Carter Wilson's 22 points lead unbeaten Bay Shore boys basketball over Commack
Carter Wilson of Bay Shore drives around Luke Cecere of Commack during a Suffolk boys basketball matchup on Monday, Jan. 29, 2024. Credit: Neil Miller
Bay Shore boys basketball and perfection have gone hand in hand this season.
At Commack on Monday, the Marauders showed the mindset that has kept them unbeaten. Bay Shore scored 13 unanswered third-quarter points to gain control and held off a late Commack push to get within four points in the final six seconds.
Guard Carter Wilson was brilliant with 22 points, three three-pointers and four assists to lead Bay Shore to a 53-47 Suffolk League II win.
“The good thing is we played together,” Wilson said. “So as long as we play together, we compete with a lot of teams. Like everyone, we may have played a little sluggish, but we also played together.”
Bay Shore improved to 16-0 overall and 12-0 in league play.
“(Commack) play(s) really hard, they always have a good gameplan and it’s a boisterous environment,” Bay Shore coach Ken Parham said. “So it’s always good to come in here and be able to walk away with a W because they do a great job.”
Matt Rosenoff scored 28 points in a monster effort for Commack (12-4, 10-2), which held Bay Shore to a season-low 53 points.
Commack took a 7-0 lead, keeping Bay Shore scoreless for the first 3:30. Wilson settled the Marauders, scoring six first-quarter points to cut their deficit to 12-10 before the second quarter.
Bay Shore led 19-15 at halftime as Wilson scored six second-quarter points. His effort was balanced throughout the second half, scoring five in both the third and fourth quarter.
“That’s what he does,” Parham said. “I’m not too surprised with that because he’s a good player. He did a good job tonight. We needed everything he gave us.”
Bay Shore’s 13-0 run gave it a 33-19 lead with 1:32 left in the third. The Marauders also went on a 6-0 spurt to take a game-high 48-32 lead with 2:30 left in the game.
Commack was tenacious, though, going on a 9-0 run to stay within single digits for the final 1:31.
Bay Shore and Floyd (15-0, 11-0 Suffolk I) are the lone unbeatens on Long Island. Bay Shore feels it has a target on its back each game, but it embraces that role.
“I think that was before the season even started, and knew even last year that was the case,” Parham said. “We always have a target on our back, but it’s fine. Regardless of that, it is what it is. You still got to play the game.”
Wilson added: “Huge target. But that’s the thing we come with. We expected it, and we want to win.”
Ben Dickson joined Newsday’s high school sports staff in 2023 after graduating from Maryland, where he covered several of the Terrapins' teams.
