Seaford Vikings

SEAFORD

Vikings take on Class B foes

By ANDREW COEN

Seaford reached the round of 16 in the Class A boys’ basketball playoffs last year and will look to return to the postseason in a new league this winter with a largely new team. The Vikings graduated nine seniors from an 11-7 team that knocked off Bethpage in the fi rst round of the playoffs before falling to fourth-seeded Floral Park. This season, Seaford will compete in Class B due to changing enrollment against a smaller schools contending for a county title in Malverne, West Hempstead, Locust Valley, East Rockaway, Cold Spring Harbor and Wheatley. “We have good size and we’re athletic but there is really no varsity experience outside of two players,” said 41st-year Seaford head coach Ralph Rossetti, who has won 383 games and captured a county title in 1998. “We have to grow.” The two returning starters from last season’s playoff team include senior guard TJ Harrington and junior center Devin O’Donnell. Both bring strong athleticism to the court with O’Donnell also a standout tight end on the Seaford football team and Harrington a baseball star for the Vikings who has committed to play college baseball at SUNY Oswego. Junior guard Andrew Tudda is also back after earning some valuable minutes off the bench last season and will be counted on for a much larger role this winter. Varsity newcomers Luke Donovan and Frank Pyrt will also play key roles in trying to return Seaford to the postseason stage. Rossetti said the team has potential to make some noise this season with a big wildcard being if there is improvement with jump shooting to complement its physicality and athleticism. The Vikings will face challenges in their new conference and will also take on nine non-conference games including a Jan.21 battle at Lynbrook, which earned the seven seed in Class A last season.

SEAFORD RETURNS JUST ONE STARTER

Seaford’s girls’ basketball team has a championship mindset this season in a new conference. The Vikings moved down to Class B due to a drop in enrollment and will now have far less teams in its way come playoff time, but second-year head coach Stephanie Bartkus knows achieving this goal will still be a major challenge. “Now you can focus on how you are going to get through playoffs, but you have to get there fi rst,” said Bartkus of Class B, which features only six teams but strong programs like Locust Valley, East Rockaway, West Hempstead, Cold Spring Harbor, Malverne and Wheatley. “The teams in B are just as challenging as those in the A.” Seaford returns just one starter from last year’s 11-10 team that won a fi rst- round playoff game in Class A against Carey before falling to top-seeded Manhasset. Senior Danielle McHugh was a big part of last year’s success as starting point guard and will be counted on even more this winter as a veteran leader. “She is a dominating athlete in our school,” said Bartkus of McHugh, who is also a standout volleyball and lacrosse player. “She’s the kind of person that every single coach wants on their team.” McHugh is co-captain along with Nicole Nietsch, the only other senior on the roster who got valuable minutes last season as a guard. Juniors Amanda Willliamson and Daniella Stek also came off the bench last year and will be counted on more in starting roles. Skyler Secondino and Mia Marzini made strides last season as freshman and sophomores, respectively. Bartkus is also excited about the potential of Emily McGowan, who was brought up to varsity this season as an eighth grader after shining for the Seaford Middle School team a year ago.

Devin O’Donnell

playoffs, but you have to get there fi rst,” said Bartkus of Class B, which features only six teams but strong programs like Locust Valley, East Rockaway, West Hempstead, Cold Spring Harbor, Malverne and Wheatley. “The teams in B are just as challenging as those in the A.” Seaford returns just one starter from last year’s 11-10 team that won a fi rst- round playoff McHugh was a big part of last year’s success as starting point guard and will be counted on even more this winter as a veteran leader. “She is a dominating athlete in our school,” said Bartkus of McHugh, who is also a standout volleyball and lacrosse player. “She’s the kind of person that grader after shining for the Seaford

Danielle McHugh

Schedule

BOYS December

15 @ East Rockaway 7:00 p.m. 17 West Hempstead 12:00 p.m. 21 @ Malverne 7:00 p.m.

January

6 @ C.S. Harbor 7:00 p.m. 12 Oyster Bay 7:00 p.m. 17 @ Carle Place 7:00 p.m. 20 East Rockaway 7:00 p.m. 28 @ West Hempstead 12:00 p.m. 31 Malverne 7:00 p.m.

February

3 Locust Valley 7:00 p.m. 11 @ Wheatley 12:00 p.m.

GIRLS December

15 East Rockaway 7:00 p.m. 17 @ West Hempstead 12:00 p.m. 21 Malverne 7:00 p.m.

January

6 C.S. Harbor 7:00 p.m. 12 @ Oyster Bay 7:00 p.m. 17 Carle Place 7:00 p.m. 20 @ East Rockaway 7:00 p.m. 28 West Hempstead 12:00 p.m. 31 @ Malverne 5:30 p.m.

February

3 @ Locust Valley 7:00 p.m. 11 Wheatley 12:00 p.m.