Marist hopes they can build a family-like atmosphere with its athletic programs.
When three players on the same team are related, that’s even easier to do.
Cousins Lucy and Olivia Cosme are both juniors, while Lucy’s younger sister, Rose, is a sophomore. The trio have enjoyed getting the opportunity to continue playing alongside each other at Marist.
“It’s awesome,” Lucy Cosme said. “We’ve been playing together since like fifth grade.”
“It’s so fun,” Oliva Cosme said. “Coming into high school I knew it would be so much fun because we know each other so well.”
The junior Cosme duo combined for 29 points as they led RedHawks past Lincoln-Way West 59-40 in the Class 4A Rich Sectional final on Feb. 27. It was Marist’s first sectional title since 2012.
Olivia Cosme had a game-high 19 points and eight steals.
Right before halftime, Olivia Cosme had back-to-back-to-back 3-pointers including one right after one of her steals. That second 3-pointer put the RedHawks up 31-20, and their lead never fell into single digits the rest of the way.
Even though she had her own success in the sectional win, Olivia Cosme took time to recognize her cousin, Lucy.
“Whether she is starting or not starting, she’s always making the most amount of effort and doing the little things right,” Olivia Cosme said. “And she is our elite shooter. She is a great threat that everyone has to look out for and someone nobody wants to really see on the floor if they are on defense.”
Lucy Cosme was the only other RedHawk in double figures, finishing with 10 points off the bench.
“She does so many things that people don’t even see on the court,” Marist coach Renee Chimino said. “Every day in practice she works so hard. She’s always staying after and looking for ways to improve. She’s just a really good teammate and does whatever the team is needing.”
This bond goes beyond just the Cosme family.
“They have chemistry,” Chimino said. “They’re all from the same neighborhoods. They’ve been building all summer long, whether it is with us or with their club teams, which many of them play together on. I think it just translates and turns into chemistry.
“It’s great. Not all the pressure is on one person because every single one of us has so much talent,” Olivia Cosme said. “That’s a great thing we have as a team because everybody can do something and they are able to do that something really well.”
Marist has benefited from its depth both offensively and defensively, especially during this playoff run. Seven players scored in the win over Lincoln-Way West.
Madison Vrdolyak and Lily Porter each had eight points in the win. Also getting in the mix was sophomore guard Caroline Flynn, who filled out the stat sheet with six points, six rebounds and four steals.
Believing in themselves and in their teammates has helped carry the RedHawks to some big wins, especially down the stretch.
“I think confidence is really the key when you are playing,” Lucy said. “And I think it helps more than people think. If you have confidence in yourself and confidence in your teammates, it helps you work well.”
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