Ultimately the Mount Sinai boys' basketball team were stopped in their quest for a state title on Sunday afternoon, but this team had one of the most remarkable seasons in school history.
The Mustangs fell to Glens Falls in the State Championship game on Sunday 77-57, but don't let the final score skew the reality of the game. Mount Sinai was in the game most of the way in this hard-fought effort. The Stangs came within a single buck on two separate occasions late in the third quarter.
Glens Falls is just a powerhouse and seemingly cannot be stopped. The state champions have now won 54 games in a row as they won back-to-back titles but Ryan McNeely's crew gave them everything they had.
The Mustangs end their season with a 23-3 record that included an 11-game winning streak in that span. Dom Pennzello led the scoring, as he did much of the season, with 16 points and 6 rebounds. Brock Kolsch had a stat line of 14 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists. Brian Vales came up big with 9 points and 8 boards, while Blake Kolsch had 7 points, 5 assists and 2 rebounds. Andrew McNeely had 4 points in the effort, Hunter Seale added 3 points, Alex Campanelli filled up the stat sheet with 2 points, 2 assists and 3 rebounds, and had 2 points, 1 rebound and one assist.
This Mount Sinai team will be remembered as the first county champions for their school after they knocked off Floral Park 77-71. That was a full team effort to lift the title of Long Island's best.
They then went on to win the semifinal championship game, in what will be remembered as one of the greatest games the state has seen. The Mustangs defeated Byram Hills in double overtime, 67-64, in the semifinals.
The Mustangs made everyone in Suffolk and Long Island proud with this outstanding season and their fans have been very vocal in their support of the greatness that was this Mustang team.