Thursday, October 1, 2026
Battle-tested after two seasons in Nassau Class AA, Hewlett boys’ basketball is now looking for more than a first-round playoff exit, its perennial fate since the 2023-24 campaign.
With another postseason berth within reach, head coach Andy DeBernardo hopes the Bulldogs’ are on the verge of a breakthrough.
“We don't have our signature win,” DeBernardo said. “We have beat a couple of good teams. We beat teams like us, a little better, a little even, but we have not beat a team that I believe is better than us, and that's what we have to do. In the playoffs, you’re going to get a good team.”
With a 4-3 record, the Bulldogs are in a strange position in League 4, as they consistently handle most opponents while struggling against league-leading rivals.
On Jan. 23, Hewlett (10-5 overall) suffered its fifth straight loss to Roslyn since 2024, fighting to the buzzer in a physical back-and-forth contest. The Bulldogs lost both starting forwards, Gabe Bowery and Kobe Cox, to injuries and gradually lost ground in a 17-point defeat.
Since Dec. 16, they have defeated Roosevelt, Glen Cove, Great Neck North and Mepham by a combined 138 points. All three of their league losses in this span have come against Roslyn and Garden City, the undefeated division leader.
With Bowery expected to return to action soon, Hewlett is expected to make a compelling playoff push with five games remaining. Another matchup with Mepham on Feb. 11 could help the Bulldogs lock up third place, even if a rematch with Garden City on Feb. 13 proves taxing.
Regardless of the competition, guards Maxon McKenniss and Justin Ortiz have been a devastating duo for Hewlett, alternating as leading scorers and picking one another up with big efforts as needed. With Cox expected to miss some time, their collective production will become all the more important.
“Huge contributor,” DeBernardo said of McKenniss. “I had him in middle school and he left and then came back. Last year, we had Justin Ogilvie, and after him, it was going to be the Justin Ortiz show. Now, Max comes back and he’s got somebody to share it with. He’s been a godsend for us.”
Ortiz, who scored his 1,000th career point Dec, 26, has earned considerable support from notable Hewlett alumni, including David Fogel, the Bulldogs’ all-time leading scorer who graduated in 2009. He and his teammates are constantly helped by those who came before.
“My hope is that these players keep Hewlett on the map,” DeBernardo said. “Our goal for these last three years was getting in the playoffs, getting in the playoffs, getting in the playoffs. Now, it’s getting to the playoffs and going to win.”
In order to make a deep run, DeBernardo said the Bulldogs will need players further down the roster to step up, and suspects that senior Christian Champganie and lockdown defender Alan Trahktenberg are up to the challenge. Brendan Fahy should also get more looks, while sophomore Bredan Spady has made an immediate impact coming off a deep bench.
In his varsity debut against Roslyn last Friday, Spady scored nine points after catching fire from beyond the arc. A pleasant surprise is more than welcome for the Bulldogs on the cusp of championship contention.
