Vikings Will Have to Wait for Playoff Opener

The seventh-seeded Schreiber Vikings (2-10 in conference, 4-13 overall) are set to host No. 10 Herricks (8-4, 11-6) in a Nassau Class AA boys basketball first-round playoff game, but Mother Nature has pushed the tip-off back from Thursday to Saturday at 5 p.m.

"If either school district is closed on Thursday, we'll be pushed to Saturday," Vikings coach Sean Dooley said. "I think we'd have a better crowd behind us Thursday, but if it's canceled we'll get another practice under our belt. Either way, I like our chances."

One of the keys for Port Washington will be to contain Herricks' 6-foot-5 forward Shaan Rahi, who had 17 points and 12 rebounds in the Highlanders' 58-44 Conference AA-II victory over MacArthur on Monday night. Dan Bernstein, who earned All-County honors along with fellow senior Adam Epstein, gets the assignment on Rahi. "We're going to put Dan on Rahi and hopefully force some turnovers before they can get the ball to him," Dooley said.

Bernstein enters the playoffs averaging 17 points and 10.5 rebounds per game, while Epstein has averaged 11 points, five rebounds and five assists. The Vikings also had Jason Desimone pick up All-Conference accolades.

"I don't think Herricks can simulate the kind of pressure we've faced all season," Dooley said. "We had a scrimmage against them a few months ago, but it's a lot different than a regular game."

The winner advances to face No. 2 Baldwin on Thursday, Feb. 18 at 7 p.m.