Pirates Win 20th as Marisa DiLeo Nets 1,000th Point

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In what was a night to honor the six seniors on the girl’s basketball team, a 61-53 win over Willingboro turned into a game of milestones for the program.

“I wanted to make sure tonight was perfect for the seniors,” head coach Bret Jenkins said. “Those six girls really deserve it.”

The win was the 20th of the season (20-5) for the Pirates.

“I think it’s a great milestone for the girls,” Jenkins said. “We didn’t really talk about it all season. I mentioned it before yesterday’s game about the opportunity to have 20 wins in the regular season and that it’s a special thing and very rare.”

To top if off, senior Marisa DiLeo scored her 1,000th career point, becoming just the fourth female in school history to do so. She is also the first female to record both 1,000 points and 100 threes in a career at Cinnaminson.

“I was a little nervous even though it was only three points,” DiLeo said. “This is also a competitive team so I couldn’t worry about that, I had to worry about the game.”

DiLeo joins an impressive list that includes Najha Treadwell, Brianna Gillin and Laura Flynn. DiLeo finished the game as the Pirates leading scorer with 17 points (four threes). She now has 128 in her career.

“I’ll definitely remember that it happened on senior night,” DiLeo said. “Our last game (15 points), it just happened that I was three short. It was good to get it at home.”

With six seniors on the roster and only five starting spots, DiLeo told Jenkins that she wouldn’t mind coming into the game off the bench.

“Seeing those five that started (Alex Kane, Lexi Colella, Anna Saginario, Ally Herron and Keirra Howard) and Marisa being the class act that she is, having absolutely no problem not starting,” Jenkins said. “I thought those girls deserved it and I knew a win would make it a perfect night.”

When she did enter the crowd increased its volume and prepared to witness history. DiLeo was sent to the line for two free throws not long after entering the game, hitting one of two shots, pulling to within two points of 1,000 for her career.

On the Pirates next possession she was fouled again. This time, DiLeo connected on both, hitting the 1,000 point mark for her career.

“For me, it was great to see. Marisa is the first player I’ve coached all four years because she played a little bit on varsity her freshman year,” Jenkins said. “You can’t help but be proud of her.”

The entire team swarmed DiLeo at midcourt before she went over to celebrate with her parents. A touching moment for the senior was when she climbed into the stands to hug her grandparents, who can be seen at every game without fail.

“I couldn’t have done it without my coach, without my teammates and my family,” DiLeo said. “Just the support I’ve gotten. Everyone’s reaction when I did do it; everyone has my back and that’s really good to see.”

After getting a little breather, DiLeo came back into the game and hit threes on consecutive possessions to give the Pirates an 18-10 lead after one.

The Pirates built the lead to 34-17 at the break and 49-36 at the end of the third. The Chimeras won both the third and fourth quarters to pull the game to within 61-53 at the final horn.

Junior Tori Robinson added 12 points as sophomore Fiona Flynn and freshman Maddie Ogden each had 11 in the win, which was the sixth straight for the Pirates, who have not allowed an opponent to score 60 points in a game this season.

“I think our defensive intensity, and how hard we play, starts with Alex Kane,” Jenkins said. “And now inside, in terms of rebounding and blocked shots, it’s all coming off of Anne (O’Malley). Alex and Anne have done a great job in terms of defense, being role models for the other girls on how we as a team want to play defense.”

Cinnaminson has one regular season game left on the schedule, Thursday (6:30pm tip) at Rancocas Valley (20-5), before the playoffs begin on Tuesday at home.

“They are a top-five team in South Jersey and perennial top program in the area,” Jenkins said. “We will talk about being composed, because they are going to have a lot of pressure on us, not turning the ball over. And then defensively, how to handle their speed and size.”

Pirates Scoring:
Marisa DiLeo – 17 (reached 1,000 points tonight)
Tori Robinson – 12
Fiona Flynn – 11
Maddie Ogden – 11
Anne O’Malley – 8
Maddie Parrish – 1
Alex Kane – 1