The final score of the Bellport Clippers against the Smithtown East Bulls is the type of score you would expect to see when the Los Angeles Clippers play the Chicago Bulls. The final score in today’s game was 88-45, however the Smithtown East Bulls played harder than the Chicago Bulls usually do. These teams played earlier in the season, where Bellport also won that game 90-60. After the game, Clippers’ Assistant Coach Kai Watkins said that even though these teams played already, that game did not impact the way Bellport prepared for this game. Coach Watkins said that regardless of the opponent, it is important to still play the Bellport brand of basketball. That style features forcing turnovers and fast break offense.
Bellport putting on the finishing touches on a 81-35 lead. pic.twitter.com/hx36FKeJwO
— Axcess Basketball (@AxcessBBall) February 2, 2019
There were multiple steals within the opening minutes of the first quarter, that lead to easy baskets from the Clippers, one of them highlighted by a Jihad Robinson dunk. Following that dunk, it forced a timeout from Smithtown East. The timeout did not change the momentum of the game, as Bellport kept pushing the ball ahead to keep scoring. After a three pointer from Smithtown East by Anthony Weidtman, the score was Bellport leading 22-7. The Clippers continued to add on to the lead with a flurry of points from Jarell White. In a short amount of time, White made a three, putback layup, steal that led to a layup, and another three pointer. He finished with a game high 29 points and did not even play in the fourth quarter. The captain and the rest of the team kept rolling and had a 46-20 lead at halftime. During halftime the Mary Immaculate 6th grade team put on a great game that featured more hustle and effort than you would see in an NBA Finals game.
The third quarter was the same as the first two quarters with more steals and layups for Bellport. Once the Clippers were up by 40, both teams took their starters out of the game and let everyone else play. Even though this was a forty point game, the teams still played as hard as if it were a four point game. It did not change the score, but there is always great value to everyone getting the chance to play. It allows the players to improve and be ready for the scenario when they are needed to play in a close game.
After this game, Bellport now has a eight game winning streak and is looking to keep winning when the playoffs start. Even though they are on this streak, Coach Watkins said that the team can still improve rebounding the ball, defending, and finishing games to help the team make a deep playoff run. He also said, he liked the team style that they played today and that they moved the ball around. Playing like a team is going to be required if the Bellport Clippers want to make that playoff run that Coach Watkins, head coach Pete Grossi, and the rest of the team would like to see.
