The Shoreham-Wading River girls basketball team are the Suffolk County Champions after pulling off a dramatic comeback victory over Mount Sinai. The Wildcats showed heart and determination throughout the game, refusing to give up as they rallied late to secure the title. Shoreham-Wading River defeated Mount Sinai 44-41 this past week, improving its season record to 20-2 and doing it in a fashion that would make for a great movie script.
Defense set the tone early for both teams. In a tightly contested opening quarter, neither offense was able to find much rhythm as Mount Sinai held a narrow 8-4 lead after the first period. The second quarter saw a slight increase in scoring as the Wildcats began to find their footing offensively. Shoreham-Wading River outscored Mount Sinai 10-9 in the frame but still entered halftime trailing by three points.
The third quarter proved to be a key moment for Mount Sinai, which managed to extend its lead slightly. By the end of the period, the Mustangs had pushed their advantage to four points, setting up what would become a dramatic final quarter.
That’s when the Wildcats offense came alive.
Shoreham-Wading River opened the fourth quarter with a dominant run, scoring 12 straight points to completely swing the momentum of the game. The Wildcats poured in 18 points during the final period, turning a deficit into a late lead with just minutes remaining. The surge proved to be enough as the No. 3 seeded Wildcats completed the upset of the top-seeded Mustangs to capture the Suffolk County championship.
The Wildcats were led by the sister duo of Anabel and Kady Keegan. Anabel finished with a game-high 16 points while Kady added 12 points in the championship victory. Laurel Coster also contributed in a key way, scoring six points, while Leslie Jablonski and Shealyn Varbero each chipped in five pivotal points to help power the comeback.
The win capped off an impressive season for Shoreham-Wading River, which has relied on balanced scoring, strong defense and resilience throughout the year. The Wildcats’ ability to stay composed in pressure situations was on full display in the championship game as they battled back against one of the toughest teams in Suffolk County.
With the county title secured, Shoreham-Wading River now turns its attention to the Long Island championship stage.
The Wildcats will face Plainedge, which defeated Floral Park 48-28 to claim the Nassau County title. The matchup will take place at 3 p.m. Wednesday at Stony Brook Arena in the Long Island Class A Championship, which serves as the state subregional round.
A victory there would send Shoreham-Wading River one step closer to a New York State championship and continue what has already been a memorable season for the Wildcats.
After a comeback victory to capture the Suffolk County title, the Wildcats now look to keep their championship run alive on Long Island’s biggest stage.