LYNN — Sometimes in high school basketball, a player’s contributions to a team could be a little overlooked when that team is a high-scoring dynamo. Such was the case for St. Mary’s girls basketball center Jannise Avelino, who manned the paint for the high-flying Spartans.
“I think there were certainly times during the year where Jannise’s contributions were a little overshadowed because of all the scoring we were doing,” said St. Mary’s coach Jeff Newhall. “But Jannise was the glue that held us together on the inside. She dominated the paint on both ends and was really a key part of our success.”
But Avelino hasn’t been overlooked by college recruiters, and after considering her options the senior has committed to play basketball at Bridgewater State University next season.
“I didn’t get to visit the campus in person, but I really liked all the things I heard from the coach and I liked all the things I read about the school,” Avelino said. “I considered some other schools too, but Bridgewater ended up being the right choice for me.”
Avelino was a rock in the middle for St. Mary’s in her senior year, leading the Spartans in rebounding and defending some of the best bigs in the Catholic Central League night in and night out. Her grit and determination did not go unnoticed by Newhall, who truly appreciates all that Avelino has contributed to the Spartans’ success over the past few years.
“Her grit and determination were a huge part of making us a strong team on the inside,” Newhall said. “She’s a great leader who led by example out there, and we relied on her for quite a bit. She could score, she could rebound and she could defend. She did a lot for us.”
Avelino was nervous when her time at St. Mary’ started, but she quickly became close with her teammates and never looked back.
“Coming in as a sophomore I was a little nervous, but it didn’t take long to become friends with everyone,” said Avelino. “My time at St. Mary’s has been incredibly fun and everyone has been so supportive over the years.”
But now it’s time to turn the page to the college game, and Avelino has been preparing as best she can under the circumstances. With the COVID-19 pandemic shutting down gyms and courts all over, Avelino has just recently been able to get back to basketball.
“They just started opening up the courts, so it’s been nice to get back outside and shoot around a little bit,” said Avelino. “Sometimes I’ve called up a teammate to get some work in too, just trying to stay as sharp as I can for now.”