Plainedge girls basketball defeats Shoreham-Wading River to earn first Long Island title
Plainedge poses with some hardware after winning the Long Island Class A girls basketball championship on Wednesday, March 11, 2026, in Stony Brook. Credit: Michael A. Rupolo Sr.
As soon as the buzzer sounded, the first thing Plainedge girls basketball coach Sarah Tansey did was run to her team, full of excitement and jumping for joy, knowing they had etched their names in school history.
“I couldn’t believe it,” she said. “I was trying to run to my girls because I was so proud of them. They deserve it, they are amazing.”
Plainedge came back to beat Shoreham-Wading River, 51-49, in the Long Island Class A championship game Wednesday afternoon at Stony Brook University, securing the school’s first Long Island title.
“We told the girls coming into today that we believed in them and that they were meant for the moment,” Tansey said. “They never put their heads down, and they stayed the course and stuck with the game plan.”
The Red Devils (18-6) will face Section I’s Tappan Zee in the Class A regional final at noon Sunday at Farmingdale State College.
Trailing for most of the game, Plainedge took its first lead with 3:30 remaining after Michela Netto found Maddie Belz underneath the basket with a bounce pass. Belz’s hoop gave the Red Devils a 41-40 edge.
After Shoreham Wading-River’s Anabel Keegan responded with a layup, Giovanna Pannitti’s three-pointer gave the Red Devils a two-point lead.
“I was so excited because I haven’t been making my shots,” Pannitti said. “We push through every day, and we didn’t give up.”
The Wildcats would tie the score at 49, but Allison Younghans made a pair of free throws in the final seconds to secure the championship.
“I was definitely a little nervous, but I knew I needed to make at least one,” Younghans said.
“If you were to tell me we were going to win the LIC at the beginning of the season, I would’ve said you’re crazy. But we did it. I love these girls so much, we fought for this one.”
Belz scored 12 points and Younghans and Netto each had 11. Peyton Wise had 10 points and Pannitti added seven for the Red Devils.
“It’s great to be a part of history my first year on the team,” Belz said. “I wanted to make as many points as I could to help us get the win.”
Keegan scored a game-high 16 points and Leslie Jablonski and Shealyn Varbero both had eight points for Shoreham-Wading River (20-3).
Coach Christian Coster said he’s proud of his team’s season.
“They never gave up,” Coster said. “I love these girls; they played hard all season. It’s a sad way to end the season.”
Jonathan Ruban covers high school sports for Newsday after graduating from St. John’s.
