Syosset loses 66-56 to Port Washington
The Syosset Braves faced off against the Port Washington Vikings, on Feb. 25, in the semifinals of the Class AAA Nassau playoffs at Farmingdale State College. The Braves lost 66-56.
Syosset’s leading scorers were AJ AbuSaab and Will Pettinato, who both scored 14 apiece. The number one-seeded Vikings were led by senior Trevor Amalfitano, who scored 23 points, leading all scorers.
These two teams also met up in last year’s semifinals, Syosset kept it much closer than last year’s game but still came up short.
Despite making seven more threes than the Vikings, Syosset couldn’t overcome the huge free-throw difference. Syosset had just three makes compared to Port Washington’s 21 free throws. Syosset’s Yassen Shaker made a quick layup to start the scoring but the next basket didn’t come until Jake Spinoso made an up-and-under layup four minutes into the game for the Vikings. Amalfitano added eight points in the first quarter helping the Vikings jump out to a 15-5 lead.
The Braves stormed back in the second quarter with four threes giving them a 17-16 lead. Pettinato hit three of his four threes in the opening barrage. Port followed that 12-1 run with a run of their own starting with a John Spinoso three; they ended the quarter on a 9-4 run giving them a 28-21 cushion going into halftime.
Syosset fell into their largest deficit allowing an 8-3 run starting in the third, 36-23. Toward the end of the quarter, Syosset showed some life after a tough Kyle Joe layup and the foul. Amalfitano drew a foul as time was ticking down at the end of the quarter quieting that short spark of life. The two free throws made the score 45-37 heading into the final period.
With help from Joe’s 10 second-half points, Syosset didn’t go away easily as AbuSaab hit a big three making the game 54-50, the closest the score has been since the second but they just couldn’t do enough to gain another lead since that quarter.
Syosset falls to 17-5 after another impressive season but came up short of Port Washington for the second straight season.
