Tom Girimonti Drops 20 Points to Pace Huntington

Senior Thomas Girimonti dropped 20 points and the Huntington varsity boys’ basketball team overcame a slow start to top West Babylon in the league opener, 58-30 in Louis D. Giani Gymnasium.

Girimonti’s scoring barrage included a pair of three pointers. The Blue Devils connected on six baskets beyond the three-point arc. Huntington’s defense limited West Babylon to seven points or less in three of four quarters.

“Our team played with a lot of effort and energy and we’re hoping to keep doing so in these next games,” Girimonti said.

The Eagles grabbed an early 7-5 lead before Huntington went on a 22-7 second quarter run to gain control of the game. The Blue Devils outscored West Babylon over the second and third quarters by a 44-18 margin to put the game out of reach.

Blue Devil head coach Peter Lipka exhorted his team to play hard throughout the contest, using strategic timeouts to break West Babylon’s momentum whenever they got something going.

Huntington’s Harry Baliber had nine points. Justin D’Eloia, Jordan Thorbourne and Daniel McNulty all scored eight points each. Eli Soric has a three-pointer and Jayson Colato scored two points.

Huntington came into the game following a one point loss to Copiague and a more lopsided defeat at the hands of Lindenhurst.

A loud crowd enhanced the atmosphere as Huntington played tough on both ends of the court. “We brought great energy to the game and came together as a team to win,” Baliber said. “Coach Lipka drew up a great game plan that we executed and we never had a doubt that we would win.”