TONAWANDA, N.Y. — The Cardinal O'Hara girls basketball team has been a model of consistency over the last decade-plus.
Over the last 11 seasons, the Lady Hawks have won the Monsignor Martin title a total of 10 times.
The only gap in that span was a loss to Nichols in the league title game last year.
This year, O'Hara avenged that loss with a 59-45 win over Nichols at Canisius University, recapturing the MMHSAA that had been theirs for nine straight years from 2014-2022.
"It was definitely great to get it back," senior guard Aliviya Russell said. "It was almost good for us because now we bounced back this year to show who we really are as a team."
Head coach Nick O'Neill is helping to continue the tradition and legacy of the program, after helping the team win state titles in 2013 and 2014 as an assistant.
As he prepares to lead his team to states this weekend, beginning with a semifinal game Friday against St. Joseph-by-the-Sea (5:45 p.m.), he says his team's work ethic is what stands out.
"Hardest working team in Western New York," O'Neill said about his squad. "One of the most dedicated teams that I've ever coached. You don't have to ask them to work. You don't have to ask them to be in the gym."
That work ethic is paired with talent, something that is no stranger to O'Hara basketball.
In fact, the Lady Hawks have produced over two dozen Division I players since 2012, including the standout sister duo of Aaliyah and Angel Parker who play at Niagara University.
"I know that there's a lot of good girls that played here before me so its just great to be able to carry on that legacy for them," junior forward Kyla Hayes said. "We play hard for them too because this is their school and they started this,"
At 24-2 on the season and two games away from a first state title since 2014, the current group of talented players at O'Hara are happy to continue the legacy and standard of winning that was set before them.
It's really cool. When you put it on, it's a jersey, but when you realize people have sat in these that have done bigger things and now Coach Nick has given us opportunities. ... Now that we get to have them and see people from before have them, it's big," senior wing Jordyn Williams said.
"It's an accomplishment to hold that name," Russell said "You're helping the girls for next year come on ... so you're kind of setting it as like the future."