Sports Park will not only address the increasing demand for athletic field space but also attract significant economic activity to Kings Park and surrounding downtown areas.

“In recent years, the Old Northport Road corridor has seen significant progress, including the addition of an early education academy, a solar farm, and the Flynn Memorial Ballpark complex. A new Starbucks is also under construction at the corner of Indian Head and Old Northport Roads. This growth reflects the Town’s dedication to fulfilling the community’s vision, as expressed through public input during our master plan process. Destination KP will be an exciting and valuable addition, offering much-needed athletic fields, an indoor sports facility, and a premier venue for tournaments and competitions that will help drive economic activity to nearby downtown areas,” said Town of Smithtown Supervisor Edward R. Wehrheim.

Located in an industrial area undergoing transformation, Destination KP is a key part of the Town of Smithtown’s effort to clean up heavy industry properties as they change ownership, while attracting family-friendly businesses and services. The sports park will serve local residents and accommodate regional demand for youth sports tournaments, championships, and recreational activities.

The indoor sports facility is expected to be completed within 12 to 14 months. Project developers Prospect Sports Partners LLC envisionDestination KP as a hub for youth sports, drawing families, athletes, and visitors to the Kings Park region.

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Comsewogue’s Keira Andresen (l) battles Quinlin Heilbron for possession. Photo by Bill Landon
Sophomore Quinlin Heilbron battles down low for the Patriots. Photo by Bill Landon
Ward Melville’s Jenna Greek drives the baseline for the Patriots. Photo by Bill Landon
Jenna Greek drains a triple for the Patriots. Photo by Bill Landon
Comsewogue forward Vienna Guzman shoots. Photo by Bill Landon
Comsewogue forward Jaylynn Kirschenheuter shoots. Photo by Bill Landon
Comsewogue point guard Jayla Callender drives the lane. Photo by Bill Landon
Comsewogue point guard Jayla Callender drives the lane. Photo by Bill Landon
Vienna Guzman banks two for the Warriors. Photo by Bill Landon
Ward Melville head coach Kate Gordon confers with Julia Dank. Photo by Bill Landon
Ward Melville senior Julia Dank hits for three for the Patriots. Photo by Bill Landon
Ward Melville senior Julia Dank drives the lane for the Patriots. Photo by Bill Landon
Julia Dank fights to get a shot off with Comsewogue’s Vienna Guzman defending. Photo by Bill Landon
Ward Melville freshman Addison Scott scores for the Patriots. Photo by Bill Landon
Comsewogue point guard Jayla Callender nails a three-pointer. Photo by Bill Landon

By Bill Landon

The Patriots of Ward Melville came calling on Comsewogue on Dec. 7, and the Warriors were able to stay toe-to-toe with their League I visitors, briefly taking the lead at one point in the non-league contest. The Patriots stretched their legs in the final eight minutes of play to edge the Warriors 51-41.

Julia Dank, the senior, led the way for the Patriots with three triples, a field goal and four from the free throw line for 15 points.

Jenna Greek inked a pair of three-pointers and three field goals for 12 points, and Addison Dellaporta banked 11.

Junior point guard Jayla Callender notched 14 points for the Warriors, and teammate Jalynn Kirschenheuter added 12.

— Photos by Bill Landon 

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