SUFFOLK COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE

    LOCH SHELDRAKE, N.Y.
   Sullivan CC provided all of the atmosphere. The host of the Region XV men's basketball tournament had the raucous, near- capacity crowd, the flashing lights and an introduction of each of its players as if he were the WWE heavyweight champ.

Suffolk CC-Selden ruined it all.

After letting a 21-point second-half lead wilt to a single point, Suffolk held on for a 91-83 semifinal win yesterday behind 40 points from Maurice Manning, advancing to this afternoon's regional final against sister school Suffolk CC-Brentwood. The win brought Suffolk-Selden's amazing winning streak to 48.

But only barely. No. 5 Sullivan (25-7) made a tremendous push to become the first team to beat Suffolk in almost a year and a half.

Suffolk (30-0) had several players in foul trouble and had to relax its pressure. With 3:14 remaining, Sullivan's Darren Sykes hit two foul shots to make the score 74-73, the closest it had been since the opening tip. Aaron Cummings scored the next four points - two from the foul line - to re-establish the advantage. On Sullivan's next two possessions, it was called for charges as the Clippers were forced to forget their foul troubles and buckle down.

"I had to take that chance," said Manning, who took one of the charges with four personal fouls. "And it worked out lovely."

Manning shot 12-for-21 from the floor, scoring five points on one possession in the first half. After creating a turnover along the sideline, he passed to Cummings, who missed a layup. Manning hustled to tip the ball in and draw a foul. He missed the free throw but grabbed the offensive rebound and drilled a three-pointer.

Suffolk CC-Brentwood won its semifinal against Hostos, 72-66. The Longhorns hit 11 of 14 foul shots in the final 1:59 to hold off their opponent. Suffolk coach Tony Zajac said the game plan was to attack 6-8 center Marvin Lynch, a first-team All-Region player. Suffolk was able to saddle him with two fouls midway through the first half and he left the game with an injured ankle with 6:43 left.

"We thought their big man was critical," Zajac said. "We wanted to get him out of there."

Jonelle Jones scored 17 points for No. 2 Suffolk-Brentwood (17-8). J.J. Walsh added 15 and Jean Louis had 14 for the Longhorns. No. 3 Hostos is 22-10.

"We've been wanting to get to the championship game to get a chance to beat them," Jones said of Selden. "We've got revenge on our minds."

SCC-SELDEN 91
SULLIVAN CC 83

 
GODBLESSAMERICA

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