Lawrence Woodmere Academy boy's basketball completes season during pandemic

After a hard-fought loss in the Private Schools Athletic Association championship game, Lawrence Woodmere Academy Athletic Director David O'Keeffe reflected on a season for the school’s boys basketball team that was completed during the coronavirus pandemic.

The Tigers lost 64-61 to Locust Valley-based Portledge in the March 19 championship game at LWA. Despite the loss, O’Keeffe described the season as a “total success” that included a 3-1 record during the four-game regular season.

“To get six games played during a world pandemic was a massive achievement in itself,” he wrote in an email. “We are extremely proud of our boys. With all the safety restrictions and Covid challenges that came our way, we showed that we can overcome any obstacle.”

O’Keeffe added that LWA seniors Daniel Carrion, Pol Canals and Nabiyu Matheu were named to the PSAA All-Conference Team.

He noted that coach Brett Tawil was instrumental in helping orchestrate the hybrid season. “Coach Tawil and his Tigers were number one seed heading into the playoffs after victories against Stony Brook, Knox, and LuHi (twice). “The whole season was a victory for LWA and its graduating seniors. We never thought we would see a basketball game played in our gym anytime soon.”

Even with the senior players set to graduate, O’Keeffe said the future is bright for the team. “Junior point guard Aiden Best showed a lot of promise and has a bright future ahead of him and sophomore Raphael Tawil showed his grit and determination as he hung with the “big boys,” he said. “We will miss the Spanish stars Pol and Nabiyu and the smooth shooting of Daniel Carrion, but Tiger Nation is excited for the future and will never back down from a challenge.”