Same old St. Mary's of Stockton

STOCKTON, Calif. - California girls basketball coaches were licking their respective chops, pumping their tightly-clinched fists, scraping together butcher knives - OK, so the last exaggeration is a bit much - all in anticipation of payback.

This was the year they finally could put the hurt on Tom Gonsalves and his St. Mary's (Stockton) Rams following 10 seasons of relentless pressure, pinball scoring and six state championships.

After losing a pair of McDonald's All-Americans and two other Division I players to graduation from last year's mythical national champs, these meek Rams were de-horned and ready to be skinned.

At least, that was the general naive notion.

Instead, following its second Sac-Joaquin Section Division II blowout playoff win Thursday, St. Mary's is 23-2 and No. 17 in the MaxPreps Freeman national rankings. Other ranking services have the Rams as high as 6.

So much for retribution.

Though considered the least talented of Gonsalves' previous 10 teams, these Rams have zipped past foes as fluidly and decisively as St. Mary's teams past.

And that includes teams that had super prep stars like 2006 National Player of the Year Jacki Gemelos (now at USC), Chelsea Gray (Duke) and Afure Jemerigbe (Cal). 

"We're not the biggest or strongest or fastest team we've ever had here," junior co-captain Regina Camera said. "But I think we may execute as well as any of them."

No debate there. Probably better, Gonsalves said. They have to be precise because the talent pool isn't as deep or wide.

"It's just a very humble, hard working group," he said. "At practice, they work their tails off and it's reflected on the court. They don't care who gets the credit. They execute the press as well as any group we've had. And they don't take a single play off."

Perennial Central Section power Hanford found all that out two weeks ago.

Careful what you wish for

Like everyone else, the Bullpups were pretty certain these Rams were vulnerable. At least that's according to lone St. Mary's returning starter Ali Gibson, a 6-foot senior who is headed to Oregon State.

She's friends with Hanford star and Fresno State-signee Madison Parrish.

"She's told me since her sophomore year that she's been waiting to play us this game," Gibson said. "Well, they got us."

What Hanford got was a 79-47 defeat on its own home court.

Gibson, who is headed to Oregon State, had a game-high 19 points and co-captains Kendall Kenyon, a 6-1 senior, and 5-8 Camera had 16 points apiece as the Rams looked very much like the teams that won state titles in 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2009 and 2010.

Utilizing its patented unrelenting full-court press, they forced 35 turnovers including six on Hanford's first six possession. Hanford has won 60 straight games in the West Yosemite League by an average of 48 points.

What comes around goes around but Gonsalves – a former JV coach and baseball coach at Hanford – just wasn't expecting such a come-around in 2010-11.

"We just had unbelievable energy (against Hanford)," Gonsalves said. "We've had it all year long. Thus far, it's been an amazing season. No one thought we'd play at this level. Not after losing two McDonald All-Americans. Not without any superstars."

Not intimidated

Gonsalves had a clue this wasn't a rebuilding project when it opened the Nike Invitational in Phoenix with a 74-68 victory over perennial national power Christ the King (Middle Village, N.Y.). Five players scored in double figures and the Rams forced 27 turnovers.

"When the horn sounded for that game, I thought, ‘we're going to be all right,' " Gonsalves said.

Said Gibson: "I was most surprised about that game not because we won but because we just didn't play scared or we weren't intimidated. I think that told me and everyone we were going to be all right."

Even though they lost their next two games, including 65-55 to the current No. 1 team in the nation Brea Olinda, the Rams left Phoenix with a new sense of confidence and an identity.

The previous two seasons, they largely relied on Gray and Jemerigbe. The current Rams use balance, ball movement and chemistry.

And that was all started, Gibson said, out of a sense of fear.

"We didn't want to be THAT team that didn't live up to our tradition," she said.

The team meshed over the summer during a trip to San Diego and roles began to mold.

Since the two December losses in Phoenix, St. Mary's has won 21 straight by an average score of 80-39.

"I must admit I keep expecting our bubble to burst, but we just keep getting better," Gonsalves said. "At this point, you can't call us a fluke."

The unsung Rams

Among the key contributors with comments from Gonsalves:

* Gibson: She averages a team-best 17 points per game and emerged as the team's leader. "She's just gotten better and better as her career has progressed. We needed her to take more of the scoring load and she's done just that. "

* Kenyon: Perhaps the team's most improved player. "She's very agile for her height (6-2). She played guard at the lower levels. She has great hands and runs the court beautifully."

* Camera: A reserve last year who hit a long 3-point basket to beat Brea-Olinda, Camera has emerged as the team's unsung leader. "She's a bulldog and fighter. Beyond that she's a tremendous shooter."

* Onome Jemerigbe, a 5-8 sophomore guard: The younger sister of Afure, runs the point but can move to the off-guard when Gibson takes the one-spot. She's already been offered a scholarship by UNLV. "She's a real good shooter and plays tough, tough defense. She's the epitome of the point guard position. She doesn't need to score to contribute. She's going to be something."



* Courtney Range: Long and lanky, the 6-1 sophomore also seems destined for greatness. "She's got great potential and athleticism. She's the whole package."

The Rams have moved up to Division II and with Carondelet moving to No. 1, their chief competition to get to the state finals are Del Oro (Loomis), Archbishop Mitty (San Jose), Presentation (San Jose) and Dougherty Valley (San Ramon).

And from the south, with Mater Dei-Santa Ana and Brea Olinda moved up to Division I, St. Mary's could very well be looking at a seventh state crown. That would put it behind only Brea Olinda (nine) for most California titles in girls basketball history.

Rams play Bella Vista (Fair Oaks) in a SJS semifinal game Wednesday at the University of Pacific.

"Honestly, at this stage of our program, if we don't win a state championship it's not really a successful season," Gonsalves said. "This group is hungry to get back to state and win it again."