McLeod leads Harborfields to LI 'A' title
Harborfields' Matt McLeod drives to the basket in front of Manhasset's John Maimone-Medwick in the Long Island Class A final game. (March 13, 2011) Credit: Kathleen Malone-Van Dyke
They had waited a year for this opportunity. It was the last shot for some, and for center Nick Fessenden, it also was a chance for redemption.
A jumper at the buzzer by Westbury's Sheldon Hagigal ended Harborfields' attempt to win a Long Island title last year, and Fessenden wasn't going to let his senior season end the same way. He led a stifling defense and Matt McLeod scored 24 points Sunday as the Tornadoes defeated Manhasset, 67-49, to claim the Long Island Class A championship before 2,300 at the Indoor Sports Arena at Stony Brook University.
The program's first Long Island title eased the pain of last year's dramatic 58-56 loss.
"This was our goal as soon as last year's game ended," said Fessenden, who had 12 points and 10 rebounds. "It feels great to come back and win it all."
Harborfields (20-2) will meet Armonk Byram Hills in a state semifinal in Glens Falls at 10:45 a.m. Saturday.
"We played too much zone in the first half," Harborfields coach Chris Agostino said. "We went to a man defense in the second half and that created some turnovers and gave us some momentum."
Harborfields never trailed, opening a nine-point lead when McLeod used an explosive move to make a lefthanded lay-in he converted into a three-point play.
"It felt good to be back and contribute," said McLeod, who missed the previous two games with turf toe. "This was all about hustle and making every opportunity count."
Manhasset (19-3) kept it close throughout the first half, helped by a 9-0 run and suffocating defense led by Anthony Amitrano and Gary Tibbs. John Maimone-Medwick's three-pointer got the Indians within 30-28 at the half.
But the third quarter was all about Harborfields' defense and McLeod's hustle. Manhasset was held scoreless for the first 7:03 as McLeod scored nine points. In a play that ignited the crowd, McLeod dived to control a loose ball and sent an outlet pass to Lucas Woodhouse, whose no-look pass to Justin Ringen resulted in an easy layup. "We got in transition and made our shots," McLeod said. "We pressured them into some mistakes."
He wasn't done, adding a long three-pointer and a driving layup off a steal for a 47-31 lead.
"They made some defensive changes and it disrupted our offense," said Manhasset coach George Bruns, who led the Indians to their first county title since 1996. "Their point guard played a great game. We lost to a terrific team."
Woodhouse, who scored 13 of his 15 points in the first half, directed the Tornadoes' offense in the second half. He finished with 10 assists, seven rebounds and five steals.
"He's the complete player," Agostino said. "He had a great all-around game."
McLeod credited Fessenden for keeping Tibbs, Manhasset's big man, under control. Tibbs had 10 rebounds and 14 points, but Fessenden harassed him all game underneath the basket.
"We had to keep them off the boards to win, and we did," Fessenden said. "And Mac was great."
