Kennedy has playoffs in sight

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Needing a victory over struggling Carey to stick in the Nassau Class A boys’ basketball playoff picture, Kennedy got points from all five starters in the opening quarter last Saturday as it built a double-digit lead on the way to a 44-29 win in Conference A-I.

The Cougars, who nipped the Seahawks in overtime in the first meeting a few days before Christmas, took the drama out of the rematch early and led by as many as 11 in the opening half. Junior Steven Carlson scored a game-high 15 points, sophomore Marco Travaglione had 10 points and 11 rebounds, and senior Matt Muscarella added 10 points and eight assists as Kennedy improved to 9-6 overall and 4-4 in A-I. Carey (2-13, 1-7) was led by sophomore Nick Giacalone’s nine points and seven rebounds.

“We’ve been a resilient team and it seems like every game we’ve had different kids step up,” Kennedy head coach Rory Block said. “Today was about as balanced as we’ve been in any game. Nothing’s easy in this conference. I’m very pleased with where we’re at, but there’s a ways to go.”

The Seahawks, who two days earlier earned their first conference win, 44-42, over Great Neck North on T.J. Orlandino’s trey with two seconds to go, were unable to parlay the momentum. “We passed the ball well and played tough defense again, but we’re just not shooting anywhere near our potential,” Carey head coach Marty Kelly said. “I don’t know if it’s nerves or youth or a combination of both, but we’re a way better shooting team than we’re showing.”

Kelly said Carey’s success hinges a lot on its perimeter game, so when juniors Orlandino and Aiden Murchie both stuck shots from behind the arc within the first three minutes for a 6-5 lead, the outlook was positive. Kennedy responded, however, and then some. Muscarella and senior Josh Eisner hit from long distance, Carlson and Travaglione netted four points apiece, and junior Josh Kaplan swished a short jumper and the Cougars led 16-8 after one.

“We’ve got an unselfish group,” Block said. “We had a few big wins in some interesting games early in the season that gave the guys confidence. With the exception of a tough stretch the other day against Sewanhaka, we’ve played solid ball.”

Giacaolone kept Carey within arm’s length in the second quarter after Kennedy increased its advantage to 21-10. The lefty guard scored all seven of his team’s points and the margin was single digits — 24-15 — at halftime. Senior Tyler DeMeo, who did an admirable job running the Seahawks’ offense, scored all five of his points in the second half including the opening bucket that brought the visitors as close as they’d get. Carlson had 10 second-half points.

The Cougars need to split their remaining conference games to guarantee themselves a spot in the Class A playoffs. Three of their final four opponents — Garden City (on the road this Friday at 6:30 p.m.), Elmont and Jericho — beat them by single digits the first time around.