Blue Devil Sports News
The Huntington girls’ winter track and field team captured a proverbial truckload of medals at the Jim Zeitler Relays at Suffolk-West in Brentwood.
“It really shows how we are progressing and getting ready for championship season, which is right around the corner,” said Debra Cheskes, Huntington’s head coach.
The Blue Devils set a new school mark in the sprint medley relay, which features legs of 400m, 200m, 200m and 800m. The relay team of Nicole Abbondandelo, Marina Ruzic, Latoya Shand and Alexandra Koumas won the race by more than 30 seconds after never being seriously challenged. The team’s time of 4:29.71 broke the previous Huntington mark set a year earlier by 25/100ths of a second.
“They were all a little tired and tight from the night before, but this was used more as a workout,” said Shawn Anderson, Huntington’s assistant coach.
The Blue Devils’ 4x800m relay team of Hadley Clayton, Alexandra McKenzie, Alexis Pastorelli and Louise Koepele outran their nearest competitor by 11 seconds to coast to victory in a time of 10:25.04.
In the 3x55m shuttle hurdle relay, the team of Ryann Gaffney, Rebecca Caballero and Ekaterina Koulakova shaved a full second off the previous school record, taking first place in 28.15 seconds. The team of Megan Bacik, Mardnie Mentor and Erin Morrisroe also performed well, grabbing fourth place in 30.48 seconds.
The 4x800m relay team doubled back to win the 4x400m relay. Alexis Pastorelli, Alexandra McKenzie, Hadley Clayton and Louise Koepele turned in a time of 4:35.88, which was good enough to hold off the rest of the field.
All three Huntington walkers enjoyed personal bests in the 1500m race walk. Erika Varady (8:32.68 and third place overall) and Keily Rivas (8:38.56 and fourth place overall) took second place as a team to West Islip. Nicole Arenth also had a personal indoor best time of 9:23.86.
Savannah Richardson (4’10 and fourth place overall) and Lexi Mills (4’6) combined to capture second place as a team in the high jump relay.
Huntington took second place in the long jump relay as Mackenzie Joseph notched a personal best leap of 14’11.75, which when combined with Marina Ruzic’s superb effort that measured 15’2, gave the Blue Devils something to smile about.
Lexi Mills and Savannah Richardson combined to place second in the triple jump relay. Also competing in the event and realizing personal bests were Rebecca Caballero (31’2), Elly Mustafa (29’00), Amber Stieve (28’8) and Liz Berejka (28’8).
“This meet really gave us some glimpses of other schools’ talent and can help give us a possible glimpse at the upcoming league meet on January 24,” Anderson said.
Kenny Charles Paces H-ton Basketball Rally
Trailing by double digits in the fourth quarter and by six points with just 1:45 remaining and North Babylon in possession of the ball, the Huntington boys’ basketball team rallied in stunning fashion to force overtime and ultimately prevail over the visiting Bulldogs, 87-85.
Huntington led early and held a 39-37 halftime advantage before faltering in the second half. North Babylon went on a 24-14 third quarter run and started the final frame strong before the Blue Devils staged a furious rally.
Senior Kenny Charles knocked down an eight foot jump shot with four seconds left on the clock in overtime and Huntington’s defense took it from there. Charles finished with a season high 38 points and 14 rebounds. Kevin Lawrence had 16 points, including four three-pointers. Nat Amato played his best game on the year on both ends of the court and pumped in another nine points for the Blue Devils.
Huntington outscored North Babylon in the fourth quarter, 26-18. The final eight minutes of regulation featured many exciting moments, including several steals and tense free throws. Charles was on top of his game when it counted the most, with a stunning breakaway jam that ignited the home crowd to his visually elegant game winning basket.
Huntington’s Dan Mollitor, Quincy Nelson and Taqwan Goodin-Hill had seven points each, respectively. Max Angstadt had three points on a basket from downtown.
The victory improved the Blue Devils’ record to 5-3 in Suffolk League III play and dropped North Babylon to the same 5-3. Huntington is closing in on a playoff berth with six league games remaining.
Charles was interviewed on the court by News 12 Long Island following the game.
Blue Devil Girls Clinch Playoff Berth
Taylor Moreno scored 17 points and pulled down eight rebounds and Katie Reilly added 14 points to lead the Huntington girls’ basketball team past host North Babylon, 53-39.
Huntington jumped out to a narrow 11-9 first quarter advantage and led 25-19 at halftime. The Blue Devils finished strong, outscoring the Bulldogs over the final 16 minutes, 28-20.
The victory clinched a playoff berth for Huntington, which raised its record in Suffolk League III play to 7-1. The Blue Devils are 9-2 overall.
Alexandra Heuwetter had eight points and five rebounds for Huntington. Emma Petrizzi had six points and Brooke Baade added four points. Abby Maichin and Katie Seccafico scored two points each.
Reilly had a pair of three-pointers for the Blue Devils, the only buckets from beyond the arc for Huntington. Moreno dropped five free throws and Heuwetter put four foul shots through the basket. Reilly and Baade made a pair of shots from the free throw line.
Huntington hosts Riverhead on Thursday at 5:45 p.m. The Blue Waves are the only team to defeat the Blue Devils in league play in the past three years.
Dual Meet for League Mat Championship on Wednesday
The Huntington wrestling team topped host Bellport last Friday, 66-12 in a Suffolk League IV dual meet. The victory improved the Blue Devils’ record to 13-2 this winter.
Huntington will host Half Hollow Hills West on Wednesday in Louis D. Giani Gymnasium. The meet will decide the league dual meet championship. The action begins at 4 p.m.
Kenny Charles Nets Season-High 37 Points
The Huntington boys’ basketball team rallied from a 10 point second quarter deficit to overwhelm visiting Newfield last Saturday, 78-58. Kenny Charles had a season high 37 points for the Blue Devils.
Huntington trailed 26-21 after the first quarter and was down 40-37 at halftime. The Blue Devils outscored Newfield in the second half, 41-18 to improve to 4-3 in Suffolk League III play.
Charles was outstanding from the outside. His fine performance included three 3-pointers. Quincy Nelson and Taqwan Goodin-Hill had 12 points each. Both players dropped a pair of 3-pointers. Dan Mollitor had nine points, all coming on 3-pointers. Kevin Lawrence added five points and Nat Amato had three points on a 3-pointer.
The two teams started the game last Tuesday, but one of the two referees pulled a leg muscle with 28.7 seconds remaining in the first quarter and play had to be stopped and rescheduled for Saturday. Play picked up from the point of suspension and Newfield immediately went on a long run, putting the Blue Devils in a deep hole facing a double digit deficit. Then the shots started dropping for Huntington.
Huntington hosts North Babylon on Tuesday at 4:30 p.m. in a crucial league game.
H-ton Dominates Suffolk Sophomore Shot Put Championship
Four Huntington High School sophomores dominated the throwers circle at the Section XI Class Championships at Suffolk West in Brentwood on Friday night.
A battle ensued in shot put between Blue Devils Clay Jamison and Sam Bergman, who had both thrown 42-feet in the preliminary round. Jamison outlasted Bergman, edging his teammate 42-08.25 feet to 42-04.50 to capture the county sophomore shot put crown and a gold medal.
Huntington’s Shateek Parler (38-07.50 feet) took fifth place and Anthony McDonald (36-10.50 feet) grabbed seventh place.
Brooke Baade Paces Blue Devil Girls’ Basketball
Brooke Baade had her best game of the season, scoring 18 points and adding three rebounds to help the Huntington girls’ basketball team come from behind to topple visiting Smithtown East on Friday night, 60-39 in a Suffolk League III contest.
Baade connected on four 3-point baskets in an impressive display of outside shooting. Katie Reilly had 17 points (including three 3-pointers), seven assists and four rebounds. Taylor Moreno added nine points and 15 rebounds. Alexandra Heuwetter had eight points and eight rebounds.
The victory improved Huntington’s overall record to 8-2. The Blue Devils are 6-1 in league play. Talented Smithtown East fell to 7-4/5-2.
The Bulls took a 13-12 first quarter lead and extended the advantage to three points in the second frame before Huntington took control of the game, going on a 16-6 run. The Blue Devils went on to outscore Smithtown East in the second half, 32-20.
Katie Seccafico, Emma Petrizzi, Niamh Condon and Abby Maichin scored two points each. Maichin added three rebounds for the Blue Devils.
Huntington travels to North Babylon on Tuesday for a 5:45 p.m. league game. The Blue Devils host first place Riverhead on Thursday at 5:45 p.m. in Louis D. Giani Gymnasium.
H-ton Matmen Conquer West Islip
The Huntington wrestling team rolled to a 48-30 victory over Suffolk League IV foe West Islip in Louis D. Giani Gymnasium.
The Blue Devils picked up pins from Ryan Mock, John Arceri, Kyle Mock, Jared Leake and Ryan Stieve. Sean Flick and Charlie Gadson captured decisions. Joe Puca and Khari McNeil won by forfeit.
Blue Devils Win at Millrose Games Qualifier
The Huntington boys’ winter track team turned in another impressive performance at the Armory’s New Balance Track & Field Center in Manhattan last Wednesday night at the Millrose Games trials.
Kyree Johnson won the 55m dash and qualified for the 109th Millrose Games on Saturday, February 20. The junior’s time of 6.43 seconds in the preliminary heat broke the Blue Devil record and is the fastest in New York State this winter. The time ranks him 11th nationally.
Huntington’s 4x400m relay also qualified for the Millrose Games in that event. Exzayvian Crowell, Lawrence Leake, Infinite Tucker and Johnson finished in 3:20.70, which is the fastest time in the state this season.
The Millrose Games are billed as “the world’s longest running and most prestigious indoor track and field competition.
H-ton Girls’ Track in Millrose Games Qualifier
The Huntington girls’ winter track team ran its second fastest indoor 4x400m relay ever at the Millrose Games qualifier on Wednesday night at the Armory’s New Balance Track & Field Center in Manhattan.
The relay team of Nicole Abbondandelo, Latoya Shand, Marina Ruzic and Alexandra Koumas crossed the finish line in 4:05.22, placing seventh among all Suffolk teams in the events and 10th on Long Island.
Blue Devils Lose Lead & Game
The Blue Devil boys’ basketball team carried an eight point lead into the final quarter, but couldn’t hold on as Smithtown East turned back Huntington, 62-59.
The Blue Devils led at halftime, 28-20 and held a 46-38 advantage heading into the final eight minutes. The Bulls rallied in the final frame, going on a 24-13 run to claim victory.
Kenny Charles led Huntington with 19 points. Dan Mollitor had 16 points and Taqwan Goodin-Hill added 12 points. Kevin Lawrence had five points and Nat Amato added four points.
Charles and Mollitor both connected for four 3-point baskets. Mekhi Harvey and Quincy Nelson combined for three points.