St. Mary’s Remains Undefeated With Statement Win At O’Hara

There’s a new queen in Monsignor Martin Athletic Association girls basketball.

St. Mary’s made a huge statement on Wednesday and went from a team to watch to the team to beat with a surprisingly-lopsided 67-53 win over five-time defending champion Cardinal O’Hara.

“I had no idea we’d win like that,” Lancers freshman guard Shay Ciezki said. “I was hoping [to win by] two or four – not that score. Going into the game, we were fired up. We had something to prove. It was amazing.”

St. Mary’s beat O’Hara for the first time since Jan. 5, 2011 ending a 13-game losing streak in the rivalry. The loss for the Hawks was the first to any MMAA team since Sacred Heart beat O’Hara in the 2013 league championship game.

With all five starters and the six man back from last year and the addition of the freshman phenom Ciezki, St. Mary’s was expected to be a threat to the powerhouse Hawks for the first time since the graduation of all-time leading scorer Raeann Stillwell after the 2011 season.

Coach Jason Kline said in the preseason he felt his team could challenge the Hawks – but even he had no idea Wednesday would develop as it did.

“No way did I expect that,” he said. “I thought it was going to be a good game. I know we’ve improved, but I didn’t think it was going to be like that.”

It was also the first big-stage experience at the high school level for Ciezki, who has opened some eyes in her debut season with the Lancers. She finished with sixteen points and eight assists. And, as she has all season, took the game over at times for the Lancers.

“She just played like that when all the lights were on against one of the best – if not the best – defender in Western New York,” Kline said, referring to O’Hara senior Angel Parker. “Those of you that were here, you got quite a show. I’ve seen it, I see it every day in practice, and I’ve seen it for years.”

Parker, a four-year starter for O’Hara who also started as an eighth-grader at Cheektowaga Central, was hindered by foul trouble throughout the game. She picked up three early fouls, forcing the Hawks to make adjustments they’d have rather not have had to make.

“Shea’s tough no matter how you look at it,” O’Hara assistant coach Mike McCarthy said. “All of our girls are game for the challenge, not all the girls are going to do it like Angel is going to do it, but Shea is extremely talented and you want to put your best player on her.”

Parris Maroney led St. Mary’s (12-0, 3-0 MMAA) with 17 points. Myla Kline added 12 points, Sydney Ottomano 8, and Caroline Zanghi had 7 for the Lancers.

The Lancers played most of the second half without Zanghi, who left the gym and was taken for medical attention after taking a shot to the face with 6:39 left in the third quarter. At the time, St. Mary’s had a five-point lead.

“I was really happy with the way they responded to losing one of our best players,” Kline said. “They had a little huddle, I was tending to Caroline, and one of my assistants says to me, ‘They’re going to do this one for her.’ I’m just really happy for the girls.”

Amelia Strong led O’Hara with 11 points and Parker added 10 for the Hawks (8-3, 2-1 MMAA).