Saturday, February 8, 2025
North Shore’s boys’ basketball team’s winning ways are continuing from last season but the Vikings are doing it a different way.
In a four-guard starting lineup, the Vikings are killing it from the outside. In bursting to a 9-5 start, “The Maroon’’ are hitting 6.5 3’s a game and shooting close to 40 percent from beyond the arc as senior guards Lucas Schimsky and Damon Merazzi lead the way.
“Last year we were a very big team and manhandled you inside,’’ head coach Ryan Berglin said. “It’s a different team this year with four guards. Our spacing is awesome. It really puts other teams to be accountable for our guys. You can’t go zone against us because we can shoot you out of it and a couple of good guards can attack the paint.’’
Last season, North Shore exerted its power of height, led by the 6-foot-5 center, Vasilis Triantafyllou, who graduated after becoming the fourth Viking to top 1,000 points. The so-called Greek Freak plays club ball at Penn State.
The Vikings, after an 18-5 regular season, marched all the way to Nassau County Class A title game before losing to Friends Academy. Nine seniors, including three starters, are gone from the squad, but Sea Cliff/Glen Head program still remains formidable.
A two-time All-Conference player, Schimsky is the engine and is averaging 16.2 points, 5 assists and 5 rebounds. He exploded for 29 points Dec. 30 in a win over Lynbrook.
“I feel like this year I have more opportunity to lead our team, and be a No. 1 option,’’ Schimsky said.
“Previous years, his job was to run the point, make the right decision, shoot the 3 when open,’’ Berglin said. “This year, he’s a complete point guard. He not only makes the right decision and runs the offense but now he’s really scoring.’’
As good a shooter as Schimsky is, Merazzi is even better. Merazzi averages 15 points and 6 rebounds at off guard. He earned All-County honors last season. Merazzi has a couple of Division III offers so far.
“He can shoot the ball from anywhere and it will go in,’’ Berglin said. “He’s an incredible shooter. That and his motor are the two things a lot of schools are looking at.’’
Adding to the small-ball lineup is James Peterson, a swingman averaging 7 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists. He’s versatile enough to run the point when Schimsky is out.
The lone big on the court is Chase Goldenberg, averaging 8.5 points 6.5 rebounds. A freshman, Del Neal is the fourth starting guard and known as the defensive specialist.
His job is to guard the other team’s best player, which is impressive for a freshman,’’ Berglin said.
North Shore is coming off two razor-close heartbreakers against elite Conference A7 competition. The Vikings (3-3 in A7) dropped a 62-60 decision on Jan. 6 to unbeaten Malverne, hurt by a late Schimsky turnover of which he took ownership. “Have to fix those mistakes and make sure it doesn’t happen again,’’ Schimsky said.
Schimsky redeemed himself against Friends Academy two nights later with 21 points but "The Maroon'' fell, 50-46, in the last ticks.
The defeats still demonstrated North Shore can be dangerous again in the postseason. “Our team chemistry and how much we trust each other helps a lot,’’ Schimsky said. “I’ve been playing with most of these guys since I was a kid.’’
Added Berglin: “If you’re a team that’s not a great man-to-man team, we can go out and beat anyone. If we get good matchups, we can definitely make a run in the playoffs.’’
