The third time was the charm for the Smithtown West boys basketball team.
The Bulls defeated Half Hollow Hills West 98-68 in the Suffolk County Class AA championship game Saturday afternoon at Stony Brook University, capturing the program’s first county basketball title.
“It’s tremendous. It’s a combination of so much hard work,” head coach Mike Agostino said. “So many days in practice these guys battled all day, every day, and that’s why they’re champions.”
Smithtown West had reached the county title game in each of the past two seasons but came up short both times. This year, the Bulls finally broke through and brought home the championship.
Michael Cascione led the way with a dominant all-around performance. He finished with 28 points, 11 rebounds, eight assists, four steals and three blocks to power the Bulls’ offense and defense throughout the game.
While Cascione’s performance stood out, Smithtown West received contributions from across the roster in the convincing victory.
Casey Burton recorded a double-double with 19 points and 12 rebounds, helping control the boards. Luke Brown also filled the stat sheet with 16 points, seven rebounds and four assists. Evan Lutzer added 12 points, six rebounds and three assists as the Bulls continued to build their lead.
Tim Bannell made it five players in double figures, finishing with 10 points.
Jax Cascione contributed eight points, two rebounds and three assists, while Dan Braga added three points and two assists. Bill McDonald rounded out the scoring with two points.
The balanced offensive attack helped Smithtown West pull away and secure the historic championship victory.
With the county title now in hand, the Bulls will look to continue their postseason run when they compete in the Long Island Class AA championship. Smithtown West will face the Nassau County champion on March 7 at 2:30 p.m. at Stony Brook University.
The matchup will give the Bulls an opportunity to add another milestone to what has already been a historic season for the program.