It was a tough time for Oceanside basketball last season with the boys and girls each posting 2-18 records. Boys head coach Ed Risener had talent but it was too young to find victories. Only one senior was on the 2024-25 roster and five underclassmen started.
With all five starters back and switch to Conference AAA2, Oceanside may be the county’s most improved team. “We were one of the youngest teams in Nassau County,’’ Risener said. “We played in a very good conference. All our guys are returning with a year of experience. We’re looking forward to a brighter future.’’
The Sailors’ engine is senior All-County do-it-all forward Josh Gamarra, who at 6-foot-5 is one of Nassau’s elite players. “Being on a 2-18 team last year and still being voted All-County by the coaches was a very good sign,’’ Risener said. Gamarra averaged 15 points, 10.5 rebounds, 1.5 blocks and 1.5 steals. He’s getting looks from schools such as St. Francis (Pa.). “With his size, strength and guardlike skills, he can take over a game in multiple ways,’’ Risener said.
Junior Dylan Alfaro is next dangerous — a high-energy guard who averaged 5.7 points, 8.3 rebounds and 2.3 assists. “He’s known for his hustle and rebounding,’’ Risener said. The key, however, could be a continued emergence of sophomore point guard Jaden Belone, who started as a freshman, averaging 4.5 points, 4.6 rebounds and 2.5 assists. “He’s a promising young guard developing into a well-rounded player,’’ Risener said. “His court vision and defensive instincts make him a key contributor.’’
Senior wing Louis Saglembeni has shown lots of improvement, is a strong playmaker and key leader. Senior Max Caine is considered the “heartbeat of the team’’ as a tenacious physical forward who averaged 8.5 boards and set the school record with 31 charges. Sophomore Omar Olmeda Vazquez is a versatile guard and Jordan Simposn a big physical sophomore guard. “We’ll be big, physical with a defense-first identity,’’ Risener said.
After a 2-win campaign, things can only look up for Oceanside’s girls’ team. A .500 record may be reasonable. Four of last season’s starters return from a club too inexperienced to compete. The 2024-25 Sailors were reeling after 11 seniors graduated.
“It was a big learning curve and it was tough,’’ head coach Jared Stoler said. “We’re really looking forward to this year. We have a lot of young talent who got experience last year. So we’ll build on top of that.’’
The offense is spearheaded by senior guard Karley Handleman and junior guard Ella Murray. Handleman averaged 9.8 points last season while Murray, who helped lead the soccer team to its first-ever Long Island title as its star goalkeeper, was at 8.5. Both should be double-figure scorers this season. “They’re both guards who can get to the basket without hesitation and both have nice outside shots,’’ Stoler said. “They can score from anywhere, but not afraid to get into the lane.’’
The other two returning starters are forwards, senior Gianna Belone and junior forward Bella Marsicano. Stoler calls Belone “one of the hardest workers on the floor who will lead by example and set the tone for the rest of the team.’’ Meanwhile, Marsicano is viewed as arguably possessing the team’s highest ceiling. “(Marsciano) learned on the fly last year, starting as a sophomore,’’ Stoler said. “A year older with a year of varsity under her belt, we expect big things from her, taking her offense to the next level.’’
Senior Reese Barriga returns to repeat her bench role from last season. Big things are expected from sophomore point guard Anna Sokoli, a freshman on the junior varsity last season. “She can handle and score,’’ Stoler said. “She’s improved tremendously over the past year.’’
Making playoffs is a challenge in a difficult conference but a return to respectability is in the offing. “Our biggest strength is cohesion,’’ Stoler said. “We have a lot of good-personality girls who will be team-first players and want to get better.’’
Dec. 11: Herricks, 6:45 p.m.
Dec. 15: Westbury, 5:00 p.m.
Dec. 18: @ Port Washington, 5:00 p.m.
Jan. 7: East Meadow, 5:00 p.m.
Jan. 10: Baldwin, 1:00 p.m.
Jan. 13: @ Academy Charter, 6:45 p.m.
Jan. 16: @ V.S. Central, 6:45 p.m.
Jan. 24: @ Herricks, 1:00 p.m.
Jan. 26: @ Westbury, 6:45 p.m.
Jan. 29: Port Washington, 5:00 p.m.
Feb. 4: @ East Meadow, 6:30 p.m.
Feb. 7: @ Baldwin, 4:00 p.m.
Feb. 10: Academy Charter, 5:00 p.m.
Feb. 13: V.S. Central, 5:00 p.m.
Dec. 9: Uniondale, 6:45 p.m.
Dec. 11: Herricks, 6:45 p.m.
Dec. 15: @ Westbury, 6:45 p.m.
Jan. 7: @ East Meadow, 5:00 p.m.
Jan. 9: Hicksville, 1:00 p.m.
Jan. 16: V.S. Central, 6:45 p.m.
Jan. 23: @ Massapequa, 6:45 p.m.
Jan. 29: @ Port Washington, 6:45 p.m.
Jan. 31: Syosset, 11:45 a.m.
Feb. 4: Plainview, 6:45 p.m.
Feb. 6: Baldwin, 6:45 p.m.
Feb. 10: @ Farmingdale, 5:00 p.m.
Feb. 12: @ Freeport, 6:45 p.m.
