Saturday, February 8, 2025
The Valley Stream North boys’ basketball team sits atop the Nassau Conference A6 standings and is a win away from checking off its first box — a return to the playoffs.
The Spartans had that chance last Friday, but fell to Mineola, 64-49. That snapped a five-game winning streak
Now it’s back to practice, which for some could be tedious in mid-January, but that’s not the case for this close-knit squad.
“We have a bunch of kids who work really hard and play together really well this year,” VSN head coach Mike McVeigh said. “They’re a fun group so practices have been really good because every day they want to get better. They’re that kind of team, which is fun to coach.”
It was at practice at the start of the season that McVeigh had an idea this team could be special.
“Once we started practice and we started practicing at a high level and the kids were holding each other accountable, you could tell that this group together, the cohesion and the chemistry that they have, that we could be pretty good if we put it all together,” McVeigh said.
That hasn’t happened every game, but one constant for Valley Stream North (12-3, 5-2) has been the unrelenting work ethic and drive and caring to get better.
Leading the charge offensively has been the Spartans’ big three of Tristan Mitchell, Vincent Rienzie and Noah Obukwelu.
Mitchell has averaged 13.9 points per game and has impressed McVeigh with his basketball IQ and ability to get to the rim, especially as a sophomore.
Rienzie, who averages 14.9 points per game, is the do-it-all calming influence who makes sure everyone is always in the right spots.
And Obukwelu (8.2 points per game) shook off a slow start and has turned up the dial on his intensity and aggressiveness, especially on the glass, over the past month.
“Those three, I’m really impressed with their maturity growing up after last season when they were all the underclassmen role players,” McVeigh said. “Now they’ve stepped into bigger roles this year.”
After not playing much as a junior, Omarion Holder has elevated his game as a senior, earning a spot in the starting lineup and averaging 6.7 points per game, including 14 points in a recent win over Wantagh.
Zeke Morris has been the Spartans’ defensive anchor and a senior leader who brings a lot of energy to the court. He was out against Wantagh, but Christian St. Ahmand filled that void bringing the same attributes.
With the playoffs nearly confirmed, can Valley Stream North make some big moves in the postseason? McVeigh said that will be determined by small things.
“At the end of the game, it always seems like the smallest detail and the smallest play make a difference,” McVeigh said. “So you try to focus on what you can control as a team, those little rebounding and not turning the ball over, but also trying to be aggressive. All those little intangibles matter the most.”
