Season Preview: East Meadow Boys Basketball

The East Meadow boys basketball team was knocked out of the Class AA playoffs by Great Neck South after receiving a first round bye in 2010.

Although the Jets will need to find a way to replace seven graduated seniors, they are up for the challenge and are looking to get back to the playoffs in doing so.

East Meadow finished with a 12-6 record with a 9-3 record in Conference AA-II during the regular season. The mark had them ranked second in the standings behind eventual county runner-up Baldwin. 

“It is a fairly new team, but our first scrimmage, I was very pleased. Hopefully we could pick it up heading into the season,” Barry Dickson, East Meadow seventh-year head coach, said. “I am hoping that we could surprise some people. Our goal is to finish in the top four and be a playoff team. I think it is a realistic goal and something we could do."

Rob Franzese, Jeff Angelino and Kyle Berger are just some of the key components from last year in which Coach Dickson and the Jets must fill in with some new faces. Junior Joe Campay played a key role for the 2010 team and will be called upon to lead the squad this time around. 

Sophomore Cody Zaffran played solid minutes last year but will see an increased role in 2011, potentially as a starter. Seniors Marvin Cajoles and Matt Castenada will look to provide veteran leadership and points on the offensive end.

“I have eight guys back that knew the system from last season. What is going to be important for those guys is to be able to fight through adversity,” Dickson said. “They have to go to the next play and can’t hang their heads. I think they can do it.”

East Meadow has played multiple scrimmages in the early going in an attempt to prepare with limited practice time. The team will get their schedule underway with the “Battle of the Classes” at Long Beach High School, where they will play Glen Gove of Class A.

On Dec. 15, the Jets will begin their league schedule with a road game against Port Washington followed by a tough home opener against Baldwin on Dec. 20. At the end of the month, East Meadow will play in the Great Neck South Tournament with an opening game against the host school, with the winner playing either Island Trees or Plainview JFK.

East Meadow must contend with the likes of Baldwin, Hicksville, MacArthur, Calhoun, Valley Stream Central, Port Washington and Plainview JFK for the conference title this season.

East Meadow will play the Big Red of Glen Cove at 5 p.m. on Dec. 10 at Long Beach High School. For complete schedule information for the 2011-12 East Meadow Jets, visit the Nassau Boces Athletics page.