Mount Sinai wins double-overtime thriller to advance to state Class A final

BINGHAMTON — Up three in the closing seconds, it looked as if Mount Sinai had Byram Hills beaten in regulation and was bound for the state Class A final. But as it turned out, the Mustangs were going to have to work overtime to get this done.

Then they were going to have to work double overtime.

And then Dom Pennzello, playing on an injured left ankle, scored the final three points in the second OT after Blake Kolsch delivered the first three. And at that point, Mount Sinai finally had the Section I champ from Westchester beaten.

The Mustangs survived the challenges and won their state semifinal, 67-64, on Saturday at Visions Veterans Memorial Arena.

“They’ve kind of been like that all year long,” coach Ryan McNeely said. “They haven’t really been fazed by the moment. I felt like we won this game a few times. Bad execution mistakes when the game was on the line. But that’s how resilient these kids are.”

So Mount Sinai, 23-2 and the winner of 11 straight, will try to earn the program’s first state title at 11:45 a.m. Sunday on this same court. It will face formidable defending champ Glens Falls, 26-0 and the winner of 53 straight.

“It’s a dream come true to be in the state final,” Kolsch said. “. . . If my teammates play like they played today, I think we have a great chance at a win.”

Pennzello paced the Mustangs with 23 points despite being subbed out at times for defense after he landed on another player’s foot late in the third quarter.

“It stiffened up,” he said. “. . . I’ve got to get through one more [Sunday].”

After Mount Sinai let a four-point lead get away in the last two minutes of the first overtime, Brody Ceisler delivered a three-pointer to start the second OT — 64-61 Byram Hills. But Kolsch countered from beyond the arc to tie it.

Pennzello converted a layup for the lead with 1:58 left and sank a free throw with 18 seconds left to make it a three-point game.

Byram Hills (24-3), which got 16 points from Chris Amenedo, couldn’t connect on a three for the tie. Coach Ted Repa called it “really difficult” losing this close to the state final.

“Losses happen,” he said, “but it’s more so this special group of kids that it’s kind of over.”

It wasn’t over for the Mustangs even after what happened near the end of regulation. Pennzello hit two free throws with 10.8 seconds remaining for a 57-54 advantage, but Kolsch fouled Ceisler on a three-point fling with six seconds to go and Ceisler canned all three free throws.

“It could have lost us the game,” Kolsch said. “Really frustrating.”

But the senior point guard hit his big shot later and everything worked out. Even the disappearance of a 12-point second-quarter lead before the midpoint of the third couldn’t derail the Mustangs.

“A lot of pressure,” Pennzello said, “but we play a lot better under pressure and we love these moments.”