Bolton to face nine-time state champ in final four

BINGHAMTON | Bolton will be stepping into new territory Saturday morning, and across the floor will be a program that has been there nearly as often as anyone in New York state history. Bridgehampton, Bolton's opponent in the NYSPHSAA Class D boys basketball semifinals, is a nine-time state champion and the state's most decorated small-school program. The top-ranked Killer Bees will face the Eagles (24-1) at 11:45 a.m. at Veterans Memorial Arena, with a berth in Sunday's state final on the line. While Bolton is making its first appearance in the final four, Bridgehampton arrives with a resume built on decades of success. The Long Island power won state titles in 1978, 1979, 1980, 1984, 1986, 1996, 1997, 1998 and 2015. Its nine championships are second-most in state history behind only Mount Vernon's 12. Bridgehampton also brings recent state-tournament experience. The Killer Bees reached the Class D final last season, falling to Section VI champion Panama, 78-69. Bridgehampton is 20-2 and enters the semifinal on a 15-game winning streak dating to Jan. 5. During that stretch, the Killer Bees have won by an average of 44 points per game. Both losses came against considerably larger Section XI Class AA opponents, as East Hampton edged Bridgehampton 47-45 and Westhampton Beach won 62-44. Against schools closer to its classification size, however, Bridgehampton has been dominant. The Killer Bees went 16-0 in league play against a schedule that included Class C and D opponents. With only three teams in Section XI Class D, Bridgehampton received a bye into the sectional final, then rolled past Smithtown Christian, 73-39, to claim the title. In regional play, the Killer Bees left little doubt. After Chapel Field Christian of Section IX advanced by defeating Adirondack League unbeaten North Warren 44-41, Bridgehampton dismantled Chapel Field Christian 77-35 to punch its ticket back to Binghamton. What stands out most about Bridgehampton is not overwhelming size, but depth and scoring balance. No player on the roster is listed taller than 6-foot-1, yet four average in double figures while typically playing only 20 to 24 minutes per game. Senior captain Alex Davis, a guard, leads the team at 15.1 points per game. Senior guard Jai Feaster adds 13.1, junior forward Jordan Harding scores 12.2 and sophomore guard Eddie Dawson IV contributes 10.7. That balance has made Bridgehampton difficult to defend. The Killer Bees shoot 49 percent from the field as a team and average 7.2 made 3-pointers per game. Dawson has been the top long-range threat, shooting 46 percent from beyond the arc at 50 of 108, while Davis is at 35 percent on 42-of-121 shooting from 3-point range. The other Class D semifinal is scheduled for 10 a.m. Saturday and matches Section VI champion Clymer (17-8) against Section III champion Sackets Harbor (22-3). The state championship game is set for 10 a.m. Sunday. Bolton is trying to become Section VII's second boys basketball state champion since the state tournament began in 1978. Moriah won the Class D title in 2017 after also reaching the state final in 2003 and 2016.

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Bolton to face nine-time state champ in final four

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