Mount Sinai boys basketball repeats as Suffolk Class A champions
Brian Vales of Mount Sinai hoists the championship plaque minutes after winning the Suffolk Class A boys basketball championship against Kings Park on Saturday, March 7, 2026, in Stony Brook. Credit: Michael A. Rupolo Sr.
Mount Sinai senior Brian Vales went through a checklist in his head in the tunnel after his county championship game against Kings Park, a list the boys basketball team created months earlier.
“Everyone knew what the goal was at the start of the season,” Vales said. “First goal, league championship. Once we got that, now it was [a] county championship.”
Mission accomplished, with Vales dominating to the tune of 18 points, 12 rebounds and three steals as the top-seeded Mustangs repeated as Suffolk Class A champions, beating No. 3 Kings Park, 62-30, at Stony Brook University on Saturday.
So, what’s next on the list?
“Now our goal is to go out there and go back-to-back for the [Long Island championship],” Vales said.
That matchup will come at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday at Farmingdale State against Nassau champion Floral Park in a rematch of last year’s thriller.
Vales and senior Alex Campanelli — the only two returning starters from last year’s title team — played smothering defense against Kings Park star Kyle Edmundson, who was held to seven points. Campanelli followed Edmundson for most of the contest, with Vales stripping attempts to drive to the basket.
“He’s been that guy for us all year long,” Mount Sinai coach Ryan McNeely said of Campanelli, who had two points, six assists and three steals. “He covers the best player on the other team every time, and he takes it on as a challenge. He embraces it.”
Kings Park (16-7) didn’t score from the field until the beginning of the second quarter, courtesy of senior Michael Svolos. It was just one of three field goals for the Kingsmen in the first half as Mount Sinai (21-2) took a 28-10 lead at halftime. Senior Charlie Pace added six points, with Kings Park coach Chris Rube praising Svolos and Pace as players who are “as good as any guys I’ve ever had” in terms of leadership.
“It’s very hard to beat a good team three times, and they beat us twice,” Rube said. “The only caveat is if you’re a great team, and they are a great team. They proved it tonight."
Kings Park kicked the second half off with a 7-5 run for the first three minutes but was outscored 13-4 the remainder of the quarter as Mount Sinai took a 42-19 lead into the fourth quarter. Vales said that run — highlighted by exceptional transition offense — was when he realized he’d be a county champion.
“We move the ball really well, just like last year’s group,” Vales said. “The reason for our success over the last few years is because of our ball movement. Everyone gets involved in the offense; it’s not just a one-man show.”
Sophomore Andrew McNeely ran the offense to near perfection, leading all players with eight assists and four steals to go with 14 points.
“I knew he was ready for this role, and he’s embraced it,” coach McNeely said of his son. “He handles the ball, he gets us out in transition, he knows when to give it up, he knows when to shoot it. Obviously, it’s always fun when he’s got the same last name as you.”
Michael Sicoli covers high school sports for Newsday. He graduated from Quinnipiac in 2022 and left with a master’s degree in sports journalism in 2023.
