Sayville basketball team picks up the dinner tab for William Floyd High School team in memory of late coach

The Sayville High School varsity boys’ basketball team recently treated their William Floyd High School counterparts to dinner in honor of William Floyd’s late coach Darrel Sumpter. The two teams shared a pasta dinner as a gesture of sportsmanship and unity between the schools.
The event, organized by Sayville Booster Club’s Laura Skelly and Floyd head coach Will Slinkosky, took place following Floyd’s game against Brentwood on Jan. 27. The Sayville team arrived first, leaving room at their tables for the Floyd players. The meal, provided by the Sayville Booster Club, was a tribute to coach Darrel Sumpter, who tragically died in a car accident in December.
The Sayville players wanted to show support for the Floyd team, many of whom they have competed with for years through CYO and travel basketball leagues on Long Island. In these leagues, the Sayville players had come to know Coach Sumpter, whose impact was felt long before high school competition.
“This dinner was the true essence of sportsmanship in action,” said Sayville director of athletics Dr. Ryan Cox. “Our boys’ basketball program, booster club, families, and school community demonstrated genuine empathy and compassion, coming together to honor Coach Sumpter’s memory. This gathering wasn’t just about basketball; it was a heartfelt celebration of our community’s strength and unity, reminding us that the game is a shared journey of resilience and friendship. The act itself demonstrated the character and values of our players and the greater Sayville community, and the values we look to instill in all our students in the Sayville School District.”
“I am so proud of each and every one of these boys,” said Dr. Marc Ferris, superintendent of schools for Sayville. “This is a perfect example of how our district’s mantra of ‘caring and learning’ extends beyond the walls and halls of our Sayville school community.”