Parker Sisters Lead O’Hara To Big MMAA Win Over St. Mary’s

When the Parker girls take the court, they expect to win. That’s kind of how things work when you play for the Cardinal O’Hara girls basketball program.

Suffice to say, a mid-December loss to St. Mary’s – the program’s first in the league since the 2012-13 season – didn’t sit too well with the talented sisters.

Aaliyah Parker scored 26 points and Angel Parker added 17 as the Hawks got some redemption with a 72-60 win over the rival Lancers in Monsignor Martin Athletic Association action in Lancaster on Monday.

“I just came out feeling like I was not losing,” Aaliyah said. “I did not want to lose this game. It feels good to come out and get this win.”

Aaliyah Parker scored 18 of her points in the second half as the Hawks took over down the stretch. That was a stark contrast to the Jan. 9 game at O’Hara when St. Mary’s pulled away for a 67-53 win, ending a 13-game losing streak in the rivalry. That loss was the first for the Hawks against a Monsignor Martin team since Sacred Heart beat O’Hara in the 2013 league championship game.

Speaking of championship games, the 2019 one is looking like it will be another showdown between the Hawks and Lancers, who are both heavy favorites to get through the bracket to the title game.

“That’s probably going to be the Game of the Year the next time we play them,” O’Hara coach Nick O’Neill said. “They won one, we won one and that’s the way it should be. The championship game, it’s going to be a helluva game.”

Angel Parker added six steals and seven assists for the Hawks and was the team’s floor general as she has been for the last four years. After St. Mary’s attempted to seize control with an early spurt, she took control in the second quarter with 9 points and then added 8 more in the decisive second half.

“Angel always shows up in a big game,” O’Neill said. “We needed her to score, we needed her sister to score and they both did an outstanding job.”

Amelia Strong added 16 for O’Hara (13-3, 7-1) and Robyn Sommerville scored 8 for the Hawks.

Freshman phenom Shay Ciezki led all scorers with 31 for St. Mary’s (16-2, 7-1 MMAA). Lauren Nawojski added 15 for the Lancers.

St. Mary’s had some players in foul trouble; Ciezki had three early in the third and Sydney Ottomano was whistled for her fourth early in the final period. The Lancers were also without injured starters Caitlin Bish and Caroline Zanghi.

“They’re a really good defensive team,” St. Mary’s coach Jason Kline said. “We were missing some key players and had girls in foul trouble and when that happens, your sets aren’t as smooth as they could be. So for us, right now it’s about getting back to work and creating more opportunities for the kids.”