Riverhead’s middle school hoops team caps perfect season

What better way to celebrate an undefeated season than a pizza party?

The 15 players and manager on Riverhead’s middle school basketball team toasted to a 10-0 season Friday afternoon with cheese and pepperoni. The boys closed out their season Thursday, defeating Mount Sinai 87-55. 

Second-year coach Rich Vlacci said the team won all nine games it played, plus one forfeit victory.

“I always tell the kids it is all about the team,” Vlacci said at the team’s party. “If one fails we all fail, if one succeeds we all succeed. We were a very defensive team. Our defense led to our offense.”

Eighth-graders Cristian Pace, Quashiem Miller and J.P. Harding were among the team’s top scorers on the season, Vlacci said.

“It was all about the team effort and not just about one person making all the shots,” Pace said.