January 5th 2025.
In a highly anticipated game on Saturday afternoon, the Archbishop Mitty Monarchs faced off against the Ontario Christian team at Carondelet High School in Concord. The packed gym was buzzing with excitement as the best girls basketball player in the Bay Area, McKenna Woliczko, took the court for Mitty.
However, just halfway through the second quarter, the atmosphere changed as Woliczko fell to the ground and clutched her right knee. The crowd fell silent as she was attended to by medical personnel and eventually helped off the court by her father. It was a devastating blow for the Monarchs, who were facing off against the No. 2 ranked team in the nation.
The severity of Woliczko's injury was unknown, but it was clear that her absence would have a major impact on the game. Mitty's head coach, Sue Phillips, later revealed that there were tears on the bench as the team processed the loss of their star player.
Despite the setback, Mitty had a strong start to the season with a 9-0 record and a recent win against Ontario Christian in a tournament championship game. They were also ranked as the No. 1 team in the nation. However, without Woliczko for the majority of the game and possibly for the foreseeable future, the team would need to rely on other players to step up.
One of those players was Ze'Ni Patterson, a sophomore transfer from Heritage High School. She shouldered a larger responsibility after Woliczko's injury and ended up scoring a team-high 14 points. After the game, she sent her thoughts and prayers to her injured teammate and acknowledged the emotional toll it had on the team.
Coach Phillips also recognized the challenge ahead for Mitty without Woliczko, but remained optimistic about their future. She explained that they would need to review the game footage and make adjustments in order to stay on track for a fourth consecutive appearance in the state Open Division title game.
Despite the loss, Mitty put up a good fight against Ontario Christian, who had top-ranked sophomore Kaleena Smith leading the way with 23 points. Other notable players on their team included freshman Tati Griffin and 6-foot-7 center, Sydney Douglas. Mitty managed to stay competitive until the final period, but without Woliczko's presence on the court, they struggled to keep up and ultimately lost the game.
Despite the disappointment, Mitty's season was far from over. They had a strong team with players like Devin Cosgriff and Tiera McCarthy, and they were ready to bounce back in their upcoming game against Valley Christian. As they continue to adjust to the loss of Woliczko, the team will need to come together and find their rhythm again.
In the end, it was a tough loss for Mitty, but they showed resilience and determination in the face of adversity. Coach Phillips praised her team for their efforts and acknowledged the challenges they faced without their star player. But with their determination and skill, Mitty was still a force to be reckoned with and would continue to fight for their place at the top.
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