Thursday, October 1, 2026
The Babylon girls basketball team continued its impressive season with a statement victory, defeating Smithtown Christian 60-39 on MLK Day to improve to 10-3 overall and a perfect 7-0 in league.
The win not only extended Babylon’s unbeaten run in League 7, but also clinched a playoff spot, an important milestone as the Panthers keep their sights set on postseason success beyond Long Island.
Head coach Chris Ryan knew the challenge Smithtown Christian presented, especially with the game tightly contested in the first half. Babylon led by just three points at the break before asserting control over the final two quarters.
“Smithtown Christian is one of the tougher teams on our schedule so this was a big win,” Ryan said. “Only being up three at half and coming out playing resilient and smart while just being ourselves was great to see.”
Babylon’s balance on offense was a major factor in pulling away. Senior forward Peyton Logue-Boyd led all scorers with 17 points, while freshman guard Morgan Fielder continued her standout season with 16 points. Senior guard DeLaney Busch added 12 points, and Gabriella Weiss chipped in with seven. Senior forward Ellie O’Brien contributed two points in the starting lineup, while guards RyLeigh Busch and Shannon Polletta provided key minutes and six combined points off the bench.
The second half belonged to Babylon, as the Panthers tightened up defensively and controlled the glass. Ryan emphasized that rebounding and patience were the focal points coming out of the locker room.
“In the second half we really just focused on rebounding and boxing out,” Ryan said. “We made sure to value our offensive possessions instead of rushing to get a shot off. I’m glad they stuck to the gameplan.”
That approach paid off, as Babylon steadily increased its lead and limited Smithtown Christian’s scoring opportunities. Logue-Boyd, tasked with battling one of the league’s top post players, made her presence felt inside on both ends.
“We don’t have many bigs in our league but Nadia Madu is certainly one of them so I knew I was going to have to bring it,” Logue-Boyd said. “Staying out of foul trouble and winning the rebounding battle were both crucial.”
Fielder echoed the significance of the win, particularly in the context of the league standings. “To pick up a big win and give us a two- game cushion in the standings was huge,” she said.
Despite the success, the Panthers, riding a seven-game win streak, are far from satisfied as they remain focused on continuous improvement.
“Our goal is still to get off the Island and winning today to clinch a playoff spot was a good step in the right direction for us to do just that,” Ryan said.
Logue-Boyd added the challenge only grows as the season progresses. “We know it’s going to be tough to beat all our league opponents a second time so we’re going to need our ‘A’ game every time we step on the court,” she said.
