Rocks tumble over Malverne

For the first time in a long time, East Rockaway has Ocean Avenue bragging rights, as the Rocks knocked off visiting Malverne, 77-68, in a boys’ basketball game last Friday night at the Rock Palace.

Junior guard Dylan Delury scored a career-high 22 points to lead East Rockaway. It was the Rocks first win over the Mules in the past 26 seasons. Malverne was led by sophomore Aaron Jackson’s game-high 25 points.

Rocks coach Joe Lores was pleased with the win. “I thought we executed the game plan pretty well,” Lores said. “We wanted to double down on their big man, and make things a little tougher for him on the block. We handled the Malverne pressure pretty well, and got out on the break and finished. They made their run, and we kept fighting. It’s a good win for the team.”

The big man Lores was alluding to, junior Andre Berry, came in averaging a team-high 22.2 points per game, including three contests where he scored 25 or better. Solid inside defense from seniors Justin Jonas and Danny McClure helped to hold Berry to a season-low 14 points.

Paced by Delury, who scored 10 points in the second quarter, the Rocks ran out to a 39-28 at the half, but Jackson and guard Tim Pruitt led the Mules comeback bid. Malverne tied the game at 54 early in the final quarter, but East Rockaway converted numerous baskets in transition and pulled away. Jonas scored 11 points and pulled down nine rebounds for the Rocks. 

Earlier last week, the Rocks traveled to Oyster Bay and fell to the Baymen 57-46. As has too often been the case, East Rockaway had one bad quarter and couldn’t recover. After leading by four points at the half, the Rocks were outscored 19-4 in the third quarter. Junior David McClure and senior Michael Lores led a frantic comeback attempt, but Oyster Bay put the game away with strong free throw shooting down the stretch.

Before facing Oyster Bay, the Rocks broke a two-game losing streak with an exciting 68-57 win over a scrappy Cold Spring Harbor team. David McClure scored 23 of his career-high 30 points in the second half of the win. Michael Lores added 13 as East Rockaway (5-4 overall, 3-3 in Conference BC) shook off losses to Wheatley and Lynbrook. 

Prior to losing two straight, the Rocks knocked off Carle Place 60-38. David McClure led the way with 21 points, and Michael Lores added 11.

If the Rocks are to have a solid second half of the season, they will have to be stronger on the boards. “We need to do a better job rebounding,” Joe Lores said. “We’re giving up too many second and third shots that are being turned into points. We also have to get better on the free throw line if we’re going to be successful. 

East Rockaway will try to avenge an early season defeat when Friends Academy comes to town this Friday for a 7:15 p.m. tip.