Mount Sinai boys basketball's Andrew McNeely does a bit of everything in win over Miller Place
Mount Sinai's Andrew McNeely drives to the basket during a boys basketball game against visiting Miller Place on Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2025. Credit: Kathy M Helgeson
From alley-oop lobs to deep three-pointers, there is absolutely nothing to indicate sophomore point guard Andrew McNeely is only six games into his first year as a starter for Mount Sinai boys basketball.
McNeely posted a team-high 18 points with five assists and four rebounds to help Mount Sinai hold off Miller Place, 62-55, at home Tuesday in Suffolk’s League V.
“That was a really cool experience, especially with me having my son (Andrew) on the team,” coach Ryan McNeely said, remembering Mount Sinai’s run to a state final last season.
“He works really hard in the offseason so I felt like he was ready to take this next step this year and run this team from the point guard position.”
McNeely and the Mustangs raced to a big lead as the hosts led 19-4 after the first quarter, with all five starters getting on the scoresheet. Senior Alex Campanelli scored seven of his 11 points in the first half and added 11 rebounds, four assists and four steals.
Yet the lopsided start was short-lived thanks to Miller Place’s dynamic senior backcourt duo of Dylan Riegel and Ryan Khezri, who helped cut Mount Sinai’s lead to seven by halftime.
“We’ve gone through moments like this. All our non-leagues prepared us for these,” Campanelli said. “We’re always just calm and composed, and we all know how to handle those situations.”
Khezri finished with a game-high 22 points and five rebounds, and Riegel added 14 points and two steals.
“They’re phenomenal players,” Miller Place coach Joe Agostino said. “They earn everything they get on this team, and they’ve done a lot for the Miller Place basketball program.”
The real difference came on the offensive glass as Mount Sinai (5-1) grabbed 16 to just three for Miller Place (1-6). Seven of those came courtesy of senior Hunter Seale, who finished with 10 points and 12 rebounds.
“We were so good last year that he had trouble getting time. Now he’s a senior, and it’s his time to shine,” Ryan McNeely said. “He’s been great for us all year, he’s kind of that really good surprise that a lot of teams don’t know about.”
Mount Sinai senior Brian Vales added seven of his 11 points in the fourth quarter after converting two earlier alley-oops from McNeely. Still, the Mustangs led by just six with 2:09 left in the fourth quarter after Riegel hit a pull-up three-pointer.
Senior guard Dante Gervino responded with the dagger, a three-pointer off a pass from Seale with 30 seconds left, to give the Mustangs a nine-point lead. It helps Campanelli and McNeely get a bit closer to what they have on their Christmas list this December.
“Get an undefeated league championship again and go back to the county championship,” McNeely said.
Oh, and throw in a laptop for Campanelli, who needs it ahead of college next year. After all, in front of a crowd filled with Santa hats, he and his fellow Mustangs certainly played themselves onto the “Nice List” this December.
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.
