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Mahony, a three-year starter, averaged 15.8 points and 10.2 rebounds per game in December and has led the Trojans to a 3-4 record. Mahony was selected as The Weston Daily Voice Athlete of the Month for her terrific overall play.
Weston went 8-13 last season but came into this year with a young and inexperienced squad. Ellie Martin, the team’s leading scorer and rebounder last year, graduated. And Taylor Swanson elected not to play after suffering knee injuries each of the past two seasons.
Mahony, who cracked the starting lineup when injuries decimated the Trojans’ lineup in her sophomore year, has filled the void.
“It was evident from the outset that Anna had really improved this year,’’ coach Dan Rosen said. “When we learned Taylor wasn’t returning, she took a deep gulp and really became the leader of our team. It was evident that she knew what she wanted to accomplish.”
One of Mahony's biggest improvements is in her footwork. The 6-foot, 1-inch center earned first-team all-South West Conference in field hockey as a goalie. The skills she acquired in that sport have helped her in basketball.
“I worked hard to get in shape with field hockey,’’ Mahony said. “That helped me and also becoming more experienced and confident. I knew I had to fill role of being a captain and senior.”
Rosen saw tons of promise when she was a sophomore, and Mahony has steadily improved over the past two years. She has taken her game to a new level this winter, though.
“At the beginning of her sophomore year we saw a tall, thin girl with glimpses of progress,’’ Rosen said. “She has improved tremendously. She’s gotten bigger, stronger and more confident. She’s developed into the player we thought she could be.”
Mahony has developed a nice chemistry with senior guard Morgan Moubayed, her coach said, and they have been the key players in Weston’s promising start. The Trojans have won two straight and could make the state tournament for the fifth year in a row.
Mahony has excelled in sports while balancing a heavy workload off it. She volunteers at Relay for Life and Special Olympics and is a member of the school’s Animal Rights Club and Gender Equality Club.
“I can still get a lot better at balancing things,’’ she said. “I like to think I keep a pretty good balance. It’s a lot of fun to have these things to stay involved in.”
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