SUFFOLK COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE

By Gregg Sarra
NEWSDAY STAFF WRITER
February 22, 2004

This was showtime for the Suffolk CC-Selden men's basketball team. This was a relaxed group of Clippers putting the final touches on a perfect season. This was a gimme in the Bronx yesterday.

Suffolk shot a blistering 71 percent from the field and made easy work of Bronx CC in the season finale for both teams. Anton Cheese scored 20 points and point guard Aaron Cummings had 11 assists and five steals in Suffolk's 123-63 win in a Region XV game.

The victory helped Suffolk CC (28-0, 17-0) extend the nation's longest winning streak to 46 games. The Clippers punctuated the school's first undefeated regular season in history with a dazzling display of marksmanship that resulted in a season high for points. Cheese hit 9 of 10 shots from the field and added seven rebounds.

"I'm so impressed that we came psyched to play this game," Suffolk coach Rich Wrase said. "It tells me that we're focused. This was a game that we could have treated as a walkover, and to our credit, we came out flying."

Suffolk earned the top seed and will meet No. 8 Rockland CC in the quarterfinal round of the Region XV Tournament Friday at Sullivan CC in the upstate town of Liberty.

"It's a new start for everyone and we have to continue playing at our best," Suffolk's Vernon Alonzo said. "We have to get everyone healthy and get ready."

Bronx CC (2-20, 2-15) had trouble keeping up with Suffolk's transition game. Cummings, who last week broke the school single-season record of 268 assists set by guard Tamien Trent last year, now has 283 for the season. Alonzo added 10 assists as all 12 players lit up the scoreboard and the Clippers went over the century mark for the 10th time this season.

"We wanted the perfect regular season," said Suffolk's Maurice Manning, who made 8 of 10 shots from the field and had 19 points. "But our work isn't finished. We're not done yet and we're definitely ready for the playoffs."

Suffolk used a 20-4 run midway through the first half to take control, led by eight points from Cheese. Cheese finished the half with 12 points as Suffolk took a 71-28 lead.

"We ran the floor well, played great defense and rebounded," Wrase said. "It was a complete effort and it enabled us to use the bench early."

Manning scored 12 points in the first 4:44 of the second half as Suffolk went up by as much as 67 points. His final basket, a two-handed dunk that ignited the crowd, came on an alley-oop pass from Alonzo.

"We had some fun," Alonzo said.

The only thing missing from the postgame celebration was Suffolk forward Marcele Street. Suffolk's most flamboyant player was home nursing a stress fracture in his left leg. His return for the Region XV playoffs is questionable.

"We decided that it wasn't necessary for him to make the trip," Wrase said. "He's home and going to rehab. He'll be ready. He knows we need him."

INSIDE VICTORY NO. 46
2003-04 RECORD: 28-0

PLUS:
This was a laugher from the start. The chance to get a lot of playing time for the bench was important to coach Rich Wrase.

PLUS:
Reserve guard Joe Thomas was the last Clipper to reach the scoresheet, and he did it with 11:20 left. The Clippers hit the 100-point mark with 10:03 to go.

SCC-SELDEN 123
BRONX CC 63

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