Mules win fifth straight title

DaShawn Moorer scored 31 points to lead top-seeded Malverne to a 67-38 rout of No. 3 Oyster Bay in the Nassau County Class B championship game at C.W. Post’s Pratt Recreation Center last Saturday night. It was Malverne’s fifth consecutive Class B county title.

Malverne’s tenacious defense forced Oyster Bay to commit 37 turnovers. Coach Darrol Lopez knows that the Mules will only go as far as their defense takes them. “We’re not a very good offensive team, so we have to apply a lot of pressure and create offense off our defense,” Lopez said. “We wanted to pressure their shooters and make things difficult for their ball-handlers. The defense was the key tonight.”

The Mules came out in a 3-2 zone press, which rattled the Baymen. Malverne held Oyster Bay scoreless until just 3:12 remained in the opening quarter. On the offensive end, the Mules were getting their chances but had trouble converting. Despite numerous opportunities, Malverne was a little skittish around the basket. The Mules held a narrow 12-9 lead after the first eight minutes, despite dominating and attempting 15 free throws. 

Malverne, which won its 18th county championship in program history, put the game away in the second quarter. Oyster Bay had trouble advancing the ball over the midcourt line, and when it did, most possessions ended without a shot attempt. The Mules wreaked havoc on defense, forcing 12 turnovers in the quarter while scoring 20 consecutive points to take a commanding 32-9 lead at the half.

Moorer, who set a single-game school record by scoring 56 points against West Hempstead during the regular season, was just getting warmed up. The senior captain scored most of his points off turnovers, but also showed he could hit from the perimeter. Moorer scored 14 points in the third quarter, including a three-pointer from 27 feet as the buzzer sounded to end the period. The Mules held a 53-18 lead heading into the final quarter.

“DaShawn just goes out and plays,” Lopez said of Moorer afterward. “We don’t run isolations for him or anything; his scoring just comes off the regular flow of the offense. He gets into a scoring zone, and he’s very tough to stop.” 

Junior Cory Alexander added 12 points. Oyster Bay (12-8) got eight points from Eric Seaman.

The Mules, who improved to 14-5, advanced to the Long Island Class B championship, in which they will take on either Center Moriches or Wyandanch on March 9 at 7:30 p.m. A site in Suffolk County has yet to be determined. 

Lopez thinks his front court will have to step up if the Mules are to advance in the playoffs and reach the state tournament in Glens Falls. “We need to get more from the big guys,” he said. “They get rebounds and block some shots, but we’re going to need them to score more and be more of a presence. Sooner or later, teams will figure out the problems we have on the offensive end.”