The Boys JV basketball team put on quite a performance this year. The boys had an excellent season playing well as a team in all their games. On Feb. 3 the Mustangs hosted West Hempstead. They were not especially good hosts because they defeated their opponents definitively by a score of 65-42. Sophomore Chris Gonzalez led all scorers with 15 points, followed by John Murphy's 14 points and 10 rebounds. The defensive effort was led by Danny Baily who had 10 steals and 11 points. Strong support also came from Eric Wooten who also had 10 points to help seal the win for Mineola at 65-42. This JV squad has proven that there is a bright future for boys basketball at Mineola High School. We look forward to these players as they move up to varsity next year.

Congratulations to the girls bowling team for an outstanding season. The varsity squad finished second in their conference, trailing only the eventual county champions, while the junior varsity captured its second straight conference championship.

On Saturday, the team participated in the county championships. Entering the tournament, the team was seeded sixth. By the end of the day, however, the Mustangs were only 24 pins away from a chance to go to the state tournament, but they came up a little short, and finished in fifth place.

Christina Schulze captured the high series for the entire tournament. This team was outstanding throughout the entire season, and Coach Bill Smith would like to thank them again for a great effort not only on Saturday, but all year as well.

After a slow start, the Mineola varsity bowlers finished third in their conference, and ninth overall in the county with a 743 team average. Senior Tom Brown finished the year with a 175 average, John Dirrane a 187 average and high series of 754, Anthony Scapiccio had a 177 average, Eric Kruse a 183 average, and John Randazzo had an amazing 202 average (sixth best in the county).

John Randazzo captured All-County and All-State honors. John Pirrone was All-Conference. John Randazzo will represent Section VII, Nassau County, in the State Championship. The Nassau County Tournament took place on Feb. 6 at Garden City Bowl.

The JV also finished third in their conference. Adam Tuthill averaged 174, Billy D'Elia 156, Matt Brown 145, and Bryan Gallucci a 156. Next year hopefully three boys will move up to varsity to continue the Mineola Mustang bowling team tradition of winning.

Don't make any plans for Friday evening, Feb. 26! "The Bigger Event" is coming to town. Last year's "Big Event" was a huge success for the Mineola Athletic Booster Club, and this year's night of basketball fun promises to be even better than last year.

Once again, the professional players from the NBA and NFL will challenge the Mineola community to a series of basketball games all for the benefit of our student athletes. Last year we saw the awesome power dunks of former Portland Trailblazer Jabbar Jones, and the incredible ball tricks of former Harlem Globetrotter Drrick Murphy. Let's not forget the football players who competed like former San Francisco and NY Giant tightend Al Dixon and former Cincinnati Bengal wide receiver Lonnie Algood who has a deadly accurate three-point shot. These guys can play! They will once again be challenged by some very brave teams from the Mineola community like the Hampton Street PTA "Hurricanes," the Mineola Fire Dept., the Village of Mineola employees, Nassau Sports Physical Therapy, and the main event of the evening featuring "The Wannabees" of Mineola High School.

The Wannabees are made up of the physical education staff and coaches, and this game should prove to be a fierce battle as the celebrity players have vowed to settle the score following their close defeat last year. We shall see if the Mineola coaching staff are able to repeat their stunning victory last year. Nobody likes to lose twice, especially former and current professional athletes. Rumor had it that the "Wannabees" are already holding secret training sessions to be in peak physical condition for the game. The height and weight differential that the "Wannabees" are giving up this year is 11 inches and 70 pounds respectively. While the "Wannabees" are physicall overpowered, they gave the celebrity players a run for their money last year. But revenge is a powerful opponent!

Come on out on Friday evening, Feb. 26. The doors will open at 6 p.m. Player photos and autographs will be available. Also a raffle will be held to choose who will compete in a half court free throw contest for a chance to win a two year lease on a new GMC or Buick car compliments of our friends at Van Buren GMC. Tickets can be purchased in advance in each district school or by calling Paul Cusato at 248-0849. Tickets are $5 for adults, $4 for students ($1 more at the door). For further information call Mineola Athletic Director Tony Gulli at 739-4168.

Support the Mineola Athletic Booster Club in this most important fund-raising event. All proceeds go to the Athletic Booster Club Scholarship Fund.

A reminder that the professional athletes will visit each school in the district the week of "The Bigger Event" to talk about the importance of getting a good education, saying "no" to drugs, and they will answer questions from the students.