HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL PREVIEW / North Babylon Ready To Defend `A’ Crown:
By Tom Rock. STAFF WRITER. Newsday, Combined editions; Long Island, N.Y. [Long Island, N.Y]. 13 Dec 1998
Longwood (15-4) has senior K’ai Watkins, a 6-2 point guard who averaged 13.9 points and 5.0 assists, earning All-County honors. The Lions have a wealth of experience with 6-2 senior swingman Bruce Lee, 6-8 junior center William McClurkin and 6-2 senior guard Vernon Alonzo.
Longwood Tops Riverhead:
Newsday, Combined editions; Long Island, N.Y. [Long Island, N.Y]. 12 Dec 1998
Longwood boys basketball coach Dennis Terry said players on his team have been looking forward to the matchup with Riverhead for some time now. “This matchup dates back to the ’60s and ’70s,” Terry said. “No matter what the difference in talent, this is always a game.”
Late in the first half, Riverhead used an 11-4 run to cut the lead to four. But two Longwood baskets in addition to D.J. Holmes’ long-range shooting helped Longwood earn a 74-62 non-league win Friday.
Holmes (17 points) scored 14 second-half points, including three three-pointers in the third quarter that helped Longwood take a 54-43 lead. Vernon Alonzo (15 points) had nine second-half points and Bruce Lee (21 points) seven.
“Last year, we beat them pretty good and we knew they were coming to play,” Terry said. “We had to be ready. These are our next-door neighbors.”
D.C. CLASSIC – First round Longwood 12 5 12 15 44 Gonzaga (D.C.) 23 15 24 16 78 L: Watkins 1-0-2, Lee 4-0-8, McClurkin 2-0-4, Alonzo 4-2-10, Samuels 1-0-3, Holmes 2-5-9, Edwards 1-0-2, DiNome 1-0-3, Quartuccio 1-0-3. Totals: 17-7-44. G: Mitchell 4-4-12, McCloskey 3-1-7, Blue 4-3-11, Glading 4-0-11, Newby 4-4-13, Goodson 2-0-4, Folan 8-0-16, Singh 1-0-2, Cobb 1-0-2. Totals: 31-12-78. Three-point goals: L 3 (Samuals, DiNome, Quartuccio); G 4 (Glading 3, Newby). Newsday, Combined editions; Long Island, N.Y. [Long Island, N.Y]. 19 Dec 1998
GONZAGA / D.C. CLASSIC Longwood 14 9 12 27 62 Dallas Jesuit 20 17 13 20 70 L: Watkins 1-03, Lee 2-0-5, McClerkin 11-2-24, Alonzo 4-2-10, Samuels 4-2-11, Holmes 2-2-6, Miller 1-0-3. Totals: 25-8-62. DJ: McLochlin 4-0-9, Lyons 4-2-12, Delzell 4-4-14, Henderson 3-0-6, Hollman 1-5-8, Donnan 1-2-4, Squires 1-0-2, Sanders 5-5-15. Totals: 23-18-70. Three-point goals: L 4 (Watkins, Lee, Samuals, Miller); DJ 6 (Lyons 2, Delzell 2, Hollman, McLochlin). Newsday, Combined editions; Long Island, N.Y. [Long Island, N.Y]. 21 Dec 1998:
Longwood Wins in Fourth Overtime: [SUFFOLK Edition]
Newsday, Combined editions; Long Island, N.Y. [Long Island, N.Y]. 22 Dec 1998
Vernon Alonzo set a school record by making 16 free throws as Longwood outlasted Bullis (Maryland), 85-81, in four overtimes yesterday at the Gonzaga / D.C. Classic in Washington, D.C. The game was for seventh place.
Dante Miller hit a three-pointer with eight seconds left in the third overtime to help Longwood stave off defeat. The Lions scored the first seven points in the fourth overtime to take an 82-75 lead. Alonzo, who attempted 20 free throws, had 28 points. Bruce Lee added 14 points and 12 rebounds for Longwood.
Senior swingman Bruce Lee scored 34 points on 10-for-13 shooting to stake Longwood to a 75-56 win over Ward Melville yesterday in a Suffolk League I boys basketball game. Lee also made 4 of 6 three-pointers and had five assists. Edwin Delgado and Scott Maguffin each scored 18 points for Ward Melville (0-7). Longwood is 5-3.
BAY SHORE TOURNAMENT First Round St. Anthony’s 12 21 13 8 54 Longwood 11 17 19 9 56
SA: Farrell 3-1-7, Bucaro 6-3-16, Lornazack 1-0-3, Sherry 2-2-8, Weadock 5-1-11, O’Shaucnessy 4-1-9. Totals: 21-8-54; L: Watkins 6-4-16, Lee 6-1-13, McClurkin 3-2-8, Alonzo 3-5-11, Samuels 2-1-5, Holmes 1-0-3. Totals: 21-13-56. Three-point goals: SA 4 (Sherry 2, Lornazack, Bucaro); L 1 (Holmes). Dec. 30
BAY SHORE TOURNAMENT: Will Frisby had 24 points and 19 rebounds and was named tournament MVP as he led host Bay Shore in its 58-55 win over Longwood in the final. Frisby scored the last bucket for the Mauraders with two minutes left to extend their lead to 58-50. Longwood answered with a basket by Kai Lee and three-pointer by Da’Jon Holmes to get within three with 1:30 left. A desperation three went in-and-out as time expired for Longwood. L: Holmes 1-1-4, Samuels 1-0-2, Alonzo 5-1-11, McClurkin 2-1-5, Lee 9-0-20, Watkins 4-5-13. Totals: 22-8-55. BS: Hinnant 7-2-16, Martinez 1-0-2, Webber 1-2-4, Stanton 6-0-12, Frisby 10-3-24. Totals: 25-7-58. Three-point goals: L 3 (Lee 2, Holmes); BS 1 (Frisby). Dec. 31
In other League I openers, Bruce Lee hit two three-pointers that sparked a 10-2 fourth-quarter run for Longwood in its 66-60 win over Brentwood. William McClerkin had 11 rebounds and three blocks for the Lions, and Vernon Alonzo had eight rebounds. K’ai Watkins added nine assists and four steals. Alex Nieves had 18 points for Brentwood. Jan. 6
Longwood 17 18 28 18 81 Ward Melville 6 19 9 14 48 L: Watkins 7-4-20, Lee 5-0-10, McClurkin 4-5-13, Alonzo 5-0-10, Samuels 3-0-6, Holmes 5-2-12, Edwards 1-0-2, Miller 2-0-4, Quartuccio 1-0-2, Torres 1-0-2. Totals: 34-11-81. WM: Lutzer 2-1-5, Maguffin 6-6-18, Scaglione 1-0-2, DeCellibus 1-0-2, Rubinstein 1-0-2, Delgado 6-0-13, Murphy 1-1-3, Loiaconu 0-1-1, Weigel 1-0-2. Totals: 19-9-48. Three-point goals: L 2 (Watkins 2); WM 1 (Delgado). Jan. 10
THIS WEEK / A LOOK AT THE TOP HIGH SCHOOL GAMES AND PLAYERS:
COMPILED BY JASON MOLINET AND GREGG SARRA; REPORTED BY JOE KRUPINSKI; COMPILED BY GREGG SARRA. Newsday, Combined editions; Long Island, N.Y. [Long Island, N.Y]. 12 Jan 1999:
Longwood at Smithtown (Saturday, 1:15 p.m.): This could be a preview of the Suffolk Class A title game. Longwood (2-0) will need senior point guard K’ai Watkins to get his teammates involved early. Smithtown (2-0) will go to 6-6 Jim DeStefano.
Kings Park at Amityville (Saturday, 11 a.m.): From 1-15 in 1997 to the playoffs last season, second-year coach Brian Carey thinks Kings Park (2-0) can take the next step. Two League V battles will show how far it’s come. It plays Sayville Thursday then powerhouse Amityville (1-0). GIRLS
Sayville at Miller Place (Today, 5:45 p.m.): Who can stop Miller Place, the defending Class B county champion? Both teams are 2-0 in this League V matchup. The Panthers have beaten Longwood and Connetquot. Can Sayville play at this level?
LEAGUE I: Bruce Lee scored a game-high 24 points and grabbed eight rebounds to stake Longwood to a 75-64 win over Sachem. William McClurkin had 15 points, 10 rebounds and 3 blocks, and Vernon Alonzo added 19 points for Longwood (3-0). Sachem is 1-3 . . .Jan. 16
Bull Run Lifts Smithtown:
Alan Hahn. STAFF WRITER. Newsday, Combined editions; Long Island, N.Y. [Long Island, N.Y]. 17 Jan 1999:
There was never any doubt in his mind. Even when the lead looked insurmountable, even when Longwood seemed on the verge of breaking it open, the game was there for the taking.
“I knew,” Smithtown senior James DeStefano said. “I said it to myself, `We have this game.’ “
Behind 12 fourth-quarter points from DeStefano, Smithtown used a furious comeback to earn a 76-66 overtime win yesterday in a key Suffolk League I boys basketball game.
“This is going to sound like a lot of garbage, but our attitude was this game was not over,” Smithtown coach Lou Gambeski said. “We really felt that. The game was not over.”
It sure looked over with 5:19 left in regulation, when a pair of free throws by D.J. Holmes gave Longwood (6-4, 3-1) a 57-43 lead. But the Lions then stalled offensively and Smithtown (9-2, 4-0) took advantage. The Bulls went on a 12-2 run, with DeStefano scoring on an inside spin move with 1:37 to go to cut Smithtown’s deficit to 59-55. Junior Mike Massa (15 points) scored six straight points in the run and DeStefano (21 points, 18 rebounds) scored the other six. Momentum was shifting, but Longwood still had the lead and time on its side.
Then again . . .
Forced to foul, Smithtown repeatedly sent the Lions to the line in the final 1:30, but only six of their 12 attempts were good. Longwood senior K’ai Watkins, who scored 10 of his 21 points in the third quarter to help build a 10-point lead, had four chances from the line to keep pace with Smithtown’s late surge, but missed three shots. The Bulls kept whittling away, cutting it to 64-63 on a layup by DeStefano with 15 seconds left.
Senior Pete Laudicina then sacrificed his fifth foul to send Longwood‘s Bruce Lee to the line with 13 seconds left. Lee missed the first but made the second to put his team ahead by two. “I don’t know what happened,” said Lee, who had 13 points. “Every day we shoot about a thousand free throws in practice. We hit them, but come the big games we don’t hit them. I don’t understand it.”
Smithtown completed the comeback with three seconds left as Dan Craine found Tim O’Connell for a short jump hook to tie it at 65 and force the four-minute overtime. Riding a wave of home-court emotion, the Bulls outscored Longwood 11-1 in overtime. Fittingly, Longwood missed three of four free throws in the extra period. “They just made big plays and our guys didn’t,” Watkins said. “We stepped to the foul line and missed our shots.”
Senior Kevin Kulick carried the Bulls for most of the first three quarters, scoring 17 points and grabbing 15 rebounds before fouling out with 34 seconds left in regulation.
Longwood 10 17 21 17 1 66 Smithtown 11 17 13 24 11 76 L: Watkins 5-7-21, McClurkin 4-0-8, Lee 5-2-13, Alonzo 3-2-8, Miller 2-1-6, Holmes 2-3-7, Edwards 1-0-3. Totals: 22-15-66. S: DeStefano 6-9-21, Massa 5-5-15, Kulick 6-5-17, Craine 3-2-8, O’Connell 3-0-6, Laudicina 3-1-7, Campo 0-2-2. Totals: 26-24-76. Three-point goals: L 7 (Watkins 4, Lee, Miller, Edwards).
Jake Quartuccio came off the bench in the second quarter to block seven shots to lead Longwood to a 77-55 victory over Patchogue-Medford. Senior guard K-ai Watkins had 10 assists . . . Tim O’Connell made the front end of a one-and-one with less than 20 seconds left and Sachem missed a three-pointer with three seconds left as Smithtown (5-0) won, 49-46. Sachem is 1-4. Newsday, Combined editions; Long Island, N.Y. [Long Island, N.Y]. 20 Jan 1999:
LEAGUE I Longwood 11 14 6 22 53 Floyd 6 16 12 22 56 L: McClurkin 6-2-14, Watkins 5-1-12, Alonzo 6-1-13, Lee 4-2-11, Miller 1-1-3. Totals 22-7-53. F: Street 4-2-10, Lovelace 3-5-12, Breiterman 1-0-2, Burke 2-2-6, Bennett 3-0-6, Hawkins 3-2-8, Vaillant 1-0-2, Sinclair 2-6-10. Totals 19-17-56. Three-point goals: L 2 (Watkins, Lee); F 1 (Lovelace). Jan. 22
Alex Nieves had 23 points and seven assists and twin brother Chris added 10 points for Brentwood in its 80-66 victory over Longwood. Jerry Murat scored six of his eight points in the fourth quarter to open up a 14-point lead for the Indians (5-2). Vernon Alonzo had 26 points for Longwood (4-3). Jan. 28
Lee’s 34 Points Lift Longwood: [NASSAU AND SUFFOLK Edition]
Newsday, Combined editions; Long Island, N.Y. [Long Island, N.Y]. 31 Jan 1999:
Senior swingman Bruce Lee scored 34 points on 10-for-13 shooting to stake Longwood to a 75-56 win over Ward Melville yesterday in a Suffolk League I boys basketball game. Lee also made 4 of 6 three-pointers and had five assists. Edwin Delgado and Scott Maguffin each scored 18 points for Ward Melville (0-7). Longwood is 5-3.
Longwood 16 22 18 21 77 Sachem 11 13 21 21 66 L: Watkins 6-5-21, Vernon 7-2-16, Lee 6-1-14, McClurkin 4-2-10, Holmes 4-5-14, Torres 0-2-2. Totals: 27-17-77. S: Alexander 4-0-8, Clarke 5-6-17, DeLauro 1-1-3, Hammel 1-2-4, Rainone 3-4-10, Schiller 2-0-4, Schnall 1-0-2, Traola 7-1-18. Totals: 24-14-66. Three-point goals: L 6 (Watkins 4, Lee, Holmes); S 4 (Traola 3, Clarke). Feb. 5
Also in League I, William McClurkin had 21 points, 13 rebounds and 4 blocks and Da’Jon Holmes added 18 points for Longwood (7-3) in its 93-65 win over Smithtown (9-2). Smithtown 14 13 22 16 65 Longwood 28 17 24 24 93 S: Campo 1-4-6, Craine 1-0-2, DeStefano 6-6-18, Gambeski 2-0-4, Laudicina 5-0-10, Massa 0-2-2, O’Connell 2-1-5, Rock 1-3-5, Schartner 0-3-3, Terebetski 1-0-2, Wenzel 3-2-8. Totals: 22-21-65. L: Samuels 1-0-2, McClurkin 7-7-21, Alonzo 5-4-14, Lee 5-1-11, Watkins 3-1-8, Miller 3-0-8, Edwards 2-0-4, Holmes 7-2-18, Quartuccio 1-0-2, Torres 0-1-1, Woodson 2-0-4. Totals: 36-16-93. Three-point goals: L 5 (Miller 2, Holmes 2, Watkins). Feb. 7
Vernon Alonzo made 8 of 9 shots and finished with 16 points in Longwood‘s 65-45 win over Patchogue-Medford (1-10). Will McClurkin had 13 points, 12 rebounds and 3 blocks for Longwood (8-3). Feb. 10
Defense? Not Here. Bruce Lee scored 30 points and Kai Watkins had 16 points and nine assists, setting a school record in the latter category with 111 this season, in Longwood‘s 103-97 win over Floyd in a League I contest.
Vernon Alonzo scored 25 for Longwood (9-3). Marcel Street scored 26 for Floyd (7-5). F: Street 10-3-26, Lovelace 2-6-11, Breiterman 1-0-2, Horvath 6-6-23, Greco 3-0-7, Burke 4-4-12, Bennett 2-5-9, Hawkins 2-0-4, Vosllant 0-1-1, Sinclair 1-0-2. Totals: 31-25-97. L: McClurkin 7-5-19, Woodson 1-0-2, Lee 13-1-30, Watkins 6-2-16, Samuels 1-0-2, Alonzo 7-11-25, Torres 0-2-2, Holmes 2-2-7. Totals: 37-23-103. Three-point goals: F 10 (Horvath 5, Street 3, Lovelace, Greco); L 6 (Lee 3, Watkins 2, Holmes). Feb. 12
Watkins Helps Lions Cruise To Big Victory: [SUFFOLK Edition]
Paul Marino. STAFF WRITER. Newsday, Combined editions; Long Island, N.Y. [Long Island, N.Y]. 19 Feb 1999
Longwood boys basketball coach Dennis Terry was unsure which offensive style his team would use in its Suffolk Class A first-round game against Connetquot last night: a deliberate, half-court game or an up-tempo game.
The Lions have used each effectively at different times during the regular season. Because the Lions and Thunderbirds hadn’t played each other this season, Terry was concerned about his team’s ability to adapt to the style Connetquot would allow.
“It’s the playoffs,” Terry said. “You don’t have any room for mistakes or you run the risk of going home.”
The Lions aren’t going home. They are moving on after running all over Connetquot.
Point guard K’ai Watkins had 13 points, 9 assists and 7 steals as he led 10th-seeded Longwood to a 100-65 victory over No. 7 Connetquot.
“Our previous couple of games we were running up big scores,” Watkins said. “I never thought it would happen in this game because they have played tough against good teams all year.”
But maybe not as quick. Longwood‘s athleticism on offense was too much for the T-Birds (15-4) to cover man-to-man and they were forced into a zone defense the entire game. Once Longwood (13-7) started knocking down it jump shots, the T-Birds were in trouble.
“We wanted to be able to switch from man to zone to disrupt them,” Connetquot senior B.J. LaMura said. “We couldn’t stick with them though. They are the fastest team we have played all year.”
The Lions are equally as fast on the defensive end as well. Connetquot tried to spread the court and get open looks for leading scorer Greg Plante and guard Levar Smith, but tight pressure by Watkins and Vinny Samuels (seven steals) on the T-Birds’ guards kept them from dishing the ball effectively. Smith finished with 16 points and Plante added 15.
“I normally get the ball a lot to take a lot of shots,” Plante said. “The defense just denied the guards, though, and I couldn’t get the ball inside.”
Longwood took control midway through the first quarter. Watkins nailed a three-pointer with 4:49 remaining that started a 23-10 run and put the Lions ahead 27-16 at the end of the first. Longwood then scored the first 11 points in the second quarter en route to a 51-28 halftime lead. Connetquot showed no signs of recovery in the third as Bruce Lee scored 13 of his 24 points as the Lions extended their lead to 36 points. Heydrick Lominy had a put-back as time expired to help Longwood reach the century mark.
“Their speed was overwhelming and they totally took us out of our style of play,” Connetquot coach Bob Drzal said. “They don’t play like a team seeded 10th and I think they may surprise a lot of people.”
It’s no surprise to Longwood, which will play second-seeded Westhampton (17-1) at 7 p.m. Monday in a quarterfinal game. “We don’t like the fact that we are seeded 10th,” Watkins said. “Now we are out to prove it.”
One down, three games to go.
Jason Molinet. STAFF WRITER. Newsday, Combined editions; Long Island, N.Y. [Long Island, N.Y]. 23 Feb 1999The ball hung on the rim for what seemed an eternity to Longwood boys basketball coach Dennis Terry. Lions senior shooting guard Bruce Lee had just fired a three-point shot that would have tied last night’s Suffolk Class A quarterfinal against second-seeded Westhampton with 1:36 to go.
But the shot didn’t fall and the ball found its way into the sure hands of Westhampton senior forward Dwayne Sanders, who turned his attention downcourt and found Lucion Bloxon with a long pass at the other end. Bloxon scored an uncontested layup that spelled the end for No. 10 Longwood.
“That was a five-point swing,” Terry said. “We could have been tied. That changed everything.”
One year removed from its state Federation Class B championship run, Westhampton held on for an 81-74 victory before a crowd of 1,100 and seems destined for another memorable playoff journey.
“I think in December I would have told you I had a better chance of winning the Lotto than turning this team into a playoff contender,” said Westhampton coach Rich Wrase, who lost three key starters from last season’s 28-0 team. “The players have learned their roles, especially in our backcourt. Jeremy Liggon and Bronson Martin have really come on.”
The Hurricanes (18-1) extended their winning streak to 14 games, dating to a December loss to Class B finalist Southampton. Up next isdefending Suffolk A champ North Babylon in a semifinal at 6 p.m. Thursday at SUNY-Stony Brook.
It was Sanders’ show early. The 6-6 dominator ruled the low post, scoring 17 of his 27 points in the first half. Longwood (13-7) didn’t have an answer. But the Lions were down just 41-31 at halftime, thanks to a last-second basket by senior K’ai Watkins.
“The Southampton game was a real wake-up call,” said Sanders, who also finished with 10 boards and three blocks. “I think that proved we weren’t invincible. Coach challenged me to take over the team.”
And Sanders has become a leader. But the Hurricanes would be headed nowhere if it weren’t for Martin’s play down the stretch. The junior shooting guard scored 11 of his 26 points in the fourth quarter, and without the benefit of his picture-perfect jumper. His shot was off, so Martin drove to the basket instead and forced his way to the foul line, where he converted 9 of 10 attempts over the final 4:39. “I wanted to at least get to the line because my jumper wasn’t falling,” said Martin, who added 5 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals.
It helped offset a furious Longwood comeback. Trailing by as many as 12 late in the first half, the Lions erased a 58-50 deficit early in the fourth quarter and went ahead 66-65 with 2:24 to go on Lee’s putback. That capped a 16-7 rally and put the Lions in front for the first time all night.
The Hurricanes took back the lead, 68-66, on Liggon’s timely three-pointer. Watkins, who finished with 24 points and eight assists, made it a one-point game by converting 1 of 2 foul shots. Then Martin answered by making both of his free throws with 1:51 left to put Westhampton in front 70-67.
Lee, who had a game-high 28 points, put up his ill-fated three-point shot next and the Hurricanes weathered the storm.
“We had the hardest draw in the tournament,” Martin said. “Longwood was much better than where they were seeded.”
CLASS A TOURNAMENT Quarterfinal Longwood 17 14 17 26 74 Westhampton 23 18 15 25 81 L: Samuels 1-0-2, Alonzo 4-0-8, McClurkin 4-2-10, Lee 11-3-28, Watkins 10-3-24, Holmes 1-0-2. Totals: 31-8-74. W: Bloxon 7-1-15, Liggon 3-0-7, Sanders 12-3-27, Bullock 1-0-2, Martin 7-11-26, Galloway 2-0-4. Totals: 32-15-81. Three-point goals – L 4 (Lee 3, Watkins); W 2 (Martin, Liggon).
Watkins Helps Lions Cruise To Big Victory: [SUFFOLK Edition]
Paul Marino. STAFF WRITER. Newsday, Combined editions; Long Island, N.Y. [Long Island, N.Y]. 19 Feb 1999:
Longwood boys basketball coach Dennis Terry was unsure which offensive style his team would use in its Suffolk Class A first-round game against Connetquot last night: a deliberate, half-court game or an up-tempo game.
The Lions have used each effectively at different times during the regular season. Because the Lions and Thunderbirds hadn’t played each other this season, Terry was concerned about his team’s ability to adapt to the style Connetquot would allow.
“It’s the playoffs,” Terry said. “You don’t have any room for mistakes or you run the risk of going home.”
The Lions aren’t going home. They are moving on after running all over Connetquot.
Point guard K’ai Watkins had 13 points, 9 assists and 7 steals as he led 10th-seeded Longwood to a 100-65 victory over No. 7 Connetquot.
“Our previous couple of games we were running up big scores,” Watkins said. “I never thought it would happen in this game because they have played tough against good teams all year.”
But maybe not as quick. Longwood’s athleticism on offense was too much for the T-Birds (15-4) to cover man-to-man and they were forced into a zone defense the entire game. Once Longwood (13-7) started knocking down it jump shots, the T-Birds were in trouble.
“We wanted to be able to switch from man to zone to disrupt them,” Connetquot senior B.J. LaMura said. “We couldn’t stick with them though. They are the fastest team we have played all year.”
The Lions are equally as fast on the defensive end as well. Connetquot tried to spread the court and get open looks for leading scorer Greg Plante and guard Levar Smith, but tight pressure by Watkins and Vinny Samuels (seven steals) on the T-Birds’ guards kept them from dishing the ball effectively. Smith finished with 16 points and Plante added 15.
“I normally get the ball a lot to take a lot of shots,” Plante said. “The defense just denied the guards, though, and I couldn’t get the ball inside.”
Longwood took control midway through the first quarter. Watkins nailed a three-pointer with 4:49 remaining that started a 23-10 run and put the Lions ahead 27-16 at the end of the first. Longwood then scored the first 11 points in the second quarter en route to a 51-28 halftime lead. Connetquot showed no signs of recovery in the third as Bruce Lee scored 13 of his 24 points as the Lions extended their lead to 36 points. Heydrick Lominy had a put-back as time expired to help Longwood reach the century mark.
“Their speed was overwhelming and they totally took us out of our style of play,” Connetquot coach Bob Drzal said. “They don’t play like a team seeded 10th and I think they may surprise a lot of people.”
It’s no surprise to Longwood, which will play second-seeded Westhampton (17-1) at 7 p.m. Monday in a quarterfinal game. “We don’t like the fact that we are seeded 10th,” Watkins said. “Now we are out to prove it.”
One down, three games to go.
SUFFOLK CLASS A TOURNAMENT First Round – At Connetquot Longwood 27 24 29 20 100 Connetquot 16 12 16 21 65 L: Samuels 1-1-3, McClurkin 7-0-14, Alonzo 9-2-20, Lee 10-3-24, Watkins 8-0-18, Holmes 6-0-13, Woodson 1-0-2, Quartuccio 1-0-2, Torres 1-0-2, Lominy 1-0-2. Totals: 45-6-100. C: LaMura 6-1-14, Plante 6-1-15, Hughes 3-2-10, Santiago 2-4-9, Bradley 1-1-3, Smith 7-1-16. Totals: 25-10-65. Three-point goals: L 4 (Watkins 2, Lee, Holmes); C 5 (Hughes 2, LaMura, Bradley, Smith).
