Thursday, October 1, 2026
In her first year at the helm, Copiague girls’ basketball head coach Tayanee Peay has wasted no time putting her stamp on the program.
Coming into the season, Peay and her coaching staff focused less on wins and losses and more on establishing a new culture built on energy, accountability, and competitive intensity. While the results didn’t immediately show up on the scoreboard, the vision was always clear.
“Our number one goal when coming into the season was to establish the culture,” Peay said. “You can already see it building, even after the loss to West Babylon. Our girls came right back with even more motivation.”
The season opened with a tough 55–30 loss to West Babylon on Dec. 2, a game that highlighted just how much work lay ahead. Rather than letting that setback define them, the Eagles used it as a turning point. Since then, Copiague has bounced back in a big way, reeling off five straight wins to improve to 5–1 overall and a perfect 4–0 in league play.
A major strength is its unique blend of leadership and youth. Senior captain and guard Ja’Nyah Martin anchors the group with experience and poise. Her 12 point performance went a long way in the Eagles’ 76-33 win over Miller Place on Dec. 10. “She sets the tone both on and off the court for us,” Peay said.
Alongside her is sophomore captain and forward Janiya Morris, the team’s leading scorer averaging 18 points per game so far, whose consistent offensive production has been vital during the winning streak. Perhaps most impressive is freshman captain and point guard Madison Mais, who has embraced leadership responsibilities well beyond her years while running the offense. Her best performance came on Dec. 20 when he scored 19 points in a 57-54 victory over Connetquot.
The supporting cast has been just as impactful. Senior guard Kerah McCugh brings steady play and toughness, while sophomore guard London Rodgers adds athleticism and energy on the perimeter. Sophomore transfer guard Aaliyah Jones, who joined Copiague from Amityville, has quickly found her role and provided an additional scoring and defensive option. Rounding out the lineup is eighth-grade forward Fredricka Cooper, already starting at the varsity level and holding her own against older competition, an impressive sign for the program’s future.
The results speak for themselves. Along with the wins over Miller Place and Connetquot, the Eagles have picked up big victories over Huntington, Sachem North, and Lindenhurst, all by double digit margins.
With a strong record out of the gate, emerging leaders, and a clear identity, Copiague is proving that buy-in and belief can fuel rapid progress.
Peay credits the team’s ability to be ahead of schedule to a shift in daily habits. “We’ve done a nice job ignoring outside noise,” she said. “The energy at practice had to be upped with higher intensity and competition. We've done a nice job carrying it with us into gamedays.”
