HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL PREVIEW / Can Brentwood Finish?: [NASSAU AND SUFFOLK Edition]

Jason Molinet. STAFF WRITER. Newsday, Combined editions; Long Island, N.Y. [Long Island, N.Y]. 24 Dec 2000: 

Marty Riger has seen his share of disasters. The Brentwood boys basketball coach has had promising seasons collapse time and again under the weight of injuries, suspensions and an arrest.

Brentwood was one of two Suffolk teams to beat Longwood last season, earning a 71-70 victory in a League I game. But Riger’s roster was depleted for the playoffs and the Indians were no match for surging Longwood in the quarterfinals. Longwood went on to the state public schools Class A title game.

Brentwood’s last trip to the county final in 1998 was overshadowed by the arrest of a prominent player on burglary charges. North Babylon won the game and the title, 70-56.

It’s only December, but there is guarded optimism in Riger’s voice. Just maybe this group of Indians can avoid the pitfalls of seasons past to win the program’s fifth Suffolk Class A championship and its first since back-to-back trips to the state public schools Final Four in 1991-92.

“This is probably the most talented crew we’ve had over the last decade,” Riger said. “We have size and quality players. But we haven’t done anything yet. There isn’t a team we’ll go against we can’t beat. But there isn’t a team on our schedule who can’t beat us.”

Brentwood (12-6 last season) is the League I favorite and team to beat in the Class A race because of a formidable frontcourt featuring 6-6 senior Michael Session (18 points, 9 rebounds) and 6-4 senior Sylvesyter Gardine. Senior guard Robert Hall is a strong defender.

“I tell the kids, ‘Offense brings your friends to the game,”‘ Riger said. ‘ “Defense wins games for us and rebounding wins championships.’ This is a good defensive team and we’ll continue to get better.”

An overpowering frontcourt was the reason Longwood (20-5) came within overtime of winning the state title a year ago. But 6-8 Suffolk player of the year Will McClurkin and 7-foot George Osadchiy are gone, and so are three other starters. Coach Dennis Terry’s team still will be a force, thanks to athletic guards and 6-3 senior Mark Hill. Smithtown (9-9) has speedy senior guard Dan Wenzel (15 ppg) and senior John Acerno (6-6, 225), an inside force. “We’re a good pick for a dark horse,” said coach Lou Gambeski, who has 200 victories at the school.

Longwood Opens With Impressive Win: [SUFFOLK Edition]

Mark La Monica. STAFF WRITER. Newsday, Combined editions; Long Island, N.Y. [Long Island, N.Y]. 14 Dec 2000

Longwood graduated seven players from last season’s Long Island Class A championship boys basketball team. Another player, 7-foot center George Osadchiy, returned home to the Ukraine. So, with the starting five gone and only three players returning, coach Dennis Terry needed to retool and figure out a plan to defend his title.

The plan began to take shape last night as Longwood defeated North Babylon, 83-69, in the season opener for both teams. Terry’s team will run and run and run some more until the final whistle sounds. His team also will pass as much as possible to find the open shot and loosen up the defense under the boards.

“We have a little bit of quickness to help negate the big men,” Terry said.

Terry has no choice but to give up height at just about every position on the court. His tallest player is returning senior Mark Hill, a 6-3 forward. That didn’t seem to bode well for Longwood because North Babylon started “twin” towers Jason and Andre Washington, 6-7 and 6-5, respectively. The Bulldogs also had 6-5 power forward John Hines to come off the bench.

Hill rose to the occasion after teammate Marc Kellman twisted his left ankle early in the second quarter. Hill had 17 points and 10 rebounds, filling the void left by Kellman.

“I just started playing with even more confidence,” Hill said. “It feels good to know I can step up like this, and that the team can step up, too.”

Amiel Thomas, a 6-2 junior playing his first varsity game, stepped up when his team needed it most. Longwood led 49-46 to start the fourth quarter, as North Babylon erased a 14-point halftime deficit behind the three-point shooting of freshman point guard Kevin Span.

Thomas scored all 15 of his points in the fourth quarter as Longwood pulled away at the end.

“We have the right people,” Thomas said. “I knew we would come back.”

Longwood 17201234-83

North Babylon 11122323-69

L: Kellman 2-0-4, Hill 6-5-17, Treffert 8-1-22, Bardeguez 2-3-7, Alonzo 3-3-10, Thomas 6-3-15, France 1-2-5, Palk 0-2-2, Terry 0-1-1. Totals: 28-20-83; NB: J. Washington 6-2-14, Gubitosi 1-1-3, Hubbard 5- 0-11, Span 7-0-18, Hines 4-4-12, Manzella 1-3-5, Lynch 3-0-6. Totals: 27-10-69. Three-point goals: L 7 (Treffert 5, Alonzo, France); NB 5 (Span 4, Hubbard).

Holy Trinity Holiday Classic/Jimmy V. Foundation-At Holy Trinity

Longwood 6101619-51

Holy Cross 16211816-71

L: Terry 1-0-2, Hill 6-0-12, Lominy 1-0-3, Thomas 4-1-9, Gilyard 7- 3-17, Bardequez 1-0-2, Rawlins 1-0-2, Alonzo 2-0-4. Totals: 23-4-51. HC: Fileti 3-0-7, Wallace 2-0-6, Frederic 1-0-2, Marino 11-3-25, Howell 4-2-10, Aime 3-1-7, Gonzalez 3-4-10, Ward 2-0-4. Totals: 29- 10-71. Three-point goals: L 1 (Lominy); HC 3 (Wallace 2, Fileti). Newsday, Combined editions; Long Island, N.Y. [Long Island, N.Y]. 16 Dec 2000

St. Anthony’s 68, Longwood 61: Senior point guard Justin Cole scored 23 points, including 11-for-13 from the free-throw line, to lead St. Anthony’s in a non-league game. Newsday, Combined editions; Long Island, N.Y. [Long Island, N.Y]. 23 Dec 2000: 

Longwood 80, Sachem 53: Shareefe Gilyard came off the bench to score 18 points for Longwood (2-0) in Suffolk League I. Sachem is 1-1. S: Tkaczyk 1-0-2, McEneaney 1-0-2, Howard 4-0-10, Castagna 2-0-4, Norman 0-1-1, Clay 1-0-3, Narciso 3-4-10, Messina 2-4-8, Edwards 2-0- 5, Mosby 1-2-4, Hull 2-0-4. Totals: 19-11-53. L: Kellman 1-0-2, Terry 4-0-9, Hill 4-0-8, Lominy 2-0-6, Thomas 5-3-13, Treffert 4-0-12, Gilyard 7-4-18, Bardeguez 2-1-5, Rawlins 1-0-2, Alonzo 1-3-5. Totals: 31-11-80. Three-point goals: S 4 (Howard 2, Clay, Edwards); L 7 (Treffert 4, Lominy 2, Terry). Jan. 7

Smithtown’s Comeback Kids: [SUFFOLK Edition]

Dan Hodes. STAFF WRITER. Newsday, Combined editions; Long Island, N.Y. [Long Island, N.Y]. 11 Jan 2001:

The Smithtown boys basketball team has been teasing League I opponents this season like the Road Runner dealing with Wile E. Coyote. Just when the victory seems imminent, the Bulls escape and leave their foe to wonder what might have been.

John Acerno hit four free throws in the final minute as Smithtown completed its third consecutive comeback victory, 82-79, over Longwood. Smithtown (3-0) trailed by 11 after three quarters, and has overcome double-digit second-half deficits in each of its League I contests.

“This team has done this before, and the whole team deserves credit for keeping its composure,” Smithtown coach Lou Gambeski said.

Longwood (1-1) entered the fourth quarter with a 66-55 lead, and the margin was still 10 at 75-65 midway through the quarter. Smithtown’s Ryan Keaton began the comeback with a three-pointer and a jump shot to cut the lead to five. Keaton finished with 11 points off the bench.

“Keaton has been our super sub all season long, and he was terrific tonight,” Gambeski said.

Longwood guard Heydrick Lominy’s layup with 1:32 to go made it 79- 74, but a pair of Acerno free throws was followed by a gorgeous fast break layup by Rick Pinero to pull Smithtown within one, 79-78. After a steal and two offensive rebounds, Acerno was fouled and hit both to give Smithtown its first lead since the second quarter. Then Acerno recorded another steal, hit two more free throws, and watched as a desperation three-point attempt to tie missed everything.

“We really concentrated and kept our heads down the stretch,” said Acerno, who scored 17 of his 23 points in the second half, and added 14 rebounds and four blocks.

“We just didn’t protect the basketball down the stretch, and it cost us,” Longwood coach Dennis Terry said.

The comeback ruined a brilliant shooting display by Longwood‘s Brian Treffert. The guard scored 32 points without the benefit of a single layup, and made eight three-pointers to tie the Longwood record set by Dyrell Rogers three years ago against Smithtown.

“He’s a good shooter, and he sure came up big for us tonight,” Terry said.

“It was one of the best displays of shooting I’ve ever seen,” Gambeski said.

Mike MacMillan scored 16 points for Smithtown, including a perfect 8-for-8 from the free-throw line.

LEAGUE I

Longwood 17272213-79

Smithtown 15241627-82

L: Treffert 11-2-32, Thomas 4-2-10, Lominy 3-0-8, Hill 5-0-12, Kellman 2-0-4, Alonzo 1-0-2, Gilyard 4-1-9, Bardeguez 1-0-2. Totals: 31-5-79. S: Sheridan 5-0-10, MacMillan 3-8-16, Acerno 7-9-23, Pinero 4-0-8, Wenzel 6-0-14, Keaton 4-2-11. Totals: 29-19-82. Three-point goals: L 12 (Treffert 8, Hill 2, Lominy 2); S 5 (MacMillan 2, Wenzel 2, Keaton).

Longwood 9162010-55

Patch-Med 981812-47

Longwood 55, Patchogue-Medford 47: Shareefe Gilyard scored 14 of Longwood‘s 16 second-quarter points and finished with a team-high 22. Heydrick Lominy added eight of his 10 points in the third quarter for Longwood (2-1). Corriche Gaskin led all scorers with 23 points for Patchogue-Medford (0-4). L: Kellman 1-0-2, Hill 3-1-9, Lominy 3-3-10, Thomas 1-1-3, Gilyard 9-3-22, Alonzo 4-1-9. Totals: 21-9-55. P: Hahn 1-0-2, Gaskin 7-4-23, Funaro 1-1-3, Felice 0-2-2, McKail 4-5-13, Donnegain 2-0-4. Totals 15- 12-47. Three-point goals: L 4 (Hill 2, Lominy, Gilyard); P 5 (Gaskin 5). Jan. 13

Long Island Lutheran 20221819–79

Longwood 15202112–68

LIL: Pursoo 5-4-15, Goodman 1-5-8, McBrown 0-1-1, Corbin 1-0-2, Entenmann 2-0-6, Onoura 6-6-18, Wilson 1-4-6, Erege 5-6-18, Gambino 1- 3-5. Totals: 22-29-79. Lo: Kellman 2-1-5, Hill 0-1-1, Lominy 2-0-6, Thomas 1-0-2, Treffert 7-5-26, Gilyard 4-5-14, Bardequez 2-1-5, Polk 3-1-8, Alozo 0-1-1. Totals: 22-15-68. Three-point goals: LIL 6 (Entenmann 2, Erege 2, Goodman, Pursoo); L 11 (Treffert 7, Lominy 2, Gilyard, Polk). Jan. 15.

Floyd 10142219414-83

Longwood 102382443-72

Floyd 83, Longwood 72: Marcele Street and Ryan Hodgson each had five points as Floyd outscored Longwood 14-3 in the second overtime. Street made 1 of 2 free throws with six seconds left in regulation to tie the score at 65 and force overtime. Street finished with 26 points and 11 rebounds and Hodgson 24 points for Floyd (3-1). Amiel Thomas led Longwood (2-2) with 18 points. F: Hodgson 8-5-24, Spinks 0-1-1, Curtin 3-5-11, Kolkmeyer 4-1-9, Street 11-3-26, Raysor 3-0-6, Wunsch 1-4-6. Totals: 30-19-83. L: Kellman 0-7-7, Hill 5-0-11, Thomas 8-2-18, Treffert 6-1-17, Gilyard 4- 5-13, Rawlins 2-0-4, ALonzo 1-0-2. Totals: 26-15-72. Three-point goals F 4 (Hodgson 3, Street); L 5 (Treffert 4, Hill). Jan. 17

THIS WEEK / A Look at the Top Games and Players: [NASSAU AND SUFFOLK Edition]

REPORTED BY DEIRDRE BURNS. Newsday, Combined editions; Long Island, N.Y. [Long Island, N.Y]. 16 Jan 2001

Brentwood at Longwood (Friday, 7 p.m.): Could this League I slugfest be a preview of the Suffolk Class A final? Brentwood has size up front, led by Michael Session. Longwood has guards who love to run, paced by Mark Hill. Buckle your seat belts.

Brentwood 11171316-57

Longwood 11131020-54

Brentwood 57, Longwood 54: Chris Johnson hit two free throws with 25 seconds left for Brentwood in a League I game. Johnson finished with 11 points. Shareefe Gilyard hit a three-pointer with 45 seconds left to get Longwood (2-3) within 55-54. Michael Session had 16 points and 13 rebounds for Brentwood (4-1).B: Session 7-2-16, C. Johnson 4-2-13, Martinez 2-2-6, Gardine 1-1- 3, R. Hall 5-0-11, Forth 1-2-4, Efekoro 1-2-4. Totals: 21-11-57; L: Hill 5-2-12, Lominy 3-2-10, Thomas 2-0-4, Treffert 3-0-7, Gilyard 3- 2-9, Bardequez 2-0-4, Polk 2-0-4, Alonzo 2-0-4. Totals: 22-6-54. Three-point goals: B 4 (C. Johnson 3, R. Hall); L 4 (Lominy 2, Treffert, Gilyard). Jan. 20

Longwood 1821179-65

Ward Melville 782210-47

L: Kellman 2-1-5, Terry 1-0-2, Hill 2-0-4, Thomas 4-5-13, Treffert 3-0-8, Gilyard 3-6-14, Bardetuez 2-2-6, Rawlins 2-0-4, Polk 2-1-5, Alonzo 2-0-4. Totals: 26-9-65. WM: Barrett 1-0-2, Toscanno 7-1-15, Loveland 1-8-11, Johnson 4-0-9, Delgado 1-0-2, Daum 3-0-6, Irizarry 1- 0-2. Totals: 18-9-47. Three-point goals: L 4 (Treffert 2, Gilyard 2); WM 2 (Loveland, Johnson). Jan. 25

Wyandanch Classic

Central Islip 171810179-71

Longwood 131319177-69

CI: Haslip 1-0-2, D. Bamiro 8-2-18, Pope 4-6-14, Augustin 3-0-7, Crichlow 4-3-12, Dormer 2-0-4, Fulton 1-0-2, S. Bamiro 1-1-3, West 0- 1-1, Johnson 2-4-8. Totals: 26-17-71. L: Hill 3-4-11, Heydrick 4-0- 12, Thomas 3-0-6, Treffert 6-0-14, Gilyard 6-3-16, Blok 0-2-2, Alonzo 2-0-6. Totals: 25-9-69. Three-point goals: CI 2 (Augustin, Crichlow); L 10 (Heydrick 4, Treffert 2, Alonzo 2, Gilyard, Hill). Jan 21

Longwood 15 15 10 17- 57

Sachem 16 8 11 17- 52

L: Kellman 2-2-6, Hill 2-2-7, Lominy 2-3-8, Thomas 3-2-8, Treffert 1-1-4, Gilyard 6-1-13, Bardeguez 2-1-5, Polk 2-0-4, Alonzo 0-2-2. Totals: 20-14-57. S: Hall 6-4-16, Valentin 0-4-4, Howard 3-5-11, Messina 4-1-9, Mosby 4-4-12. Total: 17-18-52. Three-point goals: L 3 (Hill, Lominy, Treffert). Newsday, Combined editions; Long Island, N.Y. [Long Island, N.Y]. 31 Jan 2001

Smithtown 616812-42

Longwood 1091713-49

Mike MacMillan hit two consecutive three-pointers to cut Longwood‘s lead to 42-40 with four minutes left, but Heydrick Lominy answered with a three-pointer to put Longwood up five points. Amile Thomas came off the bench to score a career-high 23 points and add 10 rebounds for Longwood (5-3). Smithtown is 6-3.S: Acerno 4-0-8, Esposito 2-0-4, Keaton 1-1-4, MacMillan 2-2-8, Pinero 1-0-2, Sheridan 4-2-10, Wenzel 3-0-6. Totals: 17-5-42. L: Kellman 0-1-1, Lominy 2-0-6, Thomas 10-3-23, Treffert 1-0-3, Gillyard 2-3-8, Bardeguez 1-0-2, Polk 1-0-2, ALonzo 2-0-4. totals: 19-7-49. Three-point goals: S 3 (MacMillan 2, Keaton); L 4 (Lominy 2, Gillyard, Treffert). Feb. 3

Longwood 74, Patchogue-Medford 61: Freshman Clarence Alonzo had nine points and seven assists to lead Longwood (6-3). Amiel Thomas (16 points) scored 10 of Longwood‘s 19 third-quarter points. Corriche Gaskin led Patchogue-Medford (2-8) with 17. PM: Hahn 1-0-2, Gaskin 6-3-17, Felice 3-0-6, McKail 7-2-16, Donnegain 2-3-7, Ihne 1-0-2, Stanton 3-0-7, George 2-0-4. Totals: 25- 8-61. L: Kellman 1-5-7, Terry 2-0-5, Hill 1-0-2, Lominy 1-0-3, Thomas 7-2-16, France 0-5-5, Treffert 3-0-9, Gilyard 6-1-14, Rawlins 1-0-2, Polk 1-0-2, Alonzo 3-2-9. Totals: 26-15-74. Three-point goals: PM 3 (Gaskin 2, Stanton); L 7 (Treffert 3, Terry, Lominy, Gilyard, Alonzo). Newsday, Combined editions; Long Island, N.Y. [Long Island, N.Y]. 07 Feb 2001:

Longwood 16111117-55

Floyd 119914-43

Longwood 55, Floyd 43: Shareefe Gilyard had 16 points and 10 rebounds and Brian Treffert had 17 points and five assists to lead Longwood (7-3). Marcel Street scored 13 points for Floyd (5-5).L: Kellman 1-0-2, Hill 1-0-2, Thomas 4-1-9, Treffert 6-3-17, Gilyard 7-2-16, Bardeguez 1-0-2, Rawlins 2-1-5, Alonzo 1-0-2. Totals: 23-7-55. F: Hodgson 4-1-11, Curtin 0-2-2, Street 5-2-13, Kolkmeyer 0- 2-2, Nichols 2-0-4, Makofsky 3-2-9, Beckham 0-2-2. Totals: 14-11-43. Three-point goals: L 2 (Treffert); F 4 (Hodgson 2, Street, Makofsky). Newsday, Combined editions; Long Island, N.Y. [Long Island, N.Y]. 10 Feb 2001

Hill’s Free Throws Seal Longwood Win: [SUFFOLK Edition]

Newsday, Combined editions; Long Island, N.Y. [Long Island, N.Y]. 14 Feb 2001

Mark Hill scored 14 of his 16 points in a 23-13 fourth quarter as Longwood defeated Brentwood, 70-59, in League I boys basketball last night. Hillhit eight consecutive free throws to close the game. Amiel Thomas led Longwood (8-3) with 19 points and 10 rebounds. Donovan Forth had 13 points for Brentwood (9-2).

Longwood 16161523-70

Brentwood 17101913-59

L: Kellman 2-1-5, Hill 3-9-16, Thomas 7-5-19, Treffert 5-0-13, Gilyard 5-2-12, Bargeguez 1-0-2, Alonzo 1-1-3. Totals: 24-18-70. B: Session 5-1-11, Johnson 3-0-8, Martinez 5-0-12, Gardine 3-2-8, Hall 3- 1-7, Forth 4-5-13. Totals: 23-9-59. Three-point goals:L 4 (Treffert 3, Hill); B 4 (Johnson 2, martinez 20.

Ward Melville 1261315-46

Longwood 13131818-62

Mark Hill scored 16 points as Longwood (9-3) won its seventh straight league game. Ward Melville is 2-10.WM: Barrett 7-1-16, Johnson 3-0-6, Delgado 4-0-8, Aliperti 2-0-6, Aweh 1-0-2, Daum 3-0-6, Lortie 1-0-2. Totals: 21-1-46; L: Kellman 2- 1-5, Terry 1-0-3, Hill 8-0-16, Lominy 3-1-10, Thomas 4-0-8, Treffert 3-0-8, Gilyard 3-1-7, Bardeguez 1-1-3, Rawlins 1-0-2. Totals: 26-4- 62. Three-point goals: WM 3 (Aliperti 2, Barrett); L 6 (Lominy 3, Treffert 2, Terry). Feb. 16

Connetquot 1620817-61

Longwood 16191716-68

C: Wakefield 0-1-1, Santiago 7-5-20, Paino 5-3-13, Zydor 6-5-17, Nadeau 3-0-6, Vicale 1-0-2, O’Leary 1-0-2. Totals: 23-14-61. L: Kellman 1-6-8, Hill 4-2-10, Lominy 6-0-17, Thomas 4-3-11, Treffert 4- 2-11, Gilyard 2-0-5, Bardeguez 3-0-6. Totals: 24-13-68. Three-point goals: C 1 (Santiago); L 7 (Lominy 5, Treffert, Gilyard). Newsday, Combined editions; Long Island, N.Y. [Long Island, N.Y]. 22 Feb 2001:

Northport 51, Longwood 48: Adam Cirnigliaro’s three-pointer with nine seconds left in overtime led No.3 Northport in a Class A quarterfinal. Northport’s Chris Phillips tied the score at 42 on a jumper with 1:23 left in regulation. Brian Sisti had 18 points, 18 rebounds and 6 blocks for Northport (15-5). Sixth-seed Longwood is 12- 8. L: Hill 1-0-2, Lominy 1-0-3, Thomas 3-5-11, Treffert 5-0-12, Gilyard 8-0-18, Rawlins 1-0-2.Totals: 19-5-48. N: Dunne 1-0-2, Cirnigliaro 5-0-14, Phillips 5-2-14, Filippone 1-0-3, Sisti 5-8-18. Totals: 17-10-51. Three-point goals:L 5 ( Trefford 2, Gilyard 2, Lominy); N 7 (Cirnigliaro 4, Phillips 2, Fillipone). Newsday, Combined editions; Long Island, N.Y. [Long Island, N.Y]. 24 Feb 2001: