Adversity no match for VSN

Valley Stream North has stepped up to adversity in a big way and needs just one victory over its last four games to secure a spot in the Nassau Class A boys’ basketball playoffs.

The Spartans knocked off Floral Park and Lynbrook last week by a combined five points to improve to 6-4 in Conference A-IV. Four of their last five games were decided by three points or fewer.

“We’ve been focusing on keeping the right frame of mind and communicating on and off the court,” head coach Dan Achatz said after VSN defeated Lynbrook, 49-47, on Jan. 30 on Giovanni Grey’s two free throws with five seconds remaining in regulation. “The guys are trusting each other,” he added.

The Spartans have split eight conference games without the services of senior Carlton “C.J.” Parris, who went down a few days before Christmas with a high ankle sprain and is likely to miss the rest of the season. Parris averaged close to 25 points per game as a junior and scored 17 and 15, respectively, in December conference wins over Floral Park and Plainedge.

“The rest of the guys took adversity face-on,” Achatz said. “We’ve always focused on defense, so it wasn’t a matter of what we were going to do on either side of the ball. It was a matter of young kids needing to step up, and they’ve done just that.”

When senior forwards Serge Thrasybule and Anthony Troiano were both saddled with two fouls early in the second quarter against Lynbrook, sophomores Grey, Godwin Eyiuche, Harpreet Singh and Malcolm Harrington helped the Spartans (7-8 overall) hang tight throughout the first half.

“Our game plan was to not allow Lynbrook any threes, but they ended up getting our big guys in foul trouble,” Achatz said. “We had to weather a storm and still managed to lead by three at halftime.”

Junior Luke Sibblies was unstoppable most of the night and finished with a game-high 25 points, with 15 of those coming from behind the arc. Thrasybule added eight points and 10 rebounds, Troiano had six points, while Grey and Eyiche chipped in five apiece.

The Owls tied the game with about 12 seconds left in regulation on their only three-pointer, a chuck by Greg DeJoseph. Achatz chose not to call a timeout when he saw the Spartans inbounded the ball quickly and were on the move. Grey drove to the basket and drew a foul that resulted in the decisive free throws.

“We’ve learned a lot this season,” Achatz said. “We’ve been in tight situations a lot lately and found a way to win these last two.”

North held off Floral Park, 50-47, on Jan. 28 behind Thrasybule’s 17 points and 11 rebounds. He went 4-for-4 from the foul line in the final minute to seal the outcome. Sibblies had 14 points and Eyiche added eight.

Three of the last four games are on the road, including one against the only team capable of stealing a playoff spot from the Spartans in the form of Lawrence. Tipoff on Friday night is 6:30 p.m.