Babylon Boys Basketball Wins Long Island Championship

An amazing 2012-2013 school year continues for Babylon Junior-Senior High School's athletics as the Panthers' boys varsity basketball team captured the Long Island Championship Tuesday evening, defeating Wheatley 56-55 in a dramatic game at SUNY Old Westbury.

With the Panthers down 55-54 during the last minute of the game, the Panthers ran a play called "Duke," pulling defenders out of the way enough for star senior Fernando Vazquez to drive to the hoop and get the layup, giving Babylon a lead with only 5.3 seconds left, according to Newsday.

The win gives the Panthers the Long Island Championship in both Football and Basketball during this school year. The school will defend its varsity baseball Long Island Championship from the 2011-2012 school year during the spring.

"I drove it all night. I was getting fouled every time. So it was make or miss or get fouled," Vazquez told Newsday. "It was the best shot of my life. It's the first time I've ever had the ball in my hands at the end of the game."

Vazquez led all scorers during the evening with 23 points. Jake Carlock added 11 for Babylon.

"I had no idea last summer that we would win it all in football and basketball," said Carlock to Newsday. "Basketball might have felt a little better because it was such a close game. But Fernando has come up clutch all year."

The Babylon Panthers (20-3) will move on in the state playoffs to face Marlboro on Saturday, again at SUNY Old Westbury.