In a Suffolk Class AAA boys’ basketball playoff battle that lived up to every expectation, North Babylon and Commack went down to the wire before visiting Commack escaped with a thrilling 54-52 victory Feb. 19.
The matchup featured two familiar foes who knew each other well after battling through the regular season twice. From the opening tip, it was clear neither side would back down. The first quarter ended deadlocked at 14-14, setting the tone for a tightly contested game filled with momentum swings and clutch performances.
“It was a great, competitive game,” Commack head coach Peter Smith said. “Our guys played really hard and executed for 32 minutes. Our defense was excellent today.”
North Babylon (17-3) leaned on its balanced attack early. Junior guard Sean Lanier led the way with 16 points, attacking the rim and knocking down key shots to keep the Bulldogs within striking distance. Senior Cameron Serrano added 12 points, while senior captain Jake Walsh chipped in with 8. Junior forward Lance Petit contributed 6 points, and junior William Wilfolk added 3. Senior captain Aidan Walsh and Niko Martin each finished with a basket.
Despite the Bulldogs’ firepower, Commack (12-8) answered every run. The Cougars took a slim 26-24 lead into halftime after a back and forth second quarter. Ryan Curcio provided a major spark with 14 points, keeping Commack’s offense steady. Daniel Onuogu and Ty Wilheim each scored six, while Jordan Hamilton added four and Jake Demato finished with two.
The third quarter brought more drama. North Babylon surged late in the period to take a 42-40 lead heading into the fourth, fueled by Lanier’s aggressive play and Serrano’s timely shooting. With the season hanging in the balance, both teams elevated their intensity on both ends of the floor.
In the fourth, Commack found its difference-maker in Johnny Ehlers. The senior poured in 19 points overall, but it was his fourth-quarter performance that proved decisive.
“We needed some big buckets in the fourth quarter,” Smith said. “He stepped up and got hot at the right time.”
Ehlers delivered exactly when the Cougars needed him most, knocking down key shots to reclaim the lead. Commack’s defense also tightened in the closing minutes, forcing crucial stops and capitalizing on a few North Babylon mistakes down the stretch.
With the score tied late, Commack made just enough plays to secure the victory, ending North Babylon’s impressive season in heartbreaking fashion.
Bulldogs head coach Rakeem Vanterpool praised his team’s preparation and resilience despite the outcome.
“We were prepared and ready to go,” he said. “We just didn’t get the job done. The better team won today. It just came down to a couple of mistakes at the end of the day. That’s what the playoffs are all about.”
Vanterpool also reflected on his senior leaders and the adversity they faced.
“There’s going to be adversity you face in life,” he said. “They faced that today but for my seniors, they’re going to go on to bigger and better things so hopefully they learn from this.”
Smith acknowledged how difficult it is to defeat a team multiple times in one season.
“It’s so difficult to beat a team three times in the same season because you get to know each other so well,” he said. “Last time we played them, it came down to one possession and it was the same thing today.”
