Photo credit – Anthony Lewis
There are high school sports games. There are anticipated playoff games. Then there are games like this.
The Class AAA boys’ semifinal game was one that the Long Island sports world has been waiting for all year. The William Floyd Colonials took on the Bay Shore Marauders before several thousand fans at a neutral site of Longwood High School. Bay Shore beat Floyd last year in the Suffolk County final game at the same exact place, then going on to win the Long Island championship and advancing to the state finals.
The stage was set once again tonight almost a year to date, Floyd with a convincing win over Ward Melville the prior playoff game, and Bay Shore the same over Riverhead.
Everything lined up perfectly for a rematch.
This game’s roots run much deeper behind the scenes than many people know. Several of the stars on each team play on the same summer league teams together. They are friends off the court, know each other’s families, and each other’s basketball games, strong points and weak ones too.
Yet, from the opening tip off to the final buzzer tonight. Friends have to become foes for the team’s name on the front of their jersey.
From the very beginning, this game was completely electric. Jermaine King came out with guns blazing and brought all the fire power out in a back-and-forth first quarter with stellar shot-making. Bay Shore finished the first quarter with six (6) three-pointers, with Floyd making four. Dahmarion Moses, who was a force to be reckoned with under the rim, had a putback layup to beat the first quarter’s buzzer, making the score 23-22 with Floyd on top.
But one of the strongest guard combinations on the Island in Carter Wilson, Corey Faines, and Kingsley Rogers were ready for war and not afraid to face this battle. Rogers and Floyd’s Jermaine King both finished the first half with 16 points apiece.
While the first half was a game played from behind the arc, the second half was decided around the rim. Jawuan Smith, one of the best mid-range players, shot blockers, and rebounders on the Island, had some crucial shots and rebounds at seemingly just the right time. Smith, who finished the game with 17 points, had a smooth finish at the rim to put Floyd up 54-46 with just under five minutes left in the game.
As much as it seemed like the game could be wrapping up with Floyd up 59-54 with only 1:21 left, Bay Shore hit two free throws and Kingsley Rogers hit a three-pointer with only seconds left to send the game into overtime tied at 59. Floyd was able to hit some crucial free throws in overtime and outlast the defending Long Island Champs by a score of 67-61.
Carter Wilson finished the game with 17 points, while Kingsley Rogers and Corey Faines had 22 and 13, respectively. Jermaine King led all scorers with 31.
Floyd’s Coach William Slinkosky concluded an exciting evening with an emotional and heart felt tribute to Darrell Sumpter, William Floyd’s assistant and beloved coach who passed in a tragic car accident right before Christmas.
The Colonials advance for the second year in a row to the Suffolk County class AAA championship game where they will face off with Half Hollow Hills East. The game is 6:00p.m. Sunday, March 9, at Farmingdale State College. Tickets are available at GoFan.
