Preview: Even with three new opponents from League II in Longwood, Brentwood and Floyd, formidable size and considerable experience make Sachem (9-3) the team to beat. Six seniors form the nucleus: 6-4 Kevin Bauer, 6-7 Brian Dana, 6-8 John Mann, 6-6 Tom Lombardi and guards David Shanahan and Dom Splendorio. Leading juniors are 6-7 Mike Wilden and guard P.J. Sullivan . . . Longwood (8-4) is the leading contender with 6-9 center Ben Grodsky, who has committed to the University of Massachusetts; point guard C.C. Simpson, and other seniors Sean Lloyd, Jeff Gibbs and Owen Sanford . . . Connetquot (4-8) is ready to challenge with 6-11 junior Chris Keating from a 16-2 junior varsity, point guard Pete Correale (12 points a game last year) and forwards John Arent, Brandon Bayer and Joe Scattereggia.

Troy Bowe, a 5-11 guard, scored 20 points, handed out 10 assists and had 15 rebounds to lead state Class D champion Bridgehampton to a 90-60 victory over Longwood in the first round of the Bellport Tournament. Bellport Tournament Bridgehampton 26 22 22 20 90 Longwood 13 12 13 22 60 Bridgehampton: Bowe 5-10-20, R. Gholson 6-1-13, Hemby 5-2-12, White 4-0-8, B. Hopson 5-0-10, Johnson 1-0-2, Feaster 2-0-4, M. Gholson 1-0-2, Richard 4-2-10, S. Hopson 2-0-4, Turner 0-1-1, Fulford 2-0-4. Totals: 37-16-90. Longwood: Grodski 9-0-18, Lloyd 5-7-17, C.Simpson 1-0-2, Sanford 1-2-4, Gibbs 2-0-4, S.Simpson 4-2-10, Johnson 1-1-3, Josofsburg 1-0-2. Totals: 24-12-60. Dec. 13

Once Again, Time to Hoop It Up But coaches lament lack of a league for Brookhaven teams: [SUFFOLK Edition]

By Mark Herrmann. Newsday, Combined editions; Long Island, N.Y. [Long Island, N.Y]. 11 Dec 1986:

 Longwood. Bob O’Neill starts his 24th year as the Lions’ coach, but his last with 6-foot-9 senior center Ben Grodski.

“Everything is going to depend on the big guy,” said one opposing coach, and he wasn’t referring to O’Neill.

Grodski, Brookhaven’s only returning all-county player, probably will have to handle a larger scoring burden now that all-Long Island forward Curtis Dunn has graduated and joined the team at New York Tech.

Opposing coaches think Grodski is up to the task. “He has really improved,” said Sachem’s Rich, who watched the center in summer leagues.

“I think he has big-time potential,” said Patchogue-Medford coach John Baumiller.

If his supporting cast develops, Grodski could finish his career on a League I championship team. Although many observers think Longwood is more of a challenger than a favorite, Baumiller says, “Longwood might be as good as Sachem.”

cJames Spencer made the first of two free throws with 10 seconds to play, giving Copiague a 55-54 victory over Bellport in the first round of the Copiague Tournament. Copiague will face Longwood, a 56-53 winner over Newfield, in today’s 2 p.m. final. Stacey Simpson scored six first-quarter points for Longwoodand teammate Ben Grodski had eight points in the third period. Copiague Tournament Longwood 18 13 12 13 56 Newfield 12 10 16 15 53 Longwood: Grodski 10-1-21, Lloyd 3-2-8, Sanford 0-2-2, Gibbs 0-1-1, Frederick 1-0-2, S. Simpson 4-4-12, Johnson 2-0-4, C. Simpson 1-4-6. Totals: 21-14-56. Newfield: Kingman 8-2-18, Grossman 2-0-4, Russo 3-4-10, Somner 5-0-10, Buglione 1-1-3, Spizvoco 4-0-8. Totals: 23-7-53. Dec. 20

Copiague Tournament

Ben Grodski scored 21 points and grabbed 12 rebounds to help Longwood capture the Copiague boys basketball tournament yesterday with a 60-51 decision over Copiague. Conrad Simpson added seven assists and Sean Lloyd six steals for Longwood. Dec 21

HIGH SCHOOLS Longwood, Rocky Pt. Boys Take Titles: [SUFFOLK Edition]

Newsday, Combined editions; Long Island, N.Y. [Long Island, N.Y]. 21 Dec 1986:

Ben Grodski scored 21 points and grabbed 12 rebounds to help Longwood capture the Copiague boys basketball tournament yesterday with a 60-51 decision over Copiague. Conrad Simpson added seven assists and Sean Lloyd six steals for Longwood.  Copiague Tournament (Final) Longwood 18 21 9 12 60 Copiague 5 23 14 9 51 Longwood: Grodski 9-3-21, Lloyd 4-4-12, S. Simpson 2-3-7, Gibbs 1-2-4, Johnson 2-0-4, Josefsberg 0-1-1, C. Simpson 3-3-9, Epps 1-0-2. Totals: 22-16-60. Copiague: Taylor 4-1-9, Spencer 7-4-18, Reid 3-0-6, Burton 1-1-3, Washington 1-2-4, Ham 3-3-9, Reese 1-0-2. Totals: 20-11-51.

At Long Last, Longwood And Bellport To Tangle: [SUFFOLK Edition]

Newsday, Combined editions; Long Island, N.Y. [Long Island, N.Y]. 26 Dec 1986:

Longwood and Bellport probably had expected that they would besick of each other by now. But they haven’t even faced each other yet, despite scheduling coincidences that threw them together in two tournaments during the first two weeks of the boys basketball season.

First, Bellport swept two games to win the South Brookhaven tournament in its own gym, while Longwood lost in the first round. Then last weekend, Longwood won the Copiague tournament while the Clippers failed to reach the final.

They have eluded each other long enough. They will meet 6:30 p.m. Monday in the first round of the Eastern Suffolk basketball officials’ South Fork Holiday Classic at Southampton College. The winner will face either East Hampton or Southampton in the final 8:30 p.m. Tuesday.

The officials host the tournament each year as a fundraiser for their scholarship fund. Larry Gualtieri, the organization’s president, said the referees have presented $3,000 to students over the past three years. Eastport’s John Cross won a $500 scholarship from the group last season.

One player who won’t need financial aid is Longwood‘s 6-foot-9, all-county center Ben Grodski. He recently accepted a full athletic scholarship to the University of Massachusetts, then he scored 21 points in each game of the Copiague tournament.

Bellport only hopes it can flex some of its frontcourt muscle Monday. Jim Gallagher, the 6-foot-6 center, missed last week’s tournament with a dislocated thumb. His hand was to be re-examined this week. Meanwhile, his 6-foot-6 teammate, Matt Lucas, had a sore ankle. “With them, we’re one ball club, without them, we’re another,” said coach Jim McGowan, who was forced to replace Gallagher with a 5-foot-8 player.

Bellport might have thought the darkest hour in its boys basketball season was a 68-59 loss to Longwood last Monday night, but it turned out that the team hadn’t seen anything yet.

One night later, in the consolation round of the South Fork Holiday Classic, the Clippers really couldn’t see anything. About a minute before the start of the second half, the lights went out in Southampton College gym. A winter storm, which was particularly severe on the East End, caused the power failure.

“I couldn’t believe they didn’t have emergency lights in the gym,” said Bellport coach Jim McGowan, whose team was leading Southampton by a point. “Someone had to lead us down to the locker room with flashlights. Police came with flashlights to get fans out of there.”

Longwood, which was scheduled to play East Hampton in the championship game, did not even make it into the darkened gym. Slippery road conditions had prompted the Lions to forego the trip east. East Hampton’s team was boarding its bus when tournament officials arrived in the school driveway and told the Bonackers that the game had been postponed.

Members of the Eastern Suffolk officials association, which sponsored the tournament, said last weekend that they were still trying to reschedule the final game.

Longwood 18 21 23 13 75 Floyd 8 13 9 11 41 Longwood: Grodski 6-2-14, Lloyd 2-2-6, S. Simpson 5-2-12, Gibbs 3-3-9, C. Simpson 6-0-12, Sanford 1-0-2, Fredricks 3-3-9, Johnson 2-0-4, Josefsberg 0-2-2, Epps 1-1-3, Wilson 1-0-2. Totals: 30-15-75. Floyd: Bottari 5-1-11, Colleary 4-3-11, Thorpe 1-0-2, Daniels 6-0-12, Rosselli 1-2-4, Reiter 0-1-1. Totals: 17-7-41. Jan. 7

Shawn Lloyd scored seven points and Ben Grodski had six in a fourth-quarter rally that lifted Longwood past Sachem, 58-54. Lloyd finished with a season-high 24 points.   Longwood 10 18 13 17 58 Sachem 14 10 18 12 54 Longwood: Grodski 2-6-10, Lloyd 8-8-24, S. Simpson 4-2-10, Gibbs 1-0-2, C. Simpson 3-1-7, Johnson 2-1-5. Totals: 20-18-58. Sachem: Dana 10-0-20, Mann 5-7-17, Shanahan 2-0-4, Splendorio 0-5-5, Sullivan 4-0-8. Totals: 21-12-54. Jan. 10

Connetquot 17 13 10 20 60 Longwood 20 15 16 14 65 Connetquot: Arent 4-3-11, Keating 1-2-4, Bayer 3-2-8, Correale 6-2-14, Scattereggia 7-3-17, Alecia 2-2-6. Totals: 23-14-60. Longwood: Grodski 5-8-18, Lloyd 3-2-8, S. Simpson 4-4-12, Gibbs 3-0-6, C.C. Simpson 8-3-19, Johnson 0-2-2. Totals: 23-19-65. Jan. 14 Photos below of the Longwood Connetquot game taken by Joseph Sullivan.

Ben Grodski finished with 24 points and 16 rebounds to lead Longwood to a 79-55 victory over Ward Melville . Ward Melville 11 10 12 22 55 Longwood 16 22 21 20 79 Ward Melville: Keane 0-1-1, Betcher 2-0-4, Gallagher 3-4-10, Hanson 5-0-10, Jost 0-1-1, Carroll 3-0-6, Frost 6-3-15, Manning 1-0-2, Marino 1-2-4, Michaels 0-1-1, Beyrer 0-1-1. Totals: 21-13-55. Longwood: Grodski 9-6-24, Lloyd 3-3-9, S. Simpson 5-2-12, Gibbs 3-1-7, C. Simpson 7-2-16, Johnson 0-1-1, Sanford 2-0-4, Josefsberg 0-3-3, Wilson 1-1-3. Totals: 30-19-79. Jan. 21

Longwood Rated Brookhaven’s Best: [SUFFOLK Edition]

Herrmann, Mark. Newsday, Combined editions; Long Island, N.Y. [Long Island, N.Y]. 22 Jan 1987

It has one of the most formidable big men in Suffolk, yet it hasenough speed to run and press with the swiftest opponents. Longwood‘s boys basketball team also had an unbeaten League I record after last week.

And now it has another distinction: Best in Brookhaven, according to a survey of seven local coaches.

“I don’t think there’s any question,” said Comsewogue coach Frank Romeo. At least not among these seven coaches, all of whom chose Longwood as the top team in town.

The Lions rely most heavily on 6-foot-9 Ben Grodski, an all-Suffolk senior who has announced he will accept a scholarship to attend the University of Massachusetts. But coaches point out that the pivot isn’t Longwood‘s only strong position. Guard C.C. Simpson had 27 points in an 84-79 victory over Brentwood last Friday. He and his brother, Stacy, form an effective pressing, passing, shooting backcourt tandem.

Longwood also has a capable forward in Sean Lloyd, who had 24 in a victory over Sachem – the team chosen first in In Brookhaven’s preseason poll.

League I Longwood 8 10 16 12 46 Patchogue-Medford 12 12 10 18 52 Longwood: Grodski 9-2-20, Lloyd 2-0-4, S. Simpson 1-0-2, Gibbs 1-0-2, C. Simpson 6-2-14, Johnson 1-2-4. Totals: 20-6-46. Patchogue Medford: Dowler 6-2-14, Mead 1-0-2, Kramer 3-0-6, Burke 3-0-6, Valentin 7-2-16, Simpson 3-0-6, Rupolo 1-0-2. Totals: 24-4-52.  Jan. 25

Patchogue-Medford and Longwood remained tied for first place as Longwood defeated Floyd, 82-45. Longwood center Ben Grodski scored 10 points in a 26-point second quarter. Floyd 16 9 9 11 45 Longwood 16 26 25 15 82 Floyd: Bottari 4-0-8, Colleary 3-0-6, Jacobsen 3-3-9, Daniels 2-1-5, Martin 2-3-7, Miller 2-3-7, Racca 1-0-2, Schaming 0-1-1. Totals: 17-11-45. Longwood: Grodski 8-3-19, Lloyd 2-2-6, S. Simpson 7-3-17, Gibbs 2-2-6, C. Simpson 8-2-18, Frederick 4-0-8, Johnson 1-0-2, Josefsberg 0-1-1, Neuss 0-1-1, Snead 0-2-2, Epps 0-2-2. Totals: 32-18-82.  Jan. 28

Lindenhurst 18 7 16 10 51 Longwood 15 24 13 25 77 Lindenhurst: Hawkins 2-0-4, Geilman 3-0-6, Jacklitsch 1-3-5, Nast 4-2-10, McDonald 10-4-24, Woodhull 1-0-2. Totals: 21-9-51. Longwood: Grodski 12-4-28, Lloyd 3-4-10, S. Simpson 6-3-15, Gibbs 0-5-5, C. Simpson 7-1-15, Frederick 0-1-1, Johnson 1-0-2, Snead 0-1-1. Totals: 29-19-77. Jan. 29

Conrad Simpson converted five free throws in the fourth quarter as Longwood earned a 53-43 win over Sachem. Sachem 11 7 10 15 43 Longwood 15 12 8 18 53 Sachem: Bauer 1-2-4, Dana 8-0-16, Mann 2-0-4, Splendorio 2-1-5, Wilden 1-3-5, Sullivan 3-1-7, Crossan 1-0-2. Totals: 18-7-43. Longwood: Grodski 5-8-18, Lloyd 3-0-6, S. Simpson 5-1-11, Gibbs 2-1-5, C. Simpson 3-6-12, Johnson 0-1-1. Totals: 18-17-53. Jan. 31

Ben Grodski scored 23 of his 35 points in the second half to pace Longwood to a 73-68 win over Connetquot.  Longwood 16 12 22 23 73 Connetquot 11 19 12 26 68 Longwood: Grodski 11-13-35, Lloyd 4-2-10, S. Simpson 5-3-13, Gibbs 0-3-3, C. Simpson 4-2-10, Johnson 1-0-2. Totals: 25-23-73. Connetquot: Arent 3-1-7, Keating 2-1-5, Correale 12-4-28, Scattareggia 4-2-10, Bayer 2-2-6, L. Alecia 5-0-10, Manger 1-0-2. Totals: 29-10-68. Feb. 4

Longwood Captures a Big One: [SUFFOLK Edition]

By Joe Krupinski. Newsday, Combined editions; Long Island, N.Y. [Long Island, N.Y]. 06 Feb 1987

he giant mural depicting the king of beasts is enough to put a scare into any team visiting the gymnasium they call “Lion Country.” The menacing presence of Longwood‘s 6-9, 230-pound center, Ben Grodski, and lightning-quick playmaker C.C. Simpson complete the picture.

Longwood‘s boys basketball team tightened its grip on first place in League I by defeating second-place Brentwood, 44-34, before a packed house of 900 fans last night.

With three games to play, Longwood (10-1) clinched a playoff spot for the 17th time in 22 years. The Lions also came closer to claiming their first league championship since 1972, when they won the League V crown by snapping Southampton’s 81-game home-court winning streak. Brentwood (8-3) fell into a tie with Patchogue-Medford.

Grodski, who has signed to play for the University of Massachusetts next year, is 16 inches taller and 100 pounds heavier than Simpson, his 5-5, 130-pound teammate. But both seniors scored 12 points, the only two players on either team to hit double figures, and it was difficult to determine which of the two played a bigger role in Longwood‘s victory.

“Whenever the big guy put his hand up in the middle, we had to change our shots. He threw us off,” Brentwood coach Bob Tagner said. “The little guy also put pressure on us. You’ve got to contend with his dribbling. He keeps that team moving.”

Longwood took a 12-0 lead before Brentwood finally scored after six minutes of play. “Oh, were my guys tight,” Tagner said. “After all, this was for the league championship and they had never played in front of this many people before.”

Relaxing in the second quarter, Brentwood came within 21-17 on three consecutive field goals by Mike Sekac and a three-point play by 6-2 junior Ray Hines, the Indians’ tallest starter. Longwood elected to hold the ball against Brentwood’s collapsing zone defense during the final three minutes of the half. Brentwood allowed C.C. Simpson to play catch at midcourt with his junior brother, Stacey.

“I liked that,” C.C. said. “Our cheering section was whooping it up and people were even taking pictures of us with their cameras.”

It was back to business in the second half, however, when Grodski fell and banged his knee on the floor. His teammates took up the slack by scoring the final seven points of the third quarter, punctuated by Sean Lloyd’s three-point play, to take a 32-22 lead.

“A 10-point cushion,” said Bob O’Neill, Longwood‘s 20-year veteran coach. “That’s exactly what we needed, because we know Brentwood can be a high-scoring team.”

John Exum and Jim Monahan brought Brentwood within 38-34 with two minutes to play, but C.C. Simpson’s ball control allowed Longwood to score the game’s final six points on free throws. “In the last two minutes, he’s as good as any guard in the county,” O’Neill said. Brentwood 4 13 5 12 34 Longwood 16 5 11 12 44

Brentwood: Exum 3-3-9, Hines 2-1-5, Monahan 2-0-4, Sekac 4-0-8, Woods 2-4-8, Totals 13-8-34. Longwood: Gibbs 2-0-4, Grodski 5-2-12, Johnson 1-0-2, Lloyd 1-6-8, C. Simpson 4-4-12, S. Simpson 2-2-6, Totals 15-14-44.

 Longwood upped its record to 11-1 and earned at least a tie for the League I crown with its 67-43 win over Ward Melville. Ben Grodski paced the winners with 26 points, 15 rebounds and 8 blocked shots.  Longwood 21 20 11 15 67 Ward Melville 15 13 8 7 43 Longwood: Grodski 8-10-26, Lloyd 3-3-9, S. Simpson 1-4-6, Gibbs 2-3-7, C. Simpson 2-7-11, Frederick 0-2-2, Johnson 2-0-4, Epps 1-0-2. Totals: 19-29-67. Ward Melville: Frost 1-0-2, Gallagher 4-0-8, Kean 3-5-11, Michaels 0-2-2, Jost 1-1-3, Hanson 2-5-9, Carroll 1-0-2, Manning 1-0-2, Coppi 2-0-4. Totals: 15-13-43. Sachem 5 6 4 7 22 Feb. 8

Brian McDonald went 9-for-9 and Kevin Geilman was 6-for-6 asLindenhurst made 18 of 20 free throws in the fourth quarter of its 56-43 win over first-place Longwood (11-2) in League I. Ben Grodski, Longwood‘s top scorer, injured his ankle with four minutes left in the first quarter and did not play the rest of the game. Lindenhurst is 5-8. Lindenhurst 7 12 11 26 56 Longwood: Grodski 1-0-2, Lloyd 2-0-4, S. Simpson 4-0-8, C.C. Simpson 5-6-16, Gibbs 1-2-4, Fredrick 1-0-2, Johnson 1-1-3, Josefsberg 2-0-4. Totals: 17-9-43. Lindenhurst: Geilman 1-7-9, Giannapolous 2-0-4, Jaklitsch 1-4-6, Hawkins 2-0-4, McDonald 7-13-27, Kearney 1-0-2, Gates 1-1-3, Woodhull 0-1-1. Totals: 15-26-56. Feb. 11

HIGH SCHOOLS Longwood Takes League I Crown: [SUFFOLK Edition]

Newsday, Combined editions; Long Island, N.Y. [Long Island, N.Y]. 14 Feb 1987

Jeff Gibbs grabbed an offensive rebound and hit a layup with 38 seconds to play and teammate C.C. Simpson made a steal with six seconds left, helping Longwood clinch the League I title yesterday with a 35-34 win over Patchogue-Medford . . . Dominic Splendorio converted four free throws in the final 33 seconds to secure Sachem’s 54-49 victory over Brentwood. Teammate Willie Collins scored 11 points in the second quarter. Al Woods had 21 points for Brentwood .

In the South Fork Tournament at Southampton College, center Kenny Wood scored 24 points and pulled down 16 rebounds as East Hampton defeated Longwood, 58-55, in the championship game. Wood was named the tournament MVP. Butch Dahlman of East Hampton shot 6-for-7 from the field, scoring 16 points.South Fork Tournament Championship Game Longwood 21 10 13 11 55 East Hampton 16 18 13 11 58 Longwood: Lloyd 2-0-4, S. Simpson 6-4-16, Gibbs 10-7-27, C. Cimpson 1-0-2, Johnson 2-0-4, Josefsberg 1-0-2. 22-11-55. East Hampton: Casiel 2-2-6, Sarlo 3-0-6, Wood 7-10-24, Scott 3-0-6, Dahlman 6-4-16. 21-16-58. Feb. 16

First round of the Suffolk Class A boys baskteball tournament

Stu Herman, who finished with 19 points, converted three one-and-ones in the final three minutes to help Half Hollow Hills East defeat Longwood, 77-71.  Half Hollow Hills East 19 14 22 22 77 Longwood 13 16 17 25 71 Half Hollow Hills East: Bardes 1-0-2, Herman 5-9-19, Lee 3-0-6, Lomangino 2-2-6, Sawyers 1-0-2, Toppin 8-0-16, Guariglia 10-6-26. Totals: 30-17-77. Longwood: Grodski 10-5-25, Lloyd 5-2-12, S. Simpson 1-0-2, Gibbs 3-5-11, C. Simpson 6-3-15, Johnson 3-0-6. Totals: 28-15-71. Feb. 25

Longwood Star Getting Back in Stride: [SUFFOLK Edition]

By Mark Herrmann. Newsday, Combined editions; Long Island, N.Y. [Long Island, N.Y]. 26 Feb 1987: 

Just when he was approaching heights that had been beyond thelong reach of his 6-foot-9, 230-pound frame, Ben Grodski’s basketballseason seemed to cave in as his right ankle gave way. “I thought: `That was it. There goes my last shot,’ ” the Longwood senior said. But even though an injury forced him to leave midway through the first quarter on Feb. 10 – a significant factor in his Longwoods team’s 56-43 loss to Lindenhurst – and he was sidelined for the League I finale three days later, he was pleased to learn that neither his ankle nor his team’s stride was broken.

After he found out that he probably would recover in time for the playoffs, his teammates scored a 35-34 victory over Patchogue-Medford and clinched Longwood‘s first league championship since 1972.

“We match up very well with anybody,” said Grodski, who has announced he will attend the University of Massachusetts. “I felt we could win without me in the lineup.”

The statistics, and opposing coaches, suggest that Longwood would have struggled if Grodski had been out more often. He averaged 20.1 points even though every opponent knew he was going to get the ball on about 80 percent of Longwood‘s trips downcourt.

His teammates had other duties. Guards C.C. and Stacy Simpson excelled as playmakers and defensive specialists. C.C. clinched the win over Patchogue-Medford with a steal in the final six seconds. Forwards Sean Lloyd and Jeff Gibbs provided mid-range shooting and support for Grodski on the boards.

“And they’re all fantastic on the break,” Grodski said.

Grodski said on Sunday that he had completed a week-and-a-half of therapy, adding that he expected to be on the court when the playoffs got underway Tuesday.

The Suffolk tournament does not promise to be as competitive as the summer league in which Grodski played. He commuted from Coram to Manhattan so he could play with a team known as Elmcor. “Around here, you give up the baseline, and maybe the guy will miss. In there, you give up the baseline and they’ll go in and slam {dunk} over you.”