Manhasset boys basketball capitalized on a dream team
WE’RE NO. 1! Manhasset boys basketball relishes its state championship. Coach George Bruns knew unselfish team had a title run in it. Credit: Adrian Kraus
Occasionally one gets dealt a hand that is so good, he or she glimpses something that few others do.
This was the case in the preseason for Manhasset boys basketball coach George Bruns as he assessed his players before the season. Manhasset could go eight deep and throw everything but the kitchen sink at an opponent. All of them could pass with aplomb, shoot with accuracy and handle the ball. What’s more, they liked playing together, believed in each other and trusted one another in critical situations.
Looking back, Bruns said “I knew deep down we were a terrific team with skill and work ethic and chemistry. I’d coached championship teams and I believed we had one in this group.”
Manhasset was everything he envisioned and more. The squad went 25-1. It won the Nassau Class A title game by eight over Garden City, the Long Island Class A title game over Suffolk powerhouse Kings Park by 18 and the state Class A championship over Section III champion New Hartford by 11 points.
It was Manhasset’s second state championship and first since 1986.
“It’s been 36 years so everyone has been pretty excited about the opportunity,” said Liam Buckley, who scored 19 with eight rebounds in the title game. “The thing with us this season has been great chemistry. We have guys who can (excel) at offense or defense and are willin to do either for the better of the team. That lifted us.”
On it’s path to the crown, Manhasset showed that there was much more in its DNA than just meets the eye. Its front court – 6-4 state tournament MVP Liam Connor and the 6-5 Buckley, as well as guard Mike Notias – were willing to match any opponent’s physicality. In the state title game, The 5-10 Notias was giving up six inches and 40 pounds to New Hartford star Zach Philipkoski but held him to three of his 21 points over the first three quarter while Manhasset built a formidable lead.
“We knew we were a great team all season, but the way we played in (the tournament) really shows how many things we can do well,” said Connor, who had 13 points and nine rebounds in the championship game. “We’re dangerous in a lot of ways, can win in a lot of ways. It made us special this year.”
Mike Notias’ versatility and desire to guard the other team’s biggest weapon was critical in this ascent. But so was the play of Matt Perfetto, Chris Diskin and Jimmy Notias. Each of them took their game to new levels to compensate when 6-8 James Morris dealt with injuries.
“Our play was about no one player being more important than the rest,” Bruns said. “Any one of our guys could make the big plays. That’s unique and it went along with size, passion to rebound, unselfishness in style.”
Asked to single out a turning point in the season, Bruns pointed to the one blemish. Manhasset lost to Class B Malverne by four points on Dec. 29 in a non-conference road game. The Mules smartly took Mike Notias out of the equation with its defense.
“It sort of shocked the team they would play that way . . . but it was a silver lining because we realized we have to get (Mike Notias) free,” Bruns said. “Itt put a little bit of a hole in our balloon. It got us back to work.”
After that it was 19 games and 19 wins. Of closing the season like Manhasset did, Mike Notias said “we got a lot of challenges and found a way to (meet) every one.”
Added Bruns: “Every great team needs a little something because there are so many big games on the way to a state championship. Our guys found that little something every time.”
Roger Rubin returned to Newsday in 2018 to write about high schools, colleges and baseball following 20 years at the Daily News. A Baseball Hall of Fame voter since 2011, he has covered 13 MLB postseasons and 14 NCAA Final Fours.
