By:Zack Richner
The Cyclones, riddled by injuries, were slight underdogs going into the contest. Senior co-captains Tom Walsh and Alex Anderson were both unable to play due to injury. But even without them, South Side got off to a quick start. Led by junior Darnell Mayers, who would finish with 11 rebounds and a team-high 23 points, South Side played its best quarter of the year, leading VSS 21-4 at the end of the first period.
But VSS fought back. At halftime, VSS, spurred by 11-for-18 free-throw shooting, had cut the lead to 12, 31-19. At the end of the third quarter, the score was tied at 40. With 3:40 left in regulation, VSS finally took the lead.
Down by as many as 6 points in the fourth quarter, the Cyclones needed someone to step up. Mayers, who started in place of the injured Walsh, answered the call. With his team trailing by 2, Mayers hit the shot that would send the game into overtime, tied at 52.
South Side-s chances in overtime, however, looked grim, as senior starters Nate Smith and co-captain Matt Simoneschi both fouled out by the end of the first overtime.
South Side trailed in each of the four-minute overtimes. With four of their five opening-day starters out of the game, the Cyclones needed their role players to come up big. Senior Carl Perryman did, scoring all of his 16 points in the last four overtime periods. Perryman also had 12 rebounds.
With the help of Perryman and Mayers, who played all 56 minutes of the game, South Side endured six nail-biting extra periods. It was with 27 seconds left in the sixth overtime that the Cyclones took the lead for good. Trailing 95-94, South Side put the ball in the hands of senior sharpshooter Nick Castro. Castro, who finished the game with 20 points, not only sank a 3-point shot to nail the door shut on VSS, but also sank the hearts of the Valley Stream South team and fans.
South Side raised its record to 4-1 on the season. Afterward, South Side coach Jerry D-Angelo said he was proud of the effort his team gave him. I got to see the character of my team in a tough situation, D-Angelo said. I got to see the resilience of our kids. Now I-m more comfortable with the overall team play. I really saw what they were made of.
After 56 minutes of blood, sweat and basketball, most fans would figure the coach would give his team the next day off. No way, said D-Angelo. There was another game to prepare for.
Cyclones continue winning ways
Senior co-captain Alex Anderson made his return to the court Saturday after missing time with an injured rib cage, as host South Side defeated Glen Cove 64-46. In his return, Anderson had a double-double, leading the team with 10 rebounds and 25 points, 12 of which came from behind the 3-point line.
Coming off its six-overtime game, South Side continued to show its depth. Nine different players scored, most notably Anderson and senior Nick Castro. Castro drained three 3-point field goals and finished the game with 15 points.
South Side is 5-1 on the year.
