Alexander the Great: Cory Key to Mules' Success

"I've always loved basketball," said Cory Alexander, Malverne High School's star senior forward. "I picked it up from watching my two older brothers play and it is something that I just really enjoy doing."

Alexander has been bouncing a basketball since he was 7 years old, playing every chance he could on both organized teams including the Catholic Youth Organization and the Police Athletic League, and five-on-five runs in the local parks.

All that time on the courts has paid off, as Alexander today finds himself on one of the top teams in Nassau County.

This is his third year as a starter for Malverne's varsity Mules.

"Coach [Darrol] Lopez gave me my chance when I was a sophomore," he said. "We've built this team up since then to a squad who can get to Glens Falls this year and come away with a championship."

The Mules lost last year in the state quarterfinals to John Burke Catholic and by one point to Binghamton Seton Catholic in the State finals in 2009.

"Losing to that team by one point has been our biggest motivation to get back there and come away champions," Alexander told Patch.

Alexander is having his most productive offensive year at 16.7 points per game, but still considers himself more of an assist man than the teams go-to scorer.

"I try to get the ball to Ron [Spencer] or Anthony [Moultre] when they're open. I think I average maybe 6 or 7 assists a game."

Alexander has been playing with Spencer since First Grade and the two have developed a mutual chemistry on the court.

"We always know where one another is no matter how hard the other team's defense is guarding against us," Alexander said. "It is just a sense that we have developed over the years, playing with each other"

The two athletes hope to follow in the path of the Mules' 2007 team, which came away winners of the Class B Federation championship.

"It has been something we've been talking about ever since," said Alexander. "We are both seniors now and know this will be our final chance to get back there and win another one for our school - and for Malverne."