Who will star for L.I. Lutheran boys?
Long Island Lutheran's Kentan Facey attempts a layup from under the basket. (Feb. 15, 2012) Credit: Patrick E. McCarthy
Someone is going to step up for Long Island Lutheran Friday night. But nobody, especially the opposing defense, knows who it's going to be.
LuHi enters the state Federation Class A tournament with lots of balance and little predictability.
"It's hard to scout us because different guys step up different days," LuHi coach John Buck said. "Even I have no idea who it's going to be."
LuHi (21-6), playing in its sixth straight Federation tournament, will face Brooklyn Collegiate (26-5) in the semifinals at 6:45 Friday night at the Times Union Center in Albany.
Junior guard K.J. Lee, the lone returning starter from last year's Federation championship team, averages a team-best 12 points per game. But eight players have led the team in scoring this season, including five leading scorers in the last six games.
"I know if I have a bad game, we won't fall off too much because other guys can step up," Lee said. "We don't have to rely on one person."
They also can rely on Brandon Alford and freshman point guard Chris Atkinson when playing up-tempo or go down low to 6-7 Ryan DeNicola and 6-9 Kentan Facey when slowing the pace. "Teams have to guard everyone on the floor," Alford said. "There's nobody they can sag off of."
Brooklyn Collegiate is a young team with seven freshmen and three sophomores and is led by a dynamic scorer in 6-3 forward Ervin Mitchell.
If Long Island Lutheran wins, it will play the Iona Prep-Harborfields winner at 7:30 p.m. Saturday in the state Federation final. LuHi handed Harborfields one of its two losses early this season.
LuHi, already with the most Federation titles in the state, looks to bring home its seventh.
"It's unbelievable to be a part of this," DeNicola said. "The chance to bring more championships to a program that has the most in the state is a great opportunity for everyone on the team."
