MEN'S BASKETBALL

Suffolk CC's Streak Reaches 35

By Joe Fernandez
NEWSDAY STAFF WRITER
January 23, 2004

Watching a point guard bring the ball up court against the No. 1-ranked basketball team in NJCAA Division III is like spotting an unsuspecting antelope frolicking carelessly in the wild.

Watching Suffolk CC-Selden's half court trap, featuring guards Aaron Cummings and Maurice Manning, is like observing lions waiting patiently for their prey - even if it is practice and the victim is their own teammate, freshman Anton Foster.

The players closed in and Manning deflected Foster's dribble to Cummings, who headed the other way. Cummings, at the top of the key, saw the nod from All-Region XV forward Marcele Street. The ball sailed over the defense to Street, who finished the alley- oop.

That's a scene that has been repeated often the past two seasons. Thanks to an aggressive defense and an ability to run the floor on offense, the Clippers (17-0) have won 35 straight games. The streak is the longest in college basketball, regardless of division.

Suffolk CC-Selden also ranks first in NJCAA Division III scoring at 98.3 points per game and fifth in points allowed at 63.1.

As Cummings jogged back down court after the assist, the words on his left shoulder became more visible. The tattoo read "King of the Court," but his generosity surpasses most monarchs'.

The 5-9 point guard leads NJCAA Division III in assists with 9.8 per game and is averaging 10.6 points, shooting 52.3 percent from the field. "He has tremendous vision for his teammates," coach Rich Wrase said. "Now, if only I can get him to shoot more."

Four sophomores - Manning (Bridgehampton), Cummings (Bay Shore), Street (Floyd) and Vernon Alonzo (Longwood) - are the nucleus, and Manning and Street each scored 23 points in last night's 98-61 victory over visiting Manhattan CC.

Manning is ranked eighth in the division at 24.3 points per game. Cummings is seventh in Division III with 68 steals (4.25 per game). Street is averaging 18.8 points per game and is 24th in the division with 9.8 rebounds per game. Alonzo is averaging 14.4 points per game and anchors the front court with Street.

Each player received All-Suffolk honors in high school. Manning was named All-Long Island three years in a row and was Newsday Suffolk Player of the Year in 1997.

The team is comprised solely of former Suffolk high school players. "I don't go out of the county," Wrase said. "The high school coaches have been the key for me. Most of them are my friends, so they've been very helpful with letting me know which players they think would benefit the program."

Wrase, well-respected in local coaching circles, has received some accolades of his own. He was voted NJCAA Division III Coach of the Year last season and was named Newsday Suffolk Coach of the Year in 1998 after leading Westhampton High School to a 28-0 record and a state title.

The players' ability to understand what their coach wants, and also the coach's ability to understand what the players need, results in an intense but rarely tense atmosphere.

"You got to know when to get on the guys and when not to," Wrase said. "The season is such a long haul."

Though 35 games is the longest active winning streak in the NJCAA, it isn't even close to the longest ever. That belongs to Indian Hills CC of Ottumwa, Iowa, which rattled off 89 consecutive wins from 1996-1999.

Suffolk will go for No. 36 when it hosts one of its toughest opponents at 1 p.m. tomorrow. Suffolk (9-0 Region XV) will battle Sullivan CC (12-1, 8-1) in their first matchup since Sullivan handed Suffolk its only loss last season, 76-73 on Jan. 18, 2003. Suffolk finished 32-1.

"We're gunning for everyone," Manning said. "It's fun playing with these guys. Everyone wants to win and everyone has the same goals. It's great playing for Suffolk, but to play with guys like Aaron, Cel [Street] and Vern makes it that much better." As for the game against Sullivan, Manning had a suggestion: "You'd better come to this one. It's gonna be a war."

As Manning, Street, Cummings and Alonzo headed to the showers after practice, giggling and nudging each other, they looked as loose as can be. It seemed as if Suffolk wasn't a team protecting a streak but chasing a record.

Statistics do not include last night's game.
Copyright © 2004, Newsday, Inc.