New Hyde Park Boys Basketball Loses to Manhasset in First Round of Playoffs, 69-60

The (5-7 in conference play; 7-11 overall) finished their season with a first round playoff loss to Manhasset (11-1 in conference; 16-2 overall) at Manhasset Thursday at 5:15 p.m.

The game could have easily turned into a New Hyde Park win save for some foul shots and baskets by Manhasset in the game's last few seconds.

Heroes: Adam Priest was the game's highest scorer with 21 points. He took some aggressive layups into the sometimes congested paint and was there for assists where teammate Kevin Towey deftly circulated the ball to him. Towey moved the ball around well throughout the game as he tried to find the best open player for the shot. Both Towey and Priest were a major part of New Hyde Park's comeback that brought the Gladiators to within three points of Manhasset with one minute and 35 seconds and one minute and 10 seconds left respectively.

Faizal Hussein's defense and lack of fear of driving through several players to get to the basket for a layup was also clutch during the game.

This was also the last game for seniors Joseph Justice, Dan Justice, Greg Simeon and Ricardo Castor. Joseph Justice has been one of the top scorers through most of the season and has been great on defense, . He called Dan Justice his jack-of-all-trades. Simeon has been a solid rebounder and has been great at driving to the basket past his defenders.

Turning point: New Hyde Park was up going into the second quarter, but never again topped Manhasset score wise. They came incredibly close to turning the game around in the fourth quarter with four foul shots by Towey and then another two shortly thereafter by Priest.

Manhasset rained on New Hyde Park's comeback parade though about 20 seconds later, with Manhasset's Alessandro Troia making a basket and later two foul shots, Gary Tibbs making a two foul shots and then another basket with 8.6 seconds left in the game. New Hyde Park's three point, more than one minute left in the game window was shattered to a score of 69-60.

Quotable: "This team gave me everything I asked for," Rood said, adding "and I can't ask for more."

Bottom Line: Rood noted that his team was the sixteenth seed and that it says a lot that they were able to bring the game so close with Manhasset, which had record was 11 wins and one loss in conference play this year.

Of Manhasset's team, Rood said that Tibbs is a tremendous player and that the team's coach, George Bruns, is "a gentleman and a great coach."

The last time he was in a similar position (at the playoffs) was his first year as coach eight years ago. And eight years ago, the season ended in a similar fashion.

Key stat: Foul shots. These shots helped to turn the game against New Hyde Park, although before that they also helped New Hyde Park to lessen Manhasset's lead. Manhasset made 22 foul shots during the game and New Hyde Park made 14.

Team ..................................... 1 ... 2 ... 3 ... 4 ..... F

New Hyde Park ..................... 12 .. 15 .. 14 .. 20 .. 69

Manhasset ............................ 11 .. 21 .. 14 .. 22 .. 60