Blue Devil Sports News
Dozens of teachers and athletic coaches turned out for a surprise retirement party for Amy Smith, who retired as the Huntington School District’s health, physical education and interscholastic athletics department secretary at the end of last month.
The party was held at the Off Broadway Pub in Greenlawn. Several retired coaches even joined the fun. An assortment of appetizers was served. The crowd lingered for hours.
March Madness party on March 2
This year’s Huntington Booster Club March Madness reception is set for Sunday, March 2 between 2-5 p.m. at Christopher’s Courtyard Café, located at 8 Wall Street in Huntington village.
The annual get-together typically attracts dozens of Blue Devil supporters, including parents, coaches, alumni and fans. Admission is priced at $60 at the door. No one under 21 years of age will be admitted.
Proceeds from the event will be used to provide financial support for annual scholarships, the purchase of equipment, summer sports camp programs and the Booster Club’s other initiatives.
A successful March Madness fundraiser is important to the Booster Club being able to continue its good work on behalf of the Blue Devil athletic program. The organization has donated over $300,000 in cash and goods to the district in recent years.
“Some of the proceeds from March Madness will be used to support the Booster Club’s grant program, which allows coaches to seek funds for items not available through the regular budget process,” said Tim Pillion, the organization’s president.
The March 2 reception will include unlimited refreshments and food. Blue Devil supporters can stop by Christopher’s at any time during the afternoon, stay for the full three hours or any portion of it.
For more information contact Mr. Pillion at tpillion@optonline.net or (631) 275-3264.
Remembering a great team
During the 1994/95 winter season, Huntington High School had a great varsity girls’ basketball team. The Blue Devils won the Suffolk League III title and were ranked No. 18 in the state.
Huntington was 12-0 in league play and 17-2 overall. Suzanne Krupski garnered All-League and All-County honors. Jennifer Tietjen, Margaret Tietjen, Tricia Martin, Tamika Mays were all named All-League. Lauren Walsh earned Academic All-County recognition.
The Blue Devil cast also included Jane Anderson, Corrine Cappabianca, Marticia Foster, Kim James, Christine McCarthy and Caroline Turner.
The Tietjen twin sisters went on to achieve NCAA Division I women’s soccer prominence at the University of Connecticut. They are now coaching college soccer after playing professionally.
Martin went on to an All-American career with the Duke University lacrosse team. Anderson played NCAA Division I soccer at George Washington University. Walsh (Cornell) and Turner (Princeton) went on to play college lacrosse at Ivy League schools. Krupski went to Quinnipiac University and is now a guidance counselor. Mays attended Utica College and now works in law enforcement.
Ed Parry won the League III Coach of the Year Award for his work with the 1994/95 Huntington team. Georgia McCarthy was named JV Coach of the Year after an undefeated season. The JV squad was led by Erin Anderson, Susie Fiore, Melissa Coffas and Heidi Hammer. Anderson went on to play lacrosse at Ohio State. Fiore was Huntington’s Class of 1997 valedictorian and went on to play lacrosse at Harvard College.
H-ton reaches Suffolk Final Four
The Huntington girls’ basketball team opened up a gaping lead and went on to topple perennial county power Northport, 49-31 to advance to the Suffolk Class AA Final Four.
The Blue Devils’ fast-paced offense and swarming defense proved too much for Northport to handle. Huntington led 12-6 after eight minutes of play, extending the advantage to 30-14 by halftime. The lead never fell below double digits for the remainder of the game.
“We just went out and played our game,” said forward Heather Forster, who led the Blue Devils with 17 points, 17 rebounds and four blocks. Samantha Lynch had 10 points and playmaker Katie Nugent added eight points and dished out six assists.
Huntington showed the crowd of 500 filling Louis D. Giani Gymnasium just why it has been so tough to beat this winter. The Blue Devils have a variety of offensive and defensive weapons at their disposal along with a very deep bench. Reserves enter the game and are immediately in sync with their teammates on the court. Players push each other and are totally dedicated to winning.
With so much riding on the outcome, the Blue Devils knew this was no ordinary game. “There was definitely some pressure because it was a playoff game so I think keeping composed played a huge part in defeating Northport,” said sophomore guard Katie Reilly, who came off the bench and immediately put on a dazzling dribbling display. “We rely strongly on our defense to make it difficult for opposing teams to run their normal offense. With everyone committing to the system that our coaches have provided we were able to come out with a win.”
Huntington’s suffocating defense created a steady stream of scoring opportunities for the team’s hustling offense, with numerous fast breaks. The Blue Devils’ sharp passing effectively moved the ball around the court and inevitably inside to Forster or Joellen Ceide, who had six points and 12 rebounds.
Huntington’ well-balanced attack saw seven different players score in the game, including Mackenzie Maloney and Lindsay Sullivan, who had three points each and Caitlin Knowles, who added two points.
Forster said Huntington’s coaches challenged the team to hold Northport to 35 points or less. “We feel great to have kept them to 31 points,” she said. “They played hard and played a clean game. We have a lot of respect for them.”
In defeating Northport, the Blue Devils bested the winningest coach in New York State girls’ basketball history in Rich Castellano, who has claimed 10 county championships and five Long Island crowns during his long career with the Tigers.
“I don’t think Northport played us differently than any other team this season,” Lynch said. “We were able to move the defense and get the ball inside to Heather. Our defense was the difference in the game because we caused Northport to play faster than they normally would. Our defensive intensity remained high no matter who was in the game. We were able to hold them to just 31 points so we didn’t need to push the ball as much in transition.”
Blue Devil Notes: Superintendent James W. Polansky was in the crowd for the game along with Huntington School Board member Tom DiGiacomo and high school librarian Patricia Dillon . . . Roslyn School District Assistant Superintendent for Business Joseph C. Dragone attended the game . . . Former Huntington girls’ basketball head coaches Ed Parry, Karen Fischer and Brad Reminick were at the game . . . A large student cheering section was especially loud in the Huntington bleachers . . . The Huntington Booster Club conducted contests and sponsored giveaways throughout the game . . . The Blue Devils went 10-0 at home this season . . . Nugent, Maloney and Sullivan all connected on three-pointers in the game . . . The Blue Devils scored only four points at the free throw line while Northport had only two points .
Nugent stars as H-ton rolls
A slow start eventually gave way to a long scoring run as the Huntington High School girls’ basketball team topped West Islip in the first round of the Suffolk Class AA playoffs, 63-47 before a crowd of 300 in Louis D. Giani Gymnasium.
West Islip (11-9) opened a 12-7 first quarter lead before Huntington stormed back, outscoring the Lions over the remainder of the first half, 35-9. The game was never close again.
The Blue Devils struggled early in the game against West Islip, getting burned several times on outside shots by Rachel Hunter, who led the Lions with 23 points. Once Huntington gained its footing, it was unstoppable.
Katie Nugent paced the Blue Devils’ offense with 15 points, eight assists and seven steals. Mackenzie Maloney had 13 points and six steals. Samantha Lynch added 10 points and Heather Forster contributed seven points and 15 rebounds. Joellen Ceide pumped in six points and pulled down eight rebounds.
West Islip seemed to be on a mission to topple Huntington from the ranks of the undefeated. “We knew that they were going to come out strong because no one wants to lose a playoff game,” Ceide said. “We knew that we’d have to play our game and trust in each other that we could pull off the win. Going in to play Northport that same trust comes into play. We play together for all four quarters. A different opponent doesn’t change our style of play. We know that what we’ve done for the whole season has gotten us to where we are now.”
Brooke Baade and Katie Reilly scored four points apiece Huntington. Caitlin Knowles and Lindsay Sullivan had two points each. Huntington head coach Mike Kaplan used all 12 of his players in the game.
Blue Devil Notes: Lynch and Reilly scored four points each from the free throw line . . . The Blue Devils dropped 19 free throws in the game . . . A large Huntington student cheering section was on its feet throughout the game in the top of the home bleachers . . . The Huntington Booster Club sold food and conducted giveaway contests throughout the game . . . Superintendent James W. Polansky, Huntington School Board President Emily Rogan and Trustee Jennifer Hebert were among those in the crowd . . . Maloney had a pair of three pointers and Baade and Nugent had one three-point basket each . . . Blue Devil boys’ varsity basketball coach Brian Carey and boys’ varsity winter and spring track and football coach Ron Wilson were also at the game.