The Mineola Mustangs girls and boys varsity basketball teams and the varsity wrestling team paid tribute to the memory of former Mineola High School assistant principal Reggie Carter in the school’s annual Reggie Carter Memorial Basketball Night on Friday evening.
Carter, who played for the New York Knick before joining the Mineola school district, died of a heart attack in 1999 at age 42.
The Mustangs wrestling team stayed winless after three matches with a loss to North Shore Vikings (2-2) 44-37.
But both girls and boys basketball teams were victorious against the Clarke Rams.
The Mineola boys varsity improved its record to 5-3 by beating 1-9 Clarke by more than 30 points in a 73-41 victory.
Malcolm Brown led the Mustangs with 19 points, follow by Gaffney and Stephen Gessner with 11 points, and Dominick DeRosa with 10 points.
The Mustangs overpowered Clarke, building a halftime lead of 45-16. They then opened the second half with a run of 18 unanswered points.
Boys team captain Brian Gaffney and Julie Falotico of the girls team wore No. 35 jerseys in honor of Carter’s number, and were awarded the Reggie Carter Memorial Award, all part of a tradition at Mineola High School since 2000.
The $2,000 raised at the game will go towards the Reggie Carter Memorial Scholarship Fund, which is presented to a graduating senior in June.
The annual sports night was organized by Paul Pereira, a social studies teacher at Mineola High School and a Village of Mineola trustee.
“I worked with Reggie, and he was a wonderful person,” Pereira said. “The scholarship goes towards someone who exemplifies Reggie’s characteristics and values. It’s important for Mineola to keep him memory alive.”
The Lady Mustangs moved to 4-6 with a 41-26 victory over Clarke (2-8) was led by Sam Venus with a team-high 12 points, including two 3-pointers and eight rebounds, and Addie McKeever had 10 points.
Falotico had six steals, seven assists and four points.
Following their win, a ceremony for the Carter’s memory was held for the packed gymnasium.
“Reggie was about service, humility. He was not puffed up about himself, and he was nobody’s fool,” said Frank Azza, a guidance counselor at Mineola High School who attended St. John’s University with Carter. “He had character and high moral standards, and was great with students.”
Azzara, who became friends with Carter after Carter began working at Mineola Middle School, recounted a story told by Tony Price, one of many pro basketball plays who attended Carter’s funeral at Riverside Baptist Church, about how his son, Reggie’s son and their friends wanted to play basketball on a court that was being used by eight adults.
“Reggie wanted the court for the kids, and they said ‘no way – unless you two guys play us,” Azzara said. “Reggie looked at Tony, Tony looked at Reggie and they played eight adults and won that court for the kids.”
Denise Zunno, head coach of the Lady Mustangs, presented Falotico the Carter award.
Falotico is Mineola’s class of 2013 salutatorian with a 98.7 grade point average, and a four-year, three-sport varsity player.
“She values education and has always been vigorous, enthusiastic and excited about learning,” Zunno said. “Her contribution to our athletic community has been monument. Just like Reggie, she’s a kind and gentle soul, who volunteers her time to those who are in need.”
Jim Hegmann, head coach of the boys varsity Mustangs, presented the award to Gaffney, a four-year varsity starter in basketball, who made the county all-conference team as a sophomore and junior. He plans to attend St. John’s University to play lacrosse.
“I’ve seen him become a vocal leader, who has motivated our team to excel each day” Hegmann said. “If he has the same success at St. John’s that he’s had at Mineola, he’ll have the opportunity to share the St. John’s spotlight that Reggie once held.”
