Aviation’s flying high in new division

It’s not the sudden winning that has Aviation Coach Steven Hagenlocher enjoying his job again, it’s the possibilities.
Aviation moved down to the ‘B’ division this year after going 0-28 in Queens I-A the last two campaigns. “It was terrible,” he said of the losing streak. “I knew we really didn’t have a legitimate chance to win. After a certain period of time, the kids realized they weren’t going to win.”
Now, every game is close, which is really what Hagenlocher wanted out of the change. “It’s fun to play basketball again,” he said. “It’s about competing.”
His Flyers, however, are doing more than just staying close these days. After their latest comeback victory, a 51-50 thriller over Queens Vocational Tech, Aviation is 12-3, just two games behind first place Robert Wagner in the loss column, and assured of a playoff spot.
“I want to take the team as far as possible,” said Aviation’s star forward Chris Melendez, who hit the game-winning free throw with a second to play in their latest triumph. “I’m ecstatic, now everybody in the school is congratulating us.”
After their first game, a 15-point loss to American Studies, Melendez admitted to thinking “here we go again.” But since, behind the play of Melendez, whose averaging 23 points and 9 rebounds, sophomore point guard Kenny Newman and senior Jeron Ryan, the Flyers have won 12 of 14.
“They had to play harder and I had to coach harder,” said Hagenlocher.
“I didn’t realize how good Melendez was until our fourth game when he scored 40 points. I believe he’s a Division I player. He plays above the rim and he can shoot.”
“Now they have a cheerleading team for us because we’re winning,” Ryan said. “It’s a great feeling. We have a group of guys that give it their all and leave it out on the court.”