Lorenzo Crilly helps lead Smithtown Christian to Suffolk Class D championship
Smithtown Christian's Lorenzo Crilly motors down the court during the Suffolk Class D boys basketball final against Bridgehampton on Thursday at Southampton. Credit: Peter Frutkoff
Lorenzo Crilly came off the court writhing in pain.
The junior guard took a hard fall after jumping on Jai Feaster’s pump fake at the end of the first half of the Suffolk Class D boys basketball championship game and held his left wrist as he walked to the bench.
Crilly exited the locker room at halftime with his wrist heavily taped and scored all of his 14 points in the second half to help top-seeded Smithtown Christian earn a 60-45 win over No. 2 Bridgehampton on Thursday at Southampton High School.
“He had a good pump fake and I jumped so high and he went right under my legs. I hit my head first and then my wrist. My head is fine, but I really felt it in my wrist,” Crilly said. “I was feeling better at halftime. My wrist was still a little iffy but I wanted to finish the game.”
Crilly scored the Knights’ first five points of the second half — a long two-point jumper and a three-pointer.
“He’s our toughest player, hands down,” coach Daniel Skaritka said. “We rely on him a lot. He was in a lot of pain, but he was able to persevere.”
It’s the second county title in Smithtown Christian history and first since 2020. The Knights (17-4) will face the Section IX champion in a regional semifinal at 6:30 p.m. on Monday at Center Moriches.
Isaiah McCarter (18 points) used his 6-3 frame to dominate the glass and lead the Knights to a 23-15 halftime lead. He scored nine points in the first half, including six second-chance points.
“That’s what I’m supposed to do,” McCarter said. “Our goal was to come out aggressive as a team. We don’t play with any egos. We’re not playing through one person, we’re playing as a unit.”
Alex Davis scored 27 points and Feaster had 14 for Bridgehampton (12-9).
Nehemiah Yuen led Smithtown Christian with 19 points. Yuen made five three- pointers, including one from the edge of the halfcourt logo in the second half.
Skaritka put his hands on his head on the release but breathed a sigh of relief when it fell through.
“It’s the moment of ‘no, no, no . . . yes!’ He’s made that shot in games a couple times and he does it all the time in practice,” Skaritka said. “He’s our best shooter. He has over 50 threes on the season. Everyone worries about Lorenzo and Isaiah and he’s that third weapon.”