Sarah Oleary is all business.

The Abington senior is planning to study business at Washington College next year.

She has won regional championships as a member of the DECA business club.

And a future career combining sports and business is in the cards.

But when she steps onto the basketball court, it’s all for the love of the game.

How to succeed in business

As much as the forward enjoys playing basketball for Abington, Oleary takes her role as team captain very seriously.

“Our other captains are more vocal, especially off the court,” Oleary said. “Whereas I am more comfortable with leading on the court, whether that’s directing the defense or working on plays in practice.”

Another thing that Oleary takes seriously? Proving the critics wrong.

“Before the season, I kept hearing people say that 'Oh this is going to be a down year for Abington,'” Oleary recalled. “It fueled the fire to go out and show what we truly are as a team.”

While the Ghosts are a perennial playoff team, they experienced plenty of changes this off-season, with longtime coach Dan Marsh leaving to coach the Abington boys team, and the graduation of Cire Worley, the school’s all-time leading scorer.

Oleary and her teammates have turned those challenges into a positive.

“Losing our top scorers were hard, but everyone is comfortable with the changes and understands their new roles,” Oleary said. “Our offseason workouts really helped. Everyone is contributing in their own way.”

Oleary’s way is to provide standout defense, and while she might not always be among the game's top scorers, her ability to disrupt opposing offenses creates many scoring opportunities for her teammates.

“I often play against the tallest girls or the highest scorers,” Oleary said. “Even when I’m not scoring, I am still facilitating on offense and generating fast breaks.”

Oleary's defensive impact is apparent − the Ghosts (6-2) are giving up 41 points per game this season, compared to 47 last year.

"Sara comes to practice early, hustles, works hard, and is not a complainer," Abington's first-year head coach Allison Lawson said. "She has a positive attitude, encourages teammates, and understands her importance to the team, and the importance of her contributions."

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Oleary making a name for herself

While she has been playing basketball since second grade, including several years with high-level Fencor AAU, it wasn’t until recently that Oleary felt completely confident in her game.

Oleary comes from a basketball family. Older sister Lizzie Oleary was the Intell Girls Basketball Player of the Year during her standout career at Abington, played Division I basketball for the University of Delaware, and is now assistant coordinator of women’s basketball operations at Arizona State.

But following such a talented sibling created some concerns for Sarah, who felt she was often being compared to Lizzie. She was even frequently called by her sister’s name, despite Lizzie being seven years older.

“I was always seen as Lizzie’s younger sister, and that affected me a lot as I felt I couldn’t live up to that,” Oleary said. “I had to learn to be myself, and that may not be someone who is 6-2 with an incredible basketball IQ. But that’s OK because I know what I can bring to a team.”

Oleary’s increased self-assurance hasn’t gone unnoticed. She was heavily recruited and recently committed to Washington College. And while Lizzie was invaluable in helping Sarah navigate the recruitment process, she was confident enough to make the final decision herself.

“Washington College is the perfect location for me,” Oleary said. “I looked at other schools that were really close to home, and one in D.C., but none were the right fit. Then I visited Washington.”

The Maryland location is far enough from home to allow Oleary some independence, but close enough for regular visits with her close-knit family. Most importantly, she felt right at home with head coach Alisha Mosley and her future teammates.

Unfinished business for Abington's Oleary

Oleary plans to major in business, with a focus on sports management. She’ll start her freshman year with plenty of experience in the field, thanks to her participation in Abington’s DECA chapter.

“It’s actually a lot of work,” said Oleary. “We go to competitions, including regionals and states, and we have to take a test just to qualify. The judges give us a category and we have to develop a business plan on the spot.”

Oleary’s team advanced to the highest level of competition last year. The topic she was given? Sports marketing.

As a member of two high-achieving programs, Oleary has had to juggle her schedule around a bit.

“I have had to tell my DECA moderators that I can’t make a meeting, or need to leave early, a few times,” Oleary said. “But they understand that basketball is my top priority.”

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This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: High school girls basketball: Abington senior blends business, basketball