Bridgehampton Killer Bees Win State Basketball Championship

The New York State Class D Championship plaque is back where it belongs.Bridgehampton broke a 17-year drought and won its ninth state title on Saturday night, beating defending champ New York Mills, 62-49, at the Glens Falls Civic Center. The Killer Bees—who will bring back every player next season—can tie Class AA school Mount Vernon for the most state championships in state history if they win again next year.Defense was the story once again on Saturday night, as it was in Bridgehampton’s comeback win over Moriah in the state semifinals. While the Bridgies employed a full-court trapping defense to jump-start their semifinal comeback over previously undefeated Moriah, against the Marauders they showcased their versatility, shutting them down with a straight man-to-man attack. The Killer Bees forced 17 turnovers and had 10 steals, and the defensive effort of Charles Manning Jr. and Tylik Furman held Mills standout guard Terrance Nichols to just seven points.But it was the offensive end of the floor where Manning really shined. The junior guard/forward was named the tournament MVP, scoring 31 points, grabbing eight rebounds, making five steals—and replicating the same performance his father, Maurice Manning, had 17 years ago on the same floor when he was named the tournament MVP for the third time after leading the Killer Bees to a third consecutive state title.In case there was any doubt about who would claim MVP honors this year, Manning soared for a resounding alley-oop dunk on a pass from Furman with 7:33 left in the fourth quarter that put Bridgehampton up 44-33 and took any remaining wind right out of the Marauders’ sails.“It got me so hyped,” Manning said of the alley-oop. “It was at the right moment, in the championship game, and we had the momentum. It was a great feeling.”When Manning wasn’t scoring from every spot on the floor, it was teammate Josh Lamison (17 points, 13 rebounds, All-Tournament team) dominating the paint, scoring at will inside, and grabbing rebounds with his trademark authority. If the one-two punch of Manning and Lamison wasn’t enough for Mills to worry about, sophomore Elijah Jackson also had one of his best games in recent memory, hitting three three-pointers and finishing with 11 points.Winning a state title has been a goal and expectation for the Bridgies for years, and for players like Furman and Lamison, who have been starting varsity players since they were in eighth-grade, it was a dream a long time coming.“I don’t even know what to say,” Furman said after the game. “It’s crazy. We just have to cherish this moment for the rest of our lives.”While Manning brought home MVP honors with his standout efforts in both games, he gave credit to his teammates, Lamison and Furman in particular.“They really push me,” he said of the veteran pair. “Without my teammates, I wouldn’t be anything.”With Lamison and Furman in the lineup, Bridgehampton head coach Carl Johnson knew he’d have a solid foundation for years to come, but when Manning moved in with his father to start the school year, Johnson knew the state title was there for the taking. Having Manning on the team seemed almost pre-ordained, as he is one of many players on the team whose family members—fathers, uncles, cousins—have also won state titles for the Killer Bees. Jackson acknowledged the significance of that family connection after the game.“It feels amazing, because my brother has a state title,” he said, referring to Fred Welch, who played on championship squads in the late 1990s. “It’s big right now; it’s insane.”Jackson was enrolled at the Ross School several years ago, but said he always wanted to return to Bridgehampton.“When I came back, it was like home sweet home,” he said. “I love my team. And I love Bridgehampton.”With every player returning for next season, anything less than another state championship—and that added bonus of tying Mount Vernon’s record—would be a disappointment.“We have a goal to reach there,” Johnson said. He added that he’s happy the team still needs one more to tie the record, because it provides extra motivation for next year. “You always want to measure yourself against someone or some opponent. Even though we’re a small school, we still want to do the same thing.”