Blue Devil Sports News
Huntington High School senior Ryan Mulligan was feted at the recent National Football Foundation awards brunch at the Crest Hollow Country Club in Woodbury. Mr. Mulligan starred on the Blue Devil football team this past fall. The teenager was presented with a NFF Scholar Athlete Award.
"Ryan Mulligan is a student-athlete that really sets goals academically and athletically for himself," said Georgia D. McCarthy, Huntington's director of athletics. "What makes Ryan unique is his unwavering work ethic and determination to attain those goals. All he has worked for is coming to fruition."
The NFF and the College Football Hall of Fame also presented awards to the top college scholar athletes at Stony Brook University and the US Merchant Marine Academy.
Victory Slips Away
The Huntington girls' basketball team took a 21-18 lead into halftime but the advantage gradually slipped away as the Blue Devils fell to Our Lady of Mercy Academy, 48-38.
Huntington trailed after the opening eight minutes, 13-10 but went on an 11-5 run to grab the lead following two quarters. Jackie Waldron paced the Blue Devils with 13 points. Heather Forester added 11 points and Raynisha Witherspoon pumped in another six.
The game marked the debut of new Huntington head coach Mike Kaplan, who left an assistant coach position in Harborfields to take the Blue Devil job.
Patron Dumps in 34
The Huntington boys' basketball team won a thrilling 61-57 game at Commack. The Blue Devils trailed by ten points after the first eight minutes of play and were down 30-23 at halftime.
The second half saw Huntington outscore their hosts, 38-27 to lock up a four-point non-league win. John Patron led all scorers with 34 points and 17 rebounds. PJ White added 12 points and Tyre Brown dropped in another six.
Four Named All-County
Huntington football players Calvin Bollar, Daniel Plant, Trayvon Toney and Dante Allen were all named to the All-County squad. The Blue Devils compiled a 7-3 record this year and advanced to the Suffolk Division III semi-final game before losing to Islip, 16-14.
Golf Goes Winless
The Huntington High School golf team went winless this fall, finishing with a record of 0-12 under head coach Michael Marinello. The 12-member squad was led by sophomore Max Fehrs, freshman Charles Bast and seventh grader James Smoot.
The closest the Blue Devils came to winning a match came in 6-3 losses to Smithtown West and Half Hollow Hills West.
Brutal Second Quarter
The Huntington girls' basketball team travelled to Eastport-South Manor and went toe-to-toe with the Sharks in the first period before succumbing to an 18-4 ESM run in the second frame. Trailing 29-14 at halftime, the Blue Devils regained their composure in the second half but never managed to cut their deficit, falling 54-36 in a non-league game.
Jackie Waldron led all Huntington scorers with 10 points. Heather Forster and Shea Scully score six points each, respectively.
Loss in Overtime
The Huntington boys' basketball team lost an exciting overtime game at home to Islip, 72-68. Once again the Blue Devils trailed by double-digits early, falling behind 35-24 at halftime.
The third quarter saw a rejuvenated Huntington squad go on a 21-13 run to narrow its deficit to three points. The Blue Devils sent the game into overtime with a 15-12 spurt in the final eight minutes. Islip rebounded to grab a quick lead in the extra five minute frame and held on for a four-point victory.
Tyre Brown led Huntington's scorers with 22 points. John Patron added 15 points.
Finley Football Coach Speaks
Kevin Thorbourne, who coached the J. Taylor Finley Middle School football team this past fall, said his goal for next year is to "develop more athletes at their individual positions and keep them interested in playing. These athletes will improve in their skills and we will provide for a greater comprehension of football, preparing them for the next level."
Looking aheadto next fall, Thorbourne said the current seventh grade team looks "promising." He identified Cooper Makohon, Ta-reek Hamilton, Ethan Dwyer and JP Puca as "players that we can utilize for next year."
Thorbourne said he "had the opportunity to coach the seventh graders several times a week at practice and with their talent and hard work can keep the Finley tradition going."