SUFFOLK BOYS BASKETBALL PREVIEW, All classes are up for grabs: [NASSAU AND SUFFOLK Edition]

JASON MOLINET. STAFF WRITER. Newsday, Combined editions; Long Island, N.Y. [Long Island, N.Y]. 24 Dec 2006: 

A whole host of teams have the potential to win it all. Perennial contender Longwood (15-6) returns forward Errol Daniyan while Sachem East (10-9) has twins Matt and Dan Sherwood. Junior forward Kyheem Green has grown into a force for Whitman (12-8) while Floyd (11-8) returns John Symonds and Torek Williams. Northport (15-7) has a real scorer in Ben Atkinson. Two teams that should get better down the stretch are a young but talented Brentwood (11-9) squad and Bellport (12-8). Peter Grossi, who did a great job at Calhoun, is the new coach at Bellport.

Longwood 85, Central Islip 62: Errol Daniyan had 25 points and 14 rebounds for Longwood. George Holmes had 12 points, eight rebounds, 11 assists and eight steals. Ahmed Wilson had 18 points and five rebounds. L: Watkis 1-0-2, Allen 1-0-3, Hunter 3-1-7, Holmes 5-2-12, Daniyan 12-1-25, Wilson 8-2-18, Bernard 4-0-10, Knudsen 1-2-4, Cavalluzzo 1-2-4. Totals 36-10-85. CI: Benton 3-5-11, Anderson 7-3- 21, B. Jenkins 0-3-3, Mills 4-0-8, Frasier 0-2-2, Belle 2-1-5, Duncin 1-1-3, A. Jenkins 1-2-4, DuPrey 1-0-2, Pena 1-0-3. Totals: 20- 17-62. Three-pointers: L 3 (Bernard 2, Allen); CI 5 (Anderson 4, Pena). dec. 9

Gonzaga (DC) 19231613- 71

Longwood 20181014- 62

G: Thornton 2-2-6, Gould 2-0-4, Kernan 1-0-2, Ellis 1-0-3, Johnson 5-3-13, Kenyi 5-5-15, Leach 4-3-11, Hueber 1-1-3, Williamson 1-0-2, Hummer 6-0-12. Totals: 28-14-71; L: Knudsen 1-0-2, Holmes 6- 4-16, Cavalluzzo 2-0-5, Kelly 2-1-7, Daniyan 5-0-10, Wilson 3-0-6, Bernard 3-0-7, Hunter 4-0-9. Totals: 26-5-62. Three-pointers: G 1 (Ellis) L 4 (Kelly 2, Cavalluzzo, Hunter). Dec. 16

Rim Rockers Tournament – at Longwood

Third Place

Pleasure Ridge Park (Ky.) 26251423- 88

Longwood 19112022- 72

PRP: Smith 3-4-10, Brauner 2-1-6, Decker 1-5-7, Reynolds 2-2-6, Delph 7-7-24, George 2-2-7, Murry 2-2-6, Benson 7-7-22. Totals: 26- 30-88. L: Watkis 2-0-4, Holmes 4-7-16, Hunter 2-0-4, Daniyan 5-7- 17, Cavalluzzo 1-0-3, Jankins 4-4-12, Kelly 1-1-4, Bernard 3-0-6, Wilson 2-2-6. Totals: 21-24-72. Three-pointers: PRP 6 (Delph 3, George, Benson, Brauner); L 3 (Holmes, Cavaluzzo, Kelly). Dec. 31

Longwood 61, Brentwood 60: Errol Daniyan hit 1 of 2 foul shots with 11 seconds left in overtime to win it for Longwood (1-0) in Suffolk League I. George Holmes scored seven of his eight points in overtime for Longwood. Longwood‘s Ahmad Wilson hit a three-pointer with three seconds left in regulation to tie the score at 53. Brentwood is 0-1. Jan. 4

LINDENHURST 65, LONGWOOD 41, No one saw this coming, Supposed power Longwood rocked by Lindy’s 19-0 start: [NASSAU AND SUFFOLK Edition]

JASON MOLINET. STAFF WRITER. Newsday, Combined editions; Long Island, N.Y. [Long Island, N.Y]. 07 Jan 2007: 

Chris Barnes didn’t waste any effort. The lone senior in the Lindenhurst lineup received the ball along the right wing – two steps beyond the three-point arc – and just as quickly elevated and fired a wide-open shot.

Swish. Twenty-four seconds later the ball found his hands again. This time Barnes was set up in the left corner. Swish. It was barely 1:04 into yesterday’s Suffolk League I boys basketball showdown at Longwood and the Bulldogs were just getting started.

Lindenhurst opened the game with a 19-0 run and never looked back in a 65-41 win over Longwood that was as impressive as it was stunning. A young Lindenhurst squad marched into the Lions’ Den and silenced the crowd of about 600 with a mesmerizing offensive display.

“This is huge,” said Barnes, who sank three first-quarter threes and finished with 11 points. “This jump-starts us for the rest of the league season.”

After a pair of quick threes from Barnes, a time-out from Lions coach Dennis Terry might have been in order. It never came. Lindenhurst (5-1, 1-0) kept padding its lead while the Lions committed six turnovers in the first quarter alone. Senior forward Errol Daniyan, who finished with 14 points, scored Longwood‘s first points with 1:11 left in the quarter.

“We tried to control the tempo of the game and I think we did that well,” said Lindy junior Chris Johnson, who poured in 23 points and added five rebounds and four assists.

The result was a stunner because Longwood (4-5, 1-1) was widely considered the league favorite and played a brutal schedule in the run-up to the league season. Yet in this upside-down basketball season, no team apparently is invulnerable to letdown. Even Lindenhurst hiccupped last week in a 71-45 loss to Copiague.

“Last year we struggled,” Barnes said. “But the tough losses helped us mature as a team.”

The Bulldogs start three juniors and a freshman and still have plenty of growing to do. But to knock off Longwood is a good start. A home date with Sachem East on Tuesday is next.

“Everybody thinks Longwood is the team to beat – and they still are,” Lindenhurst coach John Albano said. “It’s a momentum thing. This is a real confidence boost.”

Their confidence grew as the lead expanded and 10 players scored. Junior Brian Cervantes (10 points, 10 rebounds) helped neutralize Longwood‘s inside game, while the Lions guards went cold from the perimeter.

It’s a long season, but there’s little doubt this rout will be on everyone’s minds when these teams meet again in February – and possibly beyond.

“I think we can go as far as we decide,” Johnson said. “It’s a matter of putting our hearts into it.”

LI: Parzych 3-0-6, Barnes 3-2-11, Johnson 8-5-23, Cervantes 4-2- 10, Chismar 1-2-5, Newman 1-0-2, A. Morales 0-3-3, Shukin 0-1-1, Jurovic 1-0-2, Buckhiet 0-2-2. Totals: 21-17-65. LO: Knudsen 1-2-4, Cavalluzzo 1-0-3, Daniyan 7-0-14, Allen 1-0-3, Hunter 1-0-3, Holmes 2-0-4, Watkis 1-1-3, Wilson 1-5-7. Totals: 15-8-41. Three-pointers: LI 6 (Barnes 3, Johnson 2, Chismar); LO 3 (Cavalluzzo, Allen, Hunter).

Longwood 72716130- 63

Sachem East 151813173- 66

Scott Perry hit a free throw with one minute left in overtime and Mike Stayne drained two free throws with 16 seconds to go as host Sachem East topped Longwood, 66-63, in a Suffolk League I boys basketball game Friday. Down three with 3.8 seconds left in regulation, Sachem East’s Jimmy Turner hit a three off an inbounds pass from Trevor Thorstensen as time expired to send the game into overtime. Thorstensen led Sachem East (1-3) with 14 points, Turner added 12 and senior Pat Raftice came off the bench with a career-high 11 points. Errol Daniyan led Longwood (1-2) with 20 points.

L: Knudsen 1-2-4, Cavalluzzo 2-0-4, Daniyan 9-2-20, Bernard 4-1- 9, Jenkins 3-3-9, Watkis 3-0-6, Hunter 4-1-9, Piesecki 1-0-2. Totals: 27-9-63. S: Raftice 5-0-11, Stayne 2-2-8, Turner 5-0-12, D. Sherwood 3-3-10, Thorstensen 6-1-14, Doherty 1-0-2, Perry 4-1-9. Three-pointers: S 7 (Stayne 2, Turner 2, Raftice, D. Sherwood, Thorstensen). Jan. 13

Ward Melville 10201010- 50

Longwood 20202719- 86

WM: Scantlebury 1-0-2, Bozza 2-2-6, Dolan 0-2-2, Wiegel 1-0-2, Dent 3-0-6, Field 3-0-7, Delgado 5-2-15, Brous 1-0-3, DiStefano 1-0- 3, Popko 2-0-4. Totals: 19-6-50. L: Wilson 3-1-7, Watkis 2-0-4, Holmes 5-4-14, Jenkins 2-0-5, Allen 1-0-2, Cavalluzzo 3-0-6, Bernard 3-3-9, Knudsen 2-0-4, Hunter 3-2-8, Daniyan 12-3-27. Totals: 36-13- 86. Three-pointers: WM 6 (Delgado 3, Field, Brous, DiStefano); L 1 (Jenkins). Jan. 17

Longwood 8211415- 58

Patchogue-Medford 167916- 48

L: Holmes 3-5-11, Daniyan 8-3-19, Wilson 2-3-7, Knudsen 1-0-2, Bernard 1-0-2, Hunter 2-0-4, Cavalluzzo 3-0-7, Jenkins 3-0-6. 23-11- 58. P: St. Clair 1-1-3, Strohman 7-0-18, Montgomery 3-1-7, Nickelson 2-0-4, Smith 4-2-14, Jackson 1-0-2. 18-4-48. Three-pointers: L 1 (Cavalluzzon); P 8 (Strohman 4, Smith 4). Jan. 20

Floyd 12161212- 52

Longwood 12131624- 65

F: Garcia 3-2-10, Symonds 7-0-15, Lewis 3-0-6, T. Williams 4-2- 10, Bender 1-0-2, Hamilton 2-0-5, Knightener 1-0-2. Totals: 21-4- 52. L: 7-2-16, Watkis 2-0-4, Holmes 6-5-18, Wilson 2-4-8, Hunter 1- 2-4, Kelly 0-1-1, Allen 1-0-2, Bernard 1-0-2, Cavalluzzo 4-0-10. Totals: 24-14-65. Three-pointers: F 4 (Garcia 2, Symonds, Hamilton); L 3 (Cavalluzzo 2, Holmes). Jan. 24

LONGWOOD 65, FLOYD 52, Big finish keys win for Longwood: [NASSAU AND SUFFOLK Edition]

MARCUS HENRY. STAFF WRITER. Newsday, Combined editions; Long Island, N.Y. [Long Island, N.Y]. 24 Jan 2007

There were several interesting story lines coming into last night’s Suffolk League I boys basketball game between Floyd and host Longwood.

Gaining a hold on second place in the league and taking another step toward clinching a playoff bid. For Floyd coach Bob Hodgson, getting to the playoffs was the top priority.

Unfortunately for Hodgson, it wasn’t to be for Floyd as Longwood, sparked by an 11-0 run in the fourth quarter, came away with a 65- 52 victory.

“We have to get six wins to get into the playoffs. I don’t really care about first or second place right now,” Hodgson replied when asked if falling back in the standings had any significance. “How soon you can do that will determine if you can challenge for the league or not.”

Floyd junior forward John Symonds, like his coach, said his team is trying to avoid looking ahead. “We’re just trying to get the six wins we need for the playoffs first,” Symonds said. “After that, we can set our goals on something else.”

Symonds led Floyd with 15 points and Roberto Garcia and Torek Williams 10 each.

Floyd’s hopes for a tough road win against a worthy opponent faded early in the fourth as George Holmes, who led Longwood with 18 points, broke a tie at 44 with a putback, sparking an 11-0 run that gave the Lions a 55-44 lead with 3:24 to go.

Longwood coach Dennis Terry and his team would not speak with Newsday following the game.

“There was a lack of rebounding, a lack of hustling and getting back on defense,” Symonds said. “That pretty much put us away.”

Floyd (4-2) was in control early in the third after a layup by Williams gave the Colonials a 34-27 lead with 4:55 to go in the quarter. But that’s when Longwood (4-2) made its move as Holmes and Errol Daniyan (16 points) each scored six points for the Lions, who ended the quarter with a 14-6 run for a 41-40 lead after three.

“We dribbled the ball too much,” Hodgson said. “That’s not how we can be effective.”

The bad fourth quarter notwithstanding, Symonds is convinced Floyd hasn’t played its best basketball and said the best is yet to come. “We can definitely play with them,” Symonds said. “We just lost the lead, lost our focus and let them run away with it.”

LONGWOOD 65

FLOYD 52

Brentwood 158614- 43

Longwood 12152322- 72

B: Williams 1-0-2, Cordova 1-0-2, Moore 3-2-8, Joseph 0-2-2, McCarthy 3-0-6, Demory 1-0-2, Farqharson 0-3-3, Cherry 4-2-10, Quinenchette 0-1-1, Harris 2-3-7. Totals: 15-13-43. L: Kelly 2-0-5, Wilson 1-1-3, Knudsen 2-2-6, Jenkins 0-4-4, Watkis 1-0-2, Daniyan 10- 1-21, Hunter 2-1-5, Allen 1-0-3, Holmes 5-5-15, Cavalluzzo 3-1-8. Totals: 27-15-72. Three-pointers: L 3 (Kelly, Allen, Cavalluzzo). Jan. 28

Longwood 1471727- 65

Lindenhurst 12171530- 74

Chris Johnson scored 30 points for Lindenhurst (7-0). George Holmes’ 30 points led Longwood (5-3).Lo: Danyan 5-3-13, Holmes 10-9-30, Cavalluzzo 3-0-9, Wilson 2-2- 6, Hunter 1-0-2, Watkins 1-0-2, Kelly 1-0-3. Totals: 23-14-65. Li: Barnes 4-2-14, Johnson 9-6-30, Morales 1-2-4, Parzych 2-3-8, Cervantes 0-1-1, Jurovic 6-2-17. Totals: 22-16-74. Three-pointers: Lo: 5(Cavalluzzo 3, Holmes, Kelly), Li 14(Johnson 6, Barnes 4, Jurovich 3, Parzych). Jan. 31

Sachem East 17101020- 57

Longwood 17161820- 71

SE: Stayne 3-4-10, Thorstensen 2-1-5, Crocker 3-0-7, D. Sherwood 6-0-12, Doherty 1-0-3, Perry 5-6-16, Turner 2-0-4. Totals: 22-11- 57. L: Kelly 1-0-2, Allen 1-0-2, Hunter 2-2-6, Knudsen 1-0-2, Wilson 2-2-6, Cavalluzzo 2-6-12, Holmes 7-4-19, Daniyan 8-6-22. Totals: 24- 20-71. Three-pointers: SE 2 (Crocker, Doherty); L 3 (Cavalluzzzo 2, Holmes). Feb. 7

Longwood 17171520- 69

Ward Melville 12111021- 54

Errol Daniyan had 18 points and 17 rebounds for Longwood (7-3) in Suffolk League I. Ward Melville is 3- 8.L: Jenkins 4-0-8, Hunter 4-0-8, Kelly 1-0-2, Cavalluzzo 3-0-6, Allen 1-0-2, Watkis 1-0-2, Holmes 6-3-15, Wilson 1-4-6, Knudsen 1-0- 2, Daniyan 8-2-18. Totals: 30-9-69. WM: Dolan 3-2-8, Scantlebury 2- 0-4, Esmen 1-0-2, Field 2-1-5, Wiegel 4-2-10, Popko 5-0-11, DiStafano 1-0-3, Delgado 1-2-5, Padrazo 1-0-3, Dent 1-0-3. Totals: 21-7-54. Three-pointers: WM 5 (Padrazo, Popko, DiStafano, Delgado, Dent). Feb. 10

Patchogue-Medford 1411524- 54

Longwood 21171322- 73

PM: Strohman 8-5-22, McField 0-1-1, Smith 0-1-1, Jackson 7-2-16, Montgomery 4-1-9, St. Clair 0-1-1, Nicholson 1-0-2, Stone 1-0-2. Totals: 21-11-54. L: Knudsen 1-0-2, Kelly 1-0-2, Jenkins 6-1-15, Wilson 6-1-13, Hunter 3-0-6, Allen 2-1-5, Cavalluzzo 2-0-6, Holmes 5- 2-12, Daniyan 4-4-12. Totals: 30-9-73. Three-pointers: PM 1 (Strohman); L 4 (Jenkins 2, Cavalluzzo 2). Feb. 13

BOYS BASKETBALL PLAYOFF PREVIEW, Questions abound in brackets, The regular-season schedule should bring answers in Nassau: [NASSAU AND SUFFOLK Edition]

MOLINET, JASON. Newsday, Combined editions; Long Island, N.Y. [Long Island, N.Y]. 15 Feb 2007

One year after wining the program’s first Suffolk Class AA title, Copiague (16-2), with swingman Richard Byrd, still is the front- runner. But there’s no shortage of challengers, from hot-shooting League I champ Lindenhurst (14-2) to surprising Bellport (14-3), which is 11-0 in League IV. Floyd (13-5), Longwood (11-7), Bay Shore (15-3), Whitman (14-3), Central Islip (11-7), East Islip (15-2) and Half Hollow Hills West (13-5) each has the potential to reel off a few wins.

The road to a state title usually runs through the Suffolk Class A bracket. With all due respect to defending state champ Peekskill (Section I), the talent pool in Suffolk is as deep as ever. That’s why East Hampton (19-0) and point guard Mikey Russell is no sure bet. Amityville (15-4), which has won 14 straight, and Bayport-Blue Point (16-3) are threats.

Longwood 1391123–56

Floyd 10181822–68

L: Daniyan 6-2-14, Holmes 3-2-8, Cavallazzo 1-0-2, Wilson 2-4-8, Knudson 2-0-4, Hunter 1-1-3, Allen 2-0-6, Watkins 2-1-5, Jenkins 3- 0-6. Totals: 22-10-56. F: Symonds 9-3-22, Lewis 9-1-19, Knightner 3- 2-8, T. Williams 5-1-11, Garcia 1-2-4, Hamilton 1-0-2, Vigliotta 0- 2-2. Totals: 28-11-68. Three-pointers: L 2(Allen), F 1(Symonds). Feb. 17

Suffolk Class AA first round – at higher seeds

(9) West Islip 14134027 – 40

(8) Longwood 10795214 – 47

Tyrone Jenkins scored all six of his points in the second overtime as No.8 Longwood beat No.9 West Islip, 47-40, in a Suffolk Class AA first-round boys basketball game yesterday. Errol Daniyan scored 18 points for Longwood (13-7), which visits top-seeded Copiague in a quarterfinal Friday. : Galasso 1-1-3, Gregorio 4-3-12, White 3-2-10, Turri 3-9-15. Totals: 11-15-40. L: Daniyan 7-4-18, Holmes 3-0-7, Cavalluzzo 1-0- 3, Wilson 1-0-3, Hunter 2-3-8, Jenkins 1-4-6, Kelly 1-0-2. Totals: 16-11-47. Three-pointers: W 3 (White 2, Gregorio); L 4 (Holmes, Cavalluzzon, Wilson, Hunter). Feb. 21

Copiague 66, Longwood 59: Senior Richard Byrd blocked a shot, rebounded the ball and dribbled up the court, feeding Robert Carpenter, whose layup gave No.1 Copiague (18-2) a 62-59 lead with two minutes left in a Suffolk Class AA quarterfinal. Byrd and Dwight Gibson each followed with two free throws to provide the final margin. Byrd’s 34 points tied a career high and he finished with 12 rebounds. Marcell Lattimore had 10 rebounds and eight points. George Holmes hit two free throws with 2:33 left to tie the score at 59 for No.8 Longwood (13-8). He had 11 of his 19 from the free-throw line. Ernst Danyian had 14 points for Longwood. Copiague reached the semifinals for the fourth straight season. Feb. 24