Long Beach in conference title hunt

Long Beach finds itself in a three-team race for a boys’ basketball conference championship entering the final week of the regular season but will need to right itself soon in hopes of claiming another title.

The Marines began last week atop the Conference A1 standings and in control of their own destiny for a second straight championship in as many full seasons, but a loss to Bethpage and a heartbreaking three-point setback to division foe Great Neck North dropped them to third, one game behind first-place New Hyde Park.

Long Beach (8-8, 7-3 in A1) bested New Hyde Park for its fourth straight win on Jan. 22 to clinch a playoff spot and had three games remaining at press time. The biggest of the three comes Saturday against Great Neck South (8-7, 6-3), the team it lost to by four points on Jan. 8.

“I think they’re doing really well,” head coach Scott Martin said. “In this league, we’re all kind of equal. All of these games are going to be tough. We’ve got to go to Great Neck South and try to avenge a loss, which is going to be difficult because we have to play them over there.”

Half of the Marines losses this season have come by four points or fewer, but Martin credited that to a revamped roster that is still learning how to win games. Last year’s team went 0-8 during the abbreviated season last winter.

“I think we’re overachieving compared to what we have,” he said. “We’re doing better than what we expected and we’re playing 2-3 sophomores significant minutes. We’re all happy with their attitude and glad that we clinched early and not have to win games to clinch.”

Senior Bret Michaels is back after not playing last season and the rest appears to have helped with a team-leading 15.7 scoring average. He has 13 double-digit point games this season, including three in the 20s and a season-best 31 against North.

“With the year off, he’s gotten bigger and stronger and that’s where he’s getting most of his baskets,” Martin said. “[Against North] he hit most of his foul shots and he’s going to the basket really hard. He’s a matchup problem.”

Junior Jack Shields (11.4 ppg) was the leading scorer on the JV team last year and that offense has carried over into this season. His size has helped his shooting because he can get rid of the ball easier over smaller defenders.

Sophomore point guard Mike Main (9.3 ppg) has also keyed some of the Marines’ wins this season with his passing and clutch free throw shooting. Nataniel Mesa (8.6 ppg), a senior transfer from Brentwood, is a newcomer who is averaging just under nine points a game while impressing with his tenacious defense. His 16 third-quarter points also helped the Marines top MacArthur.

Athletic junior Jeff Conway has made the smooth transition from wrestling to basketball and had 11 points against New Hyde Park and sophomore Blake Bernstein has provided a spark off the bench.