It wasn’t pretty. But it didn’t need to be.
Riverhead took care of business on their home court winning 60-55 over Centereach on Tuesday night.
Riverhead (9-2 league, 12-2 overall) committed 19 turnovers by over-passing the ball forcing them to play from behind most of the game. Centereach (2-9 league, 4-11 overall) led by as much as eight points late into the third quarter.
With junior Jeremiah Cheatom sitting out the game for an undisclosed reason, Riverhead needed someone to step up.
Quinn Funn was there to answer the call.
“Before the game started, Quinn asked me if there would be a moment of silence for Demitri Hampton,” said Riverhead coach John Rossetti. Hampton, a former member of the Blue Waves basketball program, lost his life taking a bullet for the safety of his family in an armed robbery at his home early Sunday morning.
Hampton was a “gritty, grindy, workhorse type of player just like Quinn,” said Rossetti. “They were friends, they played basketball together, I think that Quinn played for Demitri tonight.”
The senior came out with an aggressive mentality and a refuse-to-lose attitude.
“I wanted to step up,” said Funn. “Playoffs are right around the corner, everyone needed to give a little more tonight.”
Funn scored a season-high 14 points, hauled in five rebounds, found 5 teammates on assists and recorded four steals.
Funn knows his role. “I am a facilitator,” he said. “I got a lot of shots to fall today but thats not my game — I like to pass first.”
With 3:09 left in the fourth quarter, the Blue Waves were down 51-50 following six straight points by junior Brandon Tolliver. Funn brought the ball up, split the defense and dished an assist to a cutting Markim Austin to take their first lead since the first half.
But it didn’t put Centereach away. They continued to battle.
Holding a 58-55 lead with 39 seconds left in the game, Riverhead needed a defensive stop. Funn was assigned to guard the ball handler. He slammed both of his hands on the court, getting into a sharp defensive stance and hounded Centereach point guard Matt Brusezewski for the entire possession. He eventually forced the game-ending turnover by making Brusezewski dribble the ball off his own leg.
“It’s tough when you have different personnel on the court,” said Rossetti. “You have guys playing big minutes in key situations that didn’t see much playing time during the year.”
Riverhead was also missing junior Deon Shorter.
“What it came down to was executing — and we did,” said Rossetti.
Next, the Waves look to continue their winning ways against Smithtown East (3-8, 4-11) Thursday at 4:00 p.m. in Smithtown.
Notable stats:
Markim Austin – 17 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists
Brandon Tolliver – 14 points, 11 rebounds
Ryan Bitzer – 5 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists
Kwaun Arrington – 4 points, 5 steals
RiverheadLOCAL photos by Peter Blasl
Click thumbnails to enlarge images
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