LYNN — Friday night inside of Lowell’s Tsongas Center, one girls basketball program goes for its first state title, while the other hopes to make its pile a little bit bigger.
Top-ranked St. Mary’s (23-3), helmed by Coach and Athletic Director Jeff Newhall, returns to the Division 3 title game after winning state championships in 2020, 2022, and 2023. Its opponent, No. 3 Norwell (23-1), hopes to finally break through after reaching the semifinals in 2023 and 2024.
“This is not a ‘happy-to-be-here’ team,” said Newhall, whose Spartans tip-off at 6:15 p.m. against Coach Matt Marani’s Clippers. “They’re hell-bent on trying to knock down the door and win the first state championship in girls basketball for them.”
Step No. 1 against Norwell: contain Maddie Oliver, South Shore co-MVP who has averaged 25 points, 13 rebounds, and three assists through her last three tournament games.
“She plays at a high level and is on Bella’s (Owumi) AAU team (MCW Starz),” Newhall said. “She’s an elite player.”
Beyond Oliver, Norwell “presents many problems” with its athletes who play multiple sports, according to Newhall, who has thought about the matchup long before this week.
“I pretty much figured – as I did a year ago – that us, Norwell, and Foxborough are the three teams who could be there in the end,” he said. “We need to play well and play a complete basketball game.”
With contributors such as Juliana Conte (7.8 points per game, 48 3-pointers) and Reese Matela (8.8 points, 7.7 rebounds, 73 percent free-throw shooter), the Spartans arrive in Lowell with Owumi leading the way.
Owumi, a sophomore and career 1,000-point scorer, has averaged 17 points and 12 rebounds per game this season to go with more than 100 steals. She was a member of two state championship teams (2022, 2023), but more of a role player.
“We had Niya (Morgen), Kellyn (Preira), and Yirsy (Queliz), who are three 1,000-point scorers, so there weren’t a ton of shots to be had,” Newhall said. “But now, compared to then, she’s just bigger, faster, stronger, and has developed tremendously as a player.”
Despite strong wins against Belchertown, Newburyport, East Bridgewater, and Pittsfield during this tournament run, it wasn’t easy, according to Newhall, who admitted his team might’ve been “wearing down a little bit” ahead of the postseason.
“We play in a very good league with three teams playing in state championship games this weekend,” said Newhall, seeking his sixth state title as head coach. “Then, our non-league schedule was excellent and we played the toughest schedule in the state.”
When asked if his players have been feeling nerves or excitement, Newhall pointed to other big games the Spartans have played this winter.
“Whether it’s their first, second, third, or fourth year, I’m sure everyone’s a little bit antsy and nervous, but I feel like everyone’s in a good place,” he said. “I don’t think they’re too out of the ordinary.
“I sense they’re excited and ready,” Newhall said.
