Sports

Boys Basketball: Poliwoda’s scoring touch ends season with win

FIRST SETTLERS 77, KNIGHTS 71

Sophomore Alex Poliwoda had a great game in just the fourth quarter alone on Tuesday night.

Poliwoda came off the bench to score 19 of his game-high 25 points in that period to lead Southold to a 77-71 season-ending boys basketball win at home over Smithtown Christian. He sank three 3-point shots in the quarter.

The victory snapped a six-game losing streak for the First Settlers (5-15, 4-10) in the Suffolk County League VIII game on Senior Night. Southold’s four seniors — Garrett De Friest, John Tomici, David O’Day and Peter Di Candia — were honored and recognized prior to the start.

Smithtown Christian (4-13, 3-11) almost erased what was a 13-point Southold lead at 69-56 with 2 minutes 16 seconds left behind a 15-5 run to pull within 74-71 with 26 seconds remaining. But O’Day (21 points) sank one foul shot and Poliwoda added two in the waning seconds to secure the win.

Liam Walker added 14 points and Shane Johnson contributed 9 points for the First Settlers.

For Smithtown Christian, junior guard Corey Collins scored 16 of his team-high 23 points over the final 2:41 as he canned four 3-pointers from the left corner during that stretch.

Forward Caelan McCabe poured in 20 points, sophomore center Connor McCabe added 11 and senior guard Tom Steffens had 10.