Lynbrook's playoff hopes dim

Last Friday night featured Lynbrook’s third straight game against the top three boys' basketball teams in Conference A-III, and while the scoreboard hasn’t gone the Owls way in this difficult stretch, the effort has.

“Our boys are very inexperienced but they play tough and that is all you can ask for,” Lynbrook head coach Chris Rube said moments after the Owls fell, 65-51, to third-place North Shore on their home floor. “They play hard and have gotten better each and every game,” he added. “As long as we compete and play hard we have a chance to win.”

The setback to North Shore was Lynbrook’s fourth straight loss since posting a 72-60 win against Glen Cove on Jan. 9. The streak began with a 52-50 heartbreaker at Valley Stream North on Jan. 11, followed by hard-fought home defeats against first-place Valley Stream South (60-43) and second-place Floral Park (48-36). With a 2-7 conference record and only four games remaining, the Owls have no room for error if they want to be a part of the Nassau County Class A playoffs.

Lynbrook was doomed Friday night by North Shore’s sharp-shooting which included 12 3-pointers and five from Nick Hartman. The Owls battled back from a 15-point second quarter deficit and started the second half on a 13-3 run to close the gap to 35-33 before North Shore put the game out of reach with a 23-6 spurt. 

“We kept hanging around but just couldn’t get over that hurdle,” Rube said. “They are more talented than us and they made plays.”

Lynbrook’s comeback attempt was paced by seniors Michael McVeigh (18 points) and Luke Giordano (10 points.) Frank Boni also did his best to match Hartman’s hot shooting by sticking all three of his shots from beyond the three-point arc and Jake Sandler produced seven points.

Rube has been impressed by the leadership displayed by senior captains Anthony Mackie and McVeigh. Mackie, who tallied, 11 points in Lynbrook’s last win against Glen Cove, returned to the lineup Friday night after missing the last two games with a concussion. “Michael has been a four year player for us and had a stellar career here,” said Rube of McVeigh, who is on pace to register more than 900 points for his Lynbrook career. “[Mackie’ has improved tremendously. Last year he was seventh man and now he is starting.”

Three of Lynbrook’s final four games are on the road starting on Friday night at Island Trees for a 6:15 p.m. tipoff. The Owls’ final home game is scheduled for Feb. 7 against Valley Stream North at 7 p.m. before closing the regular season three days later in a road tilt with Valley Stream South.

“We have to win out to make the playoffs,” said Rube. “As long as our guys fight we have a chance.”