Carle Place boys basketball falls in state Class B semifinals
Carle Place players stand for the national anthem before a state Class B boys basketball semifinal on Thursday, March 19, 2026, in Binghamton. Credit: Adrian Kraus
BINGHAMTON — The deficit reached 12 in the third against KIPP Capital on this large boys basketball stage, the state Class B semis at Visions Veterans Memorial Arena. But it had not been Carle Place’s nature to fade away softly.
And Thursday’s game was no exception. The comeback began. So the Frogs were right there with the Trailblazers from Albany, down three with four minutes left in regulation.
But the Nassau and Long Island champs got no closer. So their season ended in the same round here as last year. They fell 52-43 to a first-year team from a first-year charter school.
“We did what we had to do all year long to get here, phenomenal run,” Carle Place coach John Cantwell said, standing outside the locker room after an 18-7 finish. “I will not obviously ever say anything about this game determined our season.”
This game sent the 17-5 Trailblazers of Section II to Friday night’s final against Marcellus of Section III. It also ended the Frogs’ 12-game winning streak and brought the Ryan Leary era to a conclusion.
“I’d probably say that it’s insane that he’s gone,” teammate Mario D’Alessandro said. “But everything that he has done is still a memory.”
The sensational senior guard scored the last 21 of his 2,064 career points.
“I’m really just proud I was able to bring a lot of championships to this program,” said Leary, who credited his teammates with a big assist in that. “Coming back upstate two years in a row, it’s really something that’s just great. It doesn’t happen much, even though we lost, which (stinks).”
Kipp Capital coach DJ Jones knows from championships. He guided Green Tech to a state Class AAA crown two years ago when that Section II team beat Bay Shore in Glens Falls.
Seven of Jones’ players — including senior guard Indavier Barnes, who started for Green Tech as a sophomore and scored a team-high 25 for the Trailblazers against Carle Place — followed him to help form this new KIPP Capital team. That made for instant chemistry.
“Absolutely,” Jones said. “Those guys have been with me for four years. (Barnes is) the only kid who has the varsity experience, but the other guys, these last few games, they’ve grown up and this game right here — get their feet wet heading into (Friday).”
Jones said his team had to focus on Leary. Following a five-point first half, Leary scored 10 in the third.
His turnaround three launched the comeback after the Frogs fell behind 31-19. A switch from a 2-3 zone to man-to-man defense helped, especially on the boards.
Cut to the fourth.
Leary nailed a three, then fed Evan Mehalakes for a layup. The lead was down to 43-40.
The Trailblazers countered, going up by eight. Then Leary sank another three. It was 48-43 with 2:48 left.
But Carle Place couldn’t make another shot.
“We didn’t play one of our best games,” Leary said. “It was a bad day to have a bad day. They’re a heck of a team.”
Barnes hit four free throws in the final 27.5 seconds.
“It’s sad that we lost,” D’Alessandro said. “. . . The season was amazing.”
The second quarter also led to the end of it. Kipp Capital held the Frogs scoreless over the final six minutes. The Trailblazers moved from up 18-17 to up 27-17 at halftime.
“I always tell these guys, ‘Every coach wants to finish the season when the season ends,’ ” Cantwell said. “(Friday), the season ends for everybody (in Class B). We just didn’t get there. But the fact that we’re here in the final four, I’ll take it.”
