LYNN — It’s safe to say the St. Mary’s girls basketball program is annually championship driven.
The Spartans’ goal isn’t merely to do well. The team is very much committed to winning.
Twice in coach Jeff Newhall’s tenure the Spartans have gone all the way — the last time in 2014. They’ve come close numerous other times.
Last year, St. Mary’s ran into a red-hot Amesbury team in the Division 3 North semifinals, ending its 15-9 season with a loss to the Indians. Amesbury went onto crush defending state champion Bishop Fenwick in the sectional final, and ended up losing at the Boston Garden to Archbishop Williams.
Gone from that St. Mary’s team are point guard Mia Nowicki and forwards Amanda Idusuyi and Temi Falayi.
However, the Spartans do have two returning starters, and Newhall is going to lean on them heavily.
Gabbi Torres is a sophomore guard, who started last year as a freshman. And Olivia Nazaire, a senior, is team’s most prolific scorer.
“She was our leading scorer years ago,” Newhall said of Nazaire. “She’s within 90 points of a thousand.”
Guard Pamela Gonzalez, a transfer from Revere, “will be a big part of what we’re doing,” Newhall said.
Also returning is Christina Nowicki, Mia’s younger sister, who came off the bench a year ago. “We’re expecting her to take a more advanced role this year,” Newhall said.
Also returning are Ashley Sullivan, a junior guard; and Nicolette D’Itria, who shuttled between varsity and junior varsity last season.
Newcomers include Olivia Matela, a transfer from Swampscott, “who has looked pretty good, so far.”
Newhall made it clear, however, that this year the team will go as far as Torres and Nazaire.
“If they play well,” Newhall said, “we’re going to be fine.”
The general prognosis, Newhall said, is this: “We have two experienced varsity players who can score and defend at the varsity level,” he said. “Their statistics would bear that out.”
“This is probably the deepest team I’ve had a St. Mary’s, and this is my 11th year,” he said. “We have 15 kids on our roster, and on most years I don’t carry more than 11. That’s because of the depth of talent.”
Nine of those 15 players are freshmen and sophomores.
“We have to prepare the team to win now,” said Newhall, “but we also have to get the younger kids up to speed.”
One thing Newhall feels is team has going for it is the Catholic Central League itself.
“I’d put it up there with just about any in the state,” he said. “We have a 12-game schedule and I’d say with most of the teams, we could go either way. Between our league schedule and the rest of our schedule, if we can make the tournament, we’ll certainly be battle-tested.”
“We have a chance to be very good this year,” Newhall said.
Newhall will be assisted this year by former players Tori Faieta and Alison McCarthy, as well as Jim Foley, Mike Jalbert, Don Harp, Jack Hughes and Tim Spinney.
