Bay Shore, Floyd boys basketball teams looking to build on last year's incredible runs

The fans were packed into Longwood, a loud crowd estimated at around 3,500 filling the gym for the main event, 22-0 Bay Shore vs. 22-0 Floyd for the Suffolk Class AAA championship — intense high school boys basketball madness in March.

“I think the atmosphere was a great high school basketball atmosphere,” Bay Shore coach Ken Parham said, flashing back late last month. “I think there were two really, really good teams. I think in the beginning of the game, we were able to get some good control.”

Then the Marauders lost some control. They went from up 24 late in the first half to up four with 12 seconds left in regulation. Floyd coach Will Slinkosky called it “an epic game.”

“It was incredible having that many people,” he said. “It was like a heavyweight fight if you really think about it. They came out of the gate. They threw their haymaker. We tried hanging on. And then we came out in the second half and we threw another one back at them.”

Bay Shore proved it could take a punch, claiming its first county crown since 2004 with a 65-59 victory. The Marauders then won the program’s first Long Island championship since 1981 and finally fell in the state final in Glens Falls against Green Tech and finished at 25-1. Floyd settled for its first undefeated regular season and a 22-1 run.

Now Bay Shore and Floyd are beginning a new journey that they hope will again last into March and bring them plaques for their trophy case.

Three of the Marauders’ leading players have departed since that epic Saturday that featured two undefeated Suffolk teams fighting for a county title for the first time since 1978. But they return Newsday Suffolk Player of the Year Carter Wilson. Floyd, meanwhile, has a formidable Big 3 back for another run at its first Suffolk championship since 2012.

Slinkosky said his returnees “keep talking about unfinished business. They want to finish their business this year. So we talk about the unfinished business, getting into the Suffolk County championship, not coming out on top.”

So the Colonials, who will also be shooting for a program-record three straight league titles after going 24-0 in league play the previous two seasons, have that game to push them.

“It motivated us a lot, like really a lot,” said Jawuan Smith, their 6-5 senior power forward who made Newsday’s All-Long Island first team. “For me, ever since that, I haven’t left the weight room since.”

Smith, 5-9 senior point guard Jermaine King and 6-6 senior center Dahmarion Moses make up that Big 3.

“I feel like now that we know what it takes, we can really do it and probably go all the way with it,” Smith said.

The D-II and D-III recruit averaged 14.9 points and 11.8 rebounds last season.

“I feel like I’ve improved, worked on more of my three-point jumper and kind of ball handling, and with me [it] was kind of like the confidence,” Smith said. “So in the offseason, I worked on a lot of skill work, getting my confidence down. And I feel like I’ll be able to do a lot more this year.”

King hit 41 threes and averaged 10.8 points and 4.6 assists. Moses averaged 8.3 points, 9.8 rebounds and 1.4 blocks. They have drawn D-III interest.

“Here at Floyd, I have not seen three possibly college-bound players on one varsity in many, many years,” Slinkosky said.

At Bay Shore, Wilson has drawn D-I interest. The senior point guard has received offers from Albany and Marist. He averaged 15.2 points, 6.3 assists, 4.7 rebounds and 2.4 steals in 2023-24 after transferring from St. John the Baptist.

“Since I’m a senior now, I have a bigger role,” Wilson said. “I have to be more vocal, look out for the young guys, show them where to be on defense and stuff like that.”

Parham said Wilson “has definitely gotten better as a player.”

The other returning starter is 6-8 junior forward Niall Haughney.

The Marauders are also counting on 6-3 junior guard Corey Faines and 6-4 sophomore guard Kingsley Rogers. They served as reserves last season.

“If those kids are able to step in and really play well, the better we’ll be,” Parham said. “And if they have some bumps in the road, I think we’re going to have some bumps in the road.”

Brandon Hunter, a 6-1 freshman guard, will be in the mix, too.

“My team’s going to be young,” Parham said. “ . . . That’s the million-dollar question right there: How are my young ones going to do in a big game, like at Floyd?”

Wilson has faith that the Marauders are going to do quite well.

“I think we could go back to counties and states,” he said. “I think we might as well just shoot for the stars and just listen to Coach. We made it last year listening to him. So why would it be any different this year?”