Schools
Mules Get Kicked By Elmont in Championship Game
Malverne loses after a strong start to its Hank Williams Memorial Basketball Tournament.
The Mules (2-0 in conference, 4-1 overall) got behind early and were unable to keep pace with the bigger Elmont Spartans (3-2 overall) in the championship game of Malverne's , losing the final match 66-44.
Malverne did not score a single basket in the first quarter of Thursday night's game, which ended with them down 21-2, their only points coming from two free throws made by Junior, Cyrus Clarke (3). For the other three quarters, the two teams broke nearly even, with Elmont scoring 45 points to Malverne's 42.
Elmont put on a little bit of a show in the fourth quarter, with dunks by senior Dillon Williams (11) and senior Anthony Elechi (22).
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Score: Elmont 66, Malverne 44
Heroes: According to Mules Head Coach Darrol Lopez, it was senior Corey Alexander (13), who led his team with nine points, matched only by fellow senior Anthony Moultrie (35). He said, "Corey Alexander is the toughest son-of-a-gun I've coached in a long time…He does a lot for us whether you know it or not. He steals. He handles the ball. He scores. The kids look to him. He's a catalyst."
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Turning Point: The game swung out of reach for the Mules within minutes of the tip off, in favor of Elmont with an unanswered 21 point run that spanned two quarters.
Coach's Corner: "If we didn't take those crazy shots in the first quarter, I think we would've [done] a little better," said Coach Lopez. "But again, I could bring in a fluff team to play in our tournament," he added. "We bring in great teams in here so when we get ready for our season…I could bring in a small school that we could beat up on and win by 20 or 30, but that's not our goal. Our goal is to go far this year."
Bottom Line: It was not a conference game, so it does not affect the Mules rank. If all goes according to Coach Lopez's design, it should serve to toughen his team and make them more competitive down the stretch.
Box Score:
Who's Next?: The Mules will try to remain undefeated in their conference when they travel to East Rockaway to take on the Rocks (1-1 in conference) at 7:15 pm on Tuesday, Jan. 4
