After coming off a huge win against Great Neck North, the Manhasset Indians (2-1) were hungry for more. Manhasset was playing an unbeaten Sewanhaka (3-1) team for their first home game. The Indians were put in the limelight with a Friday night game. The stands were full and the energy of the crowd was effusive. With a high-powered offense scoring 93 points against Division on Tuesday in Sewanhaka, Manhasset was going to have to play stellar defense. Manhasset had some heroic performances towards the end of the game, to clinch the big win. The crowd seemed to be ready for a win and so were the players for the Indians.
The Indians put all their focus in defense but still had great performances from the offensive side of the ball.
Jawaun Gillespie led the team in scoring with 16 huge points. He provided the offense with a reliable scoring opportunity and came up with huge baskets as the game was getting closer to the final buzzer. Michael Bellucci came off the bench and scored 11 points for the Indians. He was the second leading scorer and gave a spark to the offense when it was needed. He also had the two most important points of the entire game. With 2.7 seconds left in the game, Michael Bellucci came to the free throw line. We were only up by 1 point and needed both free throws and Bellucci sank both in crunch time. This allowed the Indians to go up by three and make sure the game couldn’t end with one shot.
Without Manhasset’s defense they wouldn’t have one the game. Keyshawn Johnson and Thomas Duran were banging on the backboards getting lots of defensive rebounds when needed. Johnson played incredible defense in the interior, allowing no easy baskets when coming into the paint. Chris DeMatteis played amazing defense on a great shooter for Sewanhaka.
Forcing him to take extremely difficult shots and no open jump shots. DeMatteis also had the biggest play of the entire game on the defensive end. With 10 seconds left Sewanhaka came sprinting down the court. Sewanhaka’s Carlos Bodden came slashing into the basket down by 1 and DeMatteis slipped in and took a charge with 5 seconds left. Manhasset got the ball back and Bellucci made the free throws. The crowd went wild!
What allowed Manhasset to win the game was their defense. Defense is the trademark for Manhasset and is preached everyday at their practices. Heroic performances from DeMatteis and Bellucci sealed the deal for the Indians.
Manhasset has an outstanding team, but are eyeing for even more.Watch out for this hardworking team.
