West Babylon’s boys’ basketball team faced a tough challenge against Comsewogue, ultimately falling 46-32 in a hard-fought contest at home on Jan. 15.
Despite a determined effort, the Eagles struggled to find offensive rhythm, as the Warriors’ defense stifled their scoring opportunities throughout the game and held West Babylon to its lowest point total of this season so far.
West Babylon, led by head coach Tim Lynch, was unable to overcome Comsewogue’s strong defensive pressure and efficient scoring. The game started off with a promising pace, but the Eagles’ offense could not generate enough consistent production. West Babylon's shooting woes were evident, especially as Comsewogue maintained a steady lead throughout the game, never letting the Eagles close the gap significantly.
“It’s tough to score when you are not able to knock down shots,” Lynch said after the game. “That was probably the worst we shot all season and it certainly came back to hurt us in the end.”
Guard Danny Rose was the standout player for West Babylon, finishing as its leading scorer with 10 points. Rose’s scoring helped keep his team within striking distance at times, but it wasn’t enough to mount a serious comeback. Guard Arghyl Polanco also contributed to the scoring effort, adding 8 points. His work on the offensive end was important in trying to spark a potential rally, but Comsewogue’s defense proved difficult to break through.
Guard Noah Rosa and forward Jalen Campbell both chipped in with 4 points each. Guards Sean Flaack and Frank Gervasio rounded out the scoring for the Eagles, contributing 3 points each. Unfortunately for West Babylon, despite its efforts, it was unable to consistently execute on offense or capitalize on scoring chances.
Comsewogue, meanwhile, played with a well-balanced attack, combining solid shooting with stifling defense to maintain their lead throughout the game. West Babylon struggled to get into an offensive flow, particularly in the second half when Comsewogue’s defense ramped up.
The Eagles are now 4-8 overall but are continuing to battle and believe that the season is far from over with still seven games to go.
Lynch believes the loss to Comsewogue will serve as a learning experience. “I still think that we are a playoff team,” Lynch said. “We just have to find a way to put this performance behind us and move on. We have been competitive all season long so if we can just clean up a couple of things, we will have a chance to win each time we step on the floor.”
West Babylon will need to focus on improving its offensive execution. It has not reached the 60-point mark in five straight dating back to its last win, 60-51 over Center Moriches Dec. 27 that saw Campbell lead the way with 18 points, followed by Rose ith 15 and Rosa, Gervasio and Modesto Tapia with 9 apiece.