Rocks cling to playoff hopes

Just when it looked like the East Rockaway Rocks might be starting to hit their stride, the team suffered consecutive routs at the hands of Malverne and Locust Valley in Nassau Conference BC boys’ basketball action.

The losses have left the Rocks fighting for their playoff lives. With three games to play, East Rockaway will need to win at least two, perhaps all three, if it hopes to qualify for the Class B playoffs.

The Rocks had their best effort of the season when they broke a three-game losing streak by dominating Carle Place, 82-43. Senior Matt Fuller scored 21 points and pulled down 11 rebounds to lead the way. The Rocks ran out to a 32-6 lead after one quarter and never looked back. Senior Mike Castellano led all scorers with 22 points.

Unfortunately, East Rockaway followed up the victory with two poor efforts. First, the Rocks visited Malverne and suffered an 81-52 defeat on Feb. 1. Senior forward Anthony Moultre scored 19 of his career-high 20 points in the first half, and pulled down 13 rebounds to lead Malverne. Senior Ronald Spencer had 16 points and seven rebounds, as five Mules scored in double figures. Junior Joey Lores scored 13 points to lead the Rocks.

East Rockaway head coach Joe Lores was displeased with the effort. “We came out trying to run with them, because we play our best when we’re running, but we just turned the ball over too much,” Lores said. “They beat us by two points the first time we played, and we expected another close one. We just didn’t match up with them physically, and shot the ball very poorly. You can’t play poorly and expect to compete with Malverne.”

Things didn’t get any better for the Rocks when they traveled to Locust Valley last Friday evening. The Falcons exacted a little revenge on East Rockaway, which won the first meeting 58-50. Junior Alex Rawa had 27 points, pulled down eight rebounds and dished out five assists to lead Locust Valley to a 61-47 win in the rematch. Ryan Ries (15 points, three assists) hit two of his five three-pointers in the opening quarter as the Falcons took a 16-7 lead. Junior Michael Lores led the Rocks with 14 points.

East Rockaway (4-7 in Conference BC, 7-7 overall) will face Oyster Bay, Wheatley, and Cold Spring Harbor to close out the regular season. If the Rocks can sweep the three games, they will clinch a playoff berth.

Coach Lores is taking things one step at a time. “We need to just concentrate on the task at hand, which is winning the next game,” he said. “We need to play with more of a sense of urgency. Losing is one thing. But losing without going down fighting and screaming is unacceptable. We’re going to find out what we’re made of these next three games.”

The Rocks close out regular season at home when Cold Spring Harbor visits the Rock Palace on Monday at 6:30 p.m.