VSN riding win streak

Senior Aaron Bonitto poured in a game-high 24 points to lead four Valley Stream North players in double figures as the Spartans continued their rise in the Conference A-III boys’ basketball standings with a 76-68 home victory over Island Trees last Friday.

Junior Mahlik McLeod had 19 points, and senior Ricardo Richardson and sophomore Josh Denis added 11 points apiece as North (5-6 overall, 5-3 in conference play) won its third straight game and remained in the thick of the playoff chase under first-year head coach Dan Achatz.

“Every conference game has been intense,” Achatz said. “Everyone has talent and every game is basically coming down to the wire. It’s extremely tough. We beat Island Trees by 35 the first time, but they’re a different team now and we prepped for them really hard.

“They just beat Floral Park and Bethpage, so this is another big step for us,” he added. 

The Spartans raced to a 20-5 advantage after the opening quarter and led by nine at halftime. The lead swelled to 60-43 after North stepped on the gas again in the third quarter. “We came out hot right away,” Achatz said. “They made some adjustments and slowed us down, but we kept at it.”

 Of McLeod’s 19 points, 13 came from the foul line where he attempted 16 free throws. The first-year varsity point guard, who played for Achatz at the JV level, is improving every game, the coach said. “Mahlik knows my system, and he’s doing a really nice job in his first varsity season.”

Achatz also praised the defensive effort of Richardson against Island Trees big man Andrew Kramer, who had 23 points but had to work for everything he got.

Richardson posted a double-double (18 points, 10 rebounds) in a game that Achatz said allowed the Spartans to turn the corner. They beat Bethpage, 53-52, on Jan. 7, to snap a four-game slide. McLeod’s layup with 20 seconds remaining won it.

Following a setback to North Shore, the Spartans rallied in the fourth quarter and nipped Lynbrook, 52-50, on Jan. 11 on Denis’ layup with five seconds remaining. Bonitto (14), McLeod (13) and Richardson (12) scored in double figures as North overcame a 32-point performance by the Owls’ Michael McVeigh.

Three nights later, the Spartans’ defensive pressure in the second half lifted them past Glen Cove, 81-69. They trailed by a basket at halftime. Bonitto exploded for 30 points, McLeod had 19, and junior Tom Canny added 10 points and 10 rebounds. 

“We’re playing a lot better lately,” Achatz said.

North is back in action this Friday when it travels to Floral Park for a 4:30 p.m. start.