Sports

The Div. V Port Jefferson girls basketball squad had its hands full on Tuesday, Dec. 6, in a home game against Sachem North, a competitive Div. II team. The Royals gave their visitors a run for their money, fighting until the final buzzer. 

Seeking to build upon the positive momentum generated during their non-league victory over Westhampton on Dec. 2, the Royals trailed by just two points with 11 seconds left on the clock. Port Jeff inbounded the ball with three seconds remaining but could not get a shot off, falling to the Flaming Arrows, 48-46. 

Seniors Lola Idir and Amy Whitman led the way for the Royals. Idir had nine field goals, a three-pointer and eight free throws for 29 points. Whitman banked in nine points in the game. 

The Royals travel to Half Hollow Hills West on Thursday, Dec. 8, for a 3:45 p.m. non-league game before hosting Miller Place two days later.

— Photos by Bill Landon

The Mount Sinai Mustangs began the final eight minutes of play clinging to a 41-40 lead over the Bulls of Smithtown West in a non-league early season contest at home. 

With five minutes left, the Bulls edged ahead to take their first lead of the game and sealed the deal at the charity strip in the closing seconds to escape with a 56-51 victory Dec. 1. 

Smithtown West’s Cassandra Yanke led the Bulls in scoring with 15, and teammate Rebecca Gelman netted 12. 

Ashley Sankey topped the scoring chart for the Mustangs with three field goals, three triples and a free throw. Alexa Cergol banked 11, and Brielle Williams netted 10.

The Mustangs retake the court with another non-league contest Dec. 5 at home against Kings Park at 6 p.m., and the Bulls host their league season opener against Copiague on Dec. 6 at 5 p.m..

Comsewogue senior Hayden Morris-Gray scored 49 points onDec. 2. Photo courtesy Rudy Gray

In an impressive performance, Comsewogue senior Hayden Morris-Gray was a one-man wrecking crew against William Floyd in a non-league matchup Friday, Dec. 2.

Morris-Gray dropped 49 points on his home court, sinking 11 three-pointers, 14 free throws and a field goal. His electric performance topped the scoring charts with 49 points, leading the Warriors in their 73-68 victory. The win lifts the Warriors to 1-1 in their division.

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Ward Melville set the tone of the game early, nearly shutting out Lindenhurst in the first eight minutes of play as the Patriots found their rhythm and outpaced their visitors, 54-27, in a non-league home game Dec. 2.  

Ward Melville junior Tyler Jean-Noel led the way for the Patriots with four field goals and two free throws for 10 points. Ben Sano added eight, along with Brady Reyling and Luke Chitkara, netting 7 points apiece. 

It was the Patriots’ second victory in as many games to launch their 2022-23 campaign. The team retakes the court when they host Connetquot to begin league play Dec. 12. Game time is scheduled for 5 p.m.

Photo from Stony Brook Athletics

The Stony Brook men’s basketball team was led by a pair of scorers who reached double figures on Nov. 25, but the Seawolves ultimately fell to Eastern Washington, 81-52, at the Florida International Tournament.

Graduate center Keenan Fitzmorris tied his season-high with 14 points, as he shot 4-of-5 from the field and 6-of-10 from the free-throw line. Fitzmorris grabbed two rebounds and dished out two assists. He was extremely efficient down in the post on offense.

 Senior guard Tyler Stephenson-Moore followed Fitzmorris with 10 points on 3-of-9 from the field, 2-of-5 from three-point range and 2-of-2 from the stripe. Stephenson-Moore also contributed nicely on the defensive end, totaling two of the team’s four steals. He drained two three-pointers, which tied for the team lead with junior forward Kenan Sarvan.

“We were down 13 with seven minutes to go and we desperately needed to make a run to give ourselves a chance to win it late.  We had a total meltdown the final seven minutes.  While we haven’t been able to practice 5v5 live since prior to the Florida game, tonight was really disappointing. We have to be better than we were,” said head coach Geno Ford.

 “Fitz and Rocco played well but it is hard to find any other guys who played up to their capabilities tonight.  We need to be tougher. The second half has been a real challenge for us all season. Our short rotation doesn’t help but point blank we weren’t tough enough or good enough in either game down the stretch,” he added.

Photo from Stony Brook Athletics

The Stony Brook women’s basketball team earned a 63-58 victory over Texas A&M — Corpus Christi on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 24 to secure a sweep on its Puerto Rico trip. Stony Brook was paced by a trio of student-athletes who scored in double figures en route to its first-ever win over the Islanders.

The Seawolves were led by graduate forward Nairimar Vargas-Reyes who scored a career-high 14 points on 5-of-10 shooting in her return to her native Puerto Rico. Five of Vargas-Reyes’ 14 points came in the fourth quarter as she helped Stony Brook pull away from Texas A&M — Corpus Christi.

After trailing, 26-22, at the halftime break, the Seawolves outscored the Islanders, 41-32, in the second half to seal their fourth win of the season. Stony Brook forced 17 turnovers and scored 21 points off of those turnovers which aided its tenacious defensive effort on Thursday.

Junior guard Shamarla King and sophomore forward Sherese Pittman joined Vargas-Reyes as the Seawolves’ double-digit scorers. King came off the bench to score 12 points, while Pittman followed up her career-high performance against High Point with her first career double-double today with 11 points and 10 rebounds.

“Non-conference is all about learning lessons for March. I’m glad we were able to experience playing back-to-back games because that will benefit us in the CAA tournament… obviously, I’m really happy we won while learning. We are continuing to gain experience and several players are stepping up and flourishing in their roles. Really happy to leave here 2-0,” said head coach Ashley Langford.

The Smithtown East Bulls managed to keep the Comsewogue Warriors at bay through 16 minutes of play, protecting a three-point lead going into the locker room in a non-league matchup on Tuesday, Nov. 29.

The Warriors rallied in the second half, tying the game at 33-all at the 4 minute, 53 seconds mark of the third quarter. They then took their first lead of the game to open the final eight minutes of play. 

Tied at 50-50 with 34 seconds left in regulation, both teams traded points at the free throw line when Smithtown East senior Ben Haug sank both of his shots with eight seconds left. The Bulls would edge out Comsewogue, 54-50, for the final score.  

Haug led his team in scoring with 27 points, and teammate Dominic Galati banked 15. 

Comsewogue’s Chris Beverly led the Warriors with 14, with teammates Austin Nesbitt netting 13, and Hayden Morris Gray notching 12. 

The Bulls are back in action Thursday, Dec. 1, with a road game against Hauppauge at 5:45 p.m., and the Warriors host William Floyd at 6:15 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 2.

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In an impressive opening night performance, the Northport Tiger boys basketball team crushed the Pierson High School Whalers, 77-44, in a non-league matchup. 

Senior guard Emmett Radziul hit seven three-pointers in eight attempts and finished with a game-high 25 points, despite not playing very much at all in the second half against the visitors from Sag Harbor. The Tigers had a 44-19 lead at the break.

Northport junior point guard JoJo Cipollino, making his first varsity start, had 12 points and five assists. Listed at 5 feet 11 inches, he wowed the crowd with entertaining dribble penetration and dishes to open teammates. Despite making his debut as a Tiger starter, Cipollino insists he wasn’t nervous. 

“Coach (Andrew D’Eloia) had a great game plan so collectively we all felt we were well prepared,” Cipollino said. “Once the game started, I just concentrated on what I had to do.” 

Power forward Andrew Miller had nine points and was rested in the second half. The 6-foot-5-inch Owen Boylan and swingman Timothy Fitzpatrick both had seven. 

The Tigers played without stars Brandan Carr and Jonathan Alfiero, both of whom were major contributors to last year’s Tiger team that made it to the Suffolk County Final game against Half Hollow Hills East. The Tigers lost that game to the Thunderbirds, but if this opening night win is any indication, they have restocked the cupboard for another run at that title. 

Northport opens its conference schedule at home against West Islip on Friday, Dec. 9.

Center Moriches sputtered against the swarming defense of Shoreham-Wading River during a non-league basketball game on Monday, Nov. 28.

The Wildcats took a 14-point lead by halftime. Seniors Sophie Costello topped the scoring chart for the Wildcats with 17 points, GraceAnn Leonard banked 13 and Colleen Ohrtman netted 8 in the 50-31 home victory. 

The Wildcats notched their second win in as many games with three more non-league contests to go. They’ll face Sachem East, Newfield and William Floyd before league play begins. 

The Wildcats open their league season on Tuesday, Dec. 13, when they host Hampton Bays at 4:30 p.m.

— Photos by Bill Landon

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Ward Melville football’s journey to the Long Island Championship game was an unlikely one, where the Patriots concluded their regular season with a 5-3 record then peaked in post-season play.  

Ward Melville picked off Whitman in the opening round of the playoffs, took down previously unbeaten William Floyd, 14-7, Nov. 12 and eliminated Longwood a week later for their first Suffolk County Championship in 35 years. 

The Patriots in uncharted territory looked to make history at Kenneth P. LaValle Stadium Saturday, Nov. 26, where they faced the Dalers of Farmingdale (11-0) in the Long Island Championship game.

In the opening minute of the second period Ward Melville quarterback Andrew Belli hit Brody Morgan on a diving touchdown catch covering 35 yards to make it a one score game, but Farmingdale surged ahead to take a 28-14 lead into the halftime break.

After two unanswered Farmingdale touchdowns, Belli punched in on short yardage for the score but it was too little too late as the Patriots fell to Farmingdale, 42-20.