Long Beach pulls away from VSC

Long Beach and Valley Stream Central have developed quite a rivalry on the hardwood the past three seasons as both conference rivals and playoff opponents, and another chapter was added last Friday when the Marines pulled away for a 59-51 road victory.

Seniors Cedric Coad (24 points, seven rebounds, three blocks) and Josh Trone (21 points, five rebounds) combined for 17 points in the fourth quarter to lead Long Beach, which won back-to-back for the first time all season and improved to 4-2 in Conference AA-III and 4-4 overall. The Eagles (1-5, 1-8) had juniors Mike Russo (11) and Elijah Tabb (10), and senior Mohammed Iqbal (10) all score in double figures.

“For us, it’s all about defense,” Long Beach coach T.J. Burke said. “We’ve been scoring most of our points off steals. Tonight we got to the line more than any other game this season, but we didn’t hit foul shots and made it closer than it should’ve been.”

The Marines, who according to Burke are shooting a meager 45 percent from the line, went 18-for-39 and didn’t hit back-to-back free throws until the fourth quarter. Central attempted only eight free throws, hitting three. “It hasn’t cost us a game yet, but this could’ve been that game,” Burke said of the foul line struggles. “We try to make our practices game-like and shoot free throws after running up and down the floor. We’re just not making them as often as we should.”

The Eagles, who graduated 10 seniors from last year’s quarterfinal playoff team, hung tough throughout but couldn’t get over the hump after digging a 23-13 hole midway through the second quarter. “It’s frustrating to not get the results we want on the scoreboard, but there’s no doubt we’re getting better every day,” VSC coach Hayward Alfred said. “The more these guys get used to playing with each other, the more competitive we’ll be. I’m pleased with the progress.”

Coad, who did most of his damage from the paint and foul line, hit a three-pointer for a second straight game to open up a 10-point lead that was cut to three by halftime thanks to baskets by Tabb, Joe McLean, Laton Butler and Matt Filiault.  

Central inched even closer by the end of a back-and-forth third quarter and trailed 35-33 entering the fourth. Tabb, Dallas Serrano and Mike Russo all hit threes in the third, but the Marines never relinquished the lead. Trone’s three midway through the fourth extended Long Beach’s advantage to 45-38, and the free throws finally started to fall down the stretch with Coad, Matt Rivera and Jaymen Teemer doing enough to keep the Eagles from making another run.

“This game was won on the glass,” Alfred said. “Rebounding has been an issue all season.”

“I’ll take an eight-point win on the road any time,” Burke said. “This is a tough gym to win in.”

The game also capped the first half of the conference schedule. The Marines sit in fourth place, a game behind Great Neck South, Elmont, and Kennedy, and one ahead of Calhoun. The top four finishers qualify for the Class AA playoffs. The Eagles have some work to do to get into the picture.