Sports

No. 10 Sports Story of the Year: Rejuvenated hoops program

By Riverhead News-Review

Mercy's Fiona Nunez drives to the basket in the Monarchs' playoff win in February against Port Jefferson. (Robert O'Rourk photo)
Mercy’s Fiona Nunez drives to the basket in the Monarchs’ playoff win in February against Port Jefferson. (Robert O’Rourk photo)

The record jumped off the page. In three seasons, the Bishop McGann-Mercy girls basketball team endured a 1-53 record. 

But by early 2014, it was clear that this year’s team was ready to forge a new path. A revamped Mercy team not only put a winning season together, but went on to win a playoff game in the Class B tournament.

The Monarchs, playing at home against Port Jefferson in February, pulled out a 49-46 victory to highlight the turnaround season. The season came to end in the next round against Hampton Bays. Amazingly, before beating Port Jefferson, the Monarchs had lost to the Royals five days earlier, 73-41.

“The program’s come a long way in the last three months,” coach Brian Babst said after the playoff win.

Related Content