LYNN  — When taking over a basketball program with as much history as St. Mary’s (Lynn) has, there is always going to be pressure. The fans are accustomed to winning, especially given recent success.

Josh Kielty decided to embrace the challenge. After leading Georgetown to a Div. 4 boys championship last winter, the coach was offered a new job position at St. Mary’s a few weeks later in April.

“I just felt like it was too good of a situation to pass up,” Kielty said. “In my opinion, it’s a top program statewide. I just think it was the best fit for my family too, in terms of that next step for us.”

Kielty stepped in for longtime Spartans basketball coach Dave Brown, who departed the program following a 13-year stint. During Brown’s tenure, St. Mary’s captured two state championships (2016, 2022), and finished 24-2 while making a run to the Div. 3 Final Four in 2025. Kielty had pretty big shoes to fill. Not to mention, the Spartans were moving up to Div. 2 for the 2025-26 season as part of a recent MIAA realignment.

“Certainly a huge step in terms of expectations, and just the quality of basketball with the schedule,” said Kielty. “When it presented itself, it was far too good to pass up.”

St. Mary’s players were highly optimistic after learning more about their newest mentor.

“Personally, I was super excited,” said sophomore Jake Fortier. “Because I know that he’s like a point guard coach, too. I know having a coach like that can really take us, and my game to the next level.”

It may have been a whirlwind of an offseason for St. Mary’s, but the winning tradition has continued. The Spartans have steamrolled to a 13-1 record, their lone blemish coming against  interstate opponent St. Francis Prep (N.Y.) during a 72-63 loss Jan. 17. In spite of a daunting schedule, they have coasted past their opposition, averaging 79.57 points per contest. During its impressive run, St. Mary’s has toppled some of the state’s premier teams in Pope Francis, Bishop Feehan, Masconomet, Cathedral and most recently on Tuesday, Archbishop Williams.

“This year, it’s different,” Fortier said. “The teams are better, but we also have a better group of guys. We have a better team, we have more skill, and more discipline. Coach Kielty really just brought us all together, and finishes everything.”

Fortier has been a sparkplug offensively for St. Mary’s, averaging 19 points to go with five assists per game, while shooting 43% on three-point attempts. Senior forward Rolky Brea Arias has been a massive addition for the Spartans after transferring from neighboring Lynn Classical prior to the season. He has averaged a double-double (19 points, 16 rebounds per game).

“It’s extremely exciting,” Fortier said. “I think all the guys, we all joined together. We created a brotherhood this year, and I think that’s why we see success on the court.”

Saint Mary’s star Jake Fortier jumps to take a shot as Lynn Tech defenders close in during a boys basketball game last month. (Libby O’Neill/Boston Herald)

Senior forward John Chareas has averaged 17 points (shooting 47% from three-point land) for the Spartans, while junior Rowan Merryman has added 10 points per game. Senior forward Gabe Makuwa-Sykes has averaged seven points and seven rebounds.

“When you win, it’s like a domino effect,” Merryman said. “You just want it to keep happening. As long as we win, we want to keep going. We don’t want to change. These last couple of years, we won the first couple, and we just ran with it.”

As of Tuesday, St. Mary’s was standing atop the Div. 2 power rankings with a rating of 11.6058. The Spartans still have six games remaining in their regular season schedule. They will face Bishop Fenwick on Friday night, before taking on Salem in an anticipated matchup Feb. 4.

“I just think it’s like anything, it’s getting the right people on board first,” Kielty said. “You need people that are unselfish, that are about the right things. That are about winning, that are about getting better everyday. I think that the kids have just come in with that blue collar mindset and mentality – of just ‘work and get better.’ So it’s definitely a humble group.”

Herald boys rankings

1. Bridgewater-Raynham (11-1); 2. Central Catholic (11-2); 3. Attleboro (12-1); 4. Malden Catholic (12-2); 5. St. Mary’s (Lynn) (13-1); 6. Andover (12-1); 7. Needham (12-1); 8. Oliver Ames (12-1); 9. Cambridge (8-2); 10. Hanover (13-0); 11. Masconomet (9-1); 12. New Bedford (8-2); 13. Holland School (Burke) (9-3); 14. Brookline (9-4); 15. Winchester (12-2); 16. Beverly (10-3); 17. Bishop Feehan (9-3); 18. Catholic Memorial (8-3); 19. Salem (10-1); 20. Plymouth South (10-1); 21. Norwell (10-3); 22. BC High (8-4); 23. Cathedral (7-4); 24. Burlington (9-2); 25. Wareham (10-2)

Herald girls rankings

1. Medfield (15-0); 2. Bishop Feehan (12-2); 3. St. Mary’s (Lynn) (13-2); 4. Woburn (12-0); 5.  Bishop Fenwick (10-2); 6. Whitman-Hanson (13-1); 7. Foxboro (12-0); 8. Needham (12-1); 9.  Andover (12-1); 10. Natick (10-2); 11. Norwood (11-2); 12. Wachusett (9-2); 13. Walpole (9-3); 14. East Bridgewater (10-2); 15. North Reading (11-2); 16. Billerica (10-2); 17. Winchester (11-4); 18. Hopkinton (10-3); 19. Norwell (9-2); 20. Braintree (9-3); 21. Hingham (9-4); 22. Cathedral (8-5); 23. Duxbury (8-4); 24. Millbury (9-3); 25. Westford Academy (8-3)

Note: Records as of Wednesday.