Howell, Bratton on IL Tewaaraton Watch List

boys lacrosse coach Paul McDermott loves to watch the reaction of new recruits when he pops in a DVD highlight film featuring Zach Howell and twins Rhamel and Shamel Bratton.

The threesome once starred for the Blue Devils, part of a 63-1 run that included three Long Island titles and back-to-back state Class B championships.

“They are in awe seeing what the [Bratton brothers] were doing,’’ McDermott said. 

The 2007 senior class is among the most talented groups Huntington High School ever produced. From an athletic standpoint, none compare.

Now they are seniors in college with a world of opportunity ahead this season.

Howell and Shamel Bratton have been named by Inside Lacrosse to its preseason college lacrosse player of the year watch list. The Tewaaraton Trophy goes to the player of the year.

Howell, coming off a national championship at Duke, scored 51 goals at attack a year ago. He is No. 7 on the IL watch list.

Shamel Bratton, a senior midfielder at Virginia, is third on the list, behind Stony Brook’s Kevin Cowley and Syracuse’s Joel White. Bratton, who still shares the field with his brother, led Virginia to a No. 1 ranking and an NCAA semifinal berth.

McDermott was on hand to see Howell’s Duke squad knock off Virginia. And their former coach is eager to see how much higher each can soar this spring.

“It’s an unbelievable class,” McDermott said. “It’s the best class and group of kids we’ve had in the history of Huntington.”

Heard in the Halls

Talk about girl power. in girls basketball has gotten the attention of the entire county, highlighted by an impressive. But the Tigers are hardly the only stellar team in the Town of Huntington. In fact, just a mile south along Elwood Road the team is 11-0. Alison McKenna’s 26 points helped the Knights stay perfect with a 55-45 win over a East Hampton last week. Glenn is ninth in the state Class A rankings by NYSSWA.   is 11-1 and 8-2. That all makes for an exciting February with the playoffs around the corner.

Feat of the Week

Whitman’s Jackie Crunden turned in the 20th best high jump in the nation with a 5-foot, 5-inch effort at the Bishop Loughlin Games on Dec. 18. It’s the fourth best jump in the state this indoor season. Her jump is five inches better than the next closest competitor in Suffolk. The most amazing part? She’s just a sophomore.

Game of the Week

The girls basketball team (11-1) kicks off a challenging stretch on Sunday when the Friars hit the road for three tough non-league opponents. faces Philadelphia Catholic power Archbishop Wood at St. Joe’s University (in Philly) at 2:30 p.m. Archbiship Wood finished as MaxPrep’s No. 2 team in Pennsylvania a year ago and is off to a 10-1 start this season. The following weekend, Jan. 29-30, sees the Friars face Peekskill and Mount Vernon in the Bronx.