The Bonac boys basketball team started off the year with a three-game win streak, adding victories against Hauppauge on Jan. 6 and Eastport-South Manor on Jan. 8 to the last win of 2025, a 78-65 triumph over Comsewogue on Dec. 30.
The streak ended with a disappointing 58-62 loss at Westhampton on Jan. 10, but the Bonackers improved their record to 6-5 over all and 5-4 in League IV.
“Everybody is getting a little bit more comfortable playing with each other. We’re starting to get a little chemistry,” their coach, Dave Conlon, said.
In the 59-50 win over Eastport-South Manor at home, the Bonac boys showed improvement in defense and 3-point shooting.
“Defensively, I thought Mason [Jefferson] did a really good job on number five [Brady McGowan],” Conlon said. “He’s one of the best players in the county.”
McGowan still managed to lead both teams in scoring, with 28 points, but Jefferson didn’t make it easy.
“I thought our man-to-man defense in the second half, primarily, was the difference,” Conlon said. “I think we still gotta work on the zone, especially if we’re going to mix some guys in who just came off injured reserve like Tyler [Persan].”
On offense, Toby Foster and Irakli Shiolashvili hit three 3-pointers apiece. Foster, in particular, looked more comfortable shooting from 3-point range than he had earlier in the season.
“Toby spends a lot of time after practice working on his 3, even on off days. He’s always working on his 3,” Coach Conlon said. “We haven’t shot the ball particularly well from 3 so far this season. I’d say over all it was one of our better games from 3, which is good, because that’s going to show other teams in the league that maybe they have to think twice before zoning up against us.”
The team also showed better composure than it did earlier in the season, avoiding unnecessary fouls and arguments with the referees.
“They all get emotional and I get that, but the key is trying to stay composed and remember that it’s four quarters. If we just stick to our principles, stick together as a team, defend, and get out and go, that’s when we are at our best,” Conlon said.
He believes if the team can embrace the struggles in the remainder of the season, they’ll come out on top.
“There are going to be tough moments. There are going to be moments when things aren’t going our way, we’re missing shots, we blow a defensive assignment, but the key is being in for the long fight. You gotta cherish the struggle. If the guys can buy into that, when we do hit a little adversity it’s not going to really affect us knowing that if we can right the ship, and start making some good plays and some defensive stops, we can win a game.”
