Commack boys basketball's Jonny Ehlers thrives in fourth quarter to help hold off Newfield

Commack was having so much trouble subduing Newfield on Wednesday after surviving a double-overtime struggle the first time the teams met.

Now Newfield was up two points with four minutes left on senior day at Commack. But the basketball began finding a junior’s hands for the Cougars.

“I always want the ball in big moments,” Jonny Ehlers said. “I’ve been working so hard my whole life. I just trust the work that I put in.”

The 6-4 guard/forward erupted for 11 of his 16 points in those final four minutes, including a pair of key threes. And Commack survived this second struggle against the scrappy Wolverines, 52-45.

So the Cougars rose to 11-7 overall and 10-4 in Suffolk III with two regular-season games remaining. They were 10-11 last season, ending with a one-point loss against Riverhead in the first round of the Suffolk AAA playoffs.

“I would like it to be a little more consistent across the board,” Commack coach Peter Smith said, “but overall we definitely have improved from last year, yes.”

Still, they can be glad they won’t see Newfield in the playoffs. This capped a 5-15 season for first-year coach Mike Herring.

“Listen, we had a lot of games that could’ve went the other way,” Herring said. “It was a tough year, rebuilding for me here. But I think we’re going to be fine in the future.”

Ranard Fields Jr., who scored 19, gave the Wolverines a 41-39 edge with two free throws.

But Ehlers made a free throw, then two more, then consecutive threes — all nine points in a 9-2 run, good for a 48-43 lead with 2:10 left.

“Jonny’s a really great shooter,” Smith said.

Fields countered by making two free throws to cut it to 48-45. But Tyler Wilhelm and Ehlers each made a pair of free throws in the last 40 seconds to seal it.

“Last year, the majority of the players were sophomores, and it was a good learning experience for them,” Smith said. “… All of those experiences have really taught them what needs to be done in order to execute down the stretch.”

It was 23-23 at halftime. Newfield trailed 38-34 after three.

“I was proud with the way we finished up the season,” Herring said. “We didn’t give up.”

The postseason is coming soon for the team that beat them twice.

“I’m super excited,” Ehlers said. “We’re still a pretty young team. We’re just getting better every day.”