Thursday, October 1, 2026
The Malverne girls’ basketball team is continuing its push to build on last season’s breakthrough campaign, when the Mules qualified for the playoffs for the first time since 2017.
Through the first 11 games of the 2025–26 season, Malverne stands at 6-6 overall and 2-4 against Conference A2 opponents, a record shaped by early promise, a midseason setback, and a recent resurgence. The Mules opened by winning two of their first three games before dropping five of their next six, a stretch head coach Amanda Masson attributed largely to illness that disrupted rhythm.
“I definitely felt we could have been a little better, but unfortunately we had sicknesses and things that we had to handle,” she said. “I’d rather have [the slump] out of the way earlier than later, so I’m OK, especially being a young team.”
The lone win during the difficult stretch came on Dec. 22, when Malverne rallied for a 42-29 non-conference victory at Long Beach. Trailing 20-11 at halftime, the Mules erupted for an 18-6 third quarter and closed the game with a dominant fourth.
Earlier in the month, Malverne showed it could compete with the conference’s elite at first-place North Shore. The teams were tied at 36 after three quarters on Dec. 12 before the Vikings pulled away with a 21-10 final period to win 57-46.
With the schedule easing up, Malverne took advantage against the bottom two teams in Conference A2. The Mules earned a 48-33 win at Island Trees on Jan. 9 and followed with their best offensive showing of the season in a 75-17 rout of Lawrence three days later.
Malverne’s young core has driven much of that success.
Freshman Navaeh Lopez Shigg leads the team at just over 14 points per game and has delivered several standout performances, including a season-high 27 points in a 68-29 win at Sewanhaka on Dec. 7 and 25 points in a loss at Seaford on Jan. 6. Sophomore Jade Ackies is averaging nearly eight points per game and has scored in double figures five times, while sophomore Dana Sobers is contributing around six points per contest as the team’s third-leading scorer.
Freshman Autumn Williams has anchored the rebounding effort, highlighted by an 18-board performance against Long Beach and two additional 11-rebound games. Senior Makiyah Harris, the team’s lone senior, has emerged as a vocal leader and defensive spark, while freshman Olivia Elleston has provided energy, ball-handling, and an unselfish presence off the bench.
Consistency remains the focus for a roster still learning to play together.
“We just need to have our own level of play and I think we’ll be fine,” Masson said. “But that just grows with maturity, honestly.”
The Mules wrapped up their non-conference schedule earlier in the week and will now face each Conference A2 foe once more, beginning with a home rematch against North Shore on Jan. 23.
“The girls are excited,” Masson said of facing the Vikings again. “We’ve just got to execute. Whichever way it goes, it gives us a step closer to know where we are and try to get ourselves into the playoffs.”
