Leahy sisters compete on same court for first time ever
Tim Casey
Assistant Sports Editor
CHESTNUT HILL, Mass.
The Leahy sisters stood just inches apart, each attempting to grab a rebound.
There was 1:15 remaining in Saturday's game, Notre Dame ahead 78-58, when Boston College's Nicole Conway toed the free throw line after being fouled by Meaghan Leahy, Notre Dame's senior forward. So Meaghan lined up next to her sister, Maureen, a Boston College freshman, underneath the basket.
Only one small problem.
"She (Meaghan) didn't know if it was 1-and-1 or two shots," Maureen said.
When Maureen recalled the pre-shot conversation after the game, Boston College coach Cathy Inglese, who was standing a few feet away, offered a quick response.
"I hope you gave her the wrong answer," Inglese said.
She probably didn't.
This wasn't sibling rivalry. Instead, it could be classified as sibling revelry.
Sure, the Irish and Eagles clashed in an important conference contest. But the Leahys, Massachusetts natives, did not exactly put all their family ties aside.
"Even when she was out there, I was like `I want Meg to score,'" Maureen said. "You just can't help it."
Said Meaghan: "We're each other's biggest fans."
It's always been that way. They shot baskets in their driveway as kids, scrimmaged together when they got older at the local high school gym and both prepared this past summer for the 1 1/2 mile run that Inglese and Irish coach Muffet McGraw recommended in their off season conditioning programs.
But before Saturday, Meaghan and Maureen had never played against (or with) each other in an organized game. Meaghan went to Suffield Academy in Connecticut, while Maureen attended Minnechaug Regional, the public high school in the Leahys hometown of Wilbraham. And with the age difference, they were always on different AAU and recreation teams.
Both sisters dominated the inferior high school competition. Meaghan, a four-year starter at Suffield, is the school's all-time leading scorer and rebounder. Maureen averaged 17 points, 10 rebounds and four blocks last year and led her team to three state titles.
The older Leahy struggled adjusting to Notre Dame and after her freshman season tried to tell her sister that big-time college basketball is far different from the New England high school scene.
"She would be going in to lift and I'd be like, `I don't need to lift,'" Maureen recalled. "I was like, `I want to go hang out with my friends.'
"We did Mickey Mouse lifting (in high school). I just wanted to make my arms look good. I don't remember ever having someone being that much stronger than me. When I came here I was so weak."
Maureen has quickly learned what her sister preached three years ago. On Saturday, Maureen matched up against Ruth Riley and struggled mightily. In less than seven minutes of playing time, the freshman committed five fouls, attempted zero shots and had no rebounds.
Her sister did not perform much better. Meaghan scored just two points and had three fouls in 11 minutes.
Regardless, the weekend remained a special moment for the entire Leahy family.
Over 50 friends, family and relatives filled Conte Forum, including the Leahy parents, who received tickets from their youngest daughter and sat in the Boston College section.
That was about the only favoritism they showed. William Leahy, the father, wore a Notre Dame sweatshirt and a Boston College hat during the game, while Molly Leahy, the mother, had a Boston College shirt on for the first half, then switched to a Notre Dame shirt in the final 20 minutes.
Molly received some grief for her choice of attire.
"I was watching Meaghan warm-up and she and the other girls were pointing at me," Molly said. "I don't think they were very happy. I should have held up the Notre Dame shirt."
Don't fret, Irish fans. Despite their bipartisan views on Saturday, the Leahys bleed gold and blue through and through. In fact, their house is decorated in Irish garb.
"Notre Dame's a few years ahead so they definitely have the advantage," William said. "We have Notre Dame everything around here."
They will drive to Piscataway, NJ for the Feb. 17 Rutgers game and fly out to South Bend for Senior Night on Feb. 24. From there, they plan on attending each of the Irish's NCAA contests.
But the first weekend of February will forever be etched in the Leahys minds. The Boston Globe's Saturday sports section featured a front-page profile of Meaghan and Maureen and the two were also interviewed on Fox Sports Net's halftime show. Even the parents got to share in the spotlight.
"It was kind of like being a celebrity for an hour with people talking to me," Molly said. "My friend that was sitting next to me was up in the lobby where they have the TVs and she was like `Oh my God, the TV was on you Molly and you had your hands over your face.' From then on, we decided that the TV camera might be on us, so we better look good."
Around 2:15 on Saturday afternoon, with the tape recorders shut off and the camera lights dimmed, the Leahy sisters headed back to their locker rooms.
They stood just inches apart, laughing and enjoying their afternoon back home.
They loved being in the company of their biggest fan.
The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
All Sports Stories for Monday, February 5, 2001
