SUFFOLK COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE
MEN'S BASKETBALL
Suffolk CC's
Streak Reaches 32
Eric Boland January 16, 2004
Copyright © 2004, Newsday, Inc.
The law of averages suggests that the Suffolk CC-Selden men's basketball
team will lose eventually. Coach Rich Wrase knows this.
"It's good, but it's not something we talk about," Wrase said of his
team's 32-game winning streak. "Eventually, everyone loses."
Not so far this season. Suffolk, ranked No. 1 in the country and the
defending NJCAA champion, notched its 14th straight victory this season,
and No. 32 in a row, Saturday: 108-74 over Holyoke CC.
"Yeah, it has been a little bit of a surprise," Wrase said.
Suffolk's leading scorer, and national player of the year, Tamien Trent,
is now on scholarship at Division I Fairleigh Dickinson. But the emergence
of Maurice Manning, last season's tournament MVP, Aaron Cummings, Marcelle
Street and a deep bench might make Suffolk a better overall team than
last year's edition. The success has come with a roster stocked with former
Suffolk County high school players.
"Losing Tamien obviously hurt a lot - that kind of loss you really
can't offset - but a lot of other kids got so much better," Wrase said.
Manning, from Bridgehampton, is averaging a team-best 24 points and
Street, from Floyd, is averaging 20 points and 11 rebounds. Cummings, from
Bay Shore, leads the nation in assists (10.2).
Wrase also praised Longwood's Vernon Alonzo, who offers intangibles
beyond his 12 points per game. Manning signed with Division II power Kentucky
Wesleyan in October.
"Vernon, he's our unsung hero," Wrase said. "He can play everywhere
and defensively, he always guards the other team's best guy."
Wrase has received consistent bench play from freshmen Marcelle Bryant
(Deer Park), David Maldonado (West Babylon) and Alvin Dennis (Bellport).
"We're a lot different team this year," said Wrase, last season's national
coach of the year. "Last year, we were more physical. This year, we're
quicker and faster and our kids really don't worry about who scores."
Suffolk CC goes for its 33rd consecutive win tomorrow at Rockland CC.
"We're just trying to push this as far as we can," Wrase said. "It's
great for the kids because it leaves a legacy at the college. It will
be a long time before someone does it again."
GODBLESSAMERICA
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