Hills West Basketball Starts off Strong

On Friday, December 6th, the Hills West Colts Boys Varsity Basketball team traveled to play the Copiague Eagles. This game was significant, as the team had suffered an early-round exit last year. After losing in the playoffs, they lost a few players. Coach Bill Mitaritona took that loss personally and worked hard to instill a sense of excellence this year. The team maintained a strong work ethic throughout the spring and into the summer in an attempt to bring back a county championship to Hills West in Mitaritona’s second season back.

Ethan Saintjean commented, “I’m very excited and optimistic about this season, as we have a great group of guys who can play ball and are very unselfish and team-oriented.” This sentiment was shared by the entire team.

When the season began, the players were eager for a big win, and they achieved it on Friday night. Junior Captain Ethan Saintjean led the team with 30 points. He also sank a crucial “and-one” to secure the victory for the Colts. After being down heading into the 4th quarter, a big comeback was necessary. According to Ethan Saintjean, “we had a great second half, showing resilience and perseverance to come out with the victory. Key points of emphasis were rebounding and running the floor, both of which we executed at a high level as the game progressed.” Vince Corso also commented, “A big reason for our victory was being resilient and never giving up as a team, even when we were down.” Other players who contributed to the win were Vince Corso (12 points) and Mason Reisch (12 points).

This victory put the team on everyone’s radar across the league, showcasing their potential to be a dominant force.