Boys Hoops Roundup

Most teams have reached the midway point or beyond in the league season, so let's take a look at where the teams stand. I was down in Rocky Point tonight for the boys basketball team's big game against Comsewogue. The Eagles needed a win but struggled offensively in the second half and fell 63-53 to drop to 3-6 in League VI with five games to play.

Here's a look at League VI:

East Hampton 8-1

Amityville 7-2

John Glenn 7-2

Bayport 6-3

SWR 4-5

Miller Place 2-7

Mt. Sinai 1-8

Westhampton 1-8

So Mount Sinai is eliminated from postseason contention after tonight's loss against Bayport. Miller Place must go 5-0 to end the season to earn a repeat trip to the postseason. Shoreham still has a good shot to get in with games remaining against Miller Place (Jan. 31), Westhampton (Feb. 3) and Mount Sinai (Feb. 9). If the Wildcats can win those three games they'll assure themselves a .500 record and a very unpleasant first-round matchup, possibly even an outbracket game for the right to play that very unpleasant first-round team.

Not looking pretty.

Here's a look at League V:

Harborfields 7-1

Huntington 6-1

Kings Park 7-2

Islip 4-5

Comsewogue 4-5

Rocky Point 3-6

Hauppauge 3-5

Sayville 0-9

The Eagles must win four of their final five games for a 7-7 record and postseason berth.

Now some uplifting news, let's look at League I:

Brentwood 6-0

Longwood 4-2

Lindenhurst 4-2

Pat-Med 4-2

William Floyd 2-4

Sachem East 1-5

Ward Melville 0-6

The Lions are two wins away from clinching a playoff berth, but obviously are dreaming much bigger. I don't know if the Lions can catch Brentwood for the league title. They meet once more at Longwood, so the Lions will need someone else to knock them off as well. 

Right now, the Lions need to focus on getting at least the second best record. They can live with that. The goal is to be a top four seed in the playoffs. Finishing ahead of Lindy and Pat-Med would give the Lions a decent shot at that. The other teams in contention for the top four spots would be B'Wood, L'Wood, Bay Shore, Whitman and possibly Bellport. I'm not sold on League III teams. In my opinion, the winner of League I is the top seed, followed by the winner of League II as the second seed. Then the runner-ups will be the three and four, unless Bellport runs the table in League IV (The Clippers are 6-0).

A top four seed guarantees two home playoff games before the neutral court games at SUNY Farmingdale. The Lions have had to go on the road in the second round the last three years and have lost each time.

Saturday will be a huge game for the Lions when they travel to Pat-Med, a team they narrowly beat the first time around at home. Pat-Med got them one game last year and just beat Lindenhurst the other day. Marcus Stroman is tough to defend. With two losses already, the Lions have no room for error.