**St. Pius-St. Matthias Academy’s Stephanie Zesati (12) shoots under pressure from Cantwell Sacred Heart of Mary defenders in their league girls basketball game on Tuesday. CSHM defeated PMA 51-44.** (Photo by Keith Durflinger)

DOWNEY – A short jump shot that was all net at the 6:48 mark of the first period of a Camino Real game against Bishop Conaty-Loretto Saturday (Jan. 3), put St. Pius X-St. Matthais Academy (PMA) girls basketball senior forward Stephanie Zesati in the record books for the Warriors as she reached the 1,000-point plateau.

“I think it’s bigger than me,” said Zesati, of her accomplishment. “Most of my points came from last year. I had a lot of 20-point games.

“Victoria (Fernandez) passed the ball to me. We’ve been together since our freshmen year training. My dad (Jesus Zesati) told me I was close, but wouldn’t

tell me exactly. I was confused when they called a time out.”

A time out was called by second-year coach Sinnamonn Monroy and the celebration was on as the players all surrounded the surprised record setter. They all waved specially made towels that congratulated Zesati, as PMA athletic director James Covell informed the home crowd of her achievement.

“Since James (Covell) has been here, (it’s great) having an athletic director that really wants to build a sports program,” said Monroy.

Covell has seen his share of championship team appearances, but this is a whole new first at the school.

“Having someone score 1000 points is a great recognition of how dedicated Stephanie has been to her craft,” Covell said. “She's been a great member of the PMA community participating in multiple sports, campus ministry, and school retreats. We are so proud of the Warrior she's become.”

No other girls PMA player has ever reached that lofty number and coach Monroy was happy to be part of the special night.

“I’ve only had one other player who had a 1,000-point mark when I was at Mayfair,” she said. “It’s a huge accomplishment and to see how she has grown over the last two years is amazing.

“For Steph, from last year in her growth and maturity as a player and as a leader and team captain this year, from a leadership standpoint, she has been through so much.

“Even in the fourth quarter (of the Bishop-Conaty game) all five were freshmen and she is super helpful with them.”

Monroy is in her 15th year coaching, 11 of which have been a head coach.

Fernandez described the play as she assisted Zesati on the basket. “I knew that she was going to get her 1,000th point this game, but I wasn’t sure which one,” she said. “I saw her and obviously she was open and I know she was going to score, I pass it to her, and she scores and they (coach) call a time out – her 1,000th point.

“I felt so proud of her and I’m glad that she would go out there and do what she needed to do. I’m glad that she came this far.”

On the boys side, former PMA player Tyrone Riley, who is now playing at the University of San Francisco, is the only other player to score 1,000 points at the school in his four years on campus.

The Warriors defeated Bishop Conaty in a lopsided game, 92-5, as Zesati finished with 13 points. Three other players also finished in double figures for PMA – freshman Maria Casas (15 Pts.), junior Kaicia Snelson (14 Pts.) and junior Evelyn Martinez with 13 points.

In another Camino Real League game this week, the Warriors suffered their first loss in league, 51-44, to host Cantwell-Sacred Heart of Mary Tuesday (Jan. 6).

Juniors Kaicia Snelson and Janiya Horton led the Warriors with 16 and 15 points, respectively.

The Warriors are off to a 10-6 start this season and advanced to the championship game of the Artesia Tournament in early December.

They defeated Woodrow Wilson of Long Beach in the opening game, 46-38, defeated host Artesia, 61-38, but fell to Wilson in a rematch in the championship game, 53-48.

Zesati, who currently has scored 1,015 points and counting, has achieved multiple accolades as she was named the 2024- ‘25 Sante Fe League MVP, All-CIF and All CIF State player.

Zesati, who also played on the volleyball team, was part of the team that advanced to the CIF D9 Championship game during the 2024 season. They also advanced to the second round of the CIF State D5 playoffs.

Zesati, who was a starter from the beginning as a freshman, scored 210 points in her first year. Unfortunately, the first year was a struggle as the Warriors only managed four wins.

However, everything changed in her sophomore season in the ’23-’24 season, as they finished with 19 wins, finished second in the Santa Fe League with a 10-2 record and advanced all the way to the CIF-SS D 5AA Championship game.

It was only the second time in school history (2015) that PMA advanced to the title game.

In that playoff run to the title game, the Warriors received a first-round bye, then easily defeated La Reina, 80-21, in the second round, Morningside, 52-34, in the quarterfinals and Temecula Prep, 53-45 in the semifinals.

Unfortunately, the Warriors lost to Antelope Valley in the championship but received an invitation to the CIF State playoffs.

That season, with a second coach in two years, Zesati scored 282 points in 32 games.

“We were only the second team to get to a championship in school history,” Zesati said. “Losing a CIF Championship has built up a close bond.”

Last season, Monroy and her assistant, Omelogo Udeze entered as her third coach in three years, and the Warriors again made another run in the playoffs, advancing to the semifinals. They also won the Santa Fe League Championship, going undefeated at 13-0. Zesati scored 361 points that year despite hardly playing in the second half of league games.

“I’m definitely grateful to have two coaches now, because they are the only ones that stayed,” said Zesati, of her coaches Monroy and Udeze in their second year. In Zesati’s first two years she had two different coaches. “They know what they’re doing – they’ve played, they’ve coached.”

What they said:

Omelogo Udeze, PMA assistant coach: “It’s amazing and a testament to her hard work and dedication to the game. A thousand points is not easy to get to.

She actually had no idea and for (the players) to come with the shirts was a surprise. The fact that she’s the first one in school history is even better.

It’s a great moment and something to aspire to and with her getting that it actually inspired her teammates as well.

It is big for her to have growth every year and she realized that she needed work in her first year. To take it upon herself and say this is the sport that I love and to put in the work to get better, It just lets them know that hard work pays off.”

Evelyn Martinez, junior: “I’m really proud of Steph. She’s come a long way and it feels cool to be a part of it and I don’t know how to describe it. I did not know that it was the 1,000th point. I knew it was going to happen, because I don’t really see a lot of people score like that. I was really happy for her.”

Rebecca Maldonado, junior: “It’s very special. I’m very proud of my teammate. I’ve been with her since my freshman year. I’ve seen how much work she has put in because in my freshman year we played AAU together and her passion for the game is amazing to watch. She’s grown a lot and averaged almost 20 points a game or something like that last year.

I hope that we can make a run this year in the playoffs.”

Jesus Zesati, Stephanie’s father: “That was a great moment. She’s been working hard for the last four years. It was a big accomplishment. I’ve watched her play and she has her great days, bad days and she grinds and plays through.

My son, Jesus, also played basketball (St. John Bosco) and he helps her out. It’s a family tradition now.

It was her freshman year that really made her when it was a bad year (only four wins). She really put in the work and the year after that they went to the championship.

I try to not make it about points. It’s more about team.

It was big for us (the 1,000th point) – for my family, my brothers, my nephews, her sister, her mom, everybody was here (Saturday) for her. Life’s about goals.”

Zesati reaches 1,000-point milestone for PMA girls basketball