Elmont steamrolling since opener

After Elmont’s league opener at home Dec. 10, the Nassau Conference AA5 boys’ basketball pack may have sensed there was blood in the water.

In a rematch of last year’s county Class AA title game, the reigning state-champ Spartans – having lost four starters to graduation – emerged from a scrap against South Side with a stinging 10-point league loss.

It would be Elmont's last, to date.

With a pair of comeback wins on the road to close the first half of January, Elmont, owner of AA5’s longest win streak – nine games, ongoing, at Herald press time – put to rest any lingering notions that this year its crowns (state, county and Long Island) were simply up for grabs.

The question of many at the outset had been: How could Elmont defend its titles in the wake of seemingly seismic departures – such as that of last year’s Class AA Final Four MVP Cassius Moore? The answer, according to head coach Ryan Straub – and borne out increasingly in stats: By committee.

“We faced some early hurdles but made necessary adjustments with a next-man-up mentality,” said Straub, whose club moved to 12-3 overall, 8-1 in AA5 with last week’s home league win against Kennedy, 78-34. “Every game it could be someone different stepping up. Kayden Cyrus is a great example of that.”

A trio of timely three-point shots from junior reserve Cyrus helped Elmont erase Roslyn’s nine-point lead as the Spartans – who entered the night trailing their league-leading hosts by a game in the standings – stormed back late to win 59-54 on Jan. 13, nudging the Bulldogs aside to seize a share of first place AA5.

As an encore, Elmont – paced by center Ebubuenna Nwabudu’s 14 points and forward Nassir Edwards’ 11 – shrugged off a sluggish first half to outscore host South Side 25-12 in the third quarter en route to a 49-37 win Jan. 16, the Spartans avenging their lone league loss and booting the Cyclones from a three-way tie atop AA5 in the process.

“Those two games were huge,” Straub said. “Especially South Side. I think our guys were hungry to get that one back."

“Khalil Muhammad was big for us that game,” Straub said of his team’s assist leader (4.1 per game), who in fellow guard and co-captain Arlyn Brown’s absence due to injury took on the task of guarding opponents’ best players this past week. “He set the tone ramping up pressure defensively.”

While Elmont has seen offense pouring in from all corners of its roster – with Nwabudu leading the Spartans averaging 11.6 points per game, Brown and Edwards each scoring 9.4 per game, guard Aiden Barnes averaging seven, and Muhammad, Jordan Cook and Aaron Kelly all averaging well over five – it has once again been defense that has set the Spartans apart. As was the case last season, Elmont ranks No. 1 in the conference (tied with South Side) allowing 46 points per game.

“This team gets better every day,” Straub said. “There was pressure this year. They haven’t shied away from it. We’re at a point now where everyone trusts each other. The winning streak shows that.”

“It's definitely exciting for a coach,” Straub added. “Never knowing who’ll step up any given night.”