By TONY BELLISSIMO
But during the game the top-seeded Mules were flashing threes. They hit seven shots from behind the arc in the first half and eight overall en route to earning a spot in the Long Island Class B final against Babylon or Center Moriches on March 7 at Old Westbury. Senior Kadeem Bell scored 11 of his game-high 18 points in the fourth quarter to hold off third-seeded Wheatley.
“We’d rather take the ball to the rack, but when teams allow us to shoot the three we’ve got to let it go,” Bell said. “We knew they played tough defense and we had to take advantage of any room they gave us.”
Mules coach Darrol Lopez said he wasn’t surprised to see the Wildcats open the game in a zone defense and stick to it. “Nobody wants to play us man to man and we’ve worked tremendously hard on our perimeter game,” he explained.
Junior DaShawn Moorer (14 points) benefited the most from Wheatley’s decision to play off the ball, knocking down a trio of three pointers within the first nine minutes to help Malverne to an early 24-20 lead. Bell, senior Evin Shaw (twice) and sophomore Cory Alexander also hit from downtown in a first half that ended deadlocked at 35. “We knew at halftime we were in for a long battle,” Bell said.
After each of Wheatley’s five starters scored in each of the first two quarters, the Mules (10-10) were able to tighten the defense and do a better job on the boards. They took the lead for good—38-37—less than a minute into the third quarter on a free throw by Moorer but the outcome remained in doubt well into the fourth.
“We’re a funny team this season,” Lopez said. “We’re not easy to figure out.”
Bell’s three straight baskets in the fourth increased Malverne’s lead to 59-51, but Wheatley got within three with 1:47 left thanks to a three-pointer by Chris Gould and a Zach Libresco layup. But Bell, Bates and Alexander went a combined 7-for-9 from the foul line to secure the title.
Shaw added 10 points and Bates 13 rebounds for the Mules, who seek a fourth L.I. Class B championship in a row. Andrew Lichtenstein (16), Billy Wasserman (14) and Noel Abraham (12) scored in double figures for Wheatley.
“This was an important step toward our ultimate goal, but our work isn’t done,” Lopez said. “We can improve every facet of the game. We haven’t peaked yet.”
In the semifinals against Cold Spring Harbor on Feb. 13 at Old Westbury, Bates proved unstoppable in the low post and totaled 17 points and 21 rebounds to lead a 66-48 triumph. Alexander added 12 points and Moorer chipped in 10.
Comments about this story? TBellissimo@
liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 204.
