Carle Place rallies but falls short in state Class B semifinal

BINGHAMTON — This comeback was looking good.

Lenny Thames drained back-to-back threes and Carle Place’s 13-point problem from the third quarter against Woodlands was down to two with 5:43 left in the boys basketball Class B state semifinals.

“I had seen everybody was getting hyped,” the sophomore point guard said. “The momentum and everything was shifting to our side at that point.”

But it suddenly shifted back in Woodlands’ direction inside Visions Veterans Memorial Arena. The Section I champion Falcons ran off the next 13 points, and so much for that comeback.

Woodlands walked off with a 63-51 win Saturday and a ticket to Sunday’s state final.

And the Frogs had to settle for the considerable accomplishment of getting here via the program’s first Long Island title since 2005.

But in the moments right after this final four game ended for them, it hurt.

“It’s horrible,” junior guard Ryan Leary said after another typically terrific effort that included 29 points, 11 rebounds and three steals. “We had a great run, did a whole lot of winning. We executed the game plan. And they just went on a run. Basketball is a game of runs.”

Woodlands (24-2) has been running on the fuel from falling in this round last year. The Falcons will face Section III champ Marcellus in the final.

“We have most players back,” Woodlands coach John Rapaport said. “… And we want to keep going. We know we have the potential to finish this.”

After Thames, who scored 11, sliced it to two, Aaron Woodberry did the serious lifting in the game-clinching run with a three-point play, a steal and subsequent layup and a jumper — seven of the junior guard’s 20 points.

The 13-0 run made it 60-45 with 2:48 left.

Frogs coach John Cantwell pointed to a couple of turnovers in the fourth.

“I just think the turnovers and missed foul shots (hurt),” he said of eight misfires. “Missed foul shots kill you. It’s all the little details that beat us at the end of the game.”

The Falcons’ lead went from 32-23 at halftime to 41-28 with 2:36 gone in the third. But the Frogs weren’t finished yet.

“I was super impressed with them,” Rapaport said. “They moved the ball nicely and they didn’t get rattled. Obviously, (Leary) is a great player, but [Thames] hit some shots. They played good defense.”

Leary scored nine, including a long three at the third-quarter horn, helping chip it down to 45-39.

“One thing about these kids, they never stop,” Cantwell said. “They have this refuse to lose, fear of failure. They’ve done it all season long. This is an unbelievable group.”

This group that finished at 15-9 was more on the younger side. So like Woodlands, this loss can be the Frogs’ fuel. And they will be better for the experience of being here in the big arena.

“Seeing the other team so happy … it makes everyone so hungry,” Leary said. “We’re returning a lot of players. I think next year will be our year.”