By ANDREW McCLURE
Senior Alisha Steele added 16 points and pulled down eight rebounds in a game that serves as a tune-up for the Long Island championships. Malverne will take on Suffolk champion Wyandanch in the Class B title game on March 10 at C.W. Post at 6 p.m. Junior Brianna Cunningham added eight points and six rebounds in the win over Oyster Bay, which was led by Isabelle Mirman’s 12 points.
Lady Mules coach Lisa Gress took the victory in stride. “We did some things well, but this game is really just about getting ready for the next step,” Gress said. “Our defense was strong, and we only turned the ball over three times the entire first half. While the game is pretty meaningless, you want to win it and have positive feelings going into the Long Island championship game.”
Malverne got out to a quick lead and never looked back. Jenkins, who has averaged 24 points per game in the postseason, scored or set up teammates for easy buckets as the Lady Mules ran out to a 15-5 first quarter lead. Jenkins, who along with Steele recently picked up All-County honors, was solid from the free-throw line going 8-for-10. Cunningham, who has a knack for clutch performances in big games, earned All-Classification recognition.
While Malverne’s big three lead the way in the box score, two starters who generally don’t get as much recognition, senior Galit Korman and junior Janelle Rivera, are key defensive performers. They were named All-Conference, and their contributions are noticed by their coach. “We stress that defense wins games,” Gress said. “Galit and Janelle may not score much, but they’re a huge reason that we’re back in the title game. They work very hard on the defensive end.”
The Lady Mules now turn their attention to the Wyandanch Lady Warriors, who knocked off Stony Brook to increase their record to 19-2. The Lady Warriors are an offensive machine, averaging 65 points per game, and breaking the 80-point mark three times.
Wyandanch is led by guards Kim Weathers and Charneice McCullough. The Lady Warriors have hit 130 three-point baskets for the season, and McCullough made 18 threes over a three-game stretch.
Gress knows the Lady Mules will have their hands full, but likes her team’s chances. “They’re very good and have excellent guard play, but we have an advantage inside,” she said. “We’re just going to stick with what got here. We’re going to run every chance we get and pound the ball inside to Alisha and Brianna. We’ll throw at least three different defenses at them. We just have to come out and play solid defense.”
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