Radnor’s Kate Gallagher is Main Line Girls Athlete of the Week (Feb. 12-18)

The senior guard and captain, a second team All-Main Line girls’ basketball selection last winter, has been a key factor in the Raptors’ successful season (18-4 and ranked No. 2 in the PIAA District 1 5A Power Rankings as of Feb. 8). She has scored more than 20 points per game on multiple occasions in the past month, is a fine rebounder (averaged 5 rpg last winter) and generally guards the other team’s best player. A fine all-around athlete, Gallagher will play lacrosse for the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. Radnor girls’ basketball head coach Rob Baxter said, “Kate has been an outstanding leader for us on and off the court.  She is respected by all her teammates for her competitive nature and dedication to the team.  She has improved each year with not only her basketball skills but also working to get stronger, which I believe has benefited her on both the basketball court and the lacrosse field.”

Q: What (in your view) is the biggest key(s) to effective defense?

A: I personally believe that much of defense is a mindset. I tend to approach the person that I’m defending with the mindset that I am going to make them work as hard as possible to score. With that comes focusing on my footwork and keeping them in front of me, as well as being physical with them and making it hard for them to get the ball. I believe playing many different sports, especially lacrosse, has heavily contributed to my quality of defense.

Q: What do you think are the advantages of being a multi-sport athlete in high school, as compared to specializing in one sport?

A: I think being a multi-sport athlete in high school is key for the skills and athleticism that different sports require. The combination of basketball and lacrosse has allowed me to develop my athleticism in so many different ways. Each sport requires some different muscles or movements, but for the most part, a lot are the same. So, I can implement aspects of basketball into lacrosse and vice versa. For example, there is a lot of jumping in basketball, which has helped me on the draw circle in lacrosse when jumping up for a 50/50 ball.

Q: What do you think has been the biggest key(s) to your scoring success of late?

A: Recently I have been focusing a lot on my off-ball movement. I try to tire out my defender and get them a step behind me as much as I can. Using screens set by my teammates and cutting at the right times has allowed for me to have a lot more scoring opportunities as well, and I credit my teammates for finding me when I’m open. I also was not happy with how I was shooting during a few games in the middle of the season, so I went to the gym on our off days to work on it, and I noticed a huge difference immediately.

Q: How do you exercise your leadership role as captain (on and off the court)?

A: I try to be very vocal on and off the court. I have always found it helpful to have someone talk out loud and get everyone on the same page, so I have tried to be that person this year and use my voice a lot on the court. Off the court, I try to bring the team together as much as possible and extend our relationships in and out of school. Enhancing our camraderie outside of basketball is very important to me, as it always translates onto the court and makes the team have more fun.

Q: What (in your view) are the biggest keys to effective rebounding?

A: I find it very critical to anticipate shots and time my jumps. Using my body to seal my defender then tracking the ball and getting it as high as I can has been effective for me when getting rebounds.

Q: What has been your favorite experience so far this season?

A: My favorite part of this season has been experiencing the growth and bond of our team. We had a different looking team this year with some girls graduating, some choosing not to play, and some newcomers. Despite this, we have all gotten along so well and I look forward every day to seeing and competing with all of my teammates. This special relationship we have makes playing basketball even more fun, and I’ve enjoyed every moment of this year.

Q: Tell us a little about your start in competitive basketball – have you been a guard?

A: I have played basketball for as long as I can remember. Between Radnor Rec, Malvern, CYO, and school basketball, I have been a part of a variety of teams in terms of competitiveness. I never played AAU, mainly because I played club lacrosse and the two would have been too much. But, playing so much basketball since I was younger has always been fun and produced great memories. I have primarily been a guard most of my life because of my height and quickness.

Q: Who have been your top basketball mentors, and what was the most important thing you learned from each of them?

A: I have been grateful to have played with so many amazing basketball players and people through the years. Each year of high school the seniors and captains were such inspirations, and I attribute much of my success to them. One of the most notable mentors I have been lucky to play with was Mary Sareen, who graduated last year. Mary’s work ethic and dedication was contagious. She set an example for everyone around her, and I made sure to carry her dedication to last year’s team into this season.

Q: You wear uniform jersey No. 14 for Radnor basketball and lacrosse – is there a reason you chose that number?

A: My birthday is June 14, so that along with me just liking the number is why I picked to wear it.

Q: What is your favorite academic course at Radnor? What do you plan to major in at West Point?

A: I enjoy many of the social studies courses that Radnor has to offer, such as sociology and US history. At West Point, I plan on studying economics or business.

Fun facts – Kate Gallagher

Favorite book: Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet.

Favorite author: Suzanne Collins.

Favorite TV show: Stranger Things.

Favorite movie: Little Women (2019).

Favorite athlete: Jason Kelce.

Favorite pre-game pump-up song: Nonstop.

Favorite team: Philadelphia Eagles.

Favorite place to visit: Avalon, N.J.

Favorite pre-game meal: Rice cake with peanut butter and honey.

Person I most admire, and why: “I admire my brother and sister for their work ethic.”

Family members: parents Bill and Aimee, older sister Molly, older brother Will, dog Tucker (a black lab).

(To be selected as Main Line Girls Athlete of the Week, a student-athlete must first be nominated by her coach.)

To view a gallery of the previous Main Line Girls Athletes of the Week click here