10 Photos
Southampton senior LeBron Napier is all smiles after his team's victory over Mattituck on February 8.
Southampton senior Andrew Venesina drives to the hoop.
Southampton senior Ryan Smith scores.
Southampton senior Andrew Venesina caps a fast break with a two-handed dunk.
Southampton senior Seven Smith drives on Smithtown Christian freshman Lorenzo Crilly.
Senior Mariner Andrew Venesina hits a reverse layup.
Southampton senior Kellen Jeffries plays the ball close to the end line.
The home crowd erupts when senior Kellen Jeffries nails a three-pointer.
Southampton senior Ryan Smith scores over a Mattituck player.
Southampton's Derek Reed goes in all alone for a layup.
There were plenty of reasons to celebrate for the Southampton boys basketball team when it hosted Smithtown Christian on February 9. And the Mariners did.
After a dominating 73-36 victory over Mattituck the day prior — its final hurdle in clinching an undefeated League VII champion regular season — the Mariners easily defeated a shorthanded Smithtown Christian, 71-46, the following day in a game in which the team honored its six seniors. Following a forfeit by the Ross School on Thursday, February 10, it was official: Southampton was undefeated league champs at 14-0 (18-2 overall), and with it, the top seed in the Suffolk County Class B postseason, which began on Wednesday.
Running the table over the course of the season came as no surprise to some — but did for others.
“We had every intention to be where we are right now,” senior co-captain Andrew Venesina said following his team’s victory on February 9. “I think we’re the hardest working team in this league, even on the island. And really it showed for us, especially these last few games.
“I always think the sky’s the limit, but I didn’t expect this,” senior co-captain LeBron Napier said. “We played great from the beginning to the end. I’m proud of my team and I’m proud of our coach pushing us every day in practice. We’re going to make this playoff push.”
“It’s been a great run,” senior co-captain Ryan Smith added. “I’m glad we’re going to get a banner, we haven’t gotten one in a long time. Playing with all of my seniors … it’s going to be a good run. We’re going to have to keep on practicing and keep on pushing until the end. Don’t look ahead. Just keep on going game by game.”
At the conclusion of the Smithtown Christian victory, it was thought that Southampton was going to have to play a county semifinal, possibly against Center Moriches. But Port Jefferson defeated the Red Devils, spoiling their chances of being the last team in.
Instead, the Mariners, being the top-seeded team with only three teams qualifying, earned a bye into the county championship, which will be played this Saturday, February 19, at Sachem East High School at 2 p.m. against the winner of No. 2 Mattituck and No. 3 Babylon, which was played Wednesday.
While Southampton has made easy work of its opponents for much of the season, especially of late, coaches and players are well aware of the target that is on the team’s back now that it has won 18 of 20 so far this season.
“I feel like, individually, I’ve had a target on my back since this year started. And I think us being 14-0, it’s just made it even bigger now that my whole team has a target,” Napier said. “I think there’s a lot of people coming for our heads.”
“There’s always a target on Southampton’s back. That history goes back to the days of Foots Walker and those guys,” head coach Herm Lamison said. “I try to tell the kids that. There’s always a target. It’s just a matter of how big and how bright it’s going to be — and this year it’s big and bright. We’re just hoping we can stay healthy and stay humble.”
As quite a few teams did this past season, the Mariners dealt with a COVID scare early on that forced them to reschedule some their games. It appeared to be the only thing that could have upended their perfect league record, but Lamison gave credit to his players for getting through that period unscathed.
“Number one, we’re lucky and we’re blessed because COVID, it doesn’t have any particular person it picks,” he explained. “I think other teams went through something similar, some teams more severe. So we were fortunate enough. But number two, we were disciplined enough to mask up. In difficult times, we were fortunate we were able to get around it without having too bad of consequences.”
Southampton started five of its six seniors in the win over Smithtown Christian. Saintino Arnold, who typically is one of the first players off the bench, started and made the most of his time, draining three three-pointers, all in the first quarter, and finishing with 12 points, just three behind Napier’s team-high 15.
“Definitely nerve-wracking, my last home game,” he said after the win. “I’ve been playing basketball my entire life, but I knew once I got into the game, I got to do what I got to do and make the best of it, of course.”
The fun continued throughout the game as Venesina, with two minutes remaining in the third quarter, finished off a fast break with a two-handed dunk. Then, with just under a minute remaining in the game, senior Kellen Jeffries, another reserve, drained a three, which brought the home crowd to its feet.
“It’s something I’ve been waiting for for a while,” Venesina said of his dunk. “I’ve been trying, but it’s my first in-game one. Not a bad day to get it, for sure. It feels amazing to be out here with these guys that we’ve been playing with forever. We’re just having a fun time.”
The Southampton girls basketball team qualified for its Class B playoffs and was tapped as the third seed, resulting in a county semifinal at No. 2 Center Moriches on Wednesday. Results of that game occurred too late to appear in this week’s issue, but can be found at 27east.com and in next week’s edition.
The winner of Wednesday’s game advanced to the county championship on Saturday, February 19, at Newfield High School at 2:30 p.m. and will face the winner of No.1 Greenport/Southold and No. 4 Mattituck.
