Rams Fizzle After Strong Start Against Valley Stream South

The Rams got off to a strong start against Valley Stream South in a home game on Wednesday night, but could not pull of the victory, losing 45-42.

They built a 12-1 lead in the first quarter and it looked like they would cruise to an easy victory. But the Falcons got their act together and were able to match the Rams intensity.

West Hempstead took the lead 22-19 going into halftime, but were not able to pull away from the Falcons in the second half. The Rams lost their edge early in the fourth quarter and Valley Stream South took the lead 37-36. They would go on to win the game 45-42.

Score: Valley Stream South 45, West Hempstead 42

Hero: Point guard Tom Valerio led the Rams in scoring with 15 points. He had a big three pointer late in the game to close the gap on the Falcons 41-39.  

Turning Point: The Rams lost the lead early in the fourth quarter and struggled to get back in the game. The Falcons jumped ahead 41-36, in large part because of their athletic point guard Henoc Bienne. Rams point guard Tom Valerio hit a big three pointer late in the game to close the gap 41-39, but that would be as close as the Rams would get.

Coach's Corner: "We started out like a house on fire, but then we went cold," said Head Coach Ed Cosgrove. "We had too many turnovers and that really hurt us. "We also were not able to get to the free throw line late in the game. Valley stream took 19 more free throws than us. That's a substantial number."

Bottom Line: Valley Stream's Henoc Bienne was the most aggressive player on the floor in the fourth quarter. He repeatedly drove inside on the Ram's interior defense and was able to draw fouls. West Hempstead looked to do the same thing on their side of the floor, but instead had the ball taken away from them multiple times.

Box Score:

Who's Next: The Hank Williams Memorial Tournament begins Dec. 27 at Malverne High School.