Serrano and Almonacy post 29 and 24 but Stingrays fall to Lightning 118-112

Photo courtesy of Chris Ganim

The Suffolk County Stringrays trekked to Rhode Island last Saturday evening to square off on the hardcourt vs. the New England Lightning for their fourth game of the season. The Lightning defeated the Stingrays 118-112 at Robert Smith High School in Portsmouth, RI.

The Lightning led after twelve minutes of play 25-22. In the opening minute of the second frame Mike Almonacy snared a defensive rebound and passed to Quintin Williams who launched a trey from behind the arc to tie the game at 25. Immediately after, Mike Resnick of New England went from downtown to give his team 28 then followed by a bucket by Kyle Sutryk of Suffolk County.

Down a few points, Josh Serrano stripped the ball away from the Lightning, dribbled downcourt and passed to Akin Branco who dunked a bucket into the mesh with ten minutes left in the second quarter. With 9:05 to go till halftime Josh Serrano heaved a three-point score keeping the game close. At the seven-minute mark the Stingrays led 39-37 then 45-43 at the five-minute mark. At the conclusion of 24 minutes of basketball Suffolk County led 58-51.

After relinquishing the lead Steve Augustine put up a deuce to give his team a 62-61 lead just under three minutes into the third quarter. With six minutes to go in the third the Stingrays led 70-69. The Lightning went on a run and led at the end of 36 minutes 90-79 then had the upper hand in the fourth quarter and New England won 118-112.

Serrano scored 27 points with four assists and six from behind the arc. Almonacy tallied 24, with seven assists, six defensive rebounds, three steals, four three-pointers, and went four for four at the free throw line. Nick Hurowitz notched fifteen with five total rebounds and three treys.

Quintin Williams and Steve Augustine scored fifteen points apiece; Williams registered two treys and two defensive rebounds and Augustine five total rebounds, three blocks an assist, and a steal. Kyle Sutryk and Akin Branco put up eight points apiece. Sutryk summated eleven defensive rebounds and two steals and was three of four from the field and two out of two at the free throw line and Travis Butler scored two points with an assist, a block, and five total rebounds.

Next up for the ballers of the 631, the Stingrays will host the Jersey Express this Saturday.