Eagles' Third Quarter Play Secures Victory Over Panthers

With the score deadlocked at halftime, the Rocky Point varsity basketball team took over in the third quarter and held the Miller Place Panthers to just three points in the quarter before closing out a 55-48 league victory over its crosstown rivals.

After taking a 10 point lead heading into the fourth, the game seemed out of reach for the Panthers (1-3), who faced a nine-point deficit with just over a minute remaining. A three by Ryan Dunne cut the deficit to six and after the Eagles (1-2) made one of two free throws, a three by Jack Hepburn brought the Panthers within four. The comeback proved to be too little too late, however, as Rocky Point’s Kodi Lubkeman sank key free throws down the stretch to close out the first league win for the Eagles.

“We had only one victory but 0-2 in the league was all that counted so this was crucial, especially on our home floor and against our crosstown rival,” said Rocky Point coach Jim Jordan. “If we would’ve gone to 0-3 to start the season, it would’ve been tough to get to six [wins], so this was huge for us. We need six to make the playoffs and this was one step.”

Lubkeman finished eight of 11 from the charity stripe to score half of his 16 points. Steven Soltysik led the Eagles with 19 points, 12 of which came in a tight first half. The third quarter proved to be crucial as the Eagles were able to turn a tie game into a 10-point lead by outscoring the Panthers 13-3 in the quarter.

"I think we had decent shots, but when we missed, our first few guys got rushed and panicked," said Miller Place coach Brian Sztabnik. "Then we were forcing bad passes and took some bad shots from there. [Then] it just spiraled down because once we missed early on, it racked our confidence and we didn’t regain from that.”

The Eagles and Panthers have a natural rivalry as neighbors, but this is the first year in many Rocky Point has been in League V with Miller Place. This season could prove the rivalry renewed. The two teams don’t face each other again until Feb. 3 and both teams are focused on their next opponents before looking toward the rematch.

“We definitely have to do a better job rebounding,” Sztabnik said. “They got too many second shots. I thought in the first half we got good shots but they didn’t fall, and that’s when everything fell apart.”

Hepburn’s 12 points led the Panthers, who return to action on Jan. 11 against Sayville. The Eagles will look to build on a crucial victory when they face Islip, also on Jan. 11.

“One of our problems this early in the season is we’ve been shooting too many jump shots and I thought we had a good mix tonight,” Jordan said. “Islip’s a very big team so that’s a different style than Miller Place.

“It’s going to be key to get to the backboards. Tonight we did a good job of that since we matched up well against them size wise. But Tuesday they’re very big so we’re going to have to keep them out of the middle and force them to shoot jump shots. If we can [do that] I think we’re going to be in good shape.”