Mount Sinai boys basketball wins Suffolk Class A title

The Mount Sinai lead stood at 14 early in the third in this Suffolk Class A championship game. But the Mustangs were playing one of the giants of Suffolk basketball, a Southampton team that had taken one loss all season and had county titles to show for the previous three.

Sure enough, the Mariners turned up the temperature on defense and climbed out of the hole. They had it tied late in the third and again early in the fourth.

Mount Sinai’s program had never claimed a county title. But the Mustangs found a way to own the rest of the game and make history for themselves.

Their senior standout, Dom Pennzello, scored 27 points and 6-6 junior Brian Vales delivered nine of his 20 in the final eight minutes and grabbed 15 rebounds overall. And second-seeded Mount Sinai took down No. 1 Southampton 75-67 Tuesday at Farmingdale State.

“We talked about this since we were kids: We’re going to be the first to do it in school history,” Pennzello said. “We finally did it. It’s amazing.”

So they will face Floral Park (19-4) in a Long Island championship game/Southeast Regional final on this court at 4 p.m. Sunday. The Mustangs (21-2) will arrive with a nine-game winning streak after making sure the Mariners (21-2) lost their 14-game streak.

“It’s surreal,” coach Ryan McNeely said about this first championship. “These kids, they do everything the right way on and off the court, all year long. And they deserve this. I’m so happy for them.”

Alex Franklin drove for two of his Southampton-high 24 to even it at 63 with 5:54 left.

Then Blake Kolsch hit from the lane to give Mount Sinai the lead again. Vales scored on a layup, extending it to four. Brock Kolsch, Blake’s brother, made a free throw for his 15th point. Vales also made a free throw. Pennzello nailed a jumper. And Vales converted his offensive rebounds into the final two baskets in the 12-4 closing run.

“I told myself I want to take it home for my hometown,” Vales said. "When we play team ball, we win every single time.”

Southampton won the title last season in A and the previous two in B.

“It’s disappointing because it takes you three years to get to win four,” coach Herm Lamison said. “So we’ve got to start over now.”

Pennzello triggered a 9-0 burst to end the first half, posting five points and two assists. The Mustangs owned a 38-29 advantage that they extended to 45-31.

Tyson Reddick’s three tied it at 59. But the Mariners couldn’t take the lead.

“Southampton was coming in that second half, and we held them off,” McNeely said. “Thank goodness.”