Loss to CK makes Mary Louis believers

Joe Lewinger couldn't help but smile. As the packed house at Pitaro Gymnasium finally emptied out, one by one, and his players dressed and exited after the biggest moment in Mary Louis basketball, albeit a 69-59 loss to Christ the King, the coach could not help but take the glass-half-full approach.
&#8220I can't be disappointed,” he said. &#8220The first time I ever played Christ the King in this gym we lost by 63 points.”
His players echoed that sentiment, certainly taking a moral victory out of the setback. Granted, the Royals, back-to-back national champions, are not quite as good. They have already lost three times - all to premier national programs - and lack an inside presence. Still, they possess two soon-to-be Division I athletes in guards Lorin Dixon (UConn) and Sky Lindsay (St. John's), a bevy of talented role players, and top notch coaching.
&#8220We're ecstatic it was close,” point guard Casey Shevlin said. &#8220We want to make it closer next time.”
If Shevlin, who led the Hilltoppers (8-1, 1-1 CHSAA I) with 21 points, had help, Mary Louis could have knocked off the 13th-ranked Royals (7-3, 3-0 CHSAA I). Amanda Burakoski and Maral Javadifar, the team's second and third leading scorers, respectively, combined for just nine points, the two missing countless point-blank shots in the paint.
Yet even with Burakoski and Javadifar struggling, the Hilltoppers were there at the end, down just seven with 3:41 remaining until the Royals, led by Dixon's 21 points and 13 from Jael Pena, pulled away. In fact, Dixon said afterward since she moved up to the varsity three years ago, Mary Louis has the most talent of any division rival.
&#8220With Casey Shevlin and Maral [Javadifar], they play A.A.U. [basketball], we know what they're going to bring,” said the blur of a guard. &#8220They're really talented this year.”
&#8220That's a compliment,” said Lewinger, slightly blushing. &#8220This is definitely a manifestation of where we've come from. Rome wasn't built in a day. At one point, we were just a stopover to the next opponent. Now we got them saying we're their best league opponent.”
Basketball, indeed, has come a long way at the Jamaica Estates school. They have three likely Division I players in Shevlin, Burakoski, an expected major conference recruit, and Javadifar.
Word has quickly spread. The tiny gym was filled beyond capacity against CK, fans standing along the sidelines and behind the benches. &#8220I've never seen anything like it,” Shevlin noted. &#8220We had games against Molloy that were packed, but not like this. People who have no idea what basketball is were here.”
Eventually, if the Hilltoppers are to take the next step, another close loss to the mighty Royals won't get it done.
&#8220I'm all for moral victories against King,” Shevlin said, &#8220but we'd like to take one.”