Dan Svenelid Scores Career-High
Senior forward Dan Svenelid scored a career-high 15 points and the MacArthur boys’ basketball team moved six games over .500 for the first time in seven years with a 56-50 win against Plainview JFK on Jan. 27.
Svenelid scored 11 first-half points and the Generals held the Hawks without a second-quarter field goal to take a 27-14 lead into halftime.
Plainview JFK rallied to take the lead after intermission, but MacArthur responded.
Senior guard William Cheshire, who netted a game-high 17 points, drilled a three-pointer with 5:29 remaining to give the Generals a 40-39 lead. Senior forward Kevin Roach then recorded an offensive rebound and putback and Cheshire had a steal and layup as MacArthur opened a five-point lead less than a minute later and never looked back.
Cheshire’s steal with 87 seconds left and layup had given MacArthur a one-point lead en route to a 46-44 win in the first meeting, at Plainview on Dec. 20.
This time, Svenelid and senior guard Tyler Eppich (seven points) went a combined 5-for-6 from the free-throw line in the final minute to secure the win. Svenelid’s former career high was a 10-point performance Dec. 8 against Plainedge.
Roach, who is being recruited by Division II Molloy and Division III Moravian and New Paltz, finished with 10 points. Sophomore guard Tom McAndrew had a career-high five points in his first varsity start. Junior guard Taylor Haddock made his first varsity appearance.
In sweeping the season series from Plainview JFK, MacArthur improved to 9-3 overall and 6-3 in Conference AA-II — tied for second place in the eight-team league with Hicksville. The Generals had not been six games over .500 since going 16-4 and reaching the Nassau County semifinals during the 2004-05 season.
MacArthur next plays at Baldwin (9-0 league) on Friday, Feb. 3. The Generals then host Valley Stream Central on Feb. 7 at 6:15 p.m.
