St. Mary’s basketball program instills life lessons, character

By Mary Moore
The Catholic Sun

Anyone who has heard of St. Mary’s High School in Phoenix has likely heard of its girls’ basketball team. The program has garnered a winning record for more than 15 years, attaining regional championships and making it to the state playoffs numerous times.

This March, the 2005-2006 team earned the program’s fourth state championship title, adding to an impressive record for a school whose population of 850 students hardly compares size wise with others in its 5A Division, where enrollment ranges anywhere from 2,500 to 4,000 students.

Jim Sanford, St. Mary’s athletic director, attributes the continuing success of the girls’ basketball program to coaching and expectations.

“The expectations here are greater, and they teach the players a great lesson: that hard work does pay off and that teamwork matters,” he said. “All the lessons we want to be taught are being taught here. We have this attitude that we can take it to the next level.”

Of the seven seniors on this state championship team, four have signed with Division I colleges to play basketball and the others will begin impressive academic programs. Such accomplishments, Sanford admits, are typical of the girls’ basketball program.

“They’re not just good athletes, but good student athletes and good citizens on our campus. They don’t argue with officials, they don’t fuss about things and they have a great work ethic,” Sanford said.

Though they are often referred to as the most-winning high school girls’ basketball team in the state, the Lady Knights’ reputation seems to be one of character rather than simply victories.

“I tell them, people who see you leave the gym shouldn’t be able to tell whether you have won or lost the game. You enter it the same way you leave it: with your head high,” said the 22-year varsity coach Frank Denogean.

In her four years playing for St. Mary’s, Nicole Neals said she learned about more than just basketball. The future University of Nebraska Lady Husker said she learned about life as a Lady Knight.

“Coach taught us to look people in the eye and say ‘Yes, sir.’ He said people will show you respect if you show it to them first,” she recalled.

Coach Denogean, known to most as “Coach D,” said the girls learn lessons on the court that apply to more than basketball games. “We want these girls to work for excellence in everything they do. Basketball is just an avenue for greater things,” Denogean said, noting the primacy of faith.

Of the seven seniors on the team, only two are Catholic and the others confess they were attracted to the school for its basketball program. But Coach D thinks it is much more than basketball that attracts parents and students to St. Mary’s High School.

“There is something about St. Mary’s that people see and that they are attracted to. Our spirituality just comes out,” he said. “There are things they get here and do here that they just can’t at a public school.”

One of those things is prayer. Before each home game, all of the players spend time in the chapel. They pray as a team before and after every game, win or lose.

This practice is something that senior Taylor Schneider said she will take with her as she begins her college basketball career at University of Texas-Pan American.

Like other non-Catholics, Schneider was attracted to St. Mary’s for the basketball program. After four years on the team, the practicing Presbyterian said she has grown in her faith.

“My faith has become stronger,” she said. “I will definitely take with me what I have gotten here, especially praying before and after games.”

Kayli Murphy came to St. Mary’s from St. Daniel’s Catholic School in Phoenix and said she appreciates her Catholic education in high school even more.

“It’s more family-oriented here. We’re closer to teachers, and everyone knows each other here,” she said.

Murphy and her teammate Dymond Simon have both signed with Arizona State University for next year’s season.

With a record of 26-4, the seven graduating Lady Knights will take with them four division championships and two state championships. More than that record of success, however, they will take with them skills and character to ensure success on and off the court.