Coach Sis

WORCESTER – Grace O’Gara is a baller.

She is a 5-foot-5-inch point guard who can play both ends of the floor for the South High School girls’ basketball team. She can defend and she can score. She is averaging 20 points per game this season and she is only 74 points away from scoring a thousand points in her high school career. She even entered the season as one of the top thirty-five players in New England as selected by the 2023 Prep Girls Hoops.

“She can dribble, pass, score, and will defend the top player on the other team,” said Sam, one the Colonels assistant coaches. “On top of her talent, Grace’s leadership, dedication, and commitment is like no other. Her presence on the floor and competitive spirit is what sparks this team to go.”

Sam should know what Grace can do on the floor, because she knows the Colonels’ captain better than anyone involved in high school basketball. Sam is not only her coach, but she is also her

Grace O’Gara in action. Photo by Kevin Paul Saleeba

older sister.

Grace has been a terrific role model for her younger sister through the years. Much like the player Grace is now, back in Sam’s playing days, she could also defend and score as a star guard at Clark University. As a four-year starter, Sam became the twenty-first player in school history to reach the thousand-point milestone and she had nearly a forty percent field goal percentage and four assists per game in nearly a hundred college games. Sam O’Gara was also a baller and Grace is following in her older sister’s footsteps.

“Grace has been watching me play and following me around my whole career,” Sam said. “She was at every single one of my games, most of the time shooting around any chance she got.”

Sam’s biggest supporter has always been her younger sister, Grace. Submitted photo

As Sam’s biggest supporter, Grace also learned how to become an impactful player on the court from watching Sam play. “My sister has been the person I’ve looked up to since I was young,” said Grace. “Watching her play was the best experience, because I learned how to have great leadership and confidence when on the court … My sister has made a big impact on who I am.”

Sam coaching her younger sister has only strengthened their relationship. “To have the opportunity to coach and watch her grow as a player and person has been a pleasure,” Sam said. “We have a very tight bond.”

However, when it’s game time, the sisters are all about fulfilling their roles as coach and player. “When I play, I don’t think of Sam as my sister, but as my coach,” said Grace. “She will be one of my biggest critics, but also one of the first to lift me up with positivity.”

Both Sam and Grace have the same objectives this season, to help the South basketball team win the Inter-High Conference and possibly challenge for the Division 2 state title. The chance to achieve these goals together will just make that achievement more special. The O’Gara’s next chance to be player and coach again will be on Monday, Jan. 3 when they compete against non-league opponent Nipmuc Regional at South High School at 6:30 p.m. The Colonels are 1-1 on the season.

“My sister has shown me that you can get through whatever life throws at you,” Grace said. “And I’m very thankful that we get to spend my senior year together.”

Sam agreed. “I’m thankful I get to guide and help her throughout her senior year.”