By Joseph Staszewski
Ron Naclerio finally let himself enjoy the thought of 700 career wins when Rashond Salnave hit a 3-pointer to give Benjamin Cardozo a 12-point lead with just over three minutes remaining in the game.
Naclerio, who has coached the Judges for 34 years, ran down the bench toward the baseline and jumped in excitement as the shot hit nothing but net. It was his first real show of emotion in his unusually calm demeanor.
“I think that was the first time I realized we really had it,” Naclerio said.
He was forced to put it out of his mind after that, focusing more on helping his team hold off rival Construction’s final run. The accomplishment finally kicked in after a 73-61 home victory in PSAL Queens AA boys’ basketball Monday. A hug and congratulations from longtime assistant coach Mike Blisset brought all the emotions back.
“When you are in the moment, you forget about individual accomplishments,” Naclerio said.
He becomes just the fourth coach in New York State boys’ basketball history to reach the mark and remains fourth on the all-time list. Naclerio, who won his second PSAL city title last year, hit 500 wins in 2007 and 600 in 2010. Both came against beatable opponents. It was special getting this mark in a close game against the Judges’ biggest borough rivals.
“This was an opponent I knew could beat us,” Naclerio said. “It was a great high school game, place was packed, back and forth.”
His players mobbed him in front of the Dozo locker room afterwards. Naclerio can be eccentric and demanding, but his teams are always prepared for their contest. He spends meticulous hours scouting and planning. He has pushed countless kids to be better people and athletes.
“He was kind of crazy, I am not going to lie,” four-year varsity guard Elijah McNeely said of his initial reaction to Naclerio. “But I saw he was so passionate about the game. He wanted everyone to do what they can do to their best potential.”
Salnave scored 24 points and Aaron Walker had 23 for the Judges (8-0). Tareq Coburn added 13 points and 10 rebounds.
Hofstra recruit Justin Wright-Foreman paced Construction with 28 points. Caleb Goosby tallied 14 points, including four 3-pointers. He filled in for Tahleek Weekes. He was suspended a game by the PSAL for an incident that happened in a win over Queens HS of Teaching Dec. 18. Still the Red Hawks were in position to win.
“You want to win the game whether it was 600 or No. 2 [for Naclerio].” Construction coach Cory Semper said. “You want to win the game. We were right there.”
Construction (7-1) led the Judges 51-50 after two free throws from Wesley Nelson early in the fourth quarter. Cardozo turned up the defense and responded with a 13-4 run, capped by Salnave’s trey to go up 65-53 with 3:40 left.
“Being undefeated during the break, getting it at home,” Salnave said. “A lot of people said we were going to lose, but we came out and proved them wrong.”
The victory will make for a very happy holiday season for Naclerio and the Judges, who would have had to wait 16 days to play again.
“I’ll probably have a moment over the holidays where my friends and I and the team will go somewhere and enjoy it,” Naclerio said. “It would have been a long Christmas if we lost.”
