Ron White, the head coach of the Bridgehampton School’s decorated basketball team, has disputed a media report that the school may not field a varsity team this year.
Reached by phone yesterday, Mr. White explained that the school typically fills a varsity roster before it decides whether to field a junior varsity team. He acknowledged that the Killer Bees would be somewhat younger than usual this year, with only three upperclassmen among the nine players who have expressed interest in playing hoops.
The team had a meeting for players and coaches this week at which Mr. White said “a brief discussion” took place over the status of the teams.
“Every year, we always assess whether or not we have the ability to do two teams, a J.V. and a varsity, to give our kids the maximum experience,” Mr. White said. “Sometimes as a freshman and sophomore you do a lot of sitting and watching. This particular year, considering we graduated multiple players . . . we noticed there was a burst of underclassmen in comparison to the upperclassmen.”
He said a report published on Tuesday on 27east.com framed the issue incorrectly. He also said the Section XI athletic rules allow for freshmen and sophomores to play on varsity basketball teams and allow upperclassmen to play on a J.V. team if there is no varsity team available. According to the Section XI website, on a football team, a senior at a school without a varsity team is not permitted to play on a J.V. team.
“We are a family and we don’t make decisions by ourselves, we make them collectively,” Mr. White said. “It was more or less a function of just talking . . . making it clear for everyone that we do have a nice little hill to climb and that we all have to be on board to accept this challenge of competing on the varsity level with the athletes that we have.”
Michael Miller, Bridgehampton’s principal, confirmed through the school’s public relations firm that there would indeed be varsity basketball this year.
“This decision is based on carefully garnering input from our athletes, parents, community, and coaching staff,” Mr. Miller said. “We look forward to the continued tradition of excellence by the Bridgehampton student-athletes.”
According to Mr. White, at least one of last year’s starters, Nae’jon Ward, who would have been a senior at Bridgehampton, may attend a different school this year.
“Our goal is to try to get our kids in the best position possible,” Mr. White said. “He was really good to our district, and we wish him well in his future endeavors. Bridgehampton will always be here to support him.”