Blue Devils Unified Basketball in Playoffs on Thursday

The Blue Devil varsity Unified basketball team travels to Central Islip on Thursday for a first round playoff game. Tipoff is set for 5 p.m.

Central Islip is seeded No. 4 in the bracket with Huntington in the No. 5 spot. The team is practicing on Wednesday.

“This has been a great season for the Unified program,” head coach Jordan Ioviero said. “We ended the regular season in a three-way tie for first place, making Huntington league champions. If we win, we will either have a home game on Tuesday, May 30 against East Hampton/ Patchogue-Medford or an away game at Kings Park.”

The Blue Devils completed the six-game regular season schedule with a 5-1 record. “The team is so excited,” Ioviero said. “They have worked so hard to get to this point. I am so proud to have the opportunity to coach this great group and I love every minute of it.”

Huntington celebrated Senior Day at its regular season finale last week against Walt Whitman. “Each senior was called to the center of the court to take a picture and be recognized for all their hard work and dedication to our program,” Ioviero said. “Our seniors are Joe Algieri, Franklin Granados, Evan Spagnoletti, Victoria Befumo, Hannah Kaufman, Maria Verfenstein, Alisha Harvey and Mikal Arreaga. I can’t thank them enough for their kindness, compassion and hard work. It is because of them that we are advancing to the post season.”

The final regular season game was the team’s first one in the high school’s Louis D. Giani Gymnasium after playing its earlier home games at J. Taylor Finley Middle School.

“I would like to thank all who were in attendance for our game,” Ioviero said. “There was a big crowd that cheered our players on all game. The Highsteppers performed at halftime and cheered for our team throughout the game. James Rosselli did a fantastic job announcing the game and our players went on to win a league championship.”