On this day four years ago, the boys’ basketball team defeated Pierson, 56-31, in a Class C semifinal game to earn a berth in the Suffolk County Championship. The Bears had defeated the Whalers by 12 just four days earlier, but knew they would get a tough battle from the red and black. The hosts fell behind early, 7-9, but used a 10-0 run spanning the first and second quarters to take a 17-9 edge. Pierson followed with two free throws, but the Bears scored 13 more unanswered points, ignited by a layup and trifecta from Mitch Singer, to build a formidable 30-11 advantage.

The Brook’s game of runs continued as they opened the second half with a 9-0 spurt that pushed the lead to 39-15, a deficit from which the Whalers could not recover. The key to engineering the insurmountable lead was the Blue and White defense on Pierson’s best scorer, Dave Locascio, who was held scoreless over the second and third quarters, a 16-minute span during which the Whalers mustered just 11 points. Locascio had just a 3-pointer beside his name in the scorebook entering the fourth quarter and finished with a quiet 10 points. Singer led all scorers with 16 points and three 3-pointers while Lou Pizzichillo netted 12 with two trifectas. Pete Carmel chipped in 10 points and 19 rebounds and was a large presence inside on both ends of the court.

Double and triple-teamed, Locascio was swarmed by Stony Brook's backcourt, which didn't allow him to get his shoulders square and his feet set." [Pierson coach Fred] Marienfeld said Tuesday.

"It was the best defense I've ever played against," Locascio said. "I would get past one defender, and then Carmel was there, then I would get around him, and there's a 6-foot-8 guy in front of me," he said, referring to Efe Mokedi, Stony Brook's towering center.

Despite knowing full well what to expect, inside and out, Locascio was unable to get going offensively. His 3-point attempts were rushed by Stony Brook's suffocating defense, and his drives inside were stopped by the impenetrable front line of Carmel and Mokedi.

In light of Stony Brook's defense, a 15-point advantage at the half was an insurmountable lead. Pierson's goal to cut the lead to 7 or 8 by the end of the third quarter was quickly quelled by Stony Brook's 9-0 spurt that opened the second half. Locascio continued to misfire from downtown, growing increasingly frustrated with each miss.

"Nothing was going in," Marienfeld said. "We had very few good looks, and they hurt us on the boards. We got one shot and we were done. They got second and third chances. It's frustrating to go out in this fashion."

~ The East Hampton Star

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