Ringen stars in win for thin Harborfields
Harborfields forward Dan Curry #30 puts up the rebound as Port Jeff guard Terell Rose #4 defends at Stony Brook on March 4, 2011. Credit: George A. Faella
Justin Ringen made sure to steer clear of the trainer's room door when it swung open behind him after Friday's Suffolk Small Schools boys basketball championship game.
With two of Harborfields' top three scorers out with injuries suffered in Wednesday's county final win over Amityville - Matt McLeod (right foot) and Nick Fessenden (concussion) - the Tornadoes could ill afford to lose Ringen, too.
The junior not only stayed healthy but picked up the slack with 20 points and 10 rebounds in Harborfields' 57-49 win over Port Jefferson.
"Me, Lucas [Woodhouse] and Jojo [Savaglio] knew we had to step up with those guys out," Ringen said. "It was a group effort."
Woodhouse added 10 points and 13 assists and Savaglio scored 13 points. Ringen, known more for his three-point shooting, took on the role of slasher in the absence of McLeod.
"They were putting a guy up in my face, so I started driving more," said Ringen, who acknowledged Harborfields "played it safe" with only county bragging rights on the line.
Harborfields (18-2), winner of 15 in a row, will play Class AA champ Half Hollow Hills West for the Suffolk overall crown at 3:30 p.m. Sunday at Farmingdale State. McLeod, whose right foot was in a boot, and Fessenden are questionable for that game and the March 13 Long Island championship game, according to coach Chris Agostino.
It wasn't surprising to hear Agostino gush about Stony Brook's trainer's room. His players have seen enough medical tables lately. "Wow,'' he said, "what a nice facility that is."
Savaglio's free throw with 6:42 left in the third quarter gave the Tornadoes their largest lead, 33-19. But with Royals leading scorer Terell Rose on the bench in foul trouble, Port Jefferson (14-8) climbed back behind Greg Nielsen (15 points). The forward had an easy bucket down low to make it a 49-45 game with 5:41 to play. But Ringen squashed the rally with a three-pointer and later said, "I don't think we were ever worried about losing. We knew we were the better team."
Even with two stars on the mend.
