Maddie Dircks takes a leading role for Cold Spring Harbor girls basketball
Maddie Dircks (center) of Cold Spring Harbor shoots between Kayden Erazo (left) and Adriana Bushati (23) of New Hyde Park during a Nassau non-league girls basketball game in Cold Spring Harbor on Monday, January 19, 2026. Credit: Peter Frutkoff
With no seniors on the Cold Spring Harbor girls basketball team, underclassmen are taking on leading roles.
Specifically, its youngest player is moving into a starring role. Maddie Dircks, a seventh grader, led the Seahawks with 21 points and an assist off the bench in Monday's 57-42 non-league victory over New Hyde Park at home. She's the reigning state Class D champion's second-leading scorer with 167 points on the season.
“The older girls have done a great job at making her feel comfortable and confident,” coach Rory Malone said. “It’s not easy for a seventh grader to compete at this level, but she’s composed and she’s handling it.”
Dircks competes alongside her sister, sophomore Ainsley Dircks. Maddie said having that family familiarity on the court is part of the reason for her success.
“We have a lot of chemistry,” Maddie Dircks said. “We used to play together in the driveway and it all kind of translates into our game now. We have a pretty strong connection.”
“Her and Ainsley have a great relationship and it’s fun watching them play together,” Malone added. “It’s really special. I think [Maddie] takes her cues from Ainsley and some of the other older girls and it gives them a chance to learn from each other.”
Ainsley Dircks had six points , with one of her baskets assisted by her sister.
Senior Maeve Downing led New Hyde Park (8-6) with 23 points, including her 1,000th varsity point which she netted off a free throw in the second quarter.
After entering halftime tied at 25, Cold Spring Harbor outscored New Hyde Park, 32-17, in the second half. Junior Olivia Mulada scored 10 of her 12 points in the third quarter and tallied seven assists.
“My teammates do a great job cutting, calling for the ball and keeping their hands up,” Mulada said. “We have really good chemistry so they make it easy for me to find those looks.”
Ainsley Dircks credited Cold Spring Harbor’s shift in play to the halftime conversation, where she and her team regrouped and emphasized working as a team rather than individuals. The Seahawks improved to 11-4.
“We were playing slow in the beginning, we didn’t have the energy we needed,” Dircks said. “We talked about playing our brand of basketball, which is fast paced with quick passes up the court in transition. I think we just came out with a more intense mindset and that got us the win.”
Tess Ferguson is a reporter on Newsday's high school sports staff. She joined the team after graduating with a journalism degree from Ithaca College in 2025.
