Dalers Fall in Final Minute to Uniondale

Until the final minute Tuesday, the Farmingdale High School boys basketball team seemed poised to play for the Nassau Class AA championship.

That dream ended in the final minute of their Section VIII Final Four Tuesday, a chaotic, turnover-filled 60 seconds that ended with the Dalers falling two points short of Uniondale. The Knights prevailed at SUNY-Old Westbury, 67-65 and will play the winner of Hicksville vs. Baldwin on Saturday.

Senior guard Dalique Mingo led Farmingdale in scoring with 17 points. Curtis Jenkins added 15, sparking an offense that led Uniondale for much of the game and by 10 points at several points. It was Farmingdale leading 34-29 at halftime and 46-42 at the end of the third.

But Uniondale wouldn't quit, dominating the boards as the fourth quarter drew on and the gym filled with howls and tension.

That's when the Dalers' season came undone, a steal and scoring drive by Alan McDonald and a rim-rattling dunk. Uniondale's Aaron Cust forced another turnover and the Knights took the lead. Farmingdale's final inbound with 7-seconds remaining went awry and the Knights won.

The title game is Saturday at 3:30 p.m. at Hofstra.  

Perennial champ Uniondale ousted Farmingdale from the semifinals a year ago before falling to Baldwin in the title game.