The most successful Roslyn High School basketball season in years ended in disappointment Friday night, as the Bulldogs lost to Bethpage, 61-57, falling short of their bid to win the Nassau County Class B boys basketball championship.

The game, played before a crowd of 2,500 fans at the SUNY-Old Westbury gym, was another exciting affair, with the lead changing hands throughout the contest. The Bulldogs started out strong. The first quarter ended in a tie, but the Bulldogs outscored Bethpage 12-8 in the second frame to take a four-point lead into the locker room.

In the third quarter, the Bulldogs opened up a ten-point lead, thanks to two three-point shots by Darren Lindo. But Bethpage also used the three-pointer to get back into the game. The third quarter ended with the score 43-39, Roslyn. However, Bethpage's momentum carried into the final frame, where they started the quarter with a 13-2 run. Bethpage now had a double-digit lead of their own, but the Bulldogs, a team with four seniors in their starting lineup, refused to die. Three-pointers by Eric Bratt and Ronnie Koenig, plus a two-pointer by Andrew Oliver cut the Bethpage lead to three points with four seconds left. However, Glenn Palilla, who was Bethpage's leading scorer with 23 points, hit the second of two free throws to put the game out of reach.

All year long, the Bulldogs have sported a balanced scoring attack. The championship game was no different. Raymond Johnson and Ronny Koenig both scored 15 points, while Andrew Oliver hit for 14.

Coming into the tournament, the Bulldogs were ranked as the number four seed. But the team was also on a winning streak, having defeated Island Trees and Glen Cove to gain the second spot in the regular season conference standings.

The Bulldogs advanced to the final round with a convincing 63-55 win over number one seed Jericho on Wednesday night, Feb. 27. The game was also played at Old Westbury, in front of a boisterous crowd of 1,200 fans. Jericho had entered the game undefeated, making the win no small upset for Roslyn.

Unlike other teams they defeated on the way to the title game, the Bulldogs had not faced Jericho all season long. And so, it was a close match, with Roslyn taking a 16-14 first quarter lead and Jericho coming back with 15-12 second half, one that gave them a slim 29-28 halftime lead.

The Bulldogs had to be pleased with the progress of the game so far. The third quarter was tight also, with Roslyn outpacing Jericho 14-13 to send things all even up going into the fourth quarter. In the final frame, the experienced Bulldog squad took charge, outscoring Jericho by a healthy 21-13 margin to take a decisive victory.

Andrew Oliver led the team in scoring with 20 points, followed by fellow seniors Raymond Johnson and Eric Bratt, both who had 12 points. Darren Lindo and Ronny Koenig chipped in with eight points each. Quentin Burton came off the bench to score a key three-point play, one that allowed the Bulldogs to cut the second quarter Jericho to one point as both teams headed to the locker rooms.

As often has been the case this season, Andrew Oliver's scoring heroics came in the fourth quarter. Eight of his 20 points came in the decisive final frame. Six of Eric Bratt's 12 points were also scored in the fourth quarter. The Bulldogs put up a full-court press for much of the game, and the defensive pressure helped to wear down the Jericho attack, as Roslyn took control of the game at the exact right time.

Even though four of the starters are graduating this spring, a new tradition of winning has taken hold in the school's basketball program, and the momentum built up over this past year should carry over into the next season.