FALLSBURG – In an electric atmosphere inside a packed gym on Monday night, the Fallsburg Comets showed fight, focus, and flashes of growth — but once again found themselves on the wrong side of the final score.

After trailing by as many as 16 in the first half, the Comets clawed their way back, cutting the deficit to just six points heading into halftime, 39–33. For a moment, momentum had shifted. The question echoing throughout the gym was simple: How do you stop Grey Whitmore?

Ultimately, the answer never came.

Whitmore, the Seward Spartans’ dynamic sophomore point guard, took over in the second half, leading his team to a 65–51 victory and dropping the Comets to a disappointing 1–6 on the season. Whitmore finished with a dazzling 37 points, including four three-pointers, showcasing the speed, ball handling, and explosive playmaking that have earned him recognition as Orange County’s top basketball talent.

Fallsburg fought valiantly. Senior forward Xavier Young led the Comets with 17 points, bringing energy and emotion throughout the night. His aggressive play — and visible frustration with the lack of foul calls — ignited the home crowd and his teammates. Point guard Dominic McPherson added 10 points with strong, attacking drives, while Sebastian Fowler chipped in nine.

Despite the effort, the Spartans pulled away in the second half and never looked back.

After the loss, Comets head coach Redmond pointed to the physicality of the game and key mental lapses as deciding factors.

“It was a tough, physical game,” Redmond said. “A lot of missed foul calls, especially when we’re attacking the basket, and they’re coming down on us. Fouls need to be called both ways. I thought we showed growth — cutting the lead down to six — but then we have one or two bad possessions and forget what we want to do. This is a team that needs to learn how to win.”

Redmond also noted the team’s progress compared to an earlier matchup with the Spartans.

“The first time we played them, we were down 20 at halftime — it was 40–20 — and we lost by five. We’re pretty evenly matched with them,” he said. “Grey Whitmore is a hell of a player. I thought we did a decent job on him in the second half. He didn’t get as many floaters in the lane, but still hit some threes. Ultimately, though, it comes down to us mentally — getting over that mental hump.”

As a former Division I athlete, it’s hard to disagree. At this level, the mental aspect of the game often outweighs the physical. The Comets have shown they can compete; now they must learn how to close out games.

With clear areas to address and lessons to take forward, Coach Redmond emphasized that the team will focus on those key details as they prepare for their next game — hoping that growth soon turns into wins.