The Syosset Raptors basketball team finished another successful season, making it to the semifinals under the leadership of trainer and coach Rich Kandel.

This travel team is comprised of the best eighth grade basketball players from H.B. Thompson Middle School and South Woods Middle School. The Raptors travel with other teams from across Long Island, so making the team required a big committment from players and parents. There were practices at least once or twice a week, and the same went for games. That meant car pool trips three to four times a week, some as far away as Queens.

Kandel said that he chose players that are not only talented but have a great attitude. These assets are reflected in the kids' parents, whose support, according to Kandel, helped keep the focus where it should have been ¬ on the game.

Many of these players have been together for four years. Now they'll be going on to Syosset High School, where the travel team will be selected from a larger pool of players. The athletes and their parents celebrated the end of the season at Mario's Pizza in Syosset, where plaques of appreciation were handed out by Hanna Harel to Coach Kandel, assistant Holly Jonas and assistant Ann Parasco.