Malverne denied title at buzzer

Years from now when basketball junkies talk about the 2011 Long Island Class B title game, it would be appropriate to cue up Jim McKay’s “the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat...the human drama of athletic competition” mantra.
In one of the most frenetic finishes in the history of Long Island basketball, Mattituck senior Steve Ascher tapped up a missed shot by Cody Huntley just before the buzzer sounded to give the Tuckers a dramatic 68-67 come-from-behind victory over Malverne at SUNY1-Old Westbury on March 9. It is Mattituck’s first Long Island championship.

The Mules, who got 15 points from senior Cory Alexander, were seeking their fifth consecutive L.I. crown. Malverne (18-2) held a 64-52 lead with just over five minutes to play, but couldn’t put Mattituck away. Junior Alton Kelly added 14 points for the Mules.

Malverne head coach Darrol Lopez was proud of his team. “They’re hurting right now, but my kids have nothing to be ashamed of,” Lopez said. “It took that kind of shot to beat us. Mattituck came prepared. They came to play, and are making a nice run. People are going to take notice of Mattituck now. My guys left it all out there. I’m proud of the kids.”

When Malverne’s Andre Berry scored inside to give the Mules a 56-44 lead after three quarters, it appeared the Tuckers would see their dream season come to a halt. However, if anyone had questions about Mattituck’s intestinal fortitude, all doubts were erased in the final eight minutes.

The Tuckers pressed the floor, forced turnovers, and dominated the glass in the fourth quarter. Mattituck (16-6) ran off nine consecutive points to cut the lead to 64-61, and then got a remarkable blocked shot by senior Tom Ascher with 1:21 to play. After a turnover, Ascher ran the length of the floor and swatted away a fast break layup attempt to keep the deficit at three points.

Kelly scored on a nifty putback to give the Mules a five-point advantage, but back-to-back buckets by Steve and Tom Ascher cut Malverne’s lead to 66-65 with 13.2 seconds to play.

Forced to foul, the Tuckers put Xavier Bernard on the line. Bernard hit the first shot, but the second one clanged off the back of the rim and was pulled down by Huntley, who hit Steve Ascher with an outlet pass.

Ascher headed down the left sideline and was fouled with 4.2 seconds on the clock. The senior swished the first shot. After Malverne called a timeout to ice the shooter, Ascher’s second attempt was long. Huntley pulled down the rebound outside of the right block and missed an off-balance shot.

After the miss by Hundley, Tom and Steve Ascher both attempted to tap the ball with Steve getting his hand on the rebound. The ball flew high in the air, the buzzer sounded, and the ball kissed off the glass and through the net setting off a wild celebration.