The beginning of a long road always has a few bumps as well as twists and turns, and something Greenport didn’t expect, a Pierson team with a hot hand, sinking three-pointers at will, from all over the court. Greenport was overwhelmed at one point, down 15-6 in the first four minutes. They were playing zone, something that Pierson used to their advantage as they always managed to find the open man for the trey. Greenport would come back within a few points, Pierson would grab the lead, and Greenport would regain a small one- or two-point lead. By the half, Pierson took a 37-34 lead into the locker room.
In the second half, Greenport regrouped, played a man-to-man defense, and mounted a remarkable comeback. With all their shooters hitting baskets — Ahkee Anderson, Julian Swann, Jaxan Swann, Jordan Fonseca, and Tashaun Lawrence — it was an invigorated team. By the fourth quarter, with a 20-point lead, the bench players came in, taking the game to the last few ticks of the clock for a 83-60 over Pierson.
Greenport’s next game is Sunday, Feb. 19 at Suffolk Community College at 5 p.m. against Stony Brook, which beat Port Jefferson yesterday, 50-47.
SoutholdLOCAL photos by George Faella