“Bigger than Basketball”: Opal Maralit shines on and off court for Blue Ridge

Opal Maralit is leading Blue Ridge (6-2) in almost all statistical categories this season. Her character, however, is what she cares about most of all. (KB HENDERSON PHOTO)

After Blue Ridge’s basketball double-header against Landrum on Dec. 13, the bleachers emptied quickly.

One person stayed behind. 

This young lady walked up and down every aisle of seats. She picked up garbage — leftover food wrappers, drink cups — and dumped handfuls into the trash can on the floor. She wanted to ensure the on-duty janitors had as little work as possible that evening.

That young lady, of course, was sophomore Blue Ridge point guard Opal Maralit. 

And Maralit isn’t shy about why something as simple as picking up trash postgame means a lot to her.

“There are so many little things I can do to show my faith in Jesus Christ and what He means to me,” said Maralit. “He died on the cross for me, so I want to be the hands and feet of Jesus.”

First-year Blue Ridge head coach Demarkus Langley has a motto he’s instilled within the team from day one. “Bigger than basketball” is the phrase he preaches in practice. No one, he says, exhibits it better than Maralit.

“I believe it’s more important to see these girls grow in character than it is to win basketball games,” said Langley. “One day, the ball will stop bouncing, and we’ll need to look back and remember the things that really matter.

“Not many people will remember that Opal had 18 points in a game. But people will remember seeing her in the stands, picking up trash by herself after the game. That’s what we’re all about.”

Langley says he saw God at work just by getting the chance to welcome Maralit to the team. The sophomore guard doesn’t actually go to Blue Ridge — she’s homeschooled. But she’s proved invaluable to the team from the jump. 

One afternoon this summer, Langley happened to check his email. He noticed a message from an address he didn’t recognize.

“I looked at Opal’s name on the email, and I was like ‘Huh?’ For one, I don’t know how to pronounce that,” he said, with Maralit {Mah-ruh-lit} laughing next to him. “But she sent me her physical, so I sent her our June workout schedule.”

Maralit was the first person to show up.

“She came into the gym and just had this look in her eye,” said Langley. “From day one, she was learning everyone’s names and being vocal. She had this energy about her from the start to where I just knew she was going to be valuable to this team.”

Maralit says she was nervous to try out for the team, being homeschooled and not knowing many people. But just like other areas of her life, she let her faith take the lead and didn’t back down.

“I was praying nonstop, asking God to give me the strength to get through it,” said Maralit. “I was nervous not knowing what was going on. But I’m really thankful I took the chance.”

Blue Ridge is thankful, too.

Maralit averages 12.8 points, 3.4 assists, 5.4 steals, and a block per game. Each of those stats leads the team. The Lady Tigers are 6-2, and Maralit is a massive reason why.

Still, Maralit says her performance on the court is irrelevant in the scheme of a much bigger picture: who she is when the game isn’t being played.

“It’s like Coach [Langley] tells us: it’s bigger than basketball,” said Maralit. “For me, that’s about finding little ways to show my faith. That’s what I hope people know me for.”

Catch Maralit and the Lady Tigers in action Thursday, Dec. 19 vs. Fountain Inn at home and Friday, Dec. 20 at Chapman.