Chantilly's McDonald Ready For the Next Level
Only seconds remain in overtime in a must-win game for the Lady Chargers at Robinson. The game is once again tied with 46 points a piece. However, Head Coach John Kelly has no reason to panic; he knows his point guard, Shea McDonald will do anything it takes to get a victory. The last seconds tick away from the game clock as McDonald gets a pass at the 3-point line. She sets herself up, takes the shot, and drills the game winning 3-pointer.
Senior Captain Shea McDonald has undoubtedly become the team leader, now in her fourth season as a varsity point guard. McDonald, in her freshman year, was picked to play varsity which gave her an early experience for playing in the top level of competition.
Shea began playing the game at 9 years old after her friends pressured her, and her father was involved with basketball in the local youth leagues. This led to a first season complete with her best friends as teammates and her dad as head coach. “This was just overwhelming for me,” says McDonald, “My first taste for basketball was addicting; all of my life was on that court in 3rd grade.”
After that first enticing season of basketball, she knew that the sports would become a major part of her life from then on. Throughout her seasons in the youth leagues, Shea and her friends would always stay after practice, shoot around and have fun with the game. Her delight in the game paid off entering high school. She earned herself a spot on the Lady Chargers varsity team as a freshman. Over the four years playing for Chantilly, Shea has become a huge threat to opponents with her ball-handling skills and team leadership on the court. “After my sophomore year, we lost a lot of starters and I knew that Coach Kelly was going to look my way to lead the team,” says McDonald.
Coach Kelly agrees that McDonald is an asset to the team chemistry. “There’s something about her style,” he says, “not only is she an excellent athlete but has been a great role model for the her teammates.” Prior to the start of this season, Shea was able to pull together some returning players and join the training league called Explosive Performance. “I feel that ‘EP’ was a great way for us all to get focused on this season,” says McDonald.
This season, McDonald feels very confident in the team’s players and coaches. “We have a lot of hope for the rest of this year. We have been able to bond as a team very well,” she says. One of Shea’s personal goals for this season is to prevail in the postseason. Last year, the Lady Chargers suffered a devastating loss to Edison in the regional tournament. “We want to get past that this year, and win through the first round of regions,” says McDonald, “That loss to Edison by one point last year was the most disappointing moment I have faced during my time at Chantilly.”
So far this season, her team has done a sufficient job toward reaching her goal. The Lady Chargers finished the regular season with an average above .500 and over the holiday break, McDonald won most valuable player in the Pohanka Classic Tournament that Chantilly hosts.
Whatever the outcome of the season will have for Chantilly in her senior year, it is not the end for McDonald. She has already agreed to play basketball with Catholic University starting in the fall on 2006. “I’m very excited about this opportunity,” says McDonald, “It gives me satisfaction knowing that my dedication to the game doesn’t end after high school.”
So for McDonald, the concluding games at Chantilly are nearing and are giving her a time to look back. “Over the last four years, it’s just been a lot of fun. I have gotten to play with some great teammates and play in some unforgettable games.” she says. But for McDonald, wearing her old game sneakers and shooting around after practice will not end at high school. “I look forward to the games I will play in college as I put to use the lessons I learned while playing at Chantilly.”
