The success of Port’s sports teams over the last few years hit a climax during the boys varsity basketball team. The team had an amazing run during its regular session, ending with a record of 11-1, and advancing into the AAA division playoffs. As the number one seed for their conference, the team would go on to maintain their impressive season by beating Massapequa and Farmingdale, earning the Vikings a chance to make history and win the Nassau County title for the first time in 78 years.
As the County Championship game approached, the entire Port community rallied around the boys, hoping for a historic win. Before the big game, seniors Kenny Daly, Cole Reyes, and Ryan Shanahan were interviewed by the New York Post, and the team won the James Greene Memorial Sportsmanship Award.
On the day of the game, the team was met with a massive wave of support from community members at the game. The positivity and support leading up to the game clearly worked, as the team went on to win against East Meadow. With that win, not only did the team make history, but it would be sent into an even crazier ride going off to play in the Final Four Game, and eventually the State Championship.
“Going upstate was a pretty cool experience we all cherished and were glad we were given the opportunity. Playing the stadium was nothing new to some of us, but the pressure of knowing we could end the season on a huge win or a big loss was challenging us. The pressure was there but we knew what we had to do and the ending isn’t the ending we wanted, but we are very about our season overall,” said junior Izaias Clemmons.
Throughout the season it has been quite clear to Schreiber, the Port Community, and all of the team’s rivals, how well the group plays together. Many of the boys have been playing together for years, and after the last few seasons coming up short in big games, they knew going to play in States would be special.
With this in mind, Vikings Cheerleaders, the Port Fire Department, family, and friends, gathered to send the boys off to their Final Four games in Binghamton on March 19. This sentimental gesture was captured by ABC 7: Eyewitness News getting the story live, which was televised two days later. The Port Cheerleaders, Port Viking News Anchors, and some Schreiber Troops (Port’s unofficial crowd hype group) would head up to cheer and cover the games as well.
“It was wonderful to watch everyone unite in support of the boys, and the atmosphere in the arena was fantastic. As we cheered from the sidelines, we truly wanted to encourage the players. They came such a long way, and we are extremely proud of everything they have achieved. As a senior, being able to cheer the boys on at states with my team was the perfect way to cap off the season,” said senior Anna Demeo.
In the day leading up to the Final Four game, the community came up with some creative ways to support the boys from home. Many popular restaurants in Port such as Finn MacCools, Sullivan’s Quay, and Lennon’s Pub offered watch parties for the Final Four game. Schreiber also hosted a watch party. These community events raised morale for many residents, and would translate to a close, but big win against Jamestown High School, which advanced Port to another monumental first: the New York State Championships.
Port was given a massive shoutout at a New York Knicks game by announcer Kenny Albert who gave his support for the team as they geared up for the biggest game of their high school careers so far. As the game clock started at Visions Veterans Memorial Arena in Binghamton, Port gathered around all over the town to watch the boys create an incredible game one last time. For many on the team, it was emotional, especially for the seniors with this being their last game of their high school careers.
“I had such a great time on the trip, it was an experience that I will never forget. I’m so happy the cheerleaders were able to come along to the games, and cheer on the Vikings one last time after this incredible season,” said junior Ella Tashlik.
Despite a massive effort and hard-fought game, the Port Vikings would go on to lose the State Championship to Shaker High School. Many of the cheerleaders and parents screaming along the sidelines tried to be a source of strength as the final moments came in, with many of the seniors on the team also trying to assemble as much grit.
“It was honestly one of the best experiences of my life. The best part was getting to hangout with the guys on the team and just spending so much time together. It felt like the whole town was behind us and everything from the greetings at the school to the crowds at the games and just the sheer amount of people following the team was awesome,” said senior Kenny Daly.
Despite a tough loss at the end of the season, the hopes for the boys varsity basketball team is bright. With the support from the cheerleaders, town, Schreiber Troops, and the amazing coverage by the Port Vikings, it has been revealed how tight Port is as a community for years to come.