A 29 point performance from Amityville senior Joshua Sorreno carried the Warriors to a 84-71 victory in the Class A NYSPHAA Long Island Basketball Championship.
Sorreno was deadly from all parts of the field, knocking down deep three pointers and running floaters in the lane. His ability to create space enabled him to find teammates for easy looks and early buckets. He accounted for 20 of the team’s first 30 points.
Head coach Gordon Thomas was not shocked with Sorreno’s performance. “Joshua has been doing that all year. He wanted it so bad. Josh is a big time player, and he steps up when he needs to.”
The defense for the Warriors started to show out early in the second quarter. After claiming a 20-15 lead in the first, Amityville’s trap started to cause havoc. Bad passes and high intense pressure led to multiple turnovers and easy points.
Playing high intensity defense has been a formula for the Warriors all season. “That’s been our game plan all year long. We trap and we trap and we trap. My guys play with intensity every game,” said Thomas.
On the other side, Garden City looked flustered in the first half, missing wide open layups and clanking three pointers. Forward Andrew DeSantis remained a bright spot for the Trojans. His long arms and high intense defensive effort was a mainstay throughout the entire game. The senior guard accounted for 32 of the team’s 71 points.
The Warriors broke away late in the second quarter, leading the Trojans 41-29 at half.
In the second half Amityville continued to pound the ball in the paint. The length of forwards Julias Goddard and Braden Tannis caused problems for Garden City. Sorreno was able to find them open on multiple looks during the quarter.
Both teams continued to trade buckets late in the third, with the Warriors clinging to a 55-45 lead going into the fourth. Three big three pointers from Jayson Robinson and Divaahd Lucas put the Warriors up 67-49 with 5:05 left to go.
In a comeback attempt the Trojans cut the lead to 67-56 with 3:40. It would not be enough, as the Warriors closed the game out to win 84-71.
Joshua Sorreno earned MVP honors of the game with his 29 point outing.
