The J. Taylor Finley Middle School boys’ basketball team is in the midst of its second week of practice. The 18-player strong squad will play a schedule of 10 games.
Coached by Flower Hill School physical education teacher Timothy Madden, Finley’s roster features 10 eighth graders and eight seventh graders. Basketball is popular at Finley as more than 60 boys tried out for the squad.
Finley opens the season on November 22 with a home game against Lindenhurst at 4:45 p.m. Additional home games are scheduled with Northport, Commack, East Northport and Candlewood. Away contests are slated at Elwood, Babylon, Kings Park, North Babylon-Moses and West Hollow.
Finley’s roster includes seventh graders Jack Corcoran, William Donaghy, Gannon Johnson, Andrew Lopez, Brendan McNulty, Shates Miller, James Ruthkowski and Jack Steinberg; and eighth graders Frank Algieri, Jermine Campbell, Max Carino, Shelby Gillenwater, Christian Luca, Nick Normoyle, Shariff Penalo, Alexander Perez, Michael Ramos Cubas and Jean Riboul.
Finley is expected to put a team on the court that is attentive to the small details that are crucial to a successful outcome. Madden is busy determining how to put each player’s individual talents to the best use.
The squad is expected to feature a high scoring offense along with a stubborn defense. Blue Devil varsity head coach Ken Parham plans to be an active presence around the team.
Madden is excited to work with the team’s 18 players. Middle school level sports didn’t run last winter due to COVID-19, so there’s been a long layoff. But now Finley is ready to jump ball.