The Baymen won the Nassau County Division C playoff against Carle Place on Thursday, Feb. 28. It was a close game, a good game. The score at the end was Oyster Bay 59 and Carle Place 40. It opened the door for the Baymen to meet on Tuesday, March 5 against the Suffolk Class C champion Port Jefferson team in the Southeast Regional Semifinal/Long Island Championship at Babylon.

It was a "take your breath away" ending, said photographer, editor Marta Kane. She is the editor of the Levittown Tribune and the Farmingdale Observer. "They were only one basket away from the championship!" The buzzer ending the game sounded as a Bayman basket just missed the hoop. It was an unexpected win for the Suffolk team. The Royals will go on to the state Final Four in Glens Falls.

The last minutes of the game will be replayed in their memories by the Baymen. Dustin Abbate got the ball under the Oyster Bay basket and brought the score to 64-62 with just 36 more seconds to play.

Dan Kane made a basket and with 14 seconds to play, the Baymen caught a rebound from the Royals and tried but missed the winning shot.

But it was a season to remember. This is the last year for senior Abbate, but the others face a great tomorrow. It's been a great year for Abbate, Ronnie Ranaldo, and George Gowe.

Oyster Bay found its groove as it played this year, starting on Dec. 3 they played a non-league game against Lawrence with a score of 62-58 in favor of the Baymen. Ranaldo and Gowe each earned 22 points. John Panagot made 13 rebound shots and Dan Kane scored seven blocks for the team.

On Dec. 7 the Baymen played Hicksville and lost 70 to 79. The first quarter was good for Ranaldo as he earned 13 of a total 19 points in the quarter. On Dec. 13 the Baymen scored 64 to 54 over Garden City. Raldo scored three three-four pointers and Abbate made four more of the same!

On Dec. 16 the Baymen faced West Hempstead and won at 52 to 49. Of those, 15 belonged to Abbate. On Dec. 17 Oyster Bay played Locust Valley and won over their rivals with 63 to 47 in another non-league game.

Dec. 21 found Oyster Bay facing Glen Cove ending with a loss for the Baymen of 75 to 69. On Jan. 3 the Baymen faced Carle Place and succumbed with 47 to 41. On Jan. 5 they were off to play East Rockaway and faced another loss, 83 to 62.

They played Cold Spring Harbor on Jan. 11 and won 63 to 37. On Jan. 14 they faced off against Friends Academy and came out the winners, at 70 to 55. Jan. 29 they faced Cold Spring Harbor again and won 65 to 47. On Feb. 1, they were bested by Friends Academy with 61 to 59.

Feb. 4 they played Carle Place and won 69 to 58. On Feb. 6 they faced East Rockaway and won by five points: 80 to 75. Feb. 11 they faced Cold Spring Harbor again and scored with 69 over 49. Feb. 13 had Oyster Bay facing Friends Academy with a score of 67 to 66, in favor of the Baymen. On Feb. 21 it was Friends Academy again and now, they won with two points over FA with 67 to 69.

Now you know the rest of the story.