Chapel Field beats Mount Academy in 3rd straight final
SHELDRAKE – Chapel Field basketball head coach Brad McDuffie said his assistant Mike Bonagura had a “Vision Quest” about facing Mount Academy in a potential sectional title game and prepared accordingly with scouting and developing a game plan.
It wasn’t exactly an unforeseen conclusion since the two schools met in the past two Section 9 Class D finals, both won by Chapel Field. Mount Academy, though, is a highly improved team this season and Chapel Field needed at least half a season to find a new championship identity.
It came together at the right time as Chapel Field held off a stubborn Livingston Manor team in Saturday’s semifinals and finished off the Mount once again, leading from start to finish in a 54-42 victory at SUNY Sullivan on Tuesday night.
“He did a great job just scouting them and really came up with a great game plan on how to defend them,’’ McDuffie said.
Offense fueled Chapel Field last season – this year, the Lions have had to rely more on defense. The Lions made sure to get back on defense quickly and challenged the Mount’s perimeter shooting, holding the Eagles to only five 3-pointers through the opening 27 minutes.
Turning point
Chapel Field scored the first five points and never trailed. Up 28-19 two minutes into the third quarter, Chapel Field sophomore Micah McDuffie sank two open 3-point shots from the left wing and hit a pull-up in the lane, capping an 11-2 run for a 36-19 lead. Mount drew no closer than 11 the rest of the way – and only after hitting a trio of threes in the final five minutes.
Player of the game
Brad McDuffie told his players the offense must first go through seniors Jonah McDuffie and Mikey Bonagura before the underclassmen. Jonah has nevLOCH er had a problem shouldering the points and leadership and Tuesday was no different. His 6-for-19 shooting is not going to dazzle the stat lovers but his points came at clutch times, and throw in his pinpoint passes to set up teammates. Jonah also hit six of seven free throws and finished with 19 points.
As the final seconds ticked off, Jonah started hopping up and down, received a pass and raised both arms – basketball in hand – as he faced the Lions’ faithful.
“This one's a shocker,'' Jonah McDuffie said. “Beginning of the season, we started off really rough … but we kept on persevering. We prepared for this moment.''
They said it
“It just feels amazing. It feels just as good as the first one but this one really means the most to us for me and Jonah coming in as seniors, as the leaders.'' – Chapel Field senior Mikey Bonagura, who scored 13 points
By the numbers
Chapel Field – Luke Falkena scored 10 points. … The Lions shot 43 percent from 2-point range and 4-for-18 beyond the arc, for a 36 percent night. … The Lions had eight turnovers.
Mount Academy – Dennis Hofer hit four 3-pointers and finished with 16 points. Leading scorer Jake Maendel was held to nine. … The Eagles shot 8for-24 beyond the arc and 7-for-24 in front of it, for a 31 percent night. … The
Mount had 13 turnovers.
What’s next
Chapel Field awaits the Suffolk County champion (to be determined Thursday) for a state first-round matchup at 6:30 p.m. Monday at Center Moriches High School.