The Suffolk girls' basketball season is upon us, and once again we expect a great year with many standout players and highly competitive leagues. Suffolk held its first annual Media Day this past week to introduce the teams and highlight key players to watch this upcoming season.
Last season, Mount Sinai won the Class A championship, with Westhampton taking home the Class AA title. Brentwood claimed the Class AAA crown, while Babylon were the champions in Class B.
While many of the names and teams we know have changed there is also a lot that remains the same. With a new season upon us let's take a look at some of the stories and teams to watch for the upcoming season.
Chris Ryan leads Babylon in his 33rd year as head coach. They won the county championship last year, and once again expectations are high. They return four starters and seven seniors from the team that finished 19-3. Coach Ryan calls his team “very athletic and very uptempo,” but defense has been the backbone of the program. Over the past three seasons, the Panthers have consistently held opponents under 30 points per game.
Mattituck lost the county championship to Babylon last year in a very competitive league and expects even more success this season. Coach Steve Van Dood has been with the program for 22 years and has won five county championships over the past decade, along with two Long Island titles. Claire McKenzie leads a young core, and with her talent and Van Dood’s experience, Mattituck should again be a threat.
Greenport-Southold enters its fourth season under its current head coach, who previously led the boys program for years. The team has just one senior but returns its entire roster. Last year's struggles allowed their juniors to gain valuable experience, providing optimism for a postseason return.
Andre Edwards leads Wyandanch in his second year after previously coaching the boys team. With a full roster returning and a year of familiarity, he believes they will be back in contention.
Mount Sinai is once again led by head coach Jeff Koustantanou after winning last season’s Class A title. They finished 19-4 against a tough schedule and again face a challenging slate. Mia Betancourt, the two-time League MVP, returns as the star after averaging 19 points per game. She is one of three returning starters from the championship team. Coach Koustantanou expects another strong run with Betancourt leading the way.
Kings Park continues its tradition of excellence under 17-year head coach Tom Edmundson. The program has reached the playoffs in 16 of his 17 seasons and won league titles in 2022, 2023, and 2024, along with the Long Island Championship two years ago. The roster features multi-sport athletes from volleyball, softball, soccer, and lacrosse. Although there are no seniors this season, the returning juniors bring postseason experience, including four members of the L.I. championship squad.
Sachem East’s girls program is built on a tradition of excellence since 2004, earning nine league titles, three county championships, two Long Island titles, and a 2010 state championship. Last season they went 6-6 in league play and 7-13 overall, falling to Ward Melville in the first round. This year they return every significant contributor. Leading the way is Bridget Hanson, an All-Conference selection who averaged 11 points and 10 rebounds. Point guard Sofia Lorena is an All-League honoree who averaged seven points, four assists, and hit 21 threes. Sophomore Isabella Longo returns after earning League II Rookie of the Year honors as a freshman. Coach said, “We are excited with the group we have, the toughness we built, and the opportunity ahead.”
Walt Whitman, coached by alumnus Dan Treborn in his 22nd year, has won 60 games over the last three seasons. They have reached the last three county finals, winning back-to-back county titles and a Long Island championship two years ago. Jazz Julia and Paige Hiller are standout captains. The team returns four starters and graduates only six points per game.
Brentwood is led by first-year head coach Malik Jackson. Senior Olivia Fuller’s versatility stands out. Brentwood went 21-3 and won its first-ever Suffolk County AAA championship last season, returning two starters from that run.
Longwood’s first-year head coach Daniel Levine previously served as the assistant and knows the program well. They return key guards Arianna Tribio and Zaire Ribero, as well as seniors Cameron Green and Diana Toney. With a strong JV pipeline and a competitive League I schedule, Longwood aims to build on last year's playoff appearance.
Bayshore is led by second-year head coach Devon Smith. Last season they finished 13-9 and reached the second round, marking their first playoff berth in a decade and their first playoff win in 13 years. They return three players, including elite defender Caitlyn Brewer, and have moved up from League II to League I.
Sayville is led by second-year coach Casey Travers. They went 11-10 last year and fell to Islip in the playoffs. Much of the core returns, and eighth-grader Julia Madson is a rising talent to watch. Travers assembled a challenging non-league schedule to prepare the team.
Bayport-Blue Point coach Toni McKinnon enters her 13th season. Two years ago they reached the county final, and last year they missed it by a single buzzer-beater. Four seniors return, including two starting guards. McKinnon calls her defense “lockdown,” and the team’s size, speed, and multi-sport athleticism give them high expectations.
Smithtown Christian coach Joe Loiacono enters his fifth year. As the only Class D school on the island, they compete against larger schools and have reached the regional finals the past two seasons. Their goal is to win the Class D state championship. They start two eighth graders, including Nadia Mad, who was All-League as a seventh grader after averaging 10 points. Point guard Annalyn Loiacono surpassed 1,000 career points last season and made the Suffolk County All-Star team.