Smithtown West forward Ben Rappa only scored two points this past week in his team’s matchup against the North Babylon Bulldogs. However, his two points just so happened to be the most important of the game as he scored.
With the score tied, Smithtown West forward Jack Melore was double-teamed and took a tough midrange jumper from the right corner. Melore’s shot caromed off the back rim, leaving an opportunity for a Bulls offensive rebound.
Rappa came flying in from the perimeter, catching the ball with his right hand and lofting a floater that would go through the nylon net right before the buzzer.
Rappa’s basket as time expired accounted for the most valuable two points (and his only two points) of the game, $and I’ll Kevin in Smithtown West’s 41-39 non-league road win over North Babylon.
“It was a tough game for me,” Rappa said to Newsday following the win. “(I) Didn’t shoot the ball well, the whole team really didn’t play that great. But we know when it gets down the stretch, we’re gonna execute. We have faith in each other, faith in ourselves. We know in the last couple minutes of the game, we’re gonna come out on top.”
“It’s such a proud moment for me because he struggled the whole game and he still was able to come up with a big play in a big moment,” Smithtown West coach Mike Agostino said to reporters after the game. “That’s a life quality more than even a basketball quality. I said, ‘Your family’s going to thank you one day because you can step up in a big moment, even if you’re not feeling it.’ ”
Smithtown West led 33-22 entering the fourth quarter, but the North Babylon Bulldogs made a run that would set up Alex Rivera’s three-pointer with 20 seconds left tied the score at 39 before Rappa would score the winning basket.
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| Ben Rappa (#3) taking a shot against North Babylon File Photo |
Though the teams are now in different leagues this season, Saturday’s game was the latest in an epic series between the two programs.
The teams played three times as Suffolk I foes last season. After they split regular-season games, with the home team winning each one, they met again in the Suffolk Class AA quarterfinals and Smithtown West would claim the season series in a 59-49 home win.
“So much history with us and them,” Agostino said. “Starting back 13 years [ago] when I first started and we upset them here in my first year. They’re a great program. They have great players, coach [Rakeem Vanterpool] is a great coach, X’s-and-O’s-wise and getting his kids to play hard, dynamite coach. So it’s a satisfying win, for sure.”
The Bulls remained unbeaten to start the season and they look to improve after last year where they ranked as high as the number 1 public school in the state.