By Dean Vayias ‘18

Coming off a championship season last year, Chaminade varsity basketball traveled to Commack in an attempt to start the season where they left off.  The music was blaring, the Commack High School gym was crowded, and students were on their feet cheering and chanting.  It was game day for the Flyers on Friday, December 4, and the Commack Cougars were preparing to give the Flyers their best shot.

The first half was a back-and-forth struggle for both sides.  The Flyers played well and led for most of the half, but the feisty Cougars constantly put up a fight.  With about two minutes left in the opening half, the Cougars hit a key shot to tie the Flyers at 23.  The Commack fans began to get loud, but Kyle Murphy ’17 responded immediately when, like a freight train, he drove down the lane and made a tough layup with a foul.  Murphy shot the ball well throughout the game and was a menace on the boards, contributing 13 points and 8 rebounds.  After making his free throw, the Flyers went up 26-23.  There were several more challenges by the Cougars before the half, but the Flyers fought them off and left the court at halftime with a 33-30 lead.  

Returning from their the locker room to start the second half, the Flyers played their strongest quarter of the game.  The Flyers outscored the Cougars 28-14 in the 3rd quarter behind some outstanding passing and a balanced scoring attack, mostly from behind the three-point arc.  Mike McGuire ‘16, known for his shooting prowess, put up a solid nine points, but more impressively, dished out eight assists to his fellow teammates.

The Flyers finished with fifteen three-pointers Friday night, led by Owen Prendergast ‘16 who had six of them, adding to his impressive display of 20 points.  Senior Ryan Dean, the team’s starting point guard, was the team’s second highest scorer with 19 points and ran the Flyers’ offense exceptionally well.  When asked about the strong start to the second half, Ryan Dean said, “At halftime, Coach [Robert] Paul [’92] told us to work harder on the boards, pick up the pace, and move the ball better.”  Clearly, the Flyers took Coach Paul’s advice and dominated the second half of the game, closing out the Cougars, 71-53.  

The Flyers look to continue their winning ways in their annual matchup against an always talented Long Island Lutheran team tomorrow, December 10 in the Activity-Athletic Center.  

Come out and support your Flyers!