Maranatha Girls Basketball Surges to 5-0 Start Under Johnson Patterson

The Maranatha Christian Academy girls basketball team has wasted no time making a statement to open the 2025 season. With Head Coach Faith Johnson Patterson leading the charge, the Mustangs have jumped out to a dominant 5-0 record, showcasing both toughness and talent against a challenging early schedule.

Maranatha opened the year on the road on November 25 with a commanding 62-23 victory over Osseo before edging out a gritty 63-58 win at Champlin Park. Their third straight road matchup took them to Princeton, where the Mustangs secured a 66-55 win to remain perfect away from home.

The Mustangs finally returned to their home court on December 6 for a thrilling battle against Watertown-Mayer. Despite trailing for much of the game, Maranatha rallied late and applied relentless pressure to complete a 73-69 comeback victory in front of their home crowd.

Skyline Conference play tipped off against New Life Academy, and the Mustangs delivered a statement performance, rolling to an 87-45 win in convincing fashion.

Offensively, Maranatha features a balanced but dangerous attack. Senior guard Zaniah Hunter leads the team with 89 points through the first five games, followed closely by the sharpshooting Greta Eaves with 81. Senior standout Olivia Lanari has added 63 points while providing a major presence in the paint. Heather Sheehy has contributed 61 points and is nearing 1,000 points to further strengthen the Mustangs’ scoring depth.

Lanari has been a force on the boards as well, averaging 11.8 rebounds per game while also leading the team with 25 steals, a testament to her all-around impact and defensive effort.

With momentum building, Maranatha hits the road once again this Friday as they travel to Concordia Academy. The Mustangs will look to continue their undefeated run, with the JV game scheduled for 5:30 p.m. and varsity tipping off at 7:00 p.m.

If the opening stretch is any indication, the Mustangs are poised to be a major force this season, and they’re just getting started.