Bridgehampton boys basketball's Jai Feaster lifts Killer Bees into state semifinals

The Bridgehampton boys basketball team knew it had to stay true to its defensive identity to win the regional championship.

Mission accomplished.

Bridgehampton defeated Section IX's Eldred, 71-41, in the state Class D region final on Saturday at Center Moriches High School and punched its ticket to the state tournament for the first time in 10 years. The Killer Bees also won their 17th straight game.

Jai Feaster (25 points) shot 11-for-23 from the field and also made three steals.

"It's not just putting one play together but putting multiple plays together in a row," Feaster said. "We don't like a back-and-fourth game, but we want to be dominant the whole game."

Coach Carl Johnson has been preaching defense from Day One, and his players have bought in.

"Defense has been our staple for the whole year," Johnson said. "We normally give up 45 points a game, and we held them to under that, so we're right where we need to be."

The Killer Bees (21-1) used a full-court press throughout, forcing turnovers and applying defensive pressure to score easy buckets in transition.

"We said we are going to put man-to-man pressure on them and pick up 90 feet," Johnson said. "At some point, we started settling for the three, which is not our game. But our defense turned them over and that was the difference. "

Early in the first quarter, Feaster made a three-pointer from the right wing to spark a 14-0 run.

"I've been playing varsity since I was in seventh grade," Feaster said. "I have been in this position before and we lost every time, so this time meant a lot to me. This is my junior year and I want to give it my all for these last two years."

The point guard did just that as he took over in the third quarter, scoring 11 points in a 14-2 run by the Killer Bees.

"Jai is a very passionate player," Johnson said. "He has a great IQ out there. I gave him a challenge, go take [Eldred's Trai Kaufmann], and he accepted the challenge."

Alex Davis scored 16 points and Jaylen Harding, Jordan Harding and Xavier Johnson each had eight points for Bridgehampton.

Kaufmann and Koen McGill each scored 12 points for Eldred (14-4).

Even though Bridgehampton cruised to victory on Saturday, Johnson and his teammates have their eyes set on winning a state championship.

"I think we have a great chance," coach Johnson said. "I don't think anyone has seen five guys that can get out there and play defense the way we do."

Bridgehampton will face Section II's Loudonville Christian in the state semifinals on Friday at 10 a.m. at Binghamton University.

"This one feels great," coach Johnson said. "This will be my first time in Binghamton, so it's something new."