Southampton Scores Playoff Spot

Southampton is one step closer to its goal of winning a state title, and has a six-headed monster to lead it there.

Despite dropping two of three games this week, the Mariners are headed to the postseason for the 27th time in head coach Herm Lamison’s 28-year tenure with the team, and they’re doing it behind six double-digit point scorers.

Sincere Faggins led the way this week with 18 points in a January 22 85-68 loss to Center Moriches, which nabbed one of the Mariners’ top scorers from last year — Micah Snowden. Snowden scored 31 points and had 16 rebounds and seven assists to ensure Southampton wouldn’t get a chance to share the League VI title. Marcus Trent added 17 points and Lebron Napier, 10. Dakoda Smith, who tallied eight points against Center Moriches, directed Southampton (9-2 in league play) to a 70-48 win over Hampton Bays (5-5) with a double-double on 15 points and 10 rebounds. He also had five blocks and four steals.

To help the six-headed beast continue to dominate was Marquise Trent, Marcus’s twin brother, who finished right behind Smith with 14 points. Napier logged 12 and Kristian Wheeler added 10. Lucas Brown recorded 24 points for Hampton Bays. Faggins and Marquise Trent each racked up 19 points in Southampton’s 96-85 loss to nonleague challenger Greenport January 26. Wheeler tallied 11 points and Smith scored 10.

Greenport remains undefeated in League VII, topping Southold 76-42 January 24 before the nonleague win over Southampton.

Ahkee Anderson, who ranks 12th in Suffolk County in scoring with an average 20.6 points per game, performed above that this last week, tallying two triple doubles in the process. He racked up 21 points, 13 assists, and 10 rebounds in the Porters’ 118-49 win over Ross January 22, and 41 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists in the victory at Southampton. Jaxan Swann led the way with 33 points over Ross, and added 29 against Greenport and six assists. Greenport faced rival Bridgehampton (6-2 in League VII) January 28, but results were not available by press time.

The Killer Bees are on a three-game tear after a tough 65-62 loss at Shelter Island January 10. Leading scorer J.P. Harding, who ranks third in the Suffolk standings with an average 26.5 points per game, has recorded double-doubles in nearly every game this season. He logged 29 points and 19 rebounds in a 66-52 win over Southold January 18, and 29 points and 22 rebounds to lead Bridgehampton to a 76-34 victory over Smithtown Christian January 24.

East Hampton (5-7 in League V), looking for a playoff berth, lost to Miller Place, 70-59, January 22 after starting off the second half of the season with two lopsided wins. Malachi Miller managed 18 points, Turner Foster, 17, and Jeremy Vizcaino, 11 in the loss. The Bonackers bounced back with a 58-26 win over Westhampton January 26, and need to win three of their last four games to make the postseason.

desiree@indyeastend.com