When former Washington Bullets forward Mark Alarie starts talking about the potential his daughter could have on the basketball court, he will bring up one fact from his own basketball career: “I was a very late bloomer myself.”
Junior Isabella Alarie — she goes by her nickname, Bella — is following that template as well, developing into a dynamic sidekick for National Cathedral girls’ basketball star Marta Sniezek this winter. Alarie, a 6-foot-3 junior, has been going through growth spurts the past two years, adding shot-blocking and rebounding to a repertoire that already included outside shooting this winter.
Back in December, meanwhile, she got her recruiting process completed early. Alarie committed to Princeton over Harvard, Penn and Michigan. This year, the Tigers are 19-0 and ranked No. 18 in the nation as the only undefeated Division I team aside from No. 1 South Carolina.
Advertisement
“I kind of knew that was the school I wanted to go to. It was just a matter of time I made it more official,” Alarie said. “I think the mix of academics and they’re a great team. They’re doing really well this year. I just knew when I was there. I felt it, that that was the school I wanted to go to.”
Mark Alarie quietly hoped his alma mater, Duke, would get involved considering he took Bella to the school’s basketball camp every summer as she grew up.
“But we haven’t even gotten a letter,” he said, not hiding his disappointment after a recent National Cathedral game.
The Eagles suffered their second defeat of the year Wednesday, losing to Holy Child, 56-52, to fall two games behind No. 3 Georgetown Visitation in the Independent School League regular season title race. Bella Alarie, though, continued her streak of scoring in double figures in every contest this season.
Advertisement
Alarie’s length has proven to be her best weapon, and her genes are undeniable.
“I think I’ve just stopped growing,” she joked.
“He’s coached me since I was a little kindergartener, so definitely, there’s been a push to play,” Bella Alarie said. “But I’ve loved it my whole life.”
NUMBER CRUNCH: 3
Alley-oop dunks completed by H.D. Woodson junior Antwan Walker when the 20th-ranked Warriors stormed past McKinley Tech, 71-42, to clinch the DCIAA boys’ basketball regular season title Thursday night. His best work came just before halftime, on a reverse alley-oop jam that sent fans streaming from the bleachers in excitement. Walker (17 points), who recently picked up his first two scholarship offers from Duquesne and UNC Greensboro, was one of three H.D. Woodson players to finish in double figures in scoring. Senior Dion Crumlin led the way with 24 points.
Advertisement
BREAKFAST LINKS
MUST-SEE VIDEO
WHAT TO WATCH FOR: No. 12 McNamara boys at No. 7 St. John’s; No. 18 Chantilly girls at No. 5 Oakton
There’s another loaded Friday night basketball schedule, and we’ll have reporters canvassing the area for coverage. But these are the only two matchups featuring two ranked teams. McNamara and St. John’s continue to jockey for postseason seeding behind No. 1 DeMatha with the WCAC boys’ playoffs looming. Oakton’s girls, meanwhile, still haven’t lost to local competition this winter.
ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7uK3SoaCnn6Sku7G70q1lnKedZLumw9JoqZ6boqq2tbXNoGSipqOesaa%2BjrCnaGpgZoJwfJFoZ29nnpbBqrvNmqNmm5Gptaaw0ZqjrGWZqK6jsculmGaZnJa%2FqrGMoKmor6NivLbAjKidZp6RqbWmvtJmqqGZlKTEcA%3D%3D