Harborfields focused on state gold
Harborfields' Lucas Woodhouse looks to pass against Sayville. (Jan. 5, 2012) Credit: Alan J. Schaefer
After sinking five straight free throws at the end of practice Wednesday, enabling his teammates to avoid wind sprints, Harborfields point guard Lucas Woodhouse acknowledged he's been focused on the finish line all season.
The one at Glens Falls, that is.
"There was definitely a different feeling after the LIC," said Woodhouse, referring to the 80-61 victory over South Side last Saturday that earned Harborfields a second straight trip to the state Class A boys basketball semifinals. "Last year, it was the first time ever for the school. This time around, if we're going to go up there, we might as well win it all."
If that happens, Woodhouse knows Harborfields (20-2) will have to play an effective perimeter game to counter the size advantage of Rochester Bishop Kearney (17-6) in Saturday's 9 a.m. semifinal -- and Jamesville-DeWitt, the state's No. 1- ranked Class A team, a potential opponent in the final.
Woodhouse had 18 points and 13 assists against South Side and is averaging 16 points and 13 assists.
"I think we're better at the three guard spots," Tornadoes coach Chris Agostino said of his starting lineup of guards Woodhouse, Justin Ringen and Kevin Zabransky, swingman David Ba and mobile forward John Patron. "The great equalizer is, can their bigs cover our guys? They play man-to-man, and I think John and David, with their quickness, are tough matchups."
Bishop Kearney is led by 6-9 junior Chinonso Obokoh, who averages 15 points and 10 rebounds, and 6-8 freshman Tom Bryant, who averages 10 points. The Kings average only 55 points per game compared to Harborfields' 79.
"After we won the LIC, Luke said to the team, 'It's not finished,' and he meant it," Agostino said. "I'm not looking past Kearney, but Jamesville-DeWitt is in the back of my mind."
Jamesville-DeWitt, which plays Tappan Zee in Saturday's other semifinal, not only features 6-10 Syracuse-bound center Dajuan Coleman and 6-8 Wake Forest-bound forward Tyler Cavanaugh, but is going for a state-record fifth consecutive public school title.
Harborfields lost to J-D in last year's state final, but Agostino's motivation is even more personal than that. The only other team ever to win four straight titles is Amityville, and Agostino was an assistant on three of those championship teams.
The head coach? His brother Jack.
"I know Jack is thinking about that,'' Chris said. "If we get there, so will I."
