It’s been a trying season for the Huntington High School boys’ basketball team, which has struggled to win games while dealing with an injury to one of its star players.
The Blue Devils captured a much needed victory last Friday night when Mekhi Harvey and Freddie Amato combined for 35 points to pace Huntington to a 58-49 victory over visiting Newfield in a Suffolk League III game.
The Blue Devils were in command throughout the contest, grabbing an early advantage. Huntington led 12-9 after the opening eight minutes and 28-17 at halftime.
Despite Huntington brining a 12 point lead into the fourth quarter, fans sensed the game wasn’t quite over and it wasn’t as Newfield staged a rally to get closer. The Blue Devils were forced to make several shots from the floor and the free throw line to lock the game up.
Harvey finished with 18 points and Amato added 17. Gerard Federici had 11 points and Mike Abbondandelo and Ian Ardell tallied six points each.
Amato was especially effective from long range, sinking five baskets from outside the three-point arc. Federici and Harvey also both dropped a pair of three-pointers. Harvey had six points from the free throw line to lead the Blue Devils.
Coached by Brian Carey and Kevin Thorbourne, Huntington had to withstand the hot hand of Newfield’s Paul Von Voigt, who scored 32 points. The Blue Devils used their large lead to avoid panic and make their way to the final buzzer safely ahead.
Huntington enters the current week with four games remaining on its schedule. The Blue Devils play at Smithtown East on Tuesday (January 30) at 4 p.m. and then host North Babylon on Thursday (February 1) at 5:45 p.m.
Huntington travels to Centereach next Tuesday (February 6) for a 5:45 p.m. tipoff before closing out the season at home on Thursday, February 8 against Copiague at 5:45 p.m.
