On This Day In History | 2007

Giant Killers | Husson (#25), Singer (Back, 2nd from right), Pizzichillo (Front, 2nd from left), Duff (Front, 1st on right)

I remember my parents and aunt saying that was the hardest fought game they ever saw from a boys varsity basketball team.

~ Mitch Singer

The boys basketball team became giant killers as they took down Class AA Smithtown West 55-52 in a thriller on the home court.  The Bears trailed 11-12 after the 1st but came back with a strong 2nd frame, behind two 3-pointers by Eric Duff, to knot the game at 26 going into the half.  The Bulls tipped the scales in their favor during the 3rd quarter, snatching control of the game with an 18-10 advantage to take an 8 point edge into the 4th.  The Bears went about chipping away at the deficit, but trailed for the majority of the period until a mere 1:33 remained.  Down 47-50 with 2:29 left Lou Pizzichillo scored the game’s next 5 points and with 1:33 showing on the clock he vaulted the Brook into winning position with a clutch 3-point play.  Adrien Husson followed with a score to cap a 7-0 run and put the blue and white up 54-50 with 1:10 remaining.  The defense would not relinquish the lead over the next frantic minute, giving the home team a riveting, come-from-behind upset after an incredible 19-8 final frame.  The defense limited West’s biggest scoring threat to just 2 points in the final quarter after allowing 18 over the previous 3.  Mitch Singer scored a team-high 19 points that included 3 from behind the arc, while Pizzichillo finished with 11 after his crucial 5-point run with time running out.  Husson and Duff chipped in with 11 and 10 points respectively.  The stat of the game may have been the Bulls’ free throw shooting as they connected on just 13 of 30 from the line.

It was a fight.  Smithtown was stunned.  When it was all over, we learned the sweet taste of victorious exhaustion.

~ Lou Pizzichillo

_____________________________________________________________