LYNN — When taking on a basketball program with as a lot historical past as St. Mary’s (Lynn) has, there may be all the time going to be stress. The followers are accustomed to successful, particularly given latest success.
Josh Kielty determined to embrace the problem. After main Georgetown to a Div. 4 boys championship final winter, the coach was provided a brand new job place at St. Mary’s a number of weeks later in April.
“I simply felt prefer it was too good of a state of affairs to cross up,” Kielty stated. “In my view, it’s a prime program statewide. I simply assume it was the very best match for my household too, when it comes to that subsequent step for us.”
Kielty stepped in for longtime Spartans basketball coach Dave Brown, who departed this system following a 13-year stint. Throughout Brown’s tenure, St. Mary’s captured two state championships (2016, 2022), and completed 24-2 whereas making a run to the Div. 3 Last 4 in 2025. Kielty had fairly massive sneakers to fill. To not point out, the Spartans had been transferring as much as Div. 2 for the 2025-26 season as a part of a latest MIAA realignment.
“Actually an enormous step when it comes to expectations, and simply the standard of basketball with the schedule,” stated Kielty. “When it introduced itself, it was far too good to cross up.”
St. Mary’s gamers had been extremely optimistic after studying extra about their latest mentor.
“Personally, I used to be tremendous excited,” stated sophomore Jake Fortier. “As a result of I do know that he’s like a degree guard coach, too. I do know having a coach like that may actually take us, and my sport to the subsequent stage.”
It could have been a whirlwind of an offseason for St. Mary’s, however the successful custom has continued. The Spartans have steamrolled to a 13-1 document, their lone blemish coming towards interstate opponent St. Francis Prep (N.Y.) throughout a 72-63 loss Jan. 17. Regardless of a frightening schedule, they’ve coasted previous their opposition, averaging 79.57 factors per contest. Throughout its spectacular run, St. Mary’s has toppled a few of the state’s premier groups in Pope Francis, Bishop Feehan, Masconomet, Cathedral and most lately on Tuesday, Archbishop Williams.
“This 12 months, it’s completely different,” Fortier stated. “The groups are higher, however we even have a greater group of fellows. We now have a greater staff, we’ve extra talent, and extra self-discipline. Coach Kielty actually simply introduced us all collectively, and finishes every little thing.”
Fortier has been a sparkplug offensively for St. Mary’s, averaging 19 factors to go together with 5 assists per sport, whereas taking pictures 43% on three-point makes an attempt. Senior ahead Rolky Brea Arias has been a large addition for the Spartans after transferring from neighboring Lynn Classical previous to the season. He has averaged a double-double (19 factors, 16 rebounds per sport).
“It’s extraordinarily thrilling,” Fortier stated. “I believe all the fellows, all of us joined collectively. We created a brotherhood this 12 months, and I believe that’s why we see success on the courtroom.”
Senior ahead John Chareas has averaged 17 factors (taking pictures 47% from three-point land) for the Spartans, whereas junior Rowan Merryman has added 10 factors per sport. Senior ahead Gabe Makuwa-Sykes has averaged seven factors and 7 rebounds.
“Once you win, it’s like a domino impact,” Merryman stated. “You simply need it to maintain taking place. So long as we win, we wish to hold going. We don’t wish to change. These final couple of years, we gained the primary couple, and we simply ran with it.”
As of Tuesday, St. Mary’s was standing atop the Div. 2 energy rankings with a score of 11.6058. The Spartans nonetheless have six video games remaining of their common season schedule. They’ll face Bishop Fenwick on Friday evening, earlier than taking up Salem in an anticipated matchup Feb. 4.
“I simply assume it’s like something, it’s getting the precise folks on board first,” Kielty stated. “You want folks which are unselfish, which are about the precise issues. Which can be about successful, which are about getting higher on a regular basis. I believe that the children have simply are available with that blue collar mindset and mentality – of simply ‘work and get higher.’ So it’s undoubtedly a humble group.”
Herald boys rankings
1. Bridgewater-Raynham (11-1); 2. Central Catholic (11-2); 3. Attleboro (12-1); 4. Malden Catholic (12-2); 5. St. Mary’s (Lynn) (13-1); 6. Andover (12-1); 7. Needham (12-1); 8. Oliver Ames (12-1); 9. Cambridge (8-2); 10. Hanover (13-0); 11. Masconomet (9-1); 12. New Bedford (8-2); 13. Holland College (Burke) (9-3); 14. Brookline (9-4); 15. Winchester (12-2); 16. Beverly (10-3); 17. Bishop Feehan (9-3); 18. Catholic Memorial (8-3); 19. Salem (10-1); 20. Plymouth South (10-1); 21. Norwell (10-3); 22. BC Excessive (8-4); 23. Cathedral (7-4); 24. Burlington (9-2); 25. Wareham (10-2)
Herald women rankings
1. Medfield (15-0); 2. Bishop Feehan (12-2); 3. St. Mary’s (Lynn) (13-2); 4. Woburn (12-0); 5. Bishop Fenwick (10-2); 6. Whitman-Hanson (13-1); 7. Foxboro (12-0); 8. Needham (12-1); 9. Andover (12-1); 10. Natick (10-2); 11. Norwood (11-2); 12. Wachusett (9-2); 13. Walpole (9-3); 14. East Bridgewater (10-2); 15. North Studying (11-2); 16. Billerica (10-2); 17. Winchester (11-4); 18. Hopkinton (10-3); 19. Norwell (9-2); 20. Braintree (9-3); 21. Hingham (9-4); 22. Cathedral (8-5); 23. Duxbury (8-4); 24. Millbury (9-3); 25. Westford Academy (8-3)
Be aware: Data as of Wednesday.
