By ANDREW McCLURE
But the senior point guard returned to set up a huge basket that propelled Malverne to a 45-36 victory at the Clark Athletic Center on the campus of SUNY-Old Westbury. Junior Alicia Steele scored 18 points to lead the offense for the Lady Mules, who captured their sixth county title.
Gabbe, a freshman when Malverne last won a county title, was determined to go home a champion. "I knew this was it," she said. "If we lose, basketball is over for good. The coaches told us to leave everything we had out on the court, and win the game with defense. We were going to find a way to win this game."
The Lady Mules led 33-30 after three quarters. Like two prize fighters feeling one another out in the last round, the teams were tentative on offense. Neither found the bottom of the net for nearly four minutes. But after a blocked shot by sophomore Katherine Mathieu preserved a 1-point Malverne lead, Brianna Cunningham took over. The 5-foot-11 sophomore forward took an inbound pass from Gabbe and dropped a baby hook with her left hand to give the Lady Mules a 35-32 lead with 3:44 remaining. It was Malverne's first field goal of the fourth quarter. The next trip down the floor, after pulling down a rebound, Cunningham passed the ball out to the wing, got the ball back at the foul line and nailed a clutch 15-foot jumper. She finished with eight points and three assists.
With the championship in sight, Steele picked a good time to score one of the most dramatic baskets in Lady Mules basketball history. Steele anticipated a pass, intercepted the ball at half court and went strong to the basket. She was fouled hard on the play, but managed to convert a basket that not only put the game away but also put her over the 1,000-point mark for her career. Steele is already the school's all-time leading rebounder.
She became the second member of the team to join the 1,000-point club this season. Junior guard Brittany Jenkins, who finished with 12 points, hit the mark in a win over Manhasset earlier this month.
Malverne will be gunning for its second Long Island championship when it meet Hampton Bays in the Class B title game next Tuesday at 8 p.m. at St. Joseph's College in Patchogue. The Lady Mules will face Nassau Class C champion East Rockaway in the county B-C final at C.W. Post this Saturday at noon.
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