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Bill Landon

Centereach forward Meghan Ippoliti boxes out in a home game against Smithtown East. Photo by Bill Landon

By Bill Landon

With 2 seconds left on the clock Centereach sophomore Hayley Torres went to the free throw line with the score tied 64-64. Torres composed herself and sank her second shot to put the Cougars ahead by one. With 0:02 left in regulation, Smithtown East Inbounded the ball and threw the Hail Mary shot from midcourt to no avail as Centereach erupted in celebration at their own home court, winning the game 65-64 in the League III matchup Jan 12.

Smithtown East freshman Juliana Gandarillas stood atop the scoreboard for the Bulls with 18 points. Meredith Brennan sank four 3-pointers and a pair of field goals for 16 points, while Jules Nestor and Isabella Moragiemos banked nine points apiece. 

Madelyn Madrigal led the way for Centereach with 18 points, Meaghan Greico banked 16 and Torres finished with 13.

The win lifts the Cougars to 5-6 on the season while the loss takes the Bulls to 6-6. 

— Photos by Bill Landon 

By Bill Landon

Wrestling took center stage at Comsewogue High School in the Warrior Duals tournament in a multischool invitational that featured three mats of action-packed wrestling Saturday, Jan. 13.

Ward Melville’s Jaden Baron pinned his Brentwood challenger at 108lbs in the opening round, and teammate Zachary Rothenberg pinned his opponent in just 51 seconds at 116lbs. Ward Melville’s Kyle Yannucciello defeated Kevin Rivas at 101lbs, and A.J. Lollo in the top weight class (285lbs) pinned his opponent.

The Patriots are back on the mats Jan. 17 with a road trip to Bay Shore with the first bout slated for 6:30 p.m.

— Photos by Bill Landon

Kings Park (3-5) squared off against host Hampton Bays (3-4) Saturday night where no decision was made after 32 minutes of play. With both teams deadlocked at 53-53 at the end of regulation, a four-minute overtime period was forced to decide the winner in the League V matchup Jan. 6.

Hampton Bays edged ahead clinging to a four-point lead with 33 seconds left in the overtime period, a lead that shrank to three with eight seconds left. Kings Park senior Thomas Matonti got the call and managed to let a 3-pointer fly that just missed its mark as the final buzzer sounded, with the Kingsmen falling to the Baymen 63-60.

It was the senior core of co-captains that topped the scoring chart for the Kingsmen with Joe Romano’s team high of 23 points, Thomas Matonti did his damage from afar with six triples and a pair of free throws for 20 points and John Flynn added 12.

Having lost to Elwood-John Glenn two days earlier, Kings Park rebounded Tuesday, defeating Islip at home 61-52. The Kingsmen will look to build on that momentum when they retake the court in another league matchup Tuesday, Jan. 16, with a road game against Harborfields. Tipoff is scheduled for 6 p.m.

Downtown Port Jefferson was ready for Santa as the shops and businesses of the village continued a popular tradition this holiday season. 

— Photos by Bill Landon

By Bill Landon

Ward Melville had their hands full when they hosted perennial powerhouse Brentwood, where the Patriots struggled to keep pace in a League 1 matchup, falling 62-40 Friday night, Dec. 15.

It was a foul-riddled, physical contest where both teams spent time at the free throw line and as the game grew late, several players flirted with fouling out.

Neelesh Raghurama, the junior, led the Patriots with two 3-pointers and a pair of field goals for 10 points; senior forward Lorenzo Beaton netted seven; and seniors Devin Lynch and Luke Chitkara banked six points apiece.

The Patriots (0-2 league), who won a pair of nonleague early season games, will look to get back to their winning ways when they travel to Riverhead Thursday, Dec. 21. Game time is slated for 5 p.m.

— Photos by Bill Landon

By Bill Landon

With eight consecutive nonleague games to open the Shoreham-Wading River girls basketball season, game five pitted the Wildcats against Greenport Tuesday night when the visiting Porters clung to a one-point lead to open the second half. The Wildcats came alive in the final 16 minutes of play, slamming the door shut to win the game 50-28 in the Dec. 19 contest.

Senior forward Juliana Mahan led her team in scoring with eight field goals and three from the line for 19 points, while juniors Alyssa Bell banked 17 and Grayce Kitchen netted 9.

The win lifts Shoreham-Wading River to 2-3 in the early season.

The Wildcats retake the court in another nonleague matchup Thursday, Dec. 21, with a road game against Rocky Point. Game time is slated for 4:30 p.m.

— Photos by 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.