After keeping pace with Ward Melville during the first period, the Huntington boys’ basketball team couldn’t stop the Patriots onslaught the rest of the way as the Blue Devils fell in tournament play, 62-38.
Huntington trailed 12-11 after eight minutes in the Frank Gugliotta Tournament at Walt Whitman. But Ward Melville went on a 19-8 second quarter run to take a commanding 31-19 halftime lead. The Patriots effectively put the game away by outscoring the Blue Devils in the third frame, 22-4.
Mekhi Harvey and Fred Amato had nine points each to lead Huntington. Nick Inman scored five points and Gerard Federici added four points. Mike Abondandelo, Brendan Simpson and Travis Robinson all scored three points. Ian Ardell had two points. Amato, Inman and Robinson dropped three-pointers.
Hadley Clayton is Spectacular at the Armory
Huntington junior Hadley Clayton burnished her track credentials by finishing fifth in the 1000m run in the North Shore Invitational at the New Balance Track & Field Center at the Armory in Manhattan. The Blue Devil star clocked a time of 3:12.21 in the race, which drew 86 entries.
Huntington’s 4x800m relay team of Niamh Condon, Christina Nigro, Ella Siepel and Sarah White captured third place in a field of 17, crossing the finish line in 10:23.81.
Blue Devil Relay Captures Gold Medal
Freshman Nasir Youngblood is one of Huntington's top young runners.
Different year, same result. The Huntington boys’ winter track team’s 4x200m relay swept to a first place finish in the North Shore Invitational at the Armory in New York City. It’s the second consecutive year the Blue Devils have won the event.
Huntington’s relay consisted of freshman Nasir Youngblood on the first leg; senior Alex LaBella on the second leg; junior Jonathan Smith on the third leg; and freshman Anthony Joseph as the anchor. The Blue Devils finished in 1:33.55. The field included 39 relay teams from New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.
Huntington’s time in the event ranks it No. 2 in Suffolk this season, a mere 7-100ths of a second behind Bay Shore.
Huntington Throwers are Tops
The throwers on Huntington’s boys’ indoor track and field team are among the best collective group anywhere.
At the North Shore Invitational at the Armory in Manhattan, six Blue Devils finished in the top one-third of the 88 entries in shot put. Clay Jamison and Eric Sands placed second and third, respectively. Levi Leach was sixth and Anthony McDonald finished 13th. Shateek Parler (21st) and Gary Barash (29th) were also impressive in the event.
In weight throw (the indoor version of the outdoor hammer throw), Jamison placed sixth while Sands was 11th and Barash was 13th. The event drew 48 entries.
Huntington Girls’ JV Topples Amityville
The Huntington junior varsity girls’ basketball team enjoyed its best offensive performance of the season last Friday, toppling visiting Amityville, 59-17.
Sophomore Grace Heuwetter paced the Blue Devils with a team-high 15 points. Freshman Giavanna Devoe had 14 points and eighth grader Makayla Frazier added 11 points.
Huntington took command of the game early and never let up. Eighth grader Shaneek Shand dropped 10 points, including six in the fourth quarter. Eighth grader Regan Sansiviero scored four points, freshman Kemberlin Hernandez-Veliz had three points and sophomore Brooke Biernacki added two points for the Blue Devils
Perry Marinelli coaches the Huntington JV squad.
Finley Coach Nancy Conlon a HHS Grad
Nancy Conlon has worked in the district since 1986 and been a full-time member of the physical education department’s faculty since September 1992. A member of Huntington High School’s Class of 1981, she earned a full athletic softball scholarship to LIU-C.W. Post College, where she obtained an undergraduate degree in physical education. She later earned a master’s degree at Stony Brook University. She has coached middle school field hockey and softball.
First Victory for New Mat Coach
Lou Giani (foreground) is in his first season as head coach of the Huntington varsity wrestling team.
The Huntington wrestling team scored the final 15 points of the meet as the Blue Devils came from behind to topple host Deer Park in league action on Friday night, 42-32. It marks the first career win for new varsity head coach, Lou R. Giani.
Seniors Aidan McCooey and William Mejia are Huntington’s team captains. Kieran Mock and Omar Santiago the Blue Devils’ assistant coaches.
Huntington will take to the mat again on Saturday, December 30 in a tournament at Northport High School.
Blue Devils Girls’ Basketball Celebrates at Party
The Baade family generously through its open its doors on Friday night and hosted Huntington varsity girls’ basketball players and family members for the team’s holiday party. A delicious hot meal was served along with tasty desserts. Players exchanged fun gifts. The party stretched well into the night.
HHS Boasts Two Spectacular Race Walkers
Only a handful of high school girls’ track and field teams in the metropolitan area can count two sensational race walkers on its roster. Most squads would be happy to have just one, but Huntington High School boasts a pair of magnificent athletes in Keily Rivas and Nicole Arenth.
At Saturday’s Ocean Breeze Holiday Classic in Staten Island, Rivas captured first place in 7:12.40 and Arenth placed third in 7:46.54 in the 1500m race walk. Arenth finished 5-100ths of a second behind runner-up Danielle Lovelace from Pine Bush in Orange County. The field included 21 athletes.
Race walking is a highly technical event that requires long hours of training. Huntington’s spectacular duo are at it every afternoon in the high school’s hallways, refining their skills and strategies as they chase after personal best times.
Upcoming Finley Athletic Seasons
The second winter sports season is on the horizon at J. Taylor Finley Middle School. Two girls’ basketball teams will be fielded along with wrestling and boys’ volleyball squads. Winter II will run from January 22 through March 24.
Finley’s spring season kicks off on March 26 and runs through June 9. Students can choose from baseball, softball, boys’ tennis and boys’ and girls’ lacrosse and track and field teams.
Harvey’s 13 Points Pace Huntington
The Huntington boys’ basketball team battled, but couldn’t overcome Jericho’s strong offensive performance in a 65-46 non-league loss.
Mekhi Harvey led all Blue Devil scorers with 13 points. Mike Abbondandelo had 11 points and Nick Inman added nine.
Huntington found itself playing catch-up after Jericho raced to a 23-9 first quarter lead. The Blue Devils trailed 37-21 at halftime and 56-30 after three quarters.
Huntington went on a 16-9 fourth quarter fun to cut its final deficit. Freddie Amato scored five points from the foul line. Travis Robinson had three points and Ian Ardell scored two points. Gerard Federici had one point from the free throw line. Harvey and Robinson both dropped three-point baskets.
H-ton Sprint Medley Relays Run Strong
A pair of Huntington relay teams finished in the top third of the 1600m sprint medley relay at the Ocean Breeze Holiday Classic in Staten Island last weekend.
Sophie Dellecave, Alicia Brooks, Catie Ricciardelli and Nicole Abbondandelo placed seventh in 4:34.96.
Alexandra McKenzie, Lanaya Swazey, Mackenzie Joseph and Hadley Clayton finished eighth in 4:38.63.
The event drew 28 relay teams from across the metropolitan area.
H-ton Football Coaches Planning
Huntington High School football coaches are already planning for next season. Tentative schedules will be released in three or four months. In the meantime, players are already engaged in off-season conditioning and head coach Steve Muller is developing offensive and defensive plans.
Huntington will return three All-Division players in quarterback John P. Paci IV and running backs Eric Sands and Sebastian Abreu. Key underclassmen Jaylen Bush, Lex Colato and Jonathan Koumas are also returning along with many other Blue Devils.
