The MacArthur varsity boys basketball team enters the playoffs having posted its best league record in a decade.
In their regular-season finale, the Generals overcame a 10-point third-quarter deficit and defeated Long Beach, 44-43, on Feb. 6. The victory clinched sole possession of third place in Conference AA-III at 8-4, trailing only Long Island powers Elmont and Westbury. The Generals posted their best league record since going 10-2 during the 2004-05 season.
MacArthur (10-7 overall) trailed the Marines, 35-25, until senior guard Jack Wall was fouled on an attempt from behind the arc with 2 minutes, 47 seconds remaining in the third period. Wall converted all three free throws. With 1:23 left in that period, Wall drained a three-pointer that moved MacArthur within 35-33.
The Generals finally pulled even, at 39-all, with 3:54 remaining in the fourth quarter, when senior forward Greg Baumstein converted a field goal and was fouled for a three-point play.
Senior guard Brian Perez’s baseline floater with 3:33 left gave MacArthur its first second-half lead, 41-39. Senior guard Dean Peluso converted a three-pointer with 1:44 left to open a five-point cushion.
The Generals needed those points. Leading 44-43, MacArthur twice missed the front end of one-and-one free throws in the final 30 seconds. But junior forward Jared Wolfe had a huge offensive rebound of the latter miss with 3.4 seconds remaining to seal the victory.
Three days earlier, MacArthur honored its seven seniors – Baumstein, Phil Carucci, Ryan Cunningham, Peluso, Perez, Greg Schachter and Wall – before its regular-season home finale. The Generals then convincingly beat Mepham, 75-45. The scoring output was the largest for MacArthur since winning, 78-39, at Valley Stream North on Dec. 30, 2011.
MacArthur opens the playoffs on Thursday, Feb. 12, with the opponent and site to be determined.
