Thunderbirds Cruise At Nassau Coliseum
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Hills East star basketball player Savion Lewis, right, shoots a jump shot in Sunday’s contest against Chaminade played at Nassau Coliseum. Photo/Half Hollow Hills School District/Philip Orlando
By Andrew Wroblewski
awroblewski@longislandergroup.com
The Thunderbirds have a bone to pick.
Last year’s runner-up to Long Island’s boys basketball championship, Half Hollow Hills East has adopted a ritual this year that’s being carried out before each game.
“We have a glossy, Velcro banner up in the locker room for both home and away games,” said head coach Peter Basel, who added, “That banner reads: “Unfinished Business.”
“Each guy has signed it, and they tap it on the way out… It’s just a reminder that we want to finish the job this time around.”
The ritual has worked plenty this season, including on Sunday at Nassau Coliseum, where the Thunderbirds took down private school powerhouse Chaminade, 90-68, in non-league play.
The fifth-straight win for the Thunderbirds, the state’s top-ranked public school team, was fueled by star guard Savion Lewis, who scored 50 points, a new school record.
“I’ve never had 50 points in my life, so to do it on that level and on that stage is truly a blessing and very humbling,” said Lewis. He added that the performance came on his father’s birthday. “It was definitely a present for him.”
Lewis and the Thunderbirds were tested early by the state’s third-ranked private school team, but exploded in the second quarter for 38 points to take a 55-29 lead into halftime that Chaminade would never overcome.
Thirty-four of Lewis’ 50 points came in the first half.
“What a performance,” Basel said. “It was one of those nights where you just couldn’t guard him. He blew by you and was finishing at the rim – whether it be with his left, with his right or with acrobatic shots. He even had a dunk.
“It was an incredible performance.”
The Thunderbirds fed off the performance; seven other players recorded at least two points, including Kendall Nero-Clark, who led the pack with 17.
“Everyone is playing unselfish basketball,” Basel said. “We’re sharing the ball, not taking quick shots, and there’s just a good rhythm and flow to it.”
Hill East was also a force on defense.
“Defensively, when [Lewis] is locked, everyone is locked in,” Basel said. “It’s like a frenzy, it’s contagious.”
The success carried over to Tuesday night, when Hills East beat Huntington, 92-59, to claim its sixth-straight win.
Lewis again led the charge with 40 points, including the 1,500th point of his career.
Nero-Clark recorded his seventh double-double of the season with 10 points and 10 rebounds; Julian Crittendon scored 13 points; and seven other Thunderbirds got on the scoresheet with at least one point.
The win was another step on Hills East’s path of unfinished business.
“We need to stay motivated and hungry… we’re going to get everybody’s best shot,” said Basel, adding that the squad is eying the top overall seed in the upcoming Suffolk playoffs.
He continued, “We’re getting closer, and we see the light at the end of the tunnel. But we have to take care of these important league games.”
The Thunderbirds will look to keep the ball rolling with five league games in the next 15 days, including a contest at Centereach slated to tip-off at 5:45 p.m., tonight.
