Finley Boys’ Basketball Teams Strive for Daily Improvement

The “blue” and “white” J. Taylor Middle School boys’ basketball teams are both on the court and doing their best make daily improvements and to win.

Over 50 players tried out for this year’s teams, which are coached by Flower Hill School physical education teacher Timothy Madden and Jack Abrams School physical education teacher John Walsh. The two teams practice at Finley after school.

The “blue” and “white” teams get their respective name from the district’s colors. That’s similar to how schools across Suffolk name their double middle school teams.

The two teams are playing 10 game schedules through mid-January. The teams met about 10 days ago and Madden’s “blue” team emerged victorious.

The “blue” team’s roster features Robert Bellino, Ryder Cicciari, William Dease, Nathan Falk, John Gentile, Charles Gordon, Stewart Henry, Kayden Jamison, Palmer Laycock, Shane LeGrow, Dom Leotta, Maxwell Manu, Harrison McIntyre, Will Respass, Joxhdiel Rodriguez and Luke Shanley.

The “white” team’s roster includes Mason Alexis, Azariah Allen, David Bergmann, Noah Black, Matteo Dasaro, John Dello-Iacono, Oliver Frintzilas, Xaxion Greene, Leif Gundersen, Kevin Harris, Daniel Kasindorf, Jake Kiernan, Conor Kuhn, Steve Lapp, Jack McLaughlin and Blake Schmale.

Tim Madden has been a Huntington physical education teacher since September 2002. A graduate of Hauppauge High School, he obtained an undergraduate degree at SUNY Cortland and a master’s degree at Stony Brook University. He has coached football, basketball, baseball, track, lacrosse and softball at various levels.

John Walsh has been a Huntington physical education teacher since September 1994. A graduate of East Islip High School, he earned an undergraduate degree at SUNY Brockport and a master’s degree at Stony Brook University.

Mr. Walsh has taught at several schools within Huntington UFSD and currently serves at Jack Abrams STEM Magnet School. He has coached boys’ volleyball, boys’ basketball and cross country girls’ soccer, bowling and softball on the middle school and varsity levels.