Despite Season-Ending Loss, Bridgehampton Seniors Fought for and Leave Lasting Impact for Years to Come

It was just four years ago when twin brothers Kris and Scott Vinski pleaded with their Bridgehampton School District athletic director and coach to field a varsity boys basketball team, despite a steep decline in numbers. While there were some growing pains across those 0-26 seasons, and despite their latest 58-53 loss to Chapel Field Christian in the regional semifinal Tuesday, you could say the Killer Bees are better for it.

“That push was 100 percent worth it. I haven’t had a single regret about it,” now-senior guard Scott Vinski said. “Seeing and being part of the progression has not only made me a better basketball player, but a better person. I feel as though I learned so many lessons that I may have never learned had I not experienced the struggles of those early years.”

And the advancements the program has made in such a short period of time could be seen as nothing short of remarkable. The squad went from two straight losing seasons to back-to-back appearances in the regional semifinal game. Both contests also resulted in close losses to the Lions (18-5), a team that flirted with the top spot in the state among Class D schools all season. With the win at S. S. Seward Institute in Florida, New York, on March 7, Chapel Field will once again face South Kortright/Andes of Section IV in the regional final in Binghamton.

“We all knew we could get to this point,” head coach Ron White said. “We took a beating for a year and a half, and they never quit. They refused. That’s just a testament to their strength, character, hard work and diligence. These seniors are a true representation of our school and Bridgehampton pride.”

The Killer Bees (16-7) weren’t deterred despite the nine-point loss that ended last season, that they traveled two and a half hours for the road game or the fact that their opponent returned four of five starters. That’s because Bridgehampton knew it was much-improved, too, and also brought back its entire starting roster and then some.

“I was definitely more fired up, because I knew what to expect from them, and I think my teammates were, as well, because to quote my coach, we all knew there was ‘blood in the water,’ and we all certainly wanted revenge,” said senior forward Dylan Fitzgerald.

The boys entered the matchup with a strategy to take down Chapel Field, and for part of the battle, they executed that. The Killer Bees looked to crash the boards, grabbing rebounds and pressuring on defense to make up for what they might not be able to do with a shortage of height. It was a lack of consistency that hindered the still much-improved squad.

Besides the solid efforts on the rebounding and defensive fronts in the first half, another bright spot shined in the form of freshman point guard Alex Davis, who despite racking up four personal fouls by the third quarter, finished with a game-high 26 points on seven field goals, three three-pointers and three free-throw makes.

“Alex Davis is a killer,” White said. “He works really hard. He’s one of our leaders and he has a very bright future. He’s going to continue to perfect his game and grow as a point guard and a leader. I think he’s well on his way.”

Davis recorded four first quarter, and 11 of Bridgehampton’s 13 second quarter, points. The Killer Bees went into the break trailing, 24-21.

“I saw that they let me get to my sweet spots — the mid-range and threes — and I kept making them pay for it,” the freshman said. “I was hot, and so I kept shooting while I was open. I felt good.”

His coach felt strongly about him, too, leaving the point guard in the game even after he recorded his fourth foul with 2:39 left in the third.

“It takes a lot of trust for a coach to keep someone in if they have four fouls in the third, but my coach put his trust in me all season and I never broke it,” Davis said.

Chapel Field eventually went on a 9-0 burst late in the quarter, with several scores coming off fast break buckets, that helped the Lions go up, 41-34.

“Chapel Field responded every time we made a push or a run for it,” White said. “We also had a couple of defensive miscues, where we had opportunities to put them in challenging spots by cutting down on passing lanes and rebounding, but they’re a disciplined team that moves the ball well and hits open shots. We panicked a little bit. I think this one’s on us again.”

The Killer Bees rallied from an 11-point deficit in the final quarter to trail by four. Scott Vinski hit a corner three to get it down to six, and Sae’vion Ward drove the lane to cut it to 53-49 with 44 seconds remaining, but Mikey Bonagura made five of six free throws down the stretch to keep the game out of reach.

Freshman guard Jai Feaster added 14 points in the loss and Vinski contributed six, with both sinking two shots from beyond the arc. Ward, a freshman guard, scored three points; and Fitzgerald’s younger brother Tyler, a freshman forward, and junior forward Mikhail Feaster tacked on two apiece.

“I know that everyone on the team left it all out on the court,” Vinski said. “Everyone played with passion and played their hearts out.”

His brother, who subbed in several times despite an injury, said he was grateful to suit up and play for the stint he did, continuing to leave his mark on this Killer Bees group.

“We knew it was going to be a dogfight,” senior guard Kris Vinski said. “If we got a few more shots to fall or limited turnovers, we could have come out with the win.”

Davis said this particular senior group has instilled such a spirit in the returning members.

“It was rough for them with only six people on varsity their freshman year, and then competing through a COVID year, but they stayed hungry and kept working. I look up to all of them,” the freshman said. “They’re all my brothers and they push me to be the best version of myself. They gave me the courage to always give it my all, even when I was younger than everyone else on the court.”

The legacy the senior group leaves behind can be likened to that of many before them, and they’ve helped a young group gain nearly as much experience as they did over their varsity careers.

“It was our job to do enough to get them to this point, and now I’m more than confident in their ability to carry out the plan and legacy,” Kris Vinski said. “The bumps and bruises we took only made us better, and it’s rewarding for us to have had as much success as we did. It all went by so quickly that I can’t believe that it’s already been four years, but I would do it all over again in a heartbeat if I could.”

For the next big three in freshmen Davis, Feaster and Ward, and their supporting cast, the seniors say the sky’s the limit.

“As long as they continue to be willing to work and listen, they truly have unmatched potential,” Fitzgerald said. “As long as the team stays together it will definitely be in good hands. With coach Ron White and this young, talented group we’re leaving behind, they’re in a great spot.”

White said the returners were already planning their offseason workouts and summer league schedules on the bus ride home.

“They’re locked in because they understand the things they can do and what to amend to play a better and more efficient game — to close the gaps,” the coach said. “They’re realizing they have something going for themselves and it’s important when things like this happen to them, because they know this was a very winnable game. We have a rich tradition of winning and we have a big torch to carry. They’ve got this taste of that success and we’ve all got some work to do, myself included, but they’re raring to go.”

“We are going to push and be better every day possible,” Davis added. “I have big hopes for next season. It’s going to be hard without the seniors, but it’s the next man up and I feel like this new core three can control our team and keep it going in the right direction.”

What White said he’s enjoyed most is seeing the student-athletes appreciate learning life through the sport, not just refining their games, but growing as individuals.

“I think the relationships I’ve built, especially with Coach White, is what I’m going to take away above all,” Kris Vinski said. “Coach White has done so much for me and the team. He has taught me so much. I can’t even put it into words how thankful I am for him.”

Kris and Scott said they aspired to be a part of the Killer Bees story since they were attending games at 4 years old.

“I immediately fell in love,” Scott Vinski said. “It sounds cliché, but it was a dream come true for me. I loved every second of it and wish it didn’t end so soon. It has truly been an honor.”

“Bridgehampton is a community that unites around basketball in a unique way,” his twin added, “and I can’t even begin to describe how much the support from everyone has meant to me.”

Fitzgerald said on top of sharing those sentiments, he truly became deeply involved in every aspect of the sport.

Scott Vinski said that has been evident in every single one of his teammates.

“Unfortunately, it didn’t end the way we wanted it to, but this team was special,” the senior said. “It was incredible to see the maturity, growth and bonding between everyone on the team. You could tell that everyone wanted this. I look around and I see a great team of talented players who love the game. We knew we would struggle in those early years, but we did it because we also knew it would all lead to this.”