Sewanhaka’s boys basketball team stepped onto its court Friday night, knowing its playoff hopes would be ruined with one more loss.
So the Indians left nothing to chance.
Junior Carlos Bodden scored a game-high 20 points and grabbed six rebounds. Sewanhaka scored the game’s first 18 points en route to a 77-39 victory over Plainedge in a Nassau Conference A-II game on Feb. 7.
“As long as we have good energy, no team can guard us,” said senior Jabryl Chin, who added 13 points. “It’s all about our energy and heart. If we don’t have that than our skills won’t do the trick.”
As of press time. Sewanhaka (9-7 overall, 6-7 league) needed to win its season-finale on Monday, Feb. 10 at Roslyn in order to make the playoffs for the second time in three years.
“We don’t feel pressure at all,” said senior Phil Repalone, who scored nine points. “We’re ready.”
The Indians stormed out to an 18-0 run in the first quarter using a tenacious full-court press that caused four Plainedge turnovers. Bodden scored six points in the run including two put-back buckets. The Red Devils (4-11, 1-11) were held scoreless until Tyler
Audette converted on a layup with 1:23 remaining in the first quarter to make it 18-2.
Sewankaha scored 18 unanswered points again to start the second quarter. The run was highlighted by consecutive 3-pointers by Chin and Danori Williams and capped by a Jemil Are bucket to make it 40-6 with less than two minutes remaining in the second.
“The guys just came out with so much intensity and set the tone right from the bat, “ said Sewanhaka’s third-year coach Jason Allen. “It was the defense that set the tone for us.”
John Danielo led Plainedge with 14 points. Pat Reilly added seven points and Billy Keenan six points. Audette netted five points including a 3-pointer before time expired in the third quarter to cut the lead to 61-27.
For Sewanhaka, Dominick Roberge scored four points with nine rebounds and Malik Elliot six points and eight rebounds.
The Indians were once again led by Bodden, a forward, who scored 23 points in Sewanhaka’s first victory over Plainedge, a 77-62 win on Jan. 11.
“He gets the ball anywhere around the paint,” said Plainedge coach Brian Buckley. Before their final home game, the Indians honored their six seniors, which included: Repalone, Chin, Are, Roberge, Elliot and Jacques Francois.
