The boys varsity basketball team has been making headlines with a 12-2 record that places them at the top of their division. Their journey to success, however, goes beyond mere wins and losses; it’s a story of redemption and resilience following a heart-wrenching defeat in the Nassau County Championship game last year.
The conclusion of the previous season was unfortunate for the Vikings as they fell short in the championship game against Baldwin, losing by just six points.
“As the filmer of the varsity boys basketball team, I’ve watched since the first game the team grew off the court and on the court. They work hard and show by dominating the court every game. I have a lot of fun making highlight reels for the team as they make every game super fun to watch. Hopefully, they can keep this strong run going and make it back to the county chip this year,” said sophomore and team cameraman Caleb Lundberg.
One of the team’s biggest victories was during their second game of the season against East Meadow, where they had a decisive 73-38 win. Then, they followed up with a 64-41 win at St. John’s Prep and an 84-68 win at St. Mary’s. Juniors Jake Vanderputten, Cole Reyes, John Spinoso, and Ryan Shanahan all spurred the effort to beat St. Mary’s, contributing a total of 55 points. Spinoso led the team in 3-pointers with three while Vanderputten scored seven field goals.
Coming into the game against Southampton, who faced Port for their season opener, the team was ready. They proved it with a strong 67-53 win that started with a 24-6 Vikings’ lead in the first quarter. Vanderputten led the team with eight field goals and one free-throw, ending with 17 points. Spinoso and senior Trevor Amalfitano also contributed to the success, putting in 14 and 15 points, respectively.
Unfortunately, the five-game win streak would end at the hands of Chaminade. In the first quarter, the game was knotted at 21, but Chaminade pulled away during the second and third quarters, totaling 65-46 by the end of the third. Port made a valid effort in the fourth quarter, outscoring Chaminade 20-13, but could not complete the comeback effort.
However, the team quickly bounced back against Valley Stream Central, where they had a strong 66-32 win. Amalfitano scored 20 points, and sophomore Izaias Clemmons and senior Mac Tiger each added 11 points.
Then, the Vikings tipped off against Great Neck North at home. Port Washington got out to a quick lead in the first quarter, getting up 20-11, and never giving it back. They would eventually win 84-47 thanks to seniors Amalfitano and Jake Siciliano scoring 39 and 15 points, respectively. The Vikings proceeded to beat Brooklyn Law and Tech and Plainview-Old Bethpage JFK by scores of 85-51 and 54-33. The victory over Plainview-Old Bethpage JFK was especially impressive because they had a strong 7-3 record prior to playing Port Washington.
Following their second win streak of four or more games, the team prepared to face Portledge away. After a first quarter that saw the team down 14-12, the Vikings proved their resilience and ended up winning 71-57. Amalfitano scored 24 points and had as many three pointers as the rest of the team combined. Shanahan and Reyes each put up 10 points on 4 field goals and 2 free throws.
Regrettably, the win streak ended there with the team losing a close back and forth game against Farmingdale. After being down 27-22 at the half, the Vikings had a forceful third quarter, outscoring Farmingdale 20-16 and only being down by one, with the score being 43-42. Woefully, the Vikings could not complete the comeback, with the Dalers outscoring the Vikings by one in the fourth quarter, leading to a 55-53 loss. The loss was not completely bad, as Amalfitano scored his 1000th basket, although he would’ve liked to get the victory as well.
The Vikings quickly bounced back, with a 40 point victory over Academy Charter. The final score was 78-38, with the scoring being spread out among the team, as no player had more than 16 points but 12 players ended up with more than one.
“One match can burn a thousand trees but one tree can make a thousand matches. Don’t let one bad thing ruin all the good things you’ve done today,” said Clemmons.
Amalfitano, a standout guard, has been at the forefront of the team’s success. His exceptional ability to score from any vantage point has emerged as a driving force behind the team’s stellar performance. Averaging an impressive 22+ points per game and delivering multiple 30+ point performances, he has not only solidified his position as a star player but has also evolved into a leader both on and off the court.
“While getting injured was tough, being able to watch the team’s success has shown me just how great and resilient we really are,” said senior Jack Chainani.
However, the success of the team is not solely reliant on one player. The contributions of Spinoso and Vanderputten have been instrumental in the team’s stellar performance.
The Vikings have seven remaining games left before they hope to make the playoffs, including two games against undefeated Baldwin, and 6-4 Westbury. The team also plays Plainview-Old Bethpage JFK, Farmingdale, and Academy Charter. The last regular season game is on February 9th at Westbury and the last regular season home game is Feb. 3 against Academy Charter at 12 p.m.