Boys Basketball: Loss to Babylon costs Mercy playoff spot

PANTHERS 73, MONARCHS 57

Bishop McGann-Mercy fell short of its goal of reaching the Suffolk County Class C boys basketball tournament as the Monarchs dropped a 73-57 decision to host Babylon on Wednesday night.

The Monarchs needed a win in their League VII regular-season finale to clinch a spot, but they dug themselves a 7-0 hole from the opening tip-off that they could not dig out of as it only got deeper.

Senior guard Nahari Jenkins led the Panthers (12-6, 9-5) with 25 points, followed by sophomore forward Ray Wardell with 17 and senior guard Max DeMartino with 13.

Sophomore forward Nykel Reese paced the Monarchs (8-10, 6-8) with 22 points and senior Pat Stepnoski added 15.

McGann-Mercy coach Mike Clauberg said he was going to petition county basketball officials either on Wednesday night or Thursday morning to see if the school could be admitted to the Class B tournament. He said that the Monarchs were 5-5 against Class B league competition and that Port Jefferson (7-9, 5-8) recorded five wins prior to its Wednesday night home game against Wyandanch, but apparently qualified for the Class C tournament.

Asked what the Monarchs’ chances are of reaching the playoffs, Clauberg replied, “Ninety-nine point nine percent not going to happen. … We’ll give it a shot.

“Port Jeff is out of our class. They’re under .500 and they’re going to Class C. So we’ll see what happens.”