LYNN — Girls basketball standout Bella Owumi leaves St. Mary’s for the Tilton School with a decorated career and, perhaps more importantly, lasting relationships.
From her first captains’ practice as a nervous sixth grader to being a state champion, Owumi grew up inside the walls of the school and on the court inside Tony Conigliaro Gymnasium.
Now, after helping lead the Spartans to three state titles, she’s moving on.
“It was a really hard decision,” Owumi said. “I’m leaving back all of my memories and my friends. Honestly, it took up until the day I had to make the decision.”
Owumi, who recently completed her sophomore year, reflected on her time at St. Mary’s with gratitude — for its coaches, teammates, teachers, and family that shaped her.
“In the summer, going into sixth grade, we had captains’ practice and I was oftentimes late and didn’t want to go in, but every time I went in, the girls always comforted me and I remember being scared,” she said. “I remember my first time meeting Jeff (Newhall) as a coach. I knew him before a little bit, but it was different when he’s your coach. I just knew we would have a great bond and it was true. He’s like a dad to me, so leaving was always going to be hard.”
Owumi was a fixture on the varsity team, starting as a seventh grader.
And if you ask her, being asked to perform at a high level from such a young age helped her mature both on and off the court.
“On the court, I wasn’t always confident shooting the ball. Now, look at this past year — you can tell I was very confident, especially in the championship game. I had three or four threes,” Owumi said. “Over time, I just saw the results.”
In her final game with the Spartans, Owumi helped lead the team to another state championship — a moment she didn’t know would be her last in a St. Mary’s uniform.
“I always gave it my all when I was out there,” she said. “It felt amazing to be beside Jeff. It was the most important part for me – my teammates as well. I was the leader on the team with Reese Matela and Juliana Conte, and it was a group effort. We put in a lot of work, whether it was in the offseason or on the court, to win that state championship. Our bond is really strong. All of us are friends, we still talk, and a lot of us play AAU together, so I think that helps a lot.”
Owumi said she’ll also miss the community around her.
“My sister (Lina) was on the basketball team with me. My brother was in sixth grade and he played basketball, and my youngest brother is in elementary school, but hopefully, he’ll be at St. Mary’s one day,” Owumi said. “I think they can continue the legacy at St. Mary’s.”
As she begins her next chapter, Owumi hopes the St. Mary’s community remembers more than just the player.
“I hope they remember my personality,” Owumi said. “If people really got to know me, they’d see me for more than just basketball and that’s how I want to be remembered. Obviously, as a 1,000-point scorer, my name is already up on the wall. But I think when I show up to that gym a few more times — whether it’s me showing up to support my sister and the team if I’m on break or supporting my brother — I think people will see that I’m a good person on and off the court.”
Looking ahead, she feels her time at St. Mary’s has her ready to compete – no matter where that might be.
“St. Mary’s helped me grow as a player and a person,” Owumi said. “And I’m excited for the next chapter. Hopefully, I can help lead Tilton to another NEPSAC Class AAA championship.”
