The top-seeded William Floyd boys’ varsity basketball team is moving on in the playoffs after earning a convincing quarterfinal victory on Thursday afternoon. The Colonials leaned on their trademark defense to shut down Sachem East and secure a 58–46 win, advancing to the next round of postseason play.
Senior Sharod Sutton set the tone immediately, igniting the crowd with a slam dunk off the opening tip. From there, both teams settled into a defensive battle, trading stops and forcing tough possessions throughout the first half. William Floyd’s defense was at its best once again, holding Sachem East under 50 points for the 12th time this season, a statistic that highlights just how consistent the Colonials have been on that end of the floor.
While defense has been the team’s calling card all season, the offense delivered in key moments. With William Floyd holding a slim four-point lead late in the second quarter, senior JJ Smith drilled a buzzer-beating three-pointer to give the Colonials a 31–24 advantage heading into halftime. That shot provided momentum that carried into the second half.
Sachem East showed resilience after the break and remained competitive, but the Colonials never relinquished the lead. Each time Sachem East attempted to close the gap, William Floyd answered with timely baskets and defensive stops.
Sutton led all scorers with 26 points, knocking down multiple three-pointers and adding five rebounds. Smith finished with 12 points, also connecting from beyond the arc. Ja’Quan Thomas played a pivotal role in the win, contributing nine points and a team-high 10 rebounds. Jesse Durham chipped in nine points, while Evan Commodore added two points to round out the scoring.
With the victory, William Floyd improves to 19–2 on the season. The Colonials will host the semifinal round of the Section XI Class AAA tournament next Thursday, February 26, when they welcome fourth-seeded Walt Whitman (17–4) in a highly anticipated matchup.