Bay Shore Long Island Class AAA Champions
By Dave Graff
Bay Shore broke open a close game with a dominant second half defeating Baldwin 66-45 to capture the Class AAA Long Island Championship. The game was played in front of a raucous standing room only crowd at Farmingdale State College.
Bay Shore quickly demonstrated why they came into the game with a perfect 23-0 record. The Marauder’s played aggressively right from the opening tip and shot accurately on offense. Tashawn Bumpers got Bay Shore going with a pair of threes, Carter Wilson followed with an and 1 on a jumper, Christian Smiley scored on an offensive rebound and a post move and the Marauders jumped out to a 17-7 lead. Wilson and Niall Haughney converted lay ups to increase the lead to 21-7 before an Austin Myles 3 for Baldwin made it 21-10 at the end of the 1st quarter.
Baldwin stayed in their matchup zone to start the 2nd quarter and it worked. The Bruins scored the first 8 points of the quarter and got right back into the game cutting the lead to 21-18. Khamari Broomfield scored consecutive baskets for Bay Shore increasing the lead to 25-18 but Baldwin went on a 13-7 run to close the quarter. Myles and Shane Mauldin hit threes, Brian Simms-Biggio a pair of jumpers and when Peyton Howell got a steal and converted an and one the Bruins faithful roared and Baldwin had the lead at 31-30. Carter Wilson hit a follow up basket giving the Marauders’ a 32-31 halftime edge.
In the third quarter Bay Shore came out and took over the game. They scored the first 9 points of the quarter (7 by Smiley) to go up by 10 at 41-31. Their pressure m/m defense contested every Baldwin shot and held the Bruins to one field goal in the third quarter. On the offensive end they got balanced scoring including two inside buckets by Haughney and a three from Bumpers right before the end of the quarter to give Bay Shore a 52-34 lead. The Marauders outscored Baldwin 20-3 in the quarter.
The only question left was whether Baldwin could mount a 4th quarter comeback but the deficit was too much. The teams traded baskets in the early part of the 4th quarter, and midway thru the quarter, Bay Shore began to play more deliberately on offense, holding the ball and using the clock. Baldwin to their credit kept pressing but the closest they were able to get was 61-45 with 2:30 left. Khamari Broomfield answered with a three to put the game away. The final score was 66-45 Bay Shore.
Khamari Broomfield led the way with 18 pts, Tashawn Bumpers had 16 pts, and Christian Smiley added 15 pts and 10 rebounds. Chase Timberlake led Baldwin with 13 pts and Peyton Howell scored 10 pts.
The Marauders will take their undefeated season upstate to Glens Falls where they will play Niagara Falls in the state AAA semi -finals on 3/10 at 2:45pm.
