Sewanhaka's size stops Kennedy

There’s an age-old adage in basketball that you can’t teach height. You can hone you’re ball handling skills, shoot 500 jumpers a day, and work hard on improving your quickness, but if you’re 5-foot-9 and your opponent is 6-5, chances are you’re in for a rough day.

Size was definitely a factor when Kennedy hosted surging Sewanhaka in a Conference A-I boys’ basketball matchup last Saturday afternoon. The Indians used their height and length advantage and left town with a 58-47 win. Marcus Johnson led a balanced scoring attack with 14 points and 13 rebounds, and senior Sam Williams had a double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds to lead Sewanhaka.

Senior guard James Ferry, playing in his last home game at Kennedy, scored 13 points to lead the offense. The Cougars fell to 10-8 (6-7 in A-I). Ferry is averaging a team-high 18 points per game and had 22 in a playoff-clinching win over Manhasset on Feb. 2. Senior Michael Schwartz added 10.

Kennedy head coach Rory Block knew the challenges that Sewanhaka posed for his team. “They’re not difficult to prepare for, because you know how they’re going to get after it,” Block said. “They’re going to play hard, crash the boards, and pressure you. Unfortunately, if we’re not shooting the ball well, we’re going to struggle. We knew we wouldn’t be able to matchup inside with them.”

The undersized Cougars kept things close, but the Indians finished off the first half strong and got rolling in the third quarter. Five Sewanhaka players scored as the team went on a 19-6 run to turn a two-point lead into a 44-29 advantage early in the fourth quarter. Williams started the onslaught by hitting a three from deep in the corner to beat the buzzer as the first half came to an end.

Any thought of a comeback was quickly squashed when Johnson got on a roll to begin the final eight minutes. The junior guard scored six of the Indians first eight points in the fourth quarter, the last bucket coming on a nifty euro step and lay in to give Sewanhaka its largest lead of the game at 48-31. The Indians improved to 13-5 (8-5 in A-I). 

Before Williams hit the three that gave Sewanhaka the momentum, the Cougars were staying in the game by driving to the basket, drawing fouls, and knocking down their free throws. Kennedy went 12 for 14 from the line in the opening half. 

Back to back baskets by Schwartz and Brandon Desatnick, midway through the second quarter, gave Kennedy its first lead of the game.  Moments later, after Sewanhaka had gone back on top, a pair of free throws by senior Josh Schuit gave the Cougars a 21-20 lead. It was their last lead. 

Junior Josh Eisner added seven points for Kennedy, which had key wins over Great Neck North and Manhasset to close January and open February, respectively, and clinched a Class A playoff spot. Jason Teich and Joe Condello also played their final home game. 

Both the Cougars and Indians will open the playoffs on the road.