VSN stops Lynbrook in quarterfinals

Valley Stream North allowed just 11 second-half points on Jan. 21 when it rallied to complete a regular-season sweep of conference rival Lynbrook. A little more than a month later, the Spartans rode a similar defensive effort to earn a return trip to the Nassau Class A boys’ basketball semifinals.

North yielded just 10 points in the first half, including only two shots from the field, and stormed to a 16-point advantage on the way to blowing out the Owls, 66-34, in a quarterfinal playoff game Feb. 23 before a standing-room-only home crowd.

“It was important to bring a big defensive effort,” VSN head coach Dan Achatz said. “We had five days of practicing on a full court to prepare for a team we already saw twice, so that helped. Everyone did their jobs and we’re excited to move on.”

Senior Omar Baxter had 14 points, senior John Alimo had 13, senior Noah Shy added 12, and junior Shamari Griffith pulled down 14 rebounds and blocked six shots to lead fourth-seeded North (18-3), which advanced to meet defending champion Elmont, the No. 1 seed, in a semifinal rematch. No. 12 Lynbrook (16-6), which completed a breakthrough campaign that included playoff victories against Island Trees and Glen Cove, got eight points from senior Rob Sitonio.

“Things just kind of snowballed against us today, but we had an incredible season,” Owls head coach Jamie Adams said. “North’s a strong team with a home-court advantage and Dan [Achatz] always has them ready on defense. 

“We’re young and if someone would’ve told me in November we’d win 16 games and get to the quarterfinals, I would’ve signed up for that in a second,” Adams added. “These kids definitely put Lynbrook basketball back on the map.”

The Owls, who scored 18 points in the fourth quarter of their 49-46 upset win at No. 5 Glen Cove on Feb. 17, could only manage a Sitonio basket in the first quarter against the Spartans but played quality defense themselves and trailed only 7-2.

North’s offense picked up in the second quarter, while Lynbrook’s struggles continued. Baxter and junior point guard Tariq Abdul-Rahim sandwiched treys around a free throw by Sitonio to make it 17-4. Baxter added a couple of more baskets before the half and it was 26-10 at intermission.

“It didn’t feel like we were down 16,” Adams said. “I thought we could come out and chip away in the third quarter, but they didn’t let us back in it.”

Shy opened the second half with a trey to send North on its way. The advantage swelled to 39-12 as the Spartans, who got a spark off the bench from recent call-up CJ Parris, a freshman guard, exploded for 26 points in the third and led by 30 heading into the fourth.

As North was topping the Owls for a third time, Elmont, the Class A state champs last winter, was busy taking down Floral Park, 76-55. The results set up another battle of Spartans in the semis. Last Feb. 24, Elmont raced to a 19-point halftime lead and cruised past North, 77-54.

“Elmont was at another level last year,” Achatz said. “We’ll be ready for them.”