Boys Basketball Begins for the Royals

Port Jefferson's boys' basketball is playing in a new league this season. Due to a decrease in the school's population, the Royals have moved from League VII to League VIII in Section XI. Here, they'll have to face teams like Southold and Long Island's Class C champions from last year, the Stony Brook School Bears, a boarding school with players from around the country and across the globe.

Head Coach Michael Riley, now in his second year, sees this season as an exciting time for Port Jefferson Basketball.

"Last season was a transition period," he said. "The guys had to get used to my program and I had to get familiar with what they knew from previous coaches. League VII is a potent group, every game we played had the feel of a play off round."

The Royals went 4-14 overall, mixing with teams from much larger schools. That season followed a two year championship streak for the Royals in Class C for Suffolk County, in 2008 and 2009. That team was led by John Nielson, now graduated after being sought out for his performance on the court.

But this season's squad has another Nielson. Younger brother Greg, now a senior, is joined by Terrell Rose and Brady Coluci as senior captains for the Royals.

"These guys have really stepped up as team leaders in bringing the group together," Riley said about his seniors.

In the Royals first scrimmage against McGann-Mercy, another team that has moved down to League VII, Port Jefferson looked confident without being careless. They passed the ball around, set up perimeter shots, and drove to the hoop forcefully. They scored 103 points in 48 minutes of play and only let up 48 points on defense.

"The players have come to understand me as their head coach," said Riley. "Now we have a destination, we have goals we're setting out for."

They're facing a difficult road to get to those goals, but that road might provide the benefit this team needs to see the post season. They've scheduled some tough competition in the preseason, but nothing that's going to hurt their chances at the playoffs. On Wednesday night, they'll be facing League I contenders, the Ward Melville Patriots in a scrimmage.

"The guys are excited to play outside the league," said Riley. "It gives us a chance to see what we have to work on and how we match up in the county. Being a scrimmage we don't have to worry about anyone getting beat up. They're going to play like any other game, but afterwards we can look back at it as an exercise and know our standings haven't been affected."

Port Jefferson will start the season with three away games before coming home to play Southold Jan. 7 at 6:45 p.m. The Royals won't face the defending champions until the final two games of the season when Stony Brook will come to Port Jefferson Jan. 26 at 5:45 p.m., and then at Stony Brook on Jan. 28 at 7:30 p.m.