Lukas Jarrett’s 23 points lead Northport

Northport's Lukas Jarrett drives from the top of the key between Central Islip's Justin Headley (3) and Christian Cherry (41) in the second half of the game at Central Islip High School on Thursday, Jan. 14, 2016. Credit: Joseph D. Sullivan
Lukas Jarrett puts so much energy into his game that he rarely wastes any of it on needless outbursts of delirium or despair. But there is the occasional exception.
With his unbeaten Northport team leading by two points in the final half-minute, Jarrett caught a pass in the low box with his back to the basket, faked left, pivoted right and banked in a righthanded scoop. As he raced back on defense, he raised his arm — quickly and not too dramatically. “Yeah, I was pumped,” Jarrett said.
He was entitled. The 6-7 senior scored 23 points, grabbed 13 rebounds and added three blocks and two steals in Northport’s tense 47-42 victory over host Central Islip on Thursday in competitive Suffolk II.
“Lukas is a big-time player,” Tigers coach Andrew D’Eloia said. “But the best thing about him is that he never takes a possession off. He’s that way in practice, too.”
Jarrett was in the middle of nearly every key possession from the moment Central Islip (4-3) used an 11-0 run to erase a 29-21 deficit in the third quarter and take its first lead since the opening basket.
Justin Headley’s conventional three-point play put the Musketeers ahead 32-29. Their furious comeback was fueled by three consecutive three-pointers by My’Quel Matthews.
Northport (7-0) tied it at 32 on Brennan Whelan’s layup off a give-and-go, with Jarrett doing the giving. Jarrett broke the tie with a turnaround bank and gave Northport a 40-38 lead early in the fourth quarter with two free throws. Angel Jimenez (11 points) tied it with a layup before Jarrett made one of two free throws to put the Tigers on top for good.
Sean O’Shea (12 points) nailed a big three for some breathing room at 44-40 before Jimenez scored on an up-and-under maneuver. With 25 seconds left, D’Eloia called timeout. “We wanted to take the shot clock down, get it to Lukas and let him make a play,” he said.
Sometimes the best-laid plans don’t go awry. “I tried to back down my defender and look for an open teammate,” Jarrett said. “Everyone was covered, so I just made a move.”
He iced the game, then showed a little fire.