By:Brian T. Dessart
Once again, Malverne's strong second-half momentum helped lead the Mules to a Class B Southeast Regional/Long Island Championship with an 81-46 win against Southampton on March 13 at the SUNY-Stony Brook Sports Complex. Malverne outshot Southampton 43-23 in the second half on the way to its second Long Island title since 2000.
Darrell Wonge's 27-footer with 57 seconds remaining in the third quarter helped Malverne complete a 12-0 scoring run in a span of 1:39 and end the period with a 66-40 lead. Wonge was one of three Mules to hit from the arc in the quarter, as Eugene Waldo and Dominick Williams contributed as well.
"It comes natural," said Wonge, who finished with a game-high 20 points. "When coach [Darrol Lopez] gives me the green light, I do whatever comes natural. Once I get in the flow of the game, the game comes to me."
Malverne's hot shooting was evident from the opening tipoff. Wonge's 3-pointer from deep on the right side with 7:05 left in the first quarter and Julian Hayes' 3 from the left side with 3:17 left helped Malverne to a 19-7 first-quarter lead.
"I came out a little bit [timid]," said Wonge. "I knew the game was over when we came out strong in the first quarter."
Southampton didn't think so. Not yet.
After going scoreless in just over nine minutes of play between the first and second quarters, Southampton managed a 6-0 run, thanks to Maurice McCoy and Walter Mimms, that closed the gap to 23-15. But Malverne rebounded, as two buckets from 3-point range by Wonge and Mike Kelley helped Malverne widen the lead to 38-23 at the half.
"I let [Wonge] take the shots," said Lopez. "I know he can make them."
The Mules' defense limited Southampton to 6 fourth-quarter points, 2 of them coming from the free-throw line.
Before the death of Malverne athletic director and well-respected coach Hank Williams in the spring of 2000, Lopez took over the helm and delivered a gift to Williams, leading the team that year to a Long Island and Southeast Regional Championship. Last Saturday, Lopez handed Williams gift No. 2, this time in spirit. Lopez still dedicates victories to his memory.
"Hank always set standards very high," Lopez said. "Every year that I'm here will be dedicated to Hank."
Malverne's Jacklin Guerrier finished with 16 points, while Peter Campbell added 14 and Kelley hit for 11. Southampton's Mimms contributed 10.
Malverne will face Buffalo-Traditional in the state semifinals this Friday at the Glens Falls Civic Center.
"I never think, we have a better team [than previous years]," Lopez said. "What I do think is that my team is prepared."
