BY JOSEPH STASZEWSKI
It took to the final day of the regualar season to officially determine all the seeds. Here is how things did and will shake out for the first round of the Suffolk Class A playoffs. All the games will take place at the higher seed on Friday.
Undefeated Ward Melville earned the top seed. Two-time defending State champion West Islip is in the second spot. Both get first round byes.
Half Hollow Hills West's incredible come from behind win over Floyd and Smithtown East beating Smithtown West earned Hills West the No. 3 seed and the final first round bye.
Smithtown West is the fourth seed and plays No. 13 Northport in the first round. Look for Smithtown West to advance. In the quarterfinals Hills West should get a rematch with No. 6 Lindenhurst, which has stumbled a bit. Lindy killed No. 11 Connetquot during the regular season an should get by them in the opening round.
No. 5 Smithtown East has been one of the county's hottest teams over the last few weeks. The Bulls have won six of their last seven games and its one loss during that span was to West Islip. It should dispense of No. 12 Bellport and meet rival Smithtown West in the next round.
No. 9 Floyd takes on No. 8 Middle Country in prime time. Floyd is coming off an excruciating loss to Hills West, but this is a tough team with a good defense. They should win a close one and face Ward Melville in the quarterfinals.
The most intriguing first round match up is No. 7 Bay Shore and No. 10 East Islip. The teams did not play during the regular season, but East Islip is riding a hot streak coming into the game. It’s won its last five contests and got a historic performance out of Mike Lyons in the season finale.
He had six goals, a school-record nine assists and a school-record 15 points in a win over Longwood. East Islip has plenty of offensive weapons including Tim Moller and freshman Tyler Begley for Bay Shore, which has won four of its last five, to contend with.
Bay Shore’s balanced offense had received consistent play from Gary Guinta and Drew Motschwiller. It earned an impressive wins over Smithtown East this season and has put up good showing against the league’s top teams.
I think we will see and upset here. East Islip, which only lost to Ward Melville by a goal, will move on to play West Islip.
The Picks
Smithtown East
Smithtown West
Floyd
East Islip
Lindenhurst