Thursday, October 1, 2026
There hasn't been many offensive fireworks in North Massapequa this season but there hasn't been many losses either.
As predicted, Plainedge girls basketball is off to a prosperous start with a 9-3 record, including 4-1 in Conference A1 after moving up from A2.
The junior-dominated Red Devils are scoring just 42 points per game but it hasn't derailed Plainedge's dream of getting to the Nassau Class A Final Four. The defense has been incredible — allowing just 27 ppg.
"We're not really scoring that much but we hold every team to under 40,'' head coach Sarah Tansey said. "MacArthur scores 60 on average but scored just 41 points on us (Dec. 15.) Backcourt, halfcourt, we pressure all over and force turnovers.''
Junior point guard Peyton Wise cites the evolving X's and O's for its defensive might.
"We're doing a good job of stopping the other team's offense,'' Wise said. "We've come up with different plans to defend our opponents.''
Plainedge gave defending Long Island Class A champion Wantagh a run for its money Monday night, falling 55-45 after taking a lead into the fourth quarter. Freshman Madison Belz led the Red Devils with 15 points.
Junior Allison Younghans has been Plainedge's best player on both sides of the ball. She's averaging 13.3 points, 4.9 rebounds and 3.1 steals. In its biggest win on Dec. 17, Younghans poured in 17 points over rugged Floral Park.
Younghans is the Red Devils’ best on-ball defender but she's got plenty of teammates putting forth the defensive effort.
Younghans' sidekick is Wise, who is having a strong season. She's averaging 8.1 points, 8.2 rebounds and 2.4 steals, throwing in a couple of double-digit outings.
"She's had games of double figures and a game with 4 points,'' Tansey said. "But even if she scores 4, she's getting close to 10 rebounds and still finds a way to impact the game.''
Wise, who is 5-foot-7, says of her rebounding prowess, "It's really to find a player to mark and box them out and try to anticipate where the ball is going as much as possible.
"We lean on them,'' Tansey added of the Younghans-Wise duo.
Another sensation defender had been Michela Netto, a junior forward who is 5-6. She collected 10 points in a Mineola victory Jan. 5 but mostly she's about guarding the other team's best player. Junior Giovanna Pannitti is another important piece as a defensive forward.
The two losses were non-league matches against Massapequa and MacArthur, two strong teams. The Red Devils need to be more explosive to compete with those powers.
"We always emphasize things on defense but we have to make layups and free throws,'' Tansey said. "That's been our struggle. It's inconsistent.''
Plainedge was next primed for a showdown versus defending Long Island Class A champion Wantagh to start the week.
But beating Floral Park, 42-39 in a home game three weeks ago was a confidence booster. "It was big,'' Tansey said.
"It was definitely just rewarding to play that game,'' Wise said.
Last season, Plainedge's successful year was derailed early in the playoffs by North Shore, perhaps its eight-person roster wearing down. The returning juniors are ready to have a better postseason but also know next season looks golden.
"This year, we definitely improved as a team,'' Wise said. "We do have some freshmen and sophomores on the team now. It's more team contributions that everyone brings. Each player has improved. I would say this year we do have a good chance to go further and the year to come after.''
