Last Updated: February 3, 2010

Falcon Boys Basketball

• Dan Brennan

The Locust Valley boys’ basketball team continued its winning ways with a 49-31 home victory against Friends Academy on January 12. The game was the beginning of a five game home stretch for the Falcons. Locust Valley jumped out to a 10-5 lead after the first quarter and continued to build on that lead going into the locker room at half time up by a score of 25-15. The Falcon defense was the deciding factor in this win. Tom Sheehan led a balanced scoring attack with 18 points, of which he scored 15 in the first half of the game. Alex Rawa added eight points and 10 rebounds while Chad Cloninger recorded 10 points and eight rebounds. Ryan Ries came off the bench to finish with seven points.
The Falcons defeated Garden City High School on January 14 by a score of 50-38 in the next game played at home. The Falcons opened up a 15-8 lead after one quarter of play but only managed six points in the second quarter. Locust Valley still had a 21-16 lead at the half and put the game away in the third quarter by outscoring Garden City 20-9. In another balanced scoring attack, Will Brennan had a team high 12 points and Chad Cloninger and Ryan Ries each had 11 points. Chad scored all of his 11 points in the third quarter. Point guard Luke Marshall had a game high seven assists for Locust Valley.
Oyster Bay High School was the next team on the schedule for a January 19 contest. It was a game between the two top teams in Conference ABC V and especially exciting considering the local rivalry between the two schools. The stands were filled with Oyster Bay and Locust Valley/Bayville fans and students. It proved to be a close game throughout as neither team could gain a huge advantage. It was 13-13 after the first quarter and Locust Valley held a slim two point lead, 26-24 at half time. The Baymen and Falcons played even in the third quarter scoring 16 points apiece as Locust Valley held its two point lead. Oyster Bay surged ahead to gain the lead in the fourth quarter and outscored Locust Valley 15-10 to win the game 55-52 and take sole possession of first place. Locust Valley almost made a miraculous comeback with less than thirty seconds to play but could not get even with the Baymen. Eric Seamen who scored 14 points, hit two free throws with two seconds remaining to seal the win for the Baymen. Tom Sheehan led Locust Valley with a game high 22 points. Chad Cloninger added nine points and six rebounds for the Falcons. Oyster Bay’s Joe Carbone led the Baymen with 21 points and Josh Grant had a huge game with 15 rebounds to control the boards.
Locust Valley came back with a very big win against Cold Spring Harbor High School on Friday January 22 defeating the Seahawks 65-48 in a game that the Falcons led from the beginning. The Falcon defense was once again the main reason for another Locust Valley victory. Sophomore Alex Rawa led Locust Valley with 19 points. The Falcons put the game away in the third quarter with a 19-6 run. Chad Cloninger and Ryan Ries added 12 points each for the Falcons. Chad also had nine rebounds. Will Brennan contributed 10 points and five assists. Meanwhile Oyster Bay High School lost its game to Friends Academy 41-32 to drop back into a first place tie with Locust Valley. Both teams have 4-2 Conference records.
On January 30 the Falcons hosted New Hyde Park High School in the last home game of the regular season for Locust Valley. It was Senior Game and the Falcons have seven seniors on the team. Locust Valley did not disappoint the fans as they jumped out to a 16-11 lead after the first quarter and never looked back to roll to a 65-48 win to improve to 6-1 in league play and 8-5 overall. Tom Sheehan led Locust Valley with 23 points and Will Brennan added 12 points with seven assists and four rebounds. Scott Yamond was the leading rebounder for Locust Valley with nine and Chad Cloninger added six rebounds.
The strength of this team is the balance of its offense. There is never one player who always leads the team. It is a very athletic team with great defense that could surprise a lot of teams during the playoffs.

---