Bay Shore 80, Longwood 68: Bryant Lassiter scored 25 points and had 5 three-pointers, 7 assists and 2 steals for Bay Shore. Keith Hinnant had 21 points, 5 assists and 4 steals. Mike Kelly (22 points) hit seven three-pointers for Longwood. Newsday, Combined editions; Long Island, N.Y. [Long Island, N.Y]. 13 Dec 2003:
| Longwood 1771522- 61 |
| AH Plantation (Fla.) 14121733- 76 |
L: Alonzo 9-3-21, Kelly 2-0-5, Mortley 4-4-14, Polk 6-3-15, Toussaint 3-0-6, Totals 24-10-61; AHP: Davis 2-0-4, Henkin 3-0-7, Miller 9-4-22, Buzzard 7-8-22, Mandic 2-3-7, Stanky 5-2-12, Totals 28-19-76. Three-pointers: L 3 (Mortley 2, Kelly); AHP 1 (Henkin). Dec. 20, 2003
Jackson County (Ky.) 82, Longwood 78: Clarence Alonzo had 36 points, 8 assists, 7 rebounds and 3 steals for Longwood in The Rock Tournament at North Broward Prep in Coconut Creek, Fla. JC: Gabbard 8-7-24, Gray 1-3-6, McCowan 5-1-12, Truett 1-2-5, Rader 2-1-5, Elliot 6-4-16, Chrismas 7-0-14. Totals: 30-18-82. L: Alonzo 13-7-36, Elting 3-0-9, Johnson 3-0-6, Kelly 4-0-11, Mortley 1- 0-2, Polk 7-0-14. Total: 31-7-78. Three-pointers: JC 4 (Gabbard, Gray, McCowan, Truett); L 9 (Alonzo 3, Elting 3, Kelly 3). Dec. 21
| Longwood 23262110-80 |
| Monarch (Fla.) 1513108-46 |
L: Alonzo 12-4-28, Buscetta 1-0-2, Elting 2-0-4, Johnson 4-2-10, Polk 11-2-24, Rawlins 2-0-4, Toussaint 0-1-1, Warner 1-0-2, Wilson 2- 1-5. Totals: 35-10-80. M: Meslien 6-0-12, Riggio 1-0-2, Vickers 1-0- 2, Shapiro 2-1-5, Vixamar 1-0-2, Mattadern 2-2-7, Gelin 3-0-6, Seid 4-1-10. Totals: 20-4-46. Three-pointers: M 2 (Mattadern, Seid). Dec. 24
| Longwood 15122123- 71 |
| East Hampton 10141023- 57 |
L: Alonzo 9-2-22, Elting 1-0-3, Johnson 5-2-12, Kelly 3-1-8, Mortley 0-5-5, Polk 4-2-9, Rawlins 1-1-4, Toussaint 4-0-8. Totals: 27-12-71. EH: Annacone 6-2-15, Russell 6-0-12, Williams 3-0-7, Rubenstein 7-0-16, Merciniak 3-0-7. Totals: 25-2-57. Three- pointers: L 5 (Alonzo 2, Eltings, Kelly, Rawlins); EH 5 (Rubenstein 2, Marciniak, Williams, Annacone). Dec. 31
Longwood 64, Patchogue-Medford 48: Clarence Alonzo scored eight of his 19 points in Longwood‘s 23-7 first quarter. L: Alonzo 8-2-19, Johnson 4-0-9, Kelly 4-0-11, Mortley 1-4-6, Polk 8-1-19. Totals: 25-7-64. PM: Lopez 4-6-16, Booth 1-0-2, Meyer 2- 1-5, Bianco 3-0-6, Toney 0-1-1, Zollo 2-0-4, W. Young 1-2-4, Larkin 3-0-8, Casimir 0-1-1, J. Young 0-1-1. Totals: 16-12-48.Three- pointers: L 7 (Kelly 3, Polk 2, Alonzo, Johnson); PM 4 (Lopez 2, Larkin 2). Jan.4
Driven Alonzo Carries Longwood to Victory: [SUFFOLK Edition]
Jason Molinet. STAFF WRITER. Newsday, Combined editions; Long Island, N.Y. [Long Island, N.Y]. 07 Jan 2004:
Clarence Alonzo has a reputation to uphold and expectations he can’t shake as easily as an opposing guard. When you are the younger brother of Vernon Alonzo, one of the key figures in the Longwood boys basketball team’s run to the 2000 Class A state public schools championship game, carrying the same name onto the court is no easy thing.
This is Clarence Alonzo‘s senior season, his fourth and final year of varsity ball. He has just one more opportunity to even the score with his brother, now a sophomore guard for Suffolk CC-Selden – the defending NJCAA champ. He is reminded of the expectations all too often with a quick flash of Vernon’s high school ring. Longwood coach Dennis Terry had the eye-catching piece of jewelry made in honor of the first Suffolk and Long Island championship in school history.
The playoffs are still a long way off, but Clarence Alonzo was in championship form last night. The 6-foot guard lit up previously unbeaten Floyd for 27 points, 10 rebounds, 7 assists and 4 steals. For all the gaudy statistics, it was Alonzo‘s leadership and poise that powered Longwood‘s 80-67 victory over rival Floyd in a Suffolk I game before a crowd of 750 at Longwood.
Once Alonzo emerged from the postgame locker room, a mini DVD player in hand, he spoke of how every game has added meaning now that the end of his high school career is in view. “It’s going to feel empty if I don’t have that championship,” he admitted. “Everybody has me in my brother’s footsteps. I’ve got to follow them.”
For Suffolk basketball aficionados, the matchup between Floyd and Longwood carried a familiar feel. Not only was another Alonzo on the floor, but the youngest of four Hodgson brothers suited up for Floyd.
Senior Ryan Hodgson, a 6-3 guard who will play at Army next year, countered Alonzo with 30 points and 10-for- 18 shooting from the field.
After Longwood (4-3, 2-0) finished off the first half with a 15- 4 spurt to turn a deficit into a 38-31 halftime lead, Hodgson had 16 points in the third quarter to keep the Colonials (6-1, 1-1) within striking distance. His hot hand and clutch foul shooting (9-for-10 from the line) wasn’t enough. His short jumper to open the fourth quarter cut the Lions’ lead to 61-54.
Longwood showed versatility. It came in the form of a Herry Elting three-pointer followed by a Marlon Rawlins transition bucket, two players who came off the bench. Once Wes Hamilton converted 1 of 2 free throws for Floyd, Jordell Mortley drilled a 10-footer to give the Lions a 68-55 edge with 4:25 left. Mortley and Stephen Polk each finished with 16 points.
“The one thing I asked Clarence to do this year is make the players around him better,” Terry said. “So even when he’s not scoring, he’s in the middle of things.”
Even though Longwood converted just 6 of 13 foul shots from there, it was enough to keep Floyd at arm’s length. Alex DeKenipp had 18 points and five boards for Floyd.
For all its success in December, one loss leaves Floyd in a tough spot.
“We have eight playoff teams in our league,” Floyd coach Bob Hodgson said. “Unfortunately, not all eight will make it.”
| LONGWOOD 80 |
| FLOYD 67 |
| Longwood 21181226-77 |
| Lindenhurst 25132024-82 |
Chris Lynch (15 points) made a three- pointer with 2:16 left to break a tie at 72 and give Lindy (2-1 League I) a lead it would not relinquish. Chris Green scored 11 of his 27 points in the fourth quarter. Green went 5-for-9, and Adam Parzych was 4-for-5 from three-point range. Parzych had 20 points. Clarence Alonzo scored 10 of his 30 points in the fourth quarter for Longwood (2-1).Lo: Mortley 4-0-9, Rawlings 0-3-3, Kelly 2-0-6, Johnson 4-0-8, Elting 4-0-11, Alonzo 12-6-30, Polk 5-0-10. Totals: 31-9-77. Li: Green 10-2-27, Lynch 5-2-15, Mazzapelle 4-1-9, Wharry 4-1-9, Peragine 1-0-2, Parzych 8-0-20. Totals: 32-6-82. Three-pointers: Lo 6 (Elting 3, Kelly 2, Murtley); Li 12 (Green 5, Parzych 4, Lynch 3). Jan. 10
THIS WEEK: A Look at the Top Games and Players: [NASSAU AND SUFFOLK Edition]
Compiled by the Staff. Newsday, Combined editions; Long Island, N.Y. [Long Island, N.Y]. 12 Jan 2004:
Longwood at Brentwood (Thursday, 6 p.m.): Every game in League I is meaningful, but the race for the title has three early leaders: Longwood, Brentwood and Lindenhurst. Longwood (2-1) has guard Clarence Alonzo, but does it have anyone to contain 6-8 John Garcia of Brentwood (3-0)?
Smithtown 85, Longwood 79: Drew Desmarais had 22 points and seven rebounds for Smithtown (1-3 Suffolk League I). Clarence Alonzo had 20 points, and Horace Johnson and Mike Kelly 18 each for Longwood (2- 2). Newsday, Combined editions; Long Island, N.Y. [Long Island, N.Y]. 15 Jan 2004
Longwood Upsets Brentwood: [SUFFOLK Edition]
Newsday, Combined editions; Long Island, N.Y. [Long Island, N.Y]. 17 Jan 2004:
Longwood was on the road and trailing by 12 at the half against undefeated Brentwood, but the Lions got back in the game with a big third quarter and then got two key layups from Jordell Mortley in the fourth quarter to hand Brentwood its first loss of the season, 56-54, Friday in Suffolk League I.
Longwood (5-6, 3-2) trailed 35-23 at the half and did not take its first lead until the final quarter when Mortley’s fast-break basket made it 49-48 with five minutes remaining.
Longwood was down 54-53 with 1:30 left when Stephen Polk stole the ball and passed to Mike Kelly, who found Mortley for another layup that put Longwood up for good. Clarence Alonzo added a foul shot with 1:10 left and a last-second attempt by Brentwood (9-1, 4- 1) bounced off the rim.
Alonzo finished with 22 points, 11 rebounds and 6 steals, Polk added 12 points and 11 rebounds and Mortley scored 13. Randy Baptiste (18) and John Ludemann totaled 34 points for Brentwood.
“This is a big win to get us back on track,” Longwood coach Dennis Terry said. “Its also a big win because they were undefeated.”
Longwood allowed only two field goals in the fourth quarter.
“The kids decided to play defense,” Terry said. “We’ve been giving up too many points and they decided to play defense and that was the difference.”
Longwood 62, Sachem 57: Jordell Mortley scored seven of his 18 points in the fourth quarter for Longwood (4-2). Sachem is 2-3. Jan. 18
| Ward Melville 11141716-58 |
| Longwood 9171823-67 |
Jordell Mortley went 6-for-6 from the free- throw line in the final two minutes for Longwood (5-2). Clarence Alonzo scored 24 points. Matt Bernholc’s 19 points led Ward Melville (3-3).WM: Bernholc 8-0-19, Green 3-0-6, Dineen 3-2-8, Margolin 3-2-9, Mayr 0-2-2, Scantlebury 3-1-7, Manning 3-1-7. Totals: 23-8-58. L: Alonzo 10-4-24, Elting 2-0-5, Kelly 1-0-2, Mortley 5-6-17, Polk 6-2- 14, Toussaint 2-1-5. Totals: 26-13-67. Three-pointers: WM4 (Bernholc 3, Margolin); L 2 (Elting, Mortley). Jan. 21
Longwood 57, Patchogue 45: Clarence Alonzo and Horace Johnson each scored 15 points for Longwood (6-2). Jose Lopez’s 14 points led PM (2-6). Jan. 24
Longwood 76, Floyd 73: Mike Kelly hit a three-pointer with 1:50 left to give Longwood (7-2) its first lead at 67-66. After a miss by Floyd (2-7), Kelly hit another three to make it 70-66. Horace Johnson added 14 points and 10 rebounds. Newsday, Combined editions; Long Island, N.Y. [Long Island, N.Y]. 30 Jan 2004
| Lindenhurst 9132118- 61 |
| Longwood 20182521- 84 |
Li: Green 5-0-12, McGowan 5-0-12, Johnson 0-1-1, Salvaggio 1-0- 2, Lynch 3-0-6, Mazzapelle 3-0-6, Wharry 1-0-2, Gawrys 1-0-2, Periagine 1-0-2, Allers 1-0-2, Parzych 4-5-14. Totals: 25-6-61. Lo: Alonzo 7-4-18, Johnson 3-3-9, Kelly 2-0-5, Mortley 9-1-21, Polk 11- 0-22, Toussaint 3-1-7, Wilson 0-2-2. Totals: 35-11-84. Three- pointers: Li 5 (Green 2, McGowan 2, Parzych); Lo 3 (Mortley 2, Kelly). Feb. 3
| Longwood 23151618- 72 |
| Smithtown 13171816- 64 |
Senior Clarence Alonzo (26 points, 13 rebounds) surpassed the 1,000-point plateau. He has 1,010 for Longwood (9-2). Smithtown is 3-8.L: Alonzo 10-6-26, Johnson 3-1-7, Kelly 2-0-5, Mortley 4-4-13, Polk 7-4-18, Toussaint 1-1-3. Totals: 27-16-72. S: Bontempo 4-7-15, Desmirais 10-6-26, Gambeski 3-0-7, Saggese 1-0-2, Urbancik 5-4-14. Totals: 23-17-64. Three-pointers: L 2 (Kelly, Mortley); S1 (Gambeski). Feb. 4
| Brentwood 16261718-77 |
| Longwood 1791722-65 |
B: Garcia 15-2-32, Ludemann 8-0-17, Vivican 4-4-12, Jean- Baptiste 2-0-4, Garfield 1-4-6, Lubin 3-0-6. Totals: 33-10-77. L: Alonzo 7-0-16, Kelly 3-0-9, Polk 7-0-14, Mortley 5-5-15, Johnson 3- 1-8, Elting 1-0-3. Totals: 26-6-65. Three-pointers: B 1 (Ludemann); L 7 (Kelly 3, Alonzo 2, Johnson, Elting). Feb. 7
Brentwood Avenges Lone Loss: [NASSAU AND SUFFOLK Edition]
Jason Molinet. STAFF WRITER. Newsday, Combined editions; Long Island, N.Y. [Long Island, N.Y]. 07 Feb 2004:
Brentwood cheerleaders stood in the hallway separating the gym floor from the locker room Friday, yelping as each weary boys basketball player cruised by on the way to the postgame huddle. This was more than a regular- season victory. It was the next step.
Johnny Garcia certainly understood the gravity of the moment. The gifted 6-8, 230-pound junior dominated the low post against nemesis Longwood. With Hofstra coach Tom Pecora – along with a rowdy crowd of 1,800 – watching the center’s every forceful move, Garcia scored a career-high 32 points, grabbed 14 rebounds and blocked 9 shots to power Brentwood to a 77-65 road win.
Brentwood (16-1, 11-1) not only avenged its lone loss of the season but clinched a share of the Suffolk League I title with two games remaining. The Indians did it by winning in the Longwood gym for the first time in three tries for Garcia and senior guard John Ludemann.
“We made a big statement,” said Ludemann, who finished with 17 points and 11 assists. “This is the first time we’ve beaten [Longwood] here.”
Longwood (11-6, 9-3) stunned the Indians, 56-54, in the first meeting Jan. 16. The Lions rallied from a halftime deficit and took advantage of the fact Garcia didn’t play. He sat out the game for disciplinary reasons, coach Anthony Jimenez said. That fact gnawed at Garcia in the three weeks that followed.
“I felt like I cost my team that game,” Garcia said. “We probably would have won if I played.”
Even with Garcia in the lineup Friday, Longwood forced seven turnovers in the opening quarter and led 17-16. Senior co-captains Clarence Alonzo (16 points, 8 rebounds, 3 steals) and Mike Kelly (nine points) each hit a three- pointer to stagger Brentwood.
Then came 14 straight points from the Indians, who took command at 30-17. Garcia converted a pair of offensive rebounds into points during the run and turned a blocked shot into an outlet pass that Ludemann finished at the opposite end.
The Lions chipped away at the deficit, which grew to 18 at one point. Steven Polk scored the last of his 14 points on a drive with a little more than a minute left, cutting Brentwood’s lead to 71- 62. That was the final roar for the Lions. All Longwood coach Dennis Terry could do was marvel.
“He’s got all the pieces,” Terry said of his counterpart. “I can’t see them losing their next two games.”
Longwood 70, Ward Melville 57: Horace Johnson had 24 points and nine rebounds for Longwood (11-3), which used a 16-4 second quarter to lead 30-20. Ward Melville is 5-9. Newsday, Combined editions; Long Island, N.Y. [Long Island, N.Y].
| Sachem 1413715-49 |
| Longwood 12142417-67 |
S: Scalia 2-1-6, Hennessy 3-0-6, Drasba 1-0-2, Stayne 1-0-2, Maccaron 1-1-4, Gallagher 0-1-1, Clay 6-0-14, Flatley 1-0-2, Rivera 2-2-6, Neubauer 1-0-2, Reis 1-0-2, Martinson 1-0-2. Totals: 20-5- 49. L: Alonzo 5-4-14, Buscetta 0-2-2, Johnson 4-1-9, Kelly 3-0-8, Polk 5-1-11, Rawlins 1-0-2, Toussaint 9-1-21. Totals: 27-9-67. Three- pointers: S 4 (Clay 2, Scalia, Maccaron); L 4 (Kelly 2, Toussaint 2). Feb. 1
| Longwood 14162020-70 |
| Ward Melville 1641720-57 |
Horace Johnson had 24 points and nine rebounds for Longwood (11-3), which used a 16-4 second quarter to lead 30-20. Ward Melville is 5-9. L: Alonzo 3-8-15, Buscetta 0-1-1, Elting 2-0-5, Johnson 9-4-24, Kelly 2-0-4, Polk 3-3-9, Rawlins 1-0-2, Toussaint 3-4-10. Totals: 23- 20-70. WM: Bernholc 1-0-2, Green 0-1-1, Brous 2-0-5, Dineen 1-0-2, Margolin 6-1-14, Bozzo 2-1-6, Mayr 1-1-3, Scantlebury 5-4-14, Miceli 1-0-2, Murray 1-0-2, Manning 3-0-6. Totals: 23-8-57. Three- pointers: L 4 (Johnson 2, Alonzo, Elting); WM 3 (Bozzo, Brous, Margolin). Feb. 12
Brentwood Is Confident: [SUFFOLK Edition]
Jason Molinet. STAFF WRITER. Newsday, Combined editions; Long Island, N.Y. [Long Island, N.Y]. 14 Feb 2004:
Brentwood straddles the Suffolk Class AA boys basketball playoffs like a pro wrestler, confident in knowing how the ensuing fight is going to end. The top-seeded Indians are such an irresistible force, only Longwood felled them during the regular season. And it happened to be the game 6-8 forward Johnny Garcia sat out. Garcia (16 ppg), a dominant low-post player as a junior, adds another dimension.
The only way Brentwood (18-1) falters is if it implodes, an unlikely scenario considering Garcia and guard John Ludemann are three-year veterans.
There are plenty of teams willing to try. League I mates Longwood and Lindenhurst are the surest bets. One of them will draw Brentwood in the semis. No. 4 Longwood (14-5) features guard Clarence Alonzo (22 ppg), while No. 5 Lindenhurst (15-4) has shooter Adam Parzych (18 ppg).
Mortley lifts Longwood / Senior guard burns Lindenhurst with a big second half that puts his team into final against Brentwood: [SUFFOLK Edition]
JOE FERNANDEZ. STAFF WRITER. Newsday, 25 Feb 2004
The only chance the Lindenhurst guards had to breathe last night was when Longwood’s Jordell Mortley was out taking a breather.
The Longwood guard haunted the Bulldogs’ backcourt all night, getting 10 points and seven steals in a 63-57 victory in a Suffolk Class AA boys basketball quarterfinal. Host No. 4 Longwood (14-6) will play No. 1 Brentwood in the final at 8 p.m. Saturday at Stony Brook University.
With the score tied at 27 after the first half, No. 5 Lindenhurst (15-5) began the third quarter scoring two quick baskets and earning its largest lead of the night at 31-27. Mortley then took control.
He drove from the left wing and converted a layup 1:15 into the quarter. He then stole the ball from Lindenhurst guard Chris Green and banked in another layup.
Mortley wasn’t finished. The senior guard tipped away a crosscourt pass and hit Stephen Polk in stride for the easy deuce, giving Longwood a 33-31 lead.
“I was playing a little lackadaisical,” Mortley said of his first- quarter play. “I came out the second half playing hard.”
The Lions owned the last 4:36 of the third quarter, going on a 21- 4 run, led by Clarence Alonzo’s nine points and two assists. Alonzo finished with 19 points and eight assists.
“Jordell [Mortley] and Clarence have run the court well for us this season,” Longwood coach Dennis Terry said.
Lindenhurst clawed back midway through the fourth quarter. Adam Parzych scored seven of his 19 points during a 14-2 run for the Bulldogs.
“We went man-to-man and had a chance to take the lead,” Lindenhurst coach John Albano said of his fourth-quarter strategy: “We’re a man team.”
The run, which cut Lindenhurst’s deficit to 56-54, was thwarted by a Polk putback with 2:12 to go. Polk finished strong, scoring 12 of his 15 points in the second half, and adding seven rebounds.
Lindenhurst had its second- largest lead of the night midway through the second quarter. The Bulldogs went on a 14-5 run, led by Parzych and forward Chris Lynch.
Lynch was 4-for-7 from three-point range with 15 points. Parzych scored six unanswered points and eight during the run giving Lindenhurst a 25-22 lead.
“All these AA teams are good teams,” Terry said. “All of these playoff games are going to be tough games.”
SUFFOLK CLASS AA
semifinal
LONGWOOD 63
LINDENHURST 57
Lions back in final: Longwood upsets top-seeded Brentwood again to get back to Suffolk title game for third time since 2000: [NASSAU AND SUFFOLK Edition]
JASON MOLINET. STAFF WRITER. Newsday, Combined editions; Long Island, N.Y. [Long Island, N.Y]. 01 Mar 2004
With the crowd of 2,200 on its feet at the Stony Brook University Indoor Sports Complex late Saturday, the Brentwood boys basketball team found its season encapsulated into 20.2 seconds.
Pressure like that has a way of transforming contenders into something more. Top-seeded Brentwood has been a contender the last two years. This was Brentwood‘s moment to take the next step. Unfortunately for the Indians, Suffolk League I rival Longwood contested every inch of the way.
By the time senior Randy Jean-Baptiste drove to the basket and put up his shot, there was little time to react. Gifted 6-8 junior Johnny Garcia tried to redirect the miss. But he too failed to connect.
Longwood guard Clarence Alonzo swooped in to steal the rebound and charge away from the crowd as the final horn sounded. If the finish was stunning, then the final score was equally shocking. Not only had No. 4 Longwood denied Brentwood the final bucket, it emerged with a 51-49 win in a Suffolk Class AA semifinal.
“You might have thought we won the championship,” an elated Dennis Terry said of the postgame euphoria.
The Longwood coach knows there’s even more significant games ahead. His team has reached the semifinals four times in the last five seasons. This is the Lions’ third trip to the title game since winning the Class A Long Island championship in 2000.
“I told the kids, ‘You can’t be happy just being here,'” Terry said. “We were in the same situation last year. We bumped off Sachem in the semis.”
Longwood has pulled off the upset before. The No.6 Lions beat No. 2 Sachem a year ago before falling to Whitman in the final. Longwood also stunned Brentwood, 56-54, on Jan. 16, the first of two regular- season meetings. Those are the lone losses for Brentwood (19-2), by four total points.
“We’re a championship team as people,” Brentwood coach Anthony Jimenez said. “We’ve got to give credit where credit is due: Longwood played well.”
Now Longwood (16-5) plays No. 2 Bay Shore for the title at 8 p.m. tomorrow at Stony Brook. Nassau champ Uniondale awaits the winner for the right to go to the state Final Four March 12 at SUNY-Old Westbury.
How close was this one? Neither side led by more than five points. The difference for Brentwood was second-half foul trouble. Garcia, who had 16 points and 10 rebounds, picked up his fourth foul with 2:53 left. Jimenez sat his post player for the next 43 seconds until the Indians, trailing 49-47, committed a crucial turnover with 2:10 left.
The teams traded baskets in the final 1:41, but at that point, Longwood was in ball-control mode. With the help of senior point guard Jordell Mortley, the Lions milked a minute off the clock after Garcia scored to make it 51-49 with 1:26 to go.
“It’s about management of the clock,” said Mortley, who had 11 points, 10 rebounds and 6 assists. “It’s just play smart at the end and play smart with the ball.”
SUFFOLK CLASS AA
SEMIFinal
| LONGWOOD 51 |
| BRENTWOOD 49 |
Lassiter steals the show: Crucial play lifts streaking Bay Shore to Suffolk Class AA championship and date with Amityville: [NASSAU AND SUFFOLK Edition]
JASON MOLINET. STAFF WRITER. Newsday, Combined editions; Long Island, N.Y. [Long Island, N.Y]. 03 Mar 2004:
Bryant Lassiter couldn’t even dribble a basketball the last time the Bay Shore boys basketball team won a county championship. That was the Suffolk Class A title in 1993 and Lassiter was just 5, two years away from becoming a regular on the playgrounds.
Bay Shore has been perhaps Suffolk’s best program not to win it all over the last six seasons. A pair of runner-up plaques to go with a stack full of wins might sound impressive. But for a program that’s won 12 county championships, including the first in 1922, more is expected.
Especially considering coach Ken Parham, 35, was a former Marauder himself.
“I’m looking in the stands and seeing players I played with and people I went to school with,” Parham said. “To win would be like giving something back to the community.” Another opportunity appeared to be just beyond the grasp of Parham.
That’s when Lassiter stuck out an arm and stole the ball. The junior guard raced the final 35 feet for an easy layup. It wasn’t the game winner in No. 2 Bay Shore’s 62-56 victory over No. 4 Longwood last night before a crowd of 2,000 at Stony Brook University. Yet no basket loomed larger. Lassiter’s steal and bucket gave Bay Shore the lead with 1:53 left and enough momentum to carry home the inaugural Suffolk Class AA championship.
“That was the key turning point,” Longwood coach Dennis Terry said. “We were up one and then Bay Shore stole the ball.”
After Steven Polk scored the last of his 18 points on a pair of free throws to give Longwood a 53-50 edge with 3:45 remaining, senior guard Clarence Alonzo (12 points) had two prime opportunities to really put the heat on Bay Shore. He failed on the front end of a one-and-one and then missed a pair of three throws 28 seconds later.
“In my mind we don’t have to force anything,” said Aikeem Vanderhorst, who led Bay Shore with 17 points and 15 rebounds. “Three minutes is a lot of basketball.”
The Marauders (20-1), winners of 16 in a row, regrouped. Vanderhorst, an inside force, put back Tyrone Robinson’s miss to make it 53-52 and then Lassiter scored his first basket of the second half to give Bay Shore the lead for good, 54-53.
“I was struggling in the second half, so I passed the ball,” said Lassiter, who finished with 12 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 steals. “But I was looking for that steal. It put us up one and really got us back in the game.”
It was the just the beginning of a 12-0 spurt that knocked out Longwood. And it helped erase a forgettable game at the foul line for Bay Shore, which hit just 45 percent of its foul shots (15-for- 33).
Another factor in Bay Shore’s favor was the low-post defense. Longwood (16-6) didn’t have anyone the likes of Brentwood’s 6-8 Johnny Garcia, whom the Lions eliminated in a semifinal upset. What Longwood did have is a bevy of guards who love to drive.
Tall and deceptively fleet-footed Isaiah Stanton and Vanderhorst, a 6-5, 225-pound junior, made it nearly impossible for Longwood‘s guards to penetrate.
“They’re basically a driving team,” Vanderhorst said. “Coach told us to play more inside and hold our hands up so they wouldn’t get easy baskets. They came up short on a lot of shots.”
Bay Shore will face Amityville for the Suffolk overall championship at 4 p.m., Saturday at Stony Brook. Then comes a date with Nassau champ Uniondale for the Class AA Southeast Regional title / Long Island championship on March 12 at SUNY-Old Westbury.
“As they say, third time’s a charm,” said Parham, who broke through on his third trip to the finals in eight seasons as coach. “And I agree.”
Then Parham walked off the court and reached into the stands, exchanging handshakes and smiles with old friends and new fans.