Tibbs leads Manhasset to 'A' title
Manhasset forward Gary Tibbs #21 puts up the hook shot over Lawrence forward Clifton Lyerly #15. (March 5, 2011) Credit: George A. Faella
Turns out the most effective place for Gary Tibbs was not in the clouds, but firmly on the ground.
Whether on the low post for an easy bucket, on the floor diving for a steal or even hoisting up a flat-footed three, Tibbs and the hardwood at Hofstra became one.
The tactic proved extremely effective, as No. 1 Manhasset won its first county title since the 1996-97 season with a 73-59 win over No. 6 Lawrence in the Nassau Class A boys basketball final Saturday.
Coming off an invigorating, last-second semifinal win in overtime last Friday, Indians coach George Bruns said his main preparatory task for yesterday's game was bringing his team back down to Earth.
"The way that game turned out, it was like a 'Hoosiers' ending," he said. "We were in some state of euphoria last week."
Not Tibbs.
"That night we viewed as a final," he said. "But the next morning, I was already thinking about the next game."
Seven days of thinking produced out-of-this-world results for the 6-3 forward, and his like-minded teammate, Alessandro Troia. Tibbs scored 15 of his 24 points in the first half with 11 rebounds and four steals, and Troia had 23 points, 11 rebounds and three assists.
All but one of Tibbs' nine field goals came in the paint or very nearby - a three-pointer from the left wing off an inbounds pass. It was only his fourth trey of the season, and it gave Manhasset (19-2) a 26-21 lead with 4:10 to play in the second quarter. Said Tibbs: "It was there. I had to shoot it."
The game was still there for the taking when Ibraheem Shamseldin converted a three-point play to pull Lawrence (17-4) within 33-31 with 1:27 left before halftime. Shamseldin scored 21 of his 31 points in the first half, but didn't score in the third quarter when he was hampered by foul trouble.
Manhasset capitalized. A 15-3 run in the first 5:09 of the third, capped by Tibbs' short baseline jumper, gave the Indians a 51-34 lead.
"Our tempo started to slow down," Shamseldin said. "All year we've pushed the ball, but they put a guy up tight on me and they had two good rebounders."
Yes, though Tibbs and Troia had their noses to the grindstone, they did sky for rebounds. Tibbs had three putback baskets and Troia had two.
Anthony Amitrano chipped in 10 points, and John Maimone-Medwick and Dan Merola each scored eight points. Merola's rainbow three with 3:30 to play gave the Indians a 68-51 advantage.
It was one of the few times anything from Manhasset got caught in the clouds Saturday.
Said Bruns: "You've always got to focus on the next task. That's sports."
