The Bishop Loughlin girls’ basketball team is well aware of the buzz generated by its young but extremely talented squad, and is embracing the high expectations as a source of motivation.
“We are trying to live up to the hype and show everybody what we can do,” said sophomore Milicia Reid.
Loughlin is off to good start after a convincing 66–37 victory over Cardinal Spellman in a Catholic girls’ basketball crossover game last Sunday at Christ the King. Murry Bergtraum transfer Reid led the way with 16 points and seven assists. The sophomore is being asked to be a leader.
Freshman big Zaria Dursey had 13 points and Lynette Taitt and Ahyana Green chipped in eight points each for the Lions. The victory has the Lions off to a 3–0 start, but coach Chez Williams knows this team is still getting its feet wet when it comes to playing against top competition.
“We are not as crisp as I want us to be, but it’s coming,” Williams said. “The more games we play the crisper we will get.”
Loughlin is a team that preaches creating turnovers off its defensive pressure. The Lions flustered Spellman in the first half, but could not convert the turnovers into points. The Pilots (3–1) cut the advantage to just 29–22 at the half after a basket by Nicole Hill at the second-quarter buzzer.
Things changed after the break as Reid came alive offensively. Loughlin rattled off an 18–3 run to grab a 49–29 advantage with 15 seconds to play in the third quarter. It was more the way Loughlin envisioned things being when it gets going. Spellman didn’t have a single player score in double figures. Jade Vega and Niajah Morgan led the pack with eight points each.
“We realized we had to separate ourselves,” Reid said. “We are AA, they are an A team. We have to show them why we are AA. We have to give ourselves that push.”
This Lions’ players aren’t new to each other, despite their youth. Many of them played summer travel ball together at New Heights with Williams as coach, winning numerous tournament titles. The adjustment is learning to play against kids older than them in one of the most competitive leagues in the country.
“We are used to playing with each other, so we have chemistry,” Dursey said “We already know how each other plays.”
Loughlin’s lineup gives it many options for how they can beat teams. Reid and senior guard Kiana Clark can both shoot and attack the rim. Skydajan Patterson can help push the pace. Green gives the Lions another athletic forward to complement Dursey, one of the city’s best young players. Williams makes sure all of them are committed to the defensive end.
The players know they haven’t come close to reaching their potential yet ,and expect big things when they finally do.
“We think we have the team now,” Dursey said. “We are looking to take the championship.”
