Cullen helps drive E. Islip over Newfield
East Islip's Connor McKelvey, right, drives against Newfield's Maurice Hall in the first half of their League III game. East Islip defeated host Newfield, 49-39. (Feb. 8, 2010) Credit: Joseph D. Sullivan
For East Islip, last year's flounder was really a fluke.
The Redmen had made the Suffolk boys basketball playoffs for eight consecutive years before missing the postseason party in 2008-09. They were fish out of water.
A year later, no one can reel them in. East Islip defeated host Newfield, 49-39, last night to remain unbeaten in league play at 11-0 and clinch the school's first outright league championship since 1983. The Redmen can complete an undefeated league season with a victory Wednesday against North Babylon. Second-place Newfield fell to 9-3.
"Making the playoffs was the first goal. Winning the league is a special feeling. Going undefeated is a plus," East Islip forward Cameron Cullen said. Cullen was the game's high scorer with 19 points, including six in the first quarter when the Redmen's '21 trap' zone defense helped create a 14-3 deficit from which the Wolverines never recovered.
Cullen scored the game's first four points, then added a putback in a 10-0 run. He also snaked through the Wolverines for a pretty layup midway through the third quarter when East Islip built its biggest lead at 39-23. "We pride ourselves on our defense," Cullen said. "It gives our offense confidence."
Newfield couldn't penetrate the zone and couldn't hit from outside, a costly combination.
"We're built for defense first," East Islip coach Rob Schwender said. "Usually, we play man-to-man, but tonight, I thought a zone would work best. We wanted to make it tough on their two big men ."
That duo was held to 10 points. Dylan McBride sank three treys and led Newfield with 14 points. "It was senior night and I don't think we came out focused," Newfield coach Tony Agostino said. "When you fall behind against a good team like East Islip, it's hard to come back."
Cullen made sure the Redmen stayed composed when the Wolverines turned up the pressure. "He's by far the best player in our league," Agostino said.
He'll get no argument from Schwender. "He plays the right way and he takes the right shots," Schwender said. "Cameron's a great go-to guy because he doesn't force things,"
That's a trait shared by his teammates. "Emotions don't play into it for us," Schwender said. "We're very calm."
