Bella Owumi shined in leading St. Mary's to a Division 3 championship. (Carlos Flores)
LOWELL, Mass. — St. Mary's sophomore Bella Owumi sent back one of her many monster blocks in the closing seconds of the Division 3 championship, chasing down and swatting an open Norwell layup.
During the dead ball, Spartans coach Jeff Newhall, Owumi's longtime coach, neighbor and family friend, brought her over for a final message.
"That's how you block a shot!" he yelled into her ear.
The top-seeded Spartans, led by Owumi's 19 points and countless deflections, prevailed in a physical, 46-38 battle against third-seeded Norwell Friday evening. The victory brought St. Mary's its third Div. 3 championship in the last four years; they're 3-for-3 in winning titles at Tsongas Center.
