High School Boys Basketball

BY BOB HERZOG

Just found out about two more Long Island players who earned college basketball scholarships. J.T. Pate of Babylon, a big guard who surpassed the 2,000-career point plateau this season, will play at New York Tech. Chris Mauldin, the clutch-shooting point guard from Baldwin, will play at Bloomfield College in New Jersey. Congratulations to both and good luck at the next level.

BY KIMBERLEY A. MARTIN

Tobias Harris, who was recently named Newsday’s Player of the Year, has been selected the Class A Co-Player of the Year, along with Brandon Triche of Jamesville-DeWitt (Section III), by the New York State Sportswriters Association.

Behind Harris, a 6-8 junior forward, Long Island Lutheran defeated Triche and the Red Rams, 68-51, in the state Federation final in Glens Falls last month.

Harris, who transferred back to Hills West last week, averaged 23.5 ppg and 11 rebounds this season.

Funny thing: Triche (whose bound for Syracuse) and Harris could wind up playing together in college -- that is, if Harris picks the Orange. As of now, he's still sifting through a list of schools.

(above, Harris attempting a free throw, photo by Patrick E. McCarthy)

Greenport’s Ryan Creighton was selected Class D Co-Player of the Year along with Chris Secky of Maple Grove (Section VI). The Porters defeated the Dragons, 73-68, to advance to the state Class D final.

Creighton, Newsday’s Suffolk Player of the Year, averaged 27 ppg and finished his career as Long Island’s all-time leading scorer with 2,799 points.

(Creighton celebrates after beating Maple Grove (VI) in a state Class D semifinal game in Glens Falls, N.Y., AP Photo)

Click to see the full list of Long Island's all-state selections...

Continue reading "Harris & Creighton Named State Players of the Year... " »

BY BOB HERZOG

This was awards week in Suffolk County, with dinners on Tuesday and Wednesday night at the Polish Hall in Riverhead to honor the county’s best players and coaches in the large and small school categories.

With sincere thanks to George Davila, historian and statistician supreme who produced a comprehensive program, here are the squads:

Large schools All-County:

J.J. Moore, Brentwood
Kamil Parzych, Lindenhurst
Marcus Stroman, Patchogue-Medford
Mervin Springer, Copiague
Josh Malone, Deer Park
Antonio Scott, Bellport
Marcus Hunter, Longwood
Jordan Allen, Bay Shore
Rob Hughes, Riverhead
Myles Jones, Whitman
Barry Ingram, Bay Shore
Stephen Davis, Newfield

Large schools Player of the Year: J.J. Moore, Brentwood
Large schools Coach of the Year: Brendan McCaffrey, North Babylon
--

Small schools All-County

Ryan Creighton, Greenport
John Nielsen, Port Jefferson
Ben Resner, Harborfields
Phil Izevbehai, Glenn
Jerome Russell, East Hampton
Hayden Ward, East Hampton
Steven Medard, Amityville
Jordan Ward-Adams, Center Moriches
James Pate, Babylon
Jonathan Ward-Adams, Center Moriches
Reid Drzal, Bayport-Blue Point

Small schools Player of the Year: Ryan Creighton, Greenport
Small schools Coach of the Year: Ed Petrie, East Hampton

BY BOB HERZOG

For Tobias Harris, it’s one decision down, one to go.

I really wasn’t surprised when Harris, a junior and Newsday’s Player of the Year, decided to leave Lutheran and transfer back to his hometown high school, Half Hollow Hills West. Too much off-the-court drama for everyone involved.

Now, I’m very curious about Harris’s next major decision – his college choice – that he will announce in late September.

Tobias’s father, Torrel, told me his son had about 60 college offers and has narrowed it down to 12. Here’s the Tobias Twelve, listed alphabetically:

Connecticut
Georgia Tech
Louisville
Marquette
Maryland
Notre Dame
Oklahoma
Rutgers
Syracuse
Tennessee
Virginia Tech
West Virginia

I’m told that Syracuse and Maryland have been recruiting Tobias particularly hard, but that there is no clear-cut front-runner. Rutgers seems an odd choice, given that the program is far behind the others in terms of recent success. But Torrel Harris said Rutgers is on the final list because it was the first school to offer Tobias a scholarship.

Here’s one potential wrinkle in the decision-making process: Would the school that lands Tobias also make a scholarship to his brother Tyler part of the deal. And is that a deal-breaker? I haven’t heard that’s the case, but it’s a point worth considering.

Tyler is one year behind Tobias in high school and hasn’t had the resume after his sophomore year that Tobias had. Tyler showed some flashes – especially with his outside shooting – at Lutheran, but not enough to warrant an offer from schools on this list. Not yet anyway.

BY KIMBERLEY A. MARTIN

(Uniondale's Bolade Akingboye drives to the basket against Newburgh Free Academy during a Class AA semifinal at the Glens Falls Civic Center, photo by Gordon M. Grant)
Class AA

1. Rice (CHSAA) - 25-3
2. Newburgh Free Academy (IX) - 20-5
3. Mount Vernon (I) - 20-4 (4th)
4. Christ The King (CHSAA) - 25-4 (6th)
5. Abraham Lincoln (PSAL) - 22-11 (3rd)
6. Niagara Falls (VI) - 24-1 (5th)
7. Bronx JFK (PSAL) - 26-3
8. Uniondale (VIII) - 20-3
9. Poughkeepsie (I) - 20-3
10. Greece Athena (V) - 20-5
11. Williamsville North (VI) - 21-2
12. Gates Chili (V) - 19-5
13. Rush-Henrietta (V) - 20-3
14. Syracuse CBA (III) - 21-5
15. New Rochelle (I) - 16-6
16. Albany CBA (I) - 21-4
17. Albany Academy (II) - 22-2
18. Bishop Maginn (II) - 19-4
19. Thomas Jefferson (PSAL) - 21-11
20. Shenendehowa (II) - 21-2
21. North Rockland (I) - 20-3
22. McKee/Staten Island Tech (PSAL) - 25-6
23. Jamestown (VI) - 17-5
24. Boys & Girls (PSAL) - 21-9
25. Syracuse Henninger (III) - 18-5

(Long Island Lutheran's Achraf Yocoubou, Tobias Harris and Kevin Johnson pose with their trophies after Luhi's win over Jamesville-DeWitt in the state Class A Federation title game in Glens Falls, photo by Pat Orr)

Class A
1. Long Island Lutheran (AIS) - 19-8 (4th)
2. Jamesville-DeWitt (III) - 27-2 (1st)
3. Peekskill (I) - 24-2 (2nd)
4. Iona Prep (CHSAA) - 27-2 (3rd)
5. East Hampton (XI) - 23-3
6. Batavia (V) - 21-4
7. St. John the Baptist (CHSAA) - 25-3
8. Curtis (Staten Island) (PSAL) - 25-9
9. Scotia-Glenville (II) - 21-3
10. Gloversville (II) - 20-3
11. Cornwall (IX) - 19-4
12. Westinghouse (PSAL) - 18-5
13. Bedford Academy (PSAL) - 25-4
14. Buffalo McKinley (VI) - 21-5
15. Norwich (IV) - 20-4
16. Roslyn (VIII) - 16-7
17. Lakeland (I) - 17-5
18. Buffalo Nichols (CHSAA) - 24-3
19. Sweet Home (VI) - 20-2
20. Bishop Ford (CHSAA) - 21-6
21. South Side (VIII) - 18-4
22. Westbury (VIII) - 18-3
23. Depew (VI) - 19-5
24. Pittsford Sutherland (V) - 18-6
25-T. Utica Notre Dame (III) - 19-5
25-T. Newark (V) - 20-3

(Malverne's Justin Williams takes a jump shot in double-coverage against Seton Catholic in a Class B state semifinal game, photo by Gregg T. Ordon)

Class B
1. Collegiate (AIS) - 27-4
2. Bishop Kearney (V) - 24-4
3. Binghamton Seton (IV) - 22-4
4. Malverne (VIII) - 12-11
5. Hannibal (III) - 21-4
6. Burke Catholic (IX) - 18-7
7. Olean (VI) - 19-5
8. Westhill (III) - 20-4
9. Hackley School (AIS) - 20-7
10. Brooklyn Academy (PSAL) - 15-7
11. Lawrence-Woodmere (AIS) - 23-3
12. Lincoln Hall (I) - 18-7
13. Akron (VI) - 20-4
14. Mount Markham (III) - 21-2
15. Wellsville (V) - 19-4
16. Broadalbin-Perth (II) - 18-8
17. Ogdensburg Free (X) - 19-7
18. Albertus Magnus (I) - 18-4
19. Lancaster St. Mary's (CHSAA) - 17-11
20-T. Northeastern Clinton (VII) - 22-1
20-T. Marcellus (III) - 19-4

(Oyster Bay's Bryan Van Cott catches a pass during a state Class C semifinal against Avon at the Glens Falls Civic Center, photo by Gregg T. Ordon / March 20, 2009)
Class C

1. Avon (V) - 27-1
2. Maple Hill (II) - 25-2
3. Oyster Bay (VIII) - 13-9
4. Onondaga (III) - 17-10
5. Valhalla (I) - 20-5
6. Oxford (IV) - 20-4
7. Randolph (VI) - 21-3
8. Westfield (VI) - 18-5
9. Frewsburg (VI) - 18-5
10. Letchworth (V) - 18-5
11. Blind Brook (I) - 18-4
12. LaFayette (III) - 17-7
13. Groton (IV) - 17-4
14. Lake George (II) - 19-4
15-T. Port Jefferson (XI) - 15-8
15-T. Harley Allendale-Columbia (V) - 17-8

Greenport's Ryan Creighton puts up a shot against South Kortright during the Class D state final at the Glens Falls Civic Center, photo by Gordon M. Grant)

Class D
1. South Kortright (IV) - 26-0
2. Greenport (XI) - 22-4
3. Maple Grove (VI) - 21-4
4. Chateaugay (X) - 22-5
5. C.G. Finney (V) - 24-1
6. Westport (VII) - 19-2
7. Coleman Catholic (IX) - 16-7
8. Prattsburgh (V) - 18-5
9. New York Mills (III) - 18-7
10. Genesee Valley (V) - 16-10
11. Seward (IX) - 18-4
12. Sharon Springs (II) - 16-8
13. Hunter-Tannersville (IV) - 18-6
14. Laurens (IV) - 19-4
15. Sackets Harbor (III) - 14-9

BY KIMBERLEY A. MARTIN

After the LuHi celebration died down, I approached coach Brian Carey for an on-the-record comment about Saturday's "outburst" during the Crusaders' semifinal victory over Curtis.

Carey, still clutching his state federation championship plaque, declined to say anything.

I respect that...but here's the thing: If a coach points his finger (repeatedly) and yells in the direction of the father of one of his star players -- I can't ignore it. (Believe me, I'd love to. I hate drama more than anyone.)

But in a public arena, on this big of a stage -- with the game still being played on the court behind both parties -- you can't turn a blind eye.

Whispers...no, check that -- loud grumblings -- have been heard for quite a while regarding Tobias and Tyler Harris' future with the Crusaders.

Now, if the brothers do return to their former school, Hills West, after this school year -- that's HUGE. LuHi has already proven it can win without the star forward (who missed 12 games due to an ankle injury in January). But having one of Long Island's best scorers on the roster, is a major plus for any team.

BY KIMBERLEY A. MARTIN

LuHi got its revenge against Jamesville Dewitt, defeating the Red Rams, 68-51...

Yikes, they're shutting off the lights here at the Civic Center...details to come, I promise.

.......OK, im back.

There really isn't much more you can say about this game, other than -- Tobias Harris was a force to be reckoned with tonight. The 6-8 junior -- who was named the MVP -- scored a game-high 27 points on 8-for-15 shooting from the field. Harris, who also went 12-of-16 from the line, grabbed 15 rebounds...

Achraf Yacoubou, who seemed to struggle at times against the Red Rams' pressure, added 16 points and Kevin Johnson had 10 points and five rebounds.

Alshwan Hymes was the high-man for the J-D, with 17 points...It was a rough night for Syracuse-bound Brandon Triche...He finished with just eight.

BY KIMBERLEY A. MARTIN

I've got to admit, it was getting a little dicey there for the Crusaders...

Jamesville-Dewitt used an 11-0 run to cut its deficit to 42-34 with 2:44 left in the third.

But LuHi quickly answered with a little run of their own…

E.J. Parry hit a three-pointer, then Kevin Johnson knocked down a pair of free throws following a steal…And after Tobias Harris scored inside on LuHi’s next possession, he caught a backdoor pass from Derek Klein and laid the ball up-and-in – drawing a foul on J-D stud, Brandon Triche (his third) with 26.3 to left in the quarter.

Harris’ free throw completed the three-point play and capped a 10-0 run by the Crusaders, who took a 52-35 lead at the end of the third.

BY KIMBERLEY A. MARTIN

Well, LuHi sure found the "money player" early in this one...Tobias got the ball early and often for the Crusaders, opening the game with a three-pointer...

LuHi, which drained three threes in the first three minutes of the game, held a 15-9 lead at the start of the second quarter...

Tobias had 12 points and six rebounds at halftime.

BY KIMBERLEY A. MARTIN

I had a rather lengthy talk with the head of the Harris clan, Torrel, Sr...And he was more than happy to share his side of the what-appears-to-be-ongoing feud with Lutheran coach Brian Carey...

Yesterday, Carey was seen pointing and shouting in the direction of Torrel during the Crusaders' 67-42 victory over Curtis in the Class A semifinal...

Mr. Harris sent me an email (which I received Saturday morning), vehemently defending himself... He claims he only said, "Get the ball to the money players," to the person sitting next to him, and Carey immediately "went nuts" after hearing his remark...

It's obvious Mr. Harris was referring to his sons Tobias -- who didn't touch the ball as often as I had expected during Saturday's game -- and Tyler, who has been relegated to the bench since big brother's return to the team following an ankle injury.

But, the father insists, there was no reason for the coach to react in such a manner...

Coach Carey refused to speak about the incident Friday following the Crusaders' victory over Curtis, preferring to only speak about the game.