Thursday, October 1, 2026
In an intense Suffolk Class AAA boys’ basketball playoff matchup between two evenly matched teams, No. 4 Walt Whitman pulled away late to edge fifth-seeded Copiague, 71-63, Feb. 19.
Both teams entered the postseason clash with nearly identical resumes. Copiague stood at 15-5 under head coach Steve Rebholz, while Whitman carried a 16-4 mark. With so little separating them on paper, the game unfolded exactly as expected which was tight, physical, and emotional.
“We didn’t play our best basketball,” Rebholz said. “We were sloppy, rushed things on some offensive possessions, and had too many defensive breakdowns.”
Copiague came out sharp in the opening quarter, however, setting the tone defensively and finding timely offense from its senior leaders. Senior guard King Moore poured in 17 points on the night, while senior forward Martely Lemoine added 15. Freshman guard Ethan Abello capped his breakout season with 14 points, showing poise well beyond his years. The Eagles edged Whitman 18-16 at the end of the first quarter.
The Wildcats responded in the second behind a surge from Jason Thompson, who delivered a game high 31 points. Jack Bell provided a crucial secondary scoring punch with 23 points, helping Whitman build momentum before halftime. Jeremy Shaikh chipped in 10 points, and Andrew Steenson added 6 as Whitman closed the half on a strong run to take a 39-34 lead into the break.
Despite trailing, Copiague refused to fold. Senior forward Frandi Fernandez contributed eight points, while role players Tristan Jean and Devin Barnes added four and three points respectively. Aidan Boswell chipped in two points as the Eagles continued to battle. By the end of the third quarter, Whitman’s lead remained slim at 53-50, setting up a tense final eight minutes.
In the fourth quarter, Whitman’s composure proved decisive. Thompson and Bell controlled the tempo, attacking the basket and converting key possessions down the stretch. Whitman outlasted Copiague, sealing the playoff victory.
“I feel horrible for our seniors,” Rebholz said. “They were a group that came together and bonded. When it ends, it ends so abruptly and it’s painful.”
Still, he praised his team’s fight. “Our guys are so resilient,” he added. “That showed tonight as well. They never gave up. I love these kids and always will.”
For Copiague, the loss marks the end of a memorable season defined by senior leadership and resilience. For Whitman, the win keeps its title hopes alive as it advances, battle-tested and confident after surviving a gritty showdown.
The Wildcats will travel to face No. 1 seed William Floyd in the semifinals on Thursday at 5 p.m.
Whitman head coach Chris Morra acknowledged how evenly matched the teams were entering the contest. “Two teams with identical records going at it,” he said. “We knew it was going to be close and we’re just happy to come out on top. You have to play 32 minutes. You have to play hard the entire time and that’s what our guys did.”
