Daniel Maher is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Saint Mary's Catholic for AZPreps365.com

From 2005 to 2009, Patricia Hollerbach helped lead Saint Mary’s to three championship appearances and two championships. In her senior year, she broke her own record twice for most three-pointers made in a game. Now over 10 years later, Hollerbach is back on the Saint Mary’s court, but this time as the head coach. 

“I’ve always wanted to come back to Saint Mary’s,” said Hollerbach, who has a long-lasting connection with the school. “Saint Mary’s has always played a big role in my life; this is where I met my husband, we met because of basketball, and now we get to coach where we met.” 

Now in her second season as head coach, Hollerbach has tried to implement a fast-paced game plan focused on team basketball. This system has helped the Knights get off to a 6-3 start, 3-0 at home. 

“We really worked over the summer about giving up your shot to someone else for a better one; our wins have come from team wins where we have spread the ball, we were patient and got the ball to the person with the highest percentage shot,” said Hollerbach. 

 This game plan has allowed the team to be quicker in transition on both ends of the floor, something Saint Mary’s was not known for in the past. The speed of the Knights game has also helped out on the defensive side of the ball. The Knights now average just over 10 steals per game and 31 rebounds a game. 

The team has embraced this system. “As freshman and sophomores, we weren’t really as close as we are now, and I have enjoyed it a lot more,”  said senior captain Marlene Moreno. “We are playing more team basketball now in my senior year compared to as a freshman or sophomore.”

Moreno was a focal point of the offense in the 2019-2020 season. She averaged over 12 points and was the go-to scorer. This season, though, the game plan has allowed Moreno to improve even more, now averaging 11.6 points, 6.6 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 3.6 steals.

Senior captain Evelyn Lopez is already averaging over triple the rebounds she was last season. She’s averaging 7.9 rebounds and  over 6 points. 

“As a senior, I feel like a more complete and more whole basketball player thanks to coach Patricia,” said Lopez. “A lot of people overlooked it, but we really went through the fundamentals of the game, and it really has helped everyone.” 

Senior Gianna Brittain has also seen a significant improvement in her game this season. She scored 19 points in the loss to Mohave on Feb. 11. Brittain is averaging a career-high 13.8 points while also causing problems in the paint, averaging a career-high 8.4 rebounds. 

The team has been able to win under these uncertain times. Hollerbach’s leadership has helped institute a winning mindset in spite of the pandemic.

“I always tell my players, play this game like it is your last because it could be,” said Hollerbach. 

Even wearing masks and playing with no fans, they have stayed together as a team. The bench is one of their biggest cheerleaders, said the seniors. 

“Aside from the masks, we are just going to play basketball,” said Moreno. “We are all so thankful for playing the game that we love.” 

Hollerbach’s game plan will be put to the test this week as the Knights play Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.