Malverne peaking at right time

Look out. The Malverne Mules are starting to play some serious ball.

While most teams holding a record of 13-1 going into the latter portion of the season would be on top of the world, the Malverne had yet to play up to its potential in 2010-11. 

After an 81-52 rout of visiting East Rockaway in last Friday’s Nassau Conference BC boys’ basketball game, the Mules appear to have turned the corner. Anthony Moultre scored 19 of his career-high 20 points in the first half, and pulled down 13 rebounds to lead the way. Senior Ronald Spencer had 16 points and seven rebounds, as five Mules scored in double figures.

Head coach Darrol Lopez was pleased, but knows his team will need to play better to reach its goals. “We’re getting better, but we have a ways to go,” Lopez said. “We’re playing unselfish basketball, and finally starting to become a team. We didn’t bond very well early in the season, so we’re really just starting to play together.”

The Mules looked like a completely different team from the one that squeaked by the Rocks 60-58 in early January. Senior Xavier Bernard (12 points, six assists) hit a three from the corner to open the game to get Malverne started in a wire-to-wire victory. Moultre scored 10 points as the Mules closed out the first quarter on an 11-3 run to take a 25-12 lead.

Moultre continued to dominate in the second quarter. The senior forward scored Malverne’s first nine points of the quarter and the Mules were never challenged. The teams went into the locker room at the half with the hosts holding a commanding 45-23 lead. 

The second half was more of the same. A nifty move in the paint by sophomore Andre Berry gave the Mules their biggest lead at 68-36 early in the final quarter. Berry scored 10 points in limited action. Junior Joe Lores led the Rocks with 13 points. 

Three nights later, Malverne picked up where it left off by going on the road and trouncing Carle Place, 76-36. Senior guard Cory Alexander scored 15 of his 17 points in the first half as the Mules ran out to a 45-13 lead at the half. Alexander added eight assists. Spencer had 15 points and eight rebounds, as Malverne had 13 different players score. Dylan McLaughlin led the Frogs with 12 points.

Lopez would like to see the Mules continue to grow as they prepare to defend the Long Island Class B title. “We need to continue to work on our all-around game and improve in every aspect,” Lopez said. “We still have a lot to work on. It’s all about the defense and rebounding. If we apply the type of pressure we’re capable of, and hit the boards hard, we can be pretty successful. We haven’t peaked yet.”

Malverne, which improved to 11-0 in Conference BC, hosts Locust Valley on Friday at 6:45 p.m.