Ward Melville boys basketball team's Neelesh Raghurama, James Coffey total 11 three-pointers in Suffolk II win
Ward Melville's Neelesh Raghurama gets around Sachem East's Noah Gleason in the third quarter during a Suffolk boys basketball game on Friday at Ward Melville. Credit: Bob Sorensen
Senior Neelesh Raghurama and freshman James Coffey create a formidable backcourt duo for Ward Melville.
Opponents must be on high alert on the perimeter, but the varsity boys basketball rookie and third-year starter both are efficient three-level scorers. And on Friday, the pair put their whole arsenal on display in Ward Melville’s 81-69 win over Sachem East in Suffolk League II.
Raghurama (34 points) made five three-pointers and Coffey (26 points) hit six shots from beyond the arc. The Patriots, who trailed 17-12 at the end of the first quarter, outscored Sachem East 25-15 in the second quarter to take a 37-32 lead into halftime and led for the final 23:20.
“Coffey is a big part of the team,” Raghurama said. “He handles the ball. He handles pressure well for a freshman. He took on a big role, and he’s definitely stepped up.”
Said Coffey, “We wouldn’t be winning these games without [Raghurama].”
Raghurama scored 17 points in each half for Ward Melville (12-6, 7-3). Coffey scored 11 points in the second quarter and 10 in the third.
“It’s a luxury to have two players that can knock down shots all the time, but it doesn’t come naturally,” coach Alex Piccirillo said. “These guys work their tails off, and it’s important for our team that when they’re open, they knock those down.”
AJ Vurchio scored 30 points — his fifth 30-point game of the season — and made six three-pointers for Sachem East (9-8, 5-4). The senior guard had three fouls with 5:41 left in the second quarter and four with 5:25 remaining in the third but managed to not foul out.
“A ton of credit to Coach [Dan] Celentano, all the work they put in at Sachem East,” Piccirillo said. “That’s a playoff team. They’re going to get in. We may see them again in the playoffs.
“Vurchio is an excellent athlete. Him and Neelesh were tied for threes made last year in Suffolk, so we know what he brings. He’s so quick. He’s such a great athlete. I give him a ton of credit, and he’s a competitor.”
Vurchio scored 13 points in the third quarter and helped trim a 47-37 deficit to 54-52 with 1:47 remaining in the period. The Patriots responded and led 63-56 after 24 minutes as the teams totaled 50 points in the third.
Logan Seta and Coffey made consecutive three-pointers to open the fourth quarter, pushing the lead to 13 with 6:49 left.
Sachem East’s Josh Boothe (19 points) sank a floater with 3:03 left to cut the deficit to 71-65, but Raghurama answered with a three-pointer 19 seconds later.
“Everyone doubted us from the beginning of the season: ‘Oh, they lost seven seniors from last year, lost to Bay Shore by 20 [in the playoffs],’ ” Raghurama said. “All these younger players have stepped up to play a big role, and our senior leadership has been great.”
Ben Dickson joined Newsday’s high school sports staff in 2023 after graduating from Maryland, where he covered several of the Terrapins' teams.
