Varsity Basketball

Over the last two weeks, the boys varsity basketball team won one and lost two in the up and down season as they continued their 6-game road trip on Tuesday, January 16th with a win at North Shore, 57-44. Tied at the end of the first quarter at 13, Garden City pulled away by outscoring the opposition in each of the last three quarters. Co-Captains Harry Kutner and Rob Finneran each contributed 18 points, with Finneran dominating the glass for 13 rebounds. The center position produced fifteen points as John Haskoor (8) and Jeff Fell (7) shared duties. Fell's points came in the first half as he came off the bench and provided an instant spark.

A key to the win was the Trojans' correction of a season-long weakness in allowing 3-point shots without pressure. The scouting report focused on North Shore's big scorers' penchant for shooting 3(s), with an inability to put the ball on the floor. Garden City pressured each deep possession by the opposition, contested every 3 point attempt, and held their high scorers well below their averages.

In the second game in a battle for first place in the league, the Trojans bused to Island Trees on Saturday, ran out of gas and lost in overtime, 63-55. Early in the first quarter, Finneran picked up a quick two fouls and went to the bench, handicapping the team. But Garden City controlled the game in the first half as Kutner dominated every aspect with 17 of his team's 27 first half points, while also spraying an assortment of passes to teammates (3 assists). Even though his first half time was limited, Finneran returned in the second quarter, played smart in avoiding a third foul, and managed to control the boards. Meanwhile Garden City's defense shut down Island Trees' high scorers.

At half time, Island Trees made adjustments, primarily shadowing, grabbing and pulling on Kutner, and limited him to few opportunities and only 4 points in the second half. The Trojans contributed to the loss by losing their intensity and focus, both offensively and defensively. On the defensive end, they failed to box out thereby giving Island Trees' frontline numerous second and third offensive attempts, and reverted to their weakness of allowing 3-point shots without pressure: one Island Tree player canned five 3-pointers in the second half.

The defensive composure-loss infected the offense as the Trojans melted down in multiple failures to get off a shot within the 35-second shot clock, failed to go to the hoop when they had the opportunity on fastbreaks, and finally tried to go to the basket and missed when there was no opening and they were protecting the lead and clock late in the fourth quarter. In overtime, Garden City was outscored 10-2. The lone bright spot was Finneran's picking up the scoring slack with 17 points in the second half.

Kutner finished with 21 points (5 threes), Finneran had 18, while Matt Emmert (6), John Haskoor (4), Hayden Fries (3), and Roger Mancusi (3) contributed.

Then after a week-long layoff for exams, the team returned to the hardwood on Friday, January 26th against Great Neck North. The rust showed, as they dropped the game in desultory fashion, 54-50.

Great Neck revealed its strategy early in constantly double-teaming and mostly shutting down the Trojans' two big scorers, Harry Kutner (5) and Rob Finneran (11), well below their averages. The slack was picked up by Hayden Fries who came off the bench to lead the team with 13 (three 3s) and John Haskoor (12), the only other Garden City players in double figures.

Again, the Trojans' season-long lackluster or non-existent defense on 3-point shooters cost them a game, as two quite ordinary and immobile Great Neck North set shooters were allowed to get the ball in their preferred spots, and take shots all game without a hand in their faces, respectively netting 27 and 19 points, well above their averages.

Despite the string of losses, the Trojans' play-off hopes are still technically alive, but would require running the table. The team is looking for support as they enter a four consecutive game home streak this Friday, February 2nd at Garden City High School against Sewanhaka, followed on Tuesday, February 6th at home against Lawrence. Both games are at 7:00 p.m.