Nazareth Academy senior Marissa Sylvester, a four-year starter on the basketball team, finished her career just 21 points shy of 1,000 points. TIMES FILE PHOTO
John Turner knew it would take the world to beat Gwynedd Mercy and have his Nazareth Academy basketball team advance. And although it didn’t come close to happening, this particular Pandas squad still means the world to their coach.
Nazareth got thumped 64–25 by Gwynedd, one of the area’s top teams, in Monday night’s District I Class AAA quarterfinals, ending the Pandas’ season, as well as the careers of star player Marissa Sylvester and her three fellow seniors.
But to listen to Turner tell it, there was no shame in defeat, not even one of the almost 40-point variety. After all, the Pandas got back to districts after failing to qualify the year before, and on top of that, Nazareth won a convincing, 53–29 opening-round home game that gave Sylvester one last opportunity to excel in front of her home fans before she graduates and moves on to play at the University of the Sciences. Sylvester nearly outscored Nazareth’s opponent, Villa Joseph Marie, that day, racking up 22 points. She scored 17 of her team’s 25 against Gwynedd, falling just 21 points shy of 1,000 for her career.
“We knew going in that Gwynedd was obviously a very good team, having played them twice already,” Turner said. “We knew we’d have to come up with a sterling effort. The effort was there, we just didn’t execute. We got killed on the glass and just didn’t get it done. But the goal for us is always to be playing meaningful games at the end of February, and we were able to host a playoff game in a packed gym where Marissa might have played her best game ever.”
Like any coach, Turner’s first thoughts following the Gwynedd loss were with Sylvester and the seniors, who made up four of the top six in Nazareth’s rotation this season. It’s never easy to let a season go, because with the end of any year comes the painful prospect of saying goodbye.
“Right now, my mind is with my seniors, thinking about all they’ve done and worked and sacrificed for the last four years,” he said. “Honestly, it’s been one of the most enjoyable years I’ve had in large part due to these four seniors who are good ballplayers but even more fantastic people. After a game like this, I think of them and wish I could have done more for them to extend the experience longer. I’ll take a few days off, then I’ll get back to work thinking about next season.”
Turner knows it will be next to impossible to replace a player of Sylvester’s caliber, but he also understands the cyclical nature of high school sports; it’s now up to him and his staff to find and develop the next Sylvester.
He thinks the program is in good shape. The team’s second-leading scorer, Becca Rhoades, is just a sophomore. Junior Jacki Dollard has shown flashes, as has Emily Grindele. Turner also likes his crop of freshmen.
“We have some good young kids coming in, some kids becoming juniors and seniors that we have a lot of confidence in,” he said. “Some of them may not have played as much as they would have liked to this year, but that experience of working against our seniors in practice every day will only benefit them in the long run.”
Getting back to districts will not come without its own set of challenges next season, but for Turner and many coaches like him, figuring out how to get there is half the fun. That way, if the Pandas do make it back, the journey will have been that much more fulfilling and gratifying.
“It’s always a rebuilding game anytime you lose four seniors in your top six,” Turner said. “You’ve got to go back to the drawing board a bit, especially in replacing Marissa, which is not something you can easily do. We think some of these girls will be ready for prime time next year. Replacing the seniors is a tall order, but it’s not impossible.
“We have two main goals every year. One is to be better than the year before, and we’ve done that in each of the last two seasons. The second is to play meaningful games in February, and even without the seniors that won’t change. It might take some work and creativity, but we’re definitely capable of being a competitive, solid playoff team.” ••
Follow him on Twitter @SpecialEd335.
