Whitman girls basketball's Madi Richter, Jazmynn Julien propel Wildcats to Suffolk 'AAA' title
Whitman moments after capturing the Suffolk Class AAA girls basketball championship against Floyd on Friday March 6, 2026, in Stony Brook. Credit: Michael A. Rupolo Sr.
After a one-year absence from the Long Island championship game, the Whitman girls basketball team is back where it once belonged.
Top-seeded Whitman finished a season-long domination of its county when it defeated second-seeded Floyd, 57-41, in the Suffolk Class AAA championship game at Stony Brook Arena Friday night. Whitman (21-1) will return to Stony Brook to face either Baldwin or Massapequa — the Nassau Class AAA champion — at 7 p.m. on Wednesday in the Long Island Class AAA championship in a state subregional.
Junior forward Madi Richter led Whitman, posting 18 points, seven rebounds, an assist, two steals and a block. She wreaked havoc offensively, scoring six points in the paint and pulling down five offensive rebounds. She also went 6-for-6 from the free-throw line and spaced the floor out with two three-pointers.
Her performance helped the Wildcats bounce back from last year’s loss, when they were defeated by Brentwood in this game, 41-32.
“It was really fun to win this time,” Richter said. “I wished to be back. That was my goal: to be back here and win it. We had strong energy and really put emphasis on coming out strong and working hard.”
It was Whitman’s second Suffolk AAA championship in the last three years, and its third county title over the last four years. Whitman won Suffolk AA in 2023.
Junior guard Jazmynn Julien helped lead the way for the Wildcats, as she has all season. Julien totaled 12 points, nine rebounds, two assists, three steals and two blocks to help bring the Suffolk AAA title back to Huntington Station.
“You’re going to have those games where you’re not having the offensive game you want to, but as long as I’m getting my teammates to places they can score, I know I’m doing my job,” Julien said. “I’ve been in this position before, but to be in this spot now as a captain and as a leader, it’s just a different feeling, and I’m really proud of what we did, and of what I contributed, as well.”
Whitman led wire-to-wire after scoring the game’s first basket with 6:05 left in the first quarter on a three-pointer by sophomore guard Hannah Creighton, assisted by junior guard Bella Fiorelli. Soon after, Richter scored nine points to guide an 18-4 run, giving Whitman a 24-9 lead with six minutes left in the first half. Floyd (18-5) never recovered, with Whitman’s lead never shrinking below 10 points afterward.
Sophomore guard Milania Farrow led all scorers with 21 points for Floyd.
Despite the loss, Floyd’s season is not over. Before the year began, Suffolk County, Section XI, was awarded, at random selection, an at-large bid for the state’s Class AAA girls basketball tournament. By becoming the section’s runner-up, Floyd secured the at-large bid and has advanced to the state tournament.
Its quest for a state title will begin against Corning-Painted Post of Section IV at Binghamton University at 11:45 a.m. on Sunday, March 15 in a state subregional.
“You don’t get a lot of second chances in life, so we’re very grateful to have that opportunity and we’re not going to take it for granted,” coach Rich Sinclair said. “We have a great group of girls who work exceptionally hard who I’m very proud of.”
Mike Anderson is a high school sports reporter who has covered 12 sports so far at Newsday. He was the sports editor of Stony Brook University's campus newspaper for two years.
