Photo credit – Sean Anthony Lewis 1st
The stage was perfectly set for the Suffolk County game of the year. Both teams were previously undefeated with 22 wins and no losses. The gym was packed with nearly 3,000 fans and standing room only. Tensions were high in the building as the student sections from each district were already chanting back and forth twenty minutes prior to tip off. The two top ranked teams in the county were finally going to face off in game that has been talked about before this season even began.
The Bayshore Marauders, led by 6’6 forward Christian Smiley, came out on fire in the first quarter. Their tough zone defense clogged up the paint and caused the Colonials to turn the ball over several times, turnovers that Bayshore capitalized on one after another. They went on a twenty-two-point unanswered run against the Colonials which they had trouble fully coming back from. The score at halftime was 31-9 with Bayshore on top.
William Floyd did come out to battle back in the second half though. Floyd’s guards Joey McLaurin and Jermaine King took control of the game in the third quarter. At one point in the third, the Colonials pulled within eight points of Bayshore which also set the Floyd crowd a blaze. Tashawn Bumpers and Khamari Broomfield had several answers for their run, which kept Floyd at bay.
The fourth quarter was a constant back and forth show in which Bayshore was able to hold William Floyd with enough of a distance to win by a score of 65-59. Bayshore won their first Suffolk County large school championship since 2004. They improved to 23-0 while William Floyd’s season came to an abrupt end at 22-1. Bayshore goes on to the regional Long Island Championship this upcoming Saturday, March 9, at Farmingdale State college at 5:00 p.m. They will take on the large school champion of Nassau County, the Baldwin Bruins.
The Messenger would like to mention the admirable display of sportsmanship after this game specifically. While a few of the Floyd seniors were visibly upset about the season and career ending loss, Christian Smiley and a few other Bayshore players consoled them before celebrating with their team. These young men showed integrity and character to their opponents this evening, with whom they also play on some of the same teams in the summer Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) League. We commend you young men, best of luck this Saturday!