Raiders Shut Down Offensively by Phantoms, 75-44

Bayport-Blue Point's defensive pressure was too much for the Patchogue-Medford Raiders to overcome, as the boys varsity basketball team dropped their second game of the season.

The Phantoms (2-0) defeated the Raiders (1-2), 75-44, Thursday night at Patchogue-Medford High School in a non-league game.

The Phantoms' pressure controlled the tempo of the game and allowed them to dictate how the game was going to unfold.

Following the first quarter, with the Raiders only trailing by six, the Phantoms began to really apply pressure on Pat-Med in the defensive zone, causing them to rush many of their shots.

"There were obviously some breakdowns after the first quarter," said Raiders head coach Will Dortonne. "We need to go back and work on our fundamentals."

The Raiders weren't able to drop several shots, shooting only 14 of 40 from the floor.

"Guys just couldn't hit the shots," Dortonne said. "We didn't get back on defense and identify the shooters and we missed a lot of lay-ups; that's a bad mix."

The Phantoms' quick pressure and relentless attack not only cause Pat-Med to miss shots, but it allowed for quick transitions from defense to offense, which sprung the Phantoms on many fast breaks.

"We have a high intensity defense which causes a lot of pressure," said Phantoms senior Ross Drzal. "It allows us to transition very quickly."

Senior forward Ahmed Williams led all Raiders in scoring, netting 16 points – 10 of which came in the first half.

The Phantoms best defensive stifling came during the third quarter, when they opened the quarter with a 12-3 run, going up 48-26.

Some of the Raiders inability to generate offense could be attributed to the loss of senior Severio Ford, who left the game in the second half with cramps.

"We need to move the ball more and play together more," Ford said. "We need to execute and attack more instead of just running the plays."

The Raiders offense relied on Ford heavily this season, as he was second in scoring on the team as junior as year.

"If we don't have him it could get ugly," Dortonne said of losing Ford. "That hurt us a lot."

Ford had five points and three assists before he left the game.