By Five Boro Sports
Jack Curran likes to tell his players not to think. The quicker they react, the legendary Molloy coach says, the better.
Over-thinking, however, was a problem for junior Ernest Rouse Sunday in the Holiday Hoops tournament semifinals against St. Mary’s (L.I.) at Aviator Complex.
After missing several practices with the flu, he was used sparingly in the Stanners’ opening-round win over Brooklyn Collegiate. But against the high-scoring Gaels, Molloy needed more weapons. Therefore, the 6-foot Rouse was called upon.
He was tentative, unsure of how to attack, whether to drive to the basket or pull up for his jumpshot. Rouse was called for several traveling violations and stripped of the ball. At one point, Curran barked, “Don’t think!”
He used that advice in the fourth quarter. Relying on natural instincts, Rouse scored nine of his 18 points in the final stanza to lead Molloy to a 63-52 win over the Long Island school. They were scheduled to meet Christian Brothers Academy (N.J.) in the tournament final Monday at 9 p.m.
“Once we stopped thinking and let it flow,” Rouse said, “we pulled away at the end.”
Senior guard Russ Smith led Molloy with a game-high 23 points, going over 1,000 points for his career on a baseline runner with 3:48 remaining in the third quarter. Senior Jin Hong added 10 points and LeBrandon Smith had nine. Sophomore Chavaughn Lewis paced St. Mary’s with 16.
St. Mary’s was pesky, making several runs at the favored Stanners. They turned an eight-point, second-quarter deficit into a one-point lead in the third quarter. After Smith scored seven unanswered points to put Molloy up 10, the Gaels answered by getting within 51-48 midway through the fourth quarter.
Rouse had the final rebuttal during the game-closing 12-4 run. He broke the press, sunk two free throws, found an open LeBrandon Smith for a dunk off penetration and sunk a line-drive three-pointer during the spurt.
“I had to take it upon myself,” he said.
When power forward Ashton Pankey left for St. Anthony (N.J.) and guard Devin Figueroa fled to Lawrenceville Prep (N.J.), Smith was disappointed, but not overly worried. He had faith in Rouse, who led the JV to the city championship last year as its leading scorer.
“He’s a very important catalyst for us,” Smith said. “He can shoot, he’s learning how to be more creative off the dribble and he can create his own shot. Ernest is that guy I count on. I have the utmost confidence in him.”
Molloy (6-2), Curran said, is still finding its identity. The Stanners have picked up a few nice wins, like a victory over St. Dominic’s (L.I.), which beat Brooklyn power Bishop Loughlin. Yet, it is still a new team — only Hong and Smith started last year.
They struggled in the first half against St. Mary’s — what Curran called Molloy’s worst half of basketball this season. But, he added, being able to rebound from that poor stretch was a good sign. Furthermore, the team was winning and had a chance to take home the championship.
“We’ve got two wins out of this — one more [and] it will be a happy new year,” he said.
