High school basketball: Mary Meng making mark at Midview

EATON TWP. — If the mark of a great athlete is how they perform when given the opportunity to face stiffer competition, Midview's Mary Meng has already proven herself as a one of the best in the region. Meng, a 6-foot-4 junior center, put up lofty numbers for two years at Christian Community School before transferring to Midview in time for the 2021-22 season. Though she's playing now in the Southwestern Conference, considered by many to be one of the top leagues in the area, Meng hasn't missed a beat, averaging 16 points, 17 rebounds and 5.5 blocked shots per game for the 3-1 Middies. "If I had thought about it a little bit more I would have been a little bit more intimidated, but I really didn't think about until after our first game," Meng said of the transition from playing at a non-OHSAA school, where she primarily faced smaller Christian schools, to playing for a Division I program. Meng's first game at Midview was a memorable one. She scored 21 points, grabbing 26 rebounds and blocking eight shots, as the Middies defeated rival Avon at the season-opening DiFranco Classic. "I was nervous going into the first game. It was the DiFranco Classic, so it was an emotional time for the whole school," Meng said. "That game was also the most fans I've ever played in front of, so it was an adjustment to staying calm and confident." First-year Midview coach Brittney McNamara has coached Meng for three seasons in AAU ball, so she's had a front-row seat to watch her grow, literally, into one of the area's top players. "Mary is a great player to be around. She wants to win and wants everyone else to be good," McNamara said. "She really believes in the 'we' instead of the 'me.' She's the type of kid everyone wants to have on her team." Last year, Meng averaged 20.4 points and 15.9 rebounds per game for the Warriors. In 59 varsity games over three years at Christian Community (Meng played some varsity games as an eighth grader, which is allowed at non-OHSAA schools), she averaged 17 points, 13.3 rebounds and four blocked shots, while often scoring half or more of her team's points. "I love being on a team where I'm not the only scoring threat," she said. "If I'm having an off-night or I need a break, there's always other girls who can score." While fans and opposing coaches alike focus on Meng's frame and her footwork around the basket, McNamara said it's the intangibles Meng brings to a team that makes her such a complete player. "She adds so much to the team, not just because of her height and her ability, but her personality is the glue that holds the team together," McNamara said. "Bringing in a girl who has played among the best of the best in AAU ball but doesn't have an ego brings a special element to our team." One of the biggest adjustments Meng will face at Midview is playing on a nightly basis against teams who have formulated game plans to shut her down. "We're already seeing teams making adjustments and double-teaming her," McNamara said. "We have to find other ways to score and get Mary the ball away from the basket. Sometimes that means getting the spotlight off Mary and getting the ball to Olivia (DiFranco) more or getting the ball to Grace (Seymour)." Unlike most players her size, Meng also has shown the ability to avoid foul trouble. In four games this year, she's only picked up more than two fouls in a game once. "I know I have to be smart and not go chasing after things that in the cost-benefit analysis aren't worth risking picking up a foul," Meng said. Last season, Midview advanced to the district semifinals for the first time in over a decade. Meng thinks the Middies are on the verge of reaching even loftier heights. "I think we can do some great things," she said. "We have a small team but everyone is confident and roots for each other. We're only losing one senior this year, so it's really exciting to see where we're headed in the future. "I love this team and our coach. Winning is fun but winning with people that you love is even better." Contact Todd Shapiro at 440-329-7135 or ctsports@chroniclet.com.