VSS valiant in loss to Elmont

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Prior to Valley Stream South’s Class A playoff game against top-seeded Elmont in the round of 16, head coach Matt Johnsen felt that his team had more than a puncher’s chance to upset the defending state champs if it followed the game plan.

The No. 17 Falcons, who were coming off their best game of the season, a 51-46 road win over Wantagh in the opening round, followed the blueprint to a T for three quarters, but in the end they came up just a little bit short.

In a game where the final score wasn’t close to being indicative of how tightly it was contested, the Spartans started the final quarter on a huge run to break open a nail biter en route to a 65-46 home victory before a standing-room-only crowd last Friday afternoon. Elmont, which scored 13 of the first 15 points of the fourth, got a game-high 24 points from junior K.C. Ndefo, and 17 apiece from Ismael Astasie and Victor Olawoye. Dominick Arcodia scored 13 to lead South.

The Falcons, who finished with an overall record of 13-9, led for nearly all of the first half, and trailed by just four points when the teams took the floor for the final eight minutes. But, the Spartans picked up their game in the fourth quarter, outscoring South 29-14.

Johnsen appreciated the effort he got from his team. “To hold a team like Elmont to 28 points in the first half on their home court is something,” Johnsen said. “Most of their scoring came in transition. We did everything we worked on in practice, and we were right there with them. But, in the last quarter they showed why they’re the top seed. I couldn’t be any prouder of my guys. They never quit. They were a great group to coach.”

The Falcons came out looking like a team on a mission. All five starters scored as South ran out to a 17-8 lead at the midway point of the opening quarter. Elmont didn’t get its first lead until Olawoye stole the ball and converted on a layup with 7.8 seconds remaining in the first half.

While Ndefo put up the biggest numbers, it was Astasie who was the difference-maker. The junior guard went the to basket with authority all game long, was a pest on defense, and was the first to hit the floor to fight for loose balls. Astasie’s 17 points were his career high.

“That’s how we need Ismael to play,” Elmont head coach George Holub said. “We’re a really young team, and only a few guys have playoff experience. Ismael came off the bench and gave us a big spark. We needed that today.”

After the Spartans took at commanding 47-34 lead, South showed some grit and cut the lead to nine. But, the Falcons could get no closer. Senior guard Ozzy Traill scored 11 points in his final game at South. Elmont advanced to the quarterfinals where it will take on No. 8 Floral Park.