V.S. North ready for playoffs

With one team undefeated against conference rivals and eight others with only a loss or two heading into the final week of the regular season, the Nassau Class A boys’ basketball tournament has the look of some February Madness on the way.

Valley Stream North, after a conference title and spirited run to the semifinals last winter when it ran into eventual state champion Elmont, is knocking on the door to be one of the top playoff seeds again. The Spartans, who reeled off a nine-game winning streak earlier this season, have another hot streak going and a chance to repeat as A-III champs.

“It’s a long season and we try to establish short-term goals and go after them,” head coach Dan Achatz said after VSN (15-2) tipped off the month with a 61-40 victory at Plainedge for its third straight win and 32nd in 38 games dating back to last season. “The grind of the season can become monotonous after a while, but the kids do a nice job of motivating each other and try to get better every day,” he added.

Senior John Alimo scored a game-high 19 points and added five rebounds, senior Noah Shy had 18 points, and senior Jon Francois chipped in nine points for the Spartans, who built a 10-5 lead after the opening quarter and never looked back.

It was North’s seventh road win this season without a defeat. The Spartans scratched and clawed their way past an upcoming Lynbrook squad on Jan. 21, 40-35, to bounce back from their lone conference loss of the campaign. The Owls led by four heading into the fourth quarter but were held to three points over the final eight minutes. Though there were no offensive fireworks, a balanced effort proved the key for North as junior Taliq Abdul-Rahim had 10 points, Shy had nine, and seniors Omar Baxter and Shamari Griffith each had seven.

“Lynbrook’s a young and talented team, that’s the bottom line,” Achatz said. “It’s never easy to win on the road, especially on a Saturday afternoon, but our defense led the way.”

North started a little slow in its next game at home and trailed Bethpage by four at halftime before rallying for a 65-57 win. Abdul-Rahim and Francios had 18 points apiece, and Alimo added 16.  

With the playoffs in sight, Achatz is looking for the Spartans to improve their transition offense and man-to-man defense. If they can beat Floral Park and Lawrence to close the regular season, the conference title, a top four seed and two home playoff games will likely be theirs.

“We’ve packed the gym the past two years and it’s great to have the crowd behind us,” Achatz said.

“Almost every team is ready for the playoffs to start,” he added. “I know our guys are looking forward to it. They still have last season in the back of their minds and they want to get back to where they were and go further.”