Oceanside valiant in defeat

Playing in Nassau County’s toughest conference with the likes of Uniondale, Freeport, Massapequa, and Hempstead promises there are no easy nights on the boys’ basketball court. The task is even more daunting for Oceanside, a team comprised of numerous underclassmen.

While the Sailors haven’t been able to secure their first conference victory, the team is battling to the finish in every game and appears primed to get into the win column. In last Saturday’s 63-50 loss to Hempstead, the Sailors cut the Tigers’ lead to four points in the final quarter but couldn’t get any closer. Sophomore Kevin O’Keefe led Oceanside with 14 points.

Oceanside head coach Dan Keegan likes the way his young team is handling the losses. “We have a good basketball team, we just happen to be playing in the strongest conference,” Keegan said. “If handling adversity was a measure, we’d be right near the top. The guys are working incredibly hard, and they have great attitudes. It’s not for a lack of effort. They’re scratching and clawing and trying to get over the hump.”

Oceanside (3-6 overall, 0-4 in Conference AA-1) has played well in non-conference play, picking up wins over Long Beach Valley Stream North, and Mepham after dropping an opening night game to Lawrence.

When the Sailors welcomed in Mepham, it was Casey Kelly who had the hot hand. The senior guard scored a game-high 21 points as Oceanside held off the scrappy Pirates, 52-45. O’Keefe added six steals and nine rebounds.

Kelly was the man again when Oceanside traveled over the bridge to take on Long Beach. Kelly scored 24 points, dished out four assists, and grabbed five boards as the Sailors secured bragging rights over their cross-town rivals with a 53-43 victory. Bobby Stewart added nine points, six assists and seven rebounds. The Marines were led by Tyquan Scott’s 21 points.