Sports

Cyclones Blowout Bethpage, 75-44

Kevin Coyle led the way with 17 points.

The Cyclones extended its undefeated conference record to 7-0 after dismantling the Bethpage Golden Eagles, 75-44, at Bethpage on Friday night.

Though the Cyclones played one of its sloppier games on offense — they committed eight turnovers in the first half — its defense stifled and wore out a Bethpage team that played with only two subs. South Side's defense held the Golden Eagles to only eight points in the first and fourth quarters.

South Side was led by junior Kevin Coyle,who after struggling in the first half, scored 13 of his 17 points before getting pulled with a minute left in the third with his fourth foul. At the time, South Side led by 20. Junior guard DJ Nickelson chipped in with seven points, two blocks, two steals and five assists, and junior forward Ryan Spadaford finished with 16 points and six rebounds.

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South Side led 33-21 at half, and could have easily led by more, but Bethpage's zone defense forced the Cyclones to settle for jump shots. "We didn't come out with a lot of energy," Head Coach Gerry D'Angelo said about his team's slow start. "They came out in a zone, and we took bad shots instead of looking for good baskets."

To help pick up the tempo, D'Angelo went to a full court press, which created turnovers — 20 for Bethpage — and some easy buckets for South Side. "A lot of our offense is predicated off our defense," D'Angelo said.

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Coyle came out in the third quarter on fire, scoring 10 of South Side's first 14 points and pushed South Side's lead to 15.  The bench played for most of the fourth quarter, and junior Brian Caulfield had his best game of the season, scoring eight points with a steal and two rebounds. 

D'Angelo explained that since South Side had already beaten Bethpage this season, his team may have taken them for granted. "We know them, so since we beat them once, they may feel that they can beat them anytime."

South Side plays again this Friday at Plainedge at 5:30 p.m.


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