Fast-starting Elmont tops Sewanhaka

Two of Nassau County’s hottest boys’ basketball teams out of the gate hooked up Thursday afternoon with the driver’s seat in Conference AA-IV on the line and visiting Elmont swiped the keys early from Sewanhaka and never looked back in a 57-48 victory.

The Spartans built a 15-point halftime advantage and led by as many as 22 in the third quarter as seniors Cassius Moore (14) and Osagie Ekhator (13) and junior Nassir Edwards (11) all scored in double figures, and senior Gemere Frias-Walsh chipped in 9.

“Our kids prepared well and stepped up,” head coach Ryan Straub said after Elmont improved to 4-0 in conference games and 6-1 overall. “We moved the ball well on offense and were locked-in on defense.”

Sewanhaka, which won its first six games including three against AA-IV rivals, got a game-high 20 points from senior Jordan Tucker and 17 from senior Dylan McLennon.

“Elmont did a great job from the beginning,” Indians head coach Jay Allen said. “They’re a very good team and I still think we’re a very good team. We played better in the second half, but they have more size and were more physical and intense than we were. We need to use this game as a learning experience.”

The Spartans enjoyed a 19-point opening quarter and then held Sewanhaka to only five points in the second to hold a 30-16 halftime cushion.

“Our adjustment at halftime was to play harder,” said Allen, who’s team allowed only 30 points per game over the first six contests and knocked off Manhasset and Hempstead. “We checked some boxes in this game, but not as many as we wanted,” he added. “We hadn’t turned the ball over much all season until today. Give Elmont all the credit.”

Holding Moore under his 18.5 ppg average was one of the Indians’ goals, Allen said. But Elmont’s offensive depth showed throughout and Edwards stepped up with a season-best performance on the scoresheet.

“He’s a smart player who knows his role,” Straub said of Edwards, a 6-foot-4 forward who’s counted on more to rebound and defend than to fill the basket. “He had a big steal and dunk in the first quarter that was an early momentum shift.”

Sewanhaka cut the margin to seven in the fourth quarter but was unable to pose a serious threat. The Indians are starting four seniors as well as junior Matthew Abreu, who has earned his way into the top five. Senior Nasir McMillan is running the show from the point, and the Tucker-McLennon tandem is as strong as there is in Class AA.

“We go offensively as they go,” Allen said of Tucker and McLennon. “But we’re still a defense-first team.

“This is one loss and we can’t sulk about it,” he added. “We just have to brush it off and get back to playing how we’ve been playing.”

Elmont hosts the rematch Jan. 30 at 4:30 p.m.

“We know the potential of this group and we’re excited about it,” Straub said. “We don’t want to get too far ahead of ourselves. It’s cliché, but we’re taking it one game at a time.”