SUFFOLK COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE

 

By Gregg Sarra
NEWSDAY STAFF WRITER
February 17, 2004, 11:42 PM EST

It all starts with Aaron Cummings. He's not a chef but he knows how to dish.

The sophomore point guard had 11 assists and 12 points as Suffolk CC-Selden hammered Dutchess CC, 95-62, Tuesday night in a Region XV men's basketball game before a crowd of 400 at Brookhaven Gymnasium.

The victory helped Suffolk CC extend the nation's longest winning streak to 45 games. The Clippers will play their final regular-season game at 2 p.m. Saturday at Bronx CC (2-19, 2-14).

Cummings broke the single-season school record of 268 assists set by guard Tamien Trent (2002-03). He has 272 for the season. The record-breaking assist came after Cummings fired a two-handed pass to guard Vernon Alonzo for an easy layup and a 33-17 lead with 4:49 left in the first half. The play came in the middle of a 12-2 run. Play was stopped and Cummings was presented the game ball.

"It's very odd in this day and age to find a player of Aaron's caliber that is a pass-first-and-shoot-last guy," Suffolk CC coach Rich Wrase said. "He's the most unselfish kid I've had. He play-fakes well, dives on the floor for loose balls and makes it easy for our guys to get the open looks."

Cummings accepted congratulations from opposing players and teammates and on the next play, stole a pass and scored an uncontested layup.

"I love directing traffic and running the offense," Cummings said. "I'm a playmaker, a guy that likes to distribute the ball. And we have guys that can finish. That makes my job easy."

Suffolk CC (27-0, 16-0 in Region XV) took a 47-26 halftime lead as Maurice Manning and Alonzo scored 10 points each. Manning, Suffolk's leading scorer, finished with 21 points and Alonzo had 20 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists. Dutchess (11-15, 5-10) never threatened in the second half as the Clippers pulled away with a 20-8 run.

"We want to finish the season undefeated," Cummings said. "We have to win one more game for the perfect regular season. And then we can win another national championship and that would be the perfect way to end my career at Suffolk."

Cummings has been offered scholarships to play his final two years at Adelphi and New York Tech.

"He's small in stature but he's more than 7 feet tall in respect to his importance to our team," Wrase said. "He brings so much energy and enthusiasm to the floor."

Suffolk also had strong performances from three freshman in center Marcell Bryant (10 rebounds) and guard Anton Cheese (12 points) and guard Greg Cerillo (six points, three assists).

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