Basile leads Shanahan second-half comeback over Great Valley

EAST WHITELAND – Kelly Basile admitted the nerves were kicking in once she entered the game for Bishop Shanahan midway through the first quarter.

That’s normal for most sophomores who play their first significant varsity minutes for the first time.

However, Basile took an abnormal approach after the nerves went away. She carried the Eagles on her back with Ciara Forde and Devan Adams in early foul trouble.

Not typical for a sophomore in her first meaningful varsity game.

“Once I got that first foul shot, everything just kid of set in.’ Basile said. “I said to myself ‘ I can do this.’ After that, I just kind of played my game.’

Basile led Bishop Shanahan with a career-high 13 points as the Eagles erased a five point deficit in the third quarter en route to a 48-33 victory over Great Valley in the Great Valley Tip-Off Tournament Friday.

The Eagles (1-0) had three double-digit scorers on the night in Basile, Adams and Forde. Adams finished with 11 points on the night in her first varsity game while Forde scored 10.

But this night belonged to Basile, who played a huge role in as Shanahan closed the third quarter on an 11-0 run to but the game away.

“It’s not anything new we’ve expected of Kelly,’ said Shanahan head coach Fran Burbidge. “She’s a good basketball player. She’s been doing well in practice and we but her in for our big (Adams) and switched a little bit defensively. She did really well.’