Farmingdale Basketball Stops Syosset

After a heartbreaking loss to Hempstead on Tuesday, the Syosset High School boys basketball team faced an even more formidable challenge.

Dalique Mingo threw down a baseline dunk that shook the backboard and the gym. Just 19 seconds later he pierced Syosset’s heart with a dagger-like three-pointer.

The Farmingdale senior guard may be Nassau’s best player. His first-quarter performance Thursday left no doubt he was top dog on this court.

Mingo scored 10 of his game-high 25 points in the opening quarter as the Dalers downed visiting Syosset, 82-37, in a Nassau Conference AA-I game. 

“He’s playing unbelievable,” Farmingdale Coach Jim Pastier said of his star guard. “Now he’s all over the place. If you want to be the best player in Nassau County, then play like it. And he’s doing that.”

Farmingdale (9-2 overall, 7-0) took a 32-11 lead after eight minutes and never looked back. Pastier’s starters sat out the fourth quarter.

The win comes sandwiched between two even more meaningful games. The Dalers beat perennial champ Uniondale, 64-55, Tuesday. Up next is a date with Suffolk frontrunner Central Islip Sunday.

“It did a lot for our confidence,” Mingo said of the Uiniondale win. “It felt good to beat them in a game that mattered.”

It’s clear the Dalers have taken a step forward since falling to Uniondale in the Nassau Class AA semifinals a year ago.

Two key figures from the county championship football team have brought some swagger to the hardwood. Senior swingman Kevin Petit-Frere had 17 points and 7 rebounds while junior Curtis Jenkins added 4 points and 6 boards.

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But it’s the 6-foot-2 Mingo, a four-year starter, who makes the Dalers a title threat. He poured in a career-best 39 points against Uniondale and eclipsed the 1,000-point mark in a Jan. 8 win over Massapequa. 

"He’s the best player in our league by far,” Syosset Coach Bobby Kopp said.

Syosset (3-9, 0-7) was led by Zach Greenspan's 8 points, all in the first half. Dan Quinn came off the bench and added 8 points.

The Braves have a week off to regroup. Up next is Freeport Jan. 25.

     Nassau Conference AA-I Boys Basketball

Scoring -- S: Albernas 1-0-2, Canner 1-0-2, Laine 2-1-5, Greenspan 3-2-8, Breslow 2-0-5, Quinn 4-0-8, Balogh 1-0-2, Zecher 1-0-2, Falk 1-1-3. Totals: 16-4-37. F: Burke 2-0-5, Jenkins 2-0-4, Spadalik 2-0-4, Petit-Frere 5-4-17, Mingo 7-8-25, Dhaliwal 4-0-10, Seelal 3-0-7, Rogers 3-0-8, Creamer 1-0-2. Totals: 29-16-82. Three-pointers -- S: 1 (Breslow); F: 12 (Petit-Frere 3, Mingo 3, Dhaliwal 2, Rogers 2, Burke, Seelal).

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