Holding court

Ryan McMahon has taken on a new role.

It’s one unlike any the Cardinal Mooney High junior guard experienced during his first two seasons with the Cougars.

As a sophomore, McMahon was dubbed Cardinal Mooney’s sixth man — providing a boost of energy and defense off the bench whenever the Cougars needed it.

Now, in his second varsity season, McMahon is responsible for bringing that same energy to the floor every day, both in practice and in competition.

“I love being in charge,” McMahon says. “There’s a little bit of pressure that comes with that, though. At the beginning of the year I felt it, but I just try to calm down. When I don’t think about it and just play the game — the pressure’s not there.”

McMahon’s father, a former Valparaiso University basketball player, introduced his son to the sport at an early age.

“All of my baby pictures have basketball toys in them or are basketball-related,” McMahon says.
McMahon quickly took to the sport; he spent countless hours perfecting his game.
Last season, McMahon averaged 8.3 points per game while helping lead the Cougars to the Class 3A-District 10 championship and a berth in the regional finals.

Now, McMahon is hoping to use last season’s disappointing loss to Community School of Naples as motivation toward another state-title run.

“I like the team aspect of it,” McMahon says. “You have five guys who are basically a family going to battle every night.

“We put in a lot of work over the summer, and now it feels like we’ve finally clicked as a team and our hard work is paying off,” McMahon says.

In his junior season, McMahon is averaging 15.9 points, 3.6 assists, 3.1 steals and 2.1 rebounds per game while helping lead the Cougars to a 9-5 record (4-0 Class 3A-District 10).

“He’s picked up right where he left off last year,” Cardinal Mooney coach Stefan Gates says. “He’s a very dynamic player. He really sees the floor well, and he gets his teammates involved. He’s a gym rat. He works really hard, and he loves it.”

Following this season, McMahon will resume playing travel ball for Florida Elite; he plans to play college basketball.

“I’ve gotten a good amount of exposure,” McMahon says. “I’m just going to see where basketball takes me.”

Contact Jen Blanco at [email protected].