Rose leads Port Jefferson to Small final
Port Jefferson's Terell Rose during the Boys Basketball Suffolk Class BCD Final between Mattituck and Port Jefferson. (March 2, 2011) Credit: Patrick E. McCarthy
Port Jefferson's 3-2 zone, anchored by Terell Rose, proved to be a thorn in Mattituck's side last night. Now that the recently planted defensive scheme has blossomed, the purple-clad Royals are budding into a threat.
Class C champion Port Jefferson never trailed in its 49-34 win over Mattituck, the Class B winner, in the Suffolk BCD final at Farmingdale State. Rose filled the stat sheet with 16 points, nine rebounds, five assists and four steals, but it was the Royals' defense that pruned the Tuckers' shooters.
Mattituck (15-6), the top scoring team in League VII during the regular season, was held to a season low in points, including just six (all scored by Yianni Rauseo) in the first 11:28.
The 3-2 zone, which the Royals have employed in the postseason, was really a chameleon; it morphed into a 2-1-2 when Anthony Lanieri shifted into the paint. Regardless of the setup, it was the perfect strategy to combat a Mattituck team renowned for its outside shooting.
"We haven't seen a zone like that in a while," said Mattituck coach Paul Ellwood, whose team hit just two three-pointers, both in the second half. "They made us look like we were sleeping out there."
Having three defenders above the free-throw line makes rebounding difficult, Rose said, but he and 6-3 Greg Nielsen (eight boards) were often able to fight for possession. "We just had to keep the intensity up," Rose said.
With another game guaranteed, Ellwood said his team didn't seem to have the same urgency. Lanieri's layup off a fast break gave Port Jeff (14-7) its largest lead at 41-24 with 6:33 to play. He and Braden Colucci each scored 11 points.
Port Jeff will play another three-point shooting team, Friends Academy, for the L.I. Class C title next week. So was coach Michael Riley's usage of the 3-2 a dress rehearsal? "There's gonna be some tweaks we gotta make," the admittedly coy coach said, smiling.
Before that, the Royals have a matchup against Class A champion Harborfields in the Small Schools final at 5 p.m. Friday at Stony Brook. Might the 2-1-2 hybrid send shock waves through the 6-3-1 hoops scene?
"In this game, it's all about skill, finesse, toughness, and a little luck," Riley said. "When it all comes together like it did tonight, it's smelling real good."
Just like a thorny bouquet of roses.
