LYNN — Before they earn college scholarships, hang championship banners, or score their 1,000th point, the players of St. Mary’s girls basketball program learn something far more valuable: how to fall in love with the game.
Under the steady leadership of Jeff Newhall, longtime head coach and athletic director, the Spartans have built more than just a winning tradition – they’ve built a pipeline to collegiate success and a culture that elevates talent.
According to Newhall, as many as 20 players have gone on to play college basketball over the last decade.
“I know we’ve had seven or eight full scholarships, then a number of non-scholarships and Division 3 athletes, which is still excellent basketball,” said Newhall, who has helmed the program for 18 years – the most recent coming with a sixth state title.
For Niya Morgen, who began playing at Bentley University in 2023, St. Mary’s changed her perspective of basketball.
“When I came to St. Mary’s, I hated basketball, but I left St. Mary’s with the utmost love and passion for the game,” said Morgen, a former captain, Catholic Central League MVP and 1,000-point scorer who hails from Swampscott.
Now, Morgen is finding similar success at her Division 2 school. As a sophomore starter, she averaged 10.9 points per game (third on team) and helped Bentley advance to the national quarterfinals.
There’s also Yirsy Quéliz, a starting point guard for Northeastern University, and Kellyn Preira, a forward for Monmouth University, among many others throughout the years.
Newhall described a 2009 team that changed everything for the program. After years of going 2-10 and 1-11, St. Mary’s finally turned it around, which shifted the program forever.
“The school started expanding, we built new buildings, and our basketball team started becoming very competitive and being played at a higher level,” he said. “It became something that high-level basketball players and students became interested in.”
Since then, Newhall’s philosophy has been about fostering a culture of enjoyment – not just talent.
“I think we build a team that, on and off the court, promotes being together. I feel like if the culture and atmosphere are there, then push comes to shove, you might be willing to make a play for the team or bail out a teammate,” he said. “ I think if you go with that philosophy, opposed to saying, ‘We have the best five players, so we should win,’ you’re probably going to win.”
Morgen couldn’t have agreed more, adding it’s “because of the culture” that St. Mary’s is successful.
“It starts off the court and gets carried onto it,” she said. “Going into St. Mary’s, you know what you’re getting yourself into. Athletes go there knowing they can make it to the next level if they put in the work.”
Tyler Rourke is a student at Endicott College studying journalism
