Thursday, October 1, 2026
Lynbrook brought plenty of fight to Saturday’s Nassau League A-6 boys’ basketball battle, but defending county champion Floral Park found a way to counterpunch each time the visiting Owls took a swing for the lead.
Junior Collin Murphy had a game-high 23 points, seniors Declan Lally and Joe Prestia 16 apiece, Brendan Martin 15, and Brady Croon 12 as the first-place Knights led from start to finish in what was their 10th consecutive victory and 16th in 17 games, 82-60.
“It was frustrating, but credit to them they didn’t miss many shots,” Lynbrook head coach Brian Donaldson said. “I thought our defense was solid and we played pretty good offensively."
The Owls (11-5 overall, 4-4 in league) trailed by as many as 11 in the first half but got within four points on four different occasions in the second half before Floral Park closed the game with a 19-3 run.
"The final doesn’t indicate at all what kind of game this was,” Donaldson said. “We were right there until the last few minutes. They showed why they’re the champs and that’s where we want to be. Hopefully we see them again in the playoffs.”
Lynbrook’s offense was led by seniors Devin Byrne, who hit five 3-pointers for 15 points, Jake Prince (13) and Max Dellacona (11.) The result left the Owls needed to win two of their last four league games to go dancing in the Class A playoffs.
“I think we’re a playoff team,” Donaldson said. “As a coach you always want to strive for perfection and I think day by day we are getting better. We have nice depth and versatility.”
Floral Park, which took the first meeting between the teams Dec. 20, winning 58-49 at Lynbrook, will likely be the top seed in Class A.
“They play at a fast pace and like us have a lot of kids who can score,” Donaldson said.
The Knights scored at least 18 points in all four quarters of Saturday’s rematch and drained 11 shots from behind the arc, including five in the second quarter between Murphy (three) and Lally as they led 33-22 before Byrne helped the Owls get within 38-30 at halftime.
“Devin’s shot was on today,” Donaldson said of Byrne. “He hit some big ones to keep us in it.”
The margin was down to four several times in the third quarter, thanks to a dynamic dunk from junior Orji Agwu and a trey from senior Jaime Pereira.
Byrne hat the hot hand early in the fourth, sandwiching a pair of threes around a bucket by Martin and Floral Park led 58-54 with 7:12 left before stepping on the gas.
Lally, Murphy and Prestia all hit threes and the Knights were suddenly up 70-57 midway through the fourth.
The Owls have defeated three (Mineola, Valley Stream North and Plainedge) of the four opponents remaining on their schedule, falling only to Wantagh by a basket.
"Right now the goal is to get into the playoffs and start gearing up for potential matchups,” Donaldson said.
