Hewlett tops Carey for second straight win

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Coming off its first victory of the season following 11 losses out of the gate, youthful Hewlett put together another strong defensive effort Friday and had four double-digit scorers in a convincing 59-31 victory at Carey in a Nassau Conference A3 boys’ basketball matchup.

The Bulldogs trailed just once — 8-7 midway through the opening quarter — and allowed just 11 second-half points on the way to handing the Seahawks (0-4 in A-3) their 10th straight defeat. Mateo Preziosi, Hewlett’s only senior, scored a game-high 13 points, sophomore Justin Ogilvie added 12, and juniors Luke Rochler and Frantz Limage added 11 and 10, respectively.

“It was a big week for us and hopefully the way we’re playing will continue,” Hewlett head coach Bill Dubin said. “The biggest improvement has been we’ve become much more competitive in practice. Our shooting has gotten better and we’ve played solid defense these last two games.”

Junior Zane Branch had the toughest individual defensive assignment on Friday when he was tasked to guard Carey senior standout Nick Broas, who entered the contest averaging 19 points per game. Broas was held to a season-low 10.

“Hewlett came here prepared and credit goes to them and coach Dubin,” Carey head coach Dan Reece said. “We really struggled offensively tonight. We had a tough shooting game and too many turnovers.”

Dubin said the game plan was to make someone other than Broas beat them. “He’s an excellent player and we wanted to make things as difficult as we could for him,” Dubin said.

Reece said junior center Jerome Ferguson was a bright spot for the Seahawks with 9 points and 10 rebounds. “It was his best game of the season,” Reece said.

Three-pointers from sophomore Kevin Colvin and Broas provided the hosts with their only lead before Hewlett scored 9 of the last 11 points of the first quarter to lead 16-10. An apparent buzzer-beating midcourt shot by Broas was waived off by officials.

Preziosi scored 7 of his points in the second quarter as the Bulldogs extended their lead to 30-20 at halftime. Sophomore Lincoln Williams, who began the season at the JV level, provided a spark off the bench with a three-pointer and two nifty assists.

The Seahawks were held to two field goals in each of the final two quarters and will look to get in the conference win column against Roosevelt with a pair of matchups upcoming. “We need both, but one at a time,” Reece said. “Roosevelt is athletic and never easy to play at their place. We just need to continue to bring the effort.”

Hewlett knocked off Roosevelt on the road for its first conference win, 47-42, Jan. 10. Rochler (11) and Preziosi (10) scored in double figures as the Bulldogs overcame a 24-point performance from the Rough Riders’ Dylan Hickman.

“When we follow the game plan, good things happen,” Dubin explained.

The Bulldogs host the rematch with Carey on Jan. 27 at 7 p.m. It’s the 18th annual Hoops for Hope Game to benefit SIBS Place in Hewlett. The game has raised approximately $125,000 over the years.