Archbishop Mitty's Nike TOC triumph is celebration-worthy, but 'March is what matters'

After defeating defending tournament champion Long Island Lutheran (NY) in the finals, and then winning three games in Portland, Monarchs inherit No. 1 girls basketball ranking nationally

PORTLAND, Ore. - Sometimes, it's good that the new kids on the block get an old-school reminder.

Archbishop Mitty girls basketball still puts out one of the best products in the country.

That reminder came in late December when the Monarchs navigated a bracket of elite contenders to win the prestigious 26th Nike Tournament of Champions in Phoenix.

And they won it in grand fashion, knocking off defending tournament champion Long Island Lutheran (NY) in the championship game, 73-72. The Crusaders were ranked No. 1 in the country at the time.

Since that victory, Archbishop Mitty not only collected three more victories in Portland, Oregon at the POA Holiday Classic over DeSoto (Texas), Camas (Wash.) and Clackamas (Ore.) - it came home with the new consensus No. 1 team billing in hand.

Longtime coach Sue Phillips showed great admiration over what her team had recently accomplished, but warned there are bigger goals ahead.

"People are referencing our No. 1 ranking in the country, and that is fine and dandy and wonderful for the acknowledgement," Phillips said. "The reality is is that March is what matters."

After wins over Miami Country Day (Fla.), Xavier College Prep (Ariz.) and Crestwood Prep (Canada), the Monarchs had a rematch with Long Island Lutheran - the team that knocked them out of the 2022 event.

"Last season, we watched the (TOC) title game in our room - La Jolla Country Day vs. Lu-Hi," said Archbishop Mitty sophomore McKenna Woliczko. "This year, it was like, 'We need to do this (and get to the finals).'"

The championship game featured 10 fourth-quarter lead changes - the last one on UConn signee Morgan Cheli's two free throws with 16 seconds remaining.

It was the program's third TOC title in school history - and first since 2017 when it went on to win its only national championship (the other TOC title was won in 1997 in California).

"Obviously, we celebrated after the team with team photos on the court," said Woliczko, named the Nike TOC most valuable player. "At the hotel, we jumped into the pool with our jerseys on. And after that, we had a sleepover in my (hotel) room."

After the TOC triumph, Phillips gave the team four days off before returning to practice in anticipation of its upcoming road showcase in Portland.

"I thought we looked rusty (in first game against DeSoto). Offensively, we did not have a lot of rhythm," Phillips said. "But today, we demonstrated we can defend. ... Our team does not get enough credit for its ability to defense. We have a lot of length - and kids who are savvy."

There is plenty to look forward to with this program - immediately and down the line. Consider:

* On Thursday, Phillips - a 1986 Archbishop Mitty alumnus who is in her 31st season as the coach - became the 36th girls basketball coach nationally to amass 800 career victories when the visiting Monarchs defeated Presentation, 79-8. Phillips, who has just 137 losses, is the fourth California coach to reach the 800-win mark, according to the Cal-Hi Sports record book, ranking third behind active coaches, Kevin Kiernan, of Mater Dei at 887, and Harvard-Westlake's Melissa Hearlihy (824). 

* Then it is on to winning the school's 26th league crown under Phillips before hitting the postseason.

* And in order to capture their seventh CIF state title in school history, the Monarchs need to win a 32nd CCS title and 16th NorCal title first. Among the California teams perhaps standing in her way are fellow national powerhouses Etiwanda, Sierra Canyon, Mater Dei, Sage Hill, Folsom and Ontario Christian.

* Then, if all goes well, do we dare mention what could come after that?

"Obviously, a (national title) is really cool to think about," Woliczko said. "But for us, we go at it one game at a time. We are always competing against great competition knowing we get better no matter what we are doing."

Photo by Todd Milles

Photo by Dan Brood