By TONY BELLISSIMO
The top-seeded Lady Mules, who trailed by as many as seven points in the first half and were down by five with less than three minutes remaining in regulation, came dangerously close to settling for the runner-up plaque.
But Jenkins wanted no part of it.
Her three-pointer with 4.4 seconds left in regulation forced overtime, and she went on to score six of Malverne’s 15 points in the extra session as the Lady Mules captured their third county title in five years and second in a row, 58-52.
“I knew we needed a three to get to overtime,” said Jenkins, who finished with a team-high 18 points and was named tournament MVP. “I saw a little daylight and took the shot. I had tears in my eyes after it went in, but I had to stay composed because we hadn’t won anything yet.”
Senior Alisha Steele and junior Brianna Cunningham added 14 points apiece for Malverne, which will face either Wyandanch or Center Moriches in the Long Island Class B championship game on March 10 at C.W. Post at 6 p.m. The Lady Mules (11-10), who last won a L.I. crown in the 1996-97 season, will use this Saturday’s Nassau Small School final against Oyster Bay at Post as a tuneup.
“I knew Brittany’s shot was going in,” said Steele, who freed Jenkins for the game-tying three by setting a screen three feet behind the arch. “It was back and forth all game. I’m just glad we found a way to win.”
Second-seeded Locust Valley led by six points after Alexis Monserrate (14 points) beat the first-quarter buzzer with a long trey, and enjoyed its biggest lead, at seven, late in the second. Monserrate then answered a free throw by Cunningham with a short jumper to give the Lady Falcons a 27-21 advantage at halftime.
“We knew they would be a tough opponent,” Malverne coach Lisa Gress said. “It didn’t take long to realize we had a battle on our hands. It was a great win, and hopefully we’ve got some more left in us.”
The Lady Mules opened the second half with an 11-0 run sparked by senior Galit Korman’s six points. However, Locust Valley wouldn’t let them run away and hide. In fact, the shooting touch of Nicki Petrucci (a game-high 24 points) and Isabel Pagliaccio had the Lady Falcons back in front at 39-34 with 2:48 to go. Later, Petrucci’s two free throws with 16.7 seconds left made it 43-40, setting the stage for Jenkins’s heroics.
“We know we have to play better in all areas to get upstate,” Jenkins said, referring to the Class B Final Four, which will take place at Hudson Valley Community College in Troy March 20-22.
In the semifinals against Carle Place, Jenkins poured in 36 points to lead Malverne to a 47-33 victory. Cunningham added seven points and 18 rebounds.
Comments about this story? TBellissimo@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 204.
