Winter Sports Preview: Bears on a Mission

For The Stony Brook School, winter is all about opportunity. The two basketball teams are defending champions on the court, while wrestling is looking to build experience on the mat.

Boys' Basketball

Last Season: 12-4; won Long Island Class C Championship

Head Coach: Michael Hickey

Key Athletes:

• Tim Pandolfi
• Farqu Taylor
• Marco Masayakan

After taking last year's Class C Long Island Championship, the league has its target set on the Bears. As Hickey said, "It's always tough to repeat," and it'll be even tougher this year. Two time all-state athlete Pandolfi won't be able to play until January after tearing his meniscus in the preseason. But the Bears seem to be filling in where Pandolfi can't. In their first game on Friday against the Babylon Panthers, Masayakan, with four three-pointers, and Kai Strachan scored 16 points each to gain the victory in overtime, 48-47. Stony Brook led through most of the game before allowing the Panthers to take over tempo and tie up the score. But the Bears were able to clinch it with free throw shooting and clock management. "This is what we needed," Hickey said. "We have a lot of young players and to come in to this game against a tough team from a bigger division and win without relying on leaders from past seasons should have a positive effect for us."

Key Games: Ward Melville comes to Stony Brook Dec. 10 at 7 p.m., and the Bears will have their first meeting against league rival Southold on Jan. 18 at 6:30 p.m.

Wrestling

Last Season: 5-12

Head Coach: Mark Maningo

Key Athletes:

• Tyler Anderson- 171 lb.
• Austin Holtz- 125 lb.
• Hunter Holtz- 96 lb.

Maningo is anticipating some degree of difficulty getting wins with so many young wrestlers on the team. "We have a nucleus of underclassmen and we keep trying to get more of the young guys on the mat," Maningo said. Anderson, a senior, ranked third in his division last year and is expected to be among the leaders again this year.

Key Dates: Dec. 15 is the home opener against Long Island Lutheran, and the Stony Brook School will host the annual Brohard tournament on Jan. 22.

Girls' Basketball

Last Season: 17-1; Long Island Championship

Head Coach: Amy Helm

Key Athletes:

• Natalie Istrati
• Brannon Burke
• Jessica Winston

The Bears have won the last six League VIII titles, and the last two Long Island Championships. Helm has been with the team for 10 years as an assistant and is taking over in her first season as head coach. "Our priority is to implement our team and individual goals one game at a time," she said. "The seniors have taken a leadership role both on and off the court that's helping our program develop the younger players, and we're looking forward to continuing the tradition of success here at The Stony Brook School."

Key Dates: Dec. 7 @ 4:30 p.m. Smithtown West comes to Stony Brook, and Jan. 11 at home against Southold at 4:30 p.m.