Eagle-eyed Shanahan has sights set on 3rd straight league title

DOWNINGTOWN >> What Bob Schnure accomplished during his 35 season reign at Downingtown/Downingtown East is what every high school girls’ basketball coach in the region aspires to. Schnure’s teams notched 791 wins and captured 20 league or division titles, 11 district crowns and five state titles.

Those are over-the-rainbow type of numbers, for sure, but Bishop Shanahan’s Fran Burbidge dreams big. Now entering his fifth year at the helm, the Eagles have won back-to-back Ches-Mont championships, and are the team to beat once again this winter.

“Bob Schnure developed Downingtown East into a perennial program in the state,” Burbidge said. “I’d like to think we are developing into a perennial program.”

It’s going to take a lot more than a couple league titles, of course, and the immediate task of getting a third straight crown is going to be a big challenge, beginning with Friday’s home opener against Harriton.

Shanahan was 23-5 a year ago, but must replace three starters, including the heart and soul of the program: guard Ciara Forde. Grace Phillips also graduated, and junior post player, Devon Adams, transferred to Marple Newtown.

“I think our kids understand what it takes,” Burbidge said. “And our chemistry seems to be real good. A lot of kids are battling for minutes. They work hard, they encourage each other, and they seem to get along real well.

“Hopefully we can build on that and move forward.”

First-team all-league pick Courtney Warley is back for her senior season, and the 6-foot-2 forward could be the county’s best. Already signed to play collegiately at Division I Manhattan, Warley looks ready to take over as Shanahan’s go-to star.

“Courtney is somebody we expect big things from, and it’s on us as coaches to make sure she gets the ball,” Burbidge said.

“She is athletic enough and certainly has the green light to handle the ball and shoot the ball from a perimeter. She’s not a prototypical post player like Devon (Adams) where you have to throw it into the middle to get her touches.

“And she is starting to understand what she can be defensively.”

Other than Warley, the Eagles may be short on star power, but there is quality depth right down the lineup. And Burbidge would like to develop a playing rotation that can go as much as 10-deep.

“We have numbers,” Burbidge admits. “Ten kids can play, but it is still to be determined how good they all can be. We are a new club and we will be playing a little bit differently, and we’ll see who steps out of the pack.”

Seniors Kelly Basile and Jen Sendi are stabilizing forces in the backcourt, and are tri-captains along with Warley. They are joined by guards Abby Bailey, Sam McCarter, Clare Marchesse and Megan Cox, who are all in the mix for significant playing time. And 5-10 senior Mikayla Maxwell could be the first frontcourt player off the bench.

Talented freshmen Gianna DiMarco (point guard) and 6-footer Catherine Greenhut are also vying for playing time. In addition, injured juniors Kelly Greenhut (foot) and Allie Kelly (wrist) should be back by the New Year.

“We played a decent amount of kids last season so we have a nice amount of experience coming back,” Burbidge said.

Shanahan topped Downingtown East in each of the previous two Ches-Mont title games, and look for the Cougars to make another run despite experiencing heavy graduation losses. Head coach Tom Schurtz has a dynamic playmaker in point guard Dani Tyrell, and a slew of 6-footers who could wind up being matchup problems for any Ches-Mont foe.

“With East’s reputation and the success they’ve had over the years, they’re always in the mix,” Burbidge said.

“There are a lot of good teams in the Ches-Mont National. But our feeling is to concentrate on ourselves and see where we end up. We don’t know what other teams are going to be and I’m not sure we know what we are going to be.”

With Emma Bertando at West Chester Henderson, and Dee Dee Irwin at Coatesville leading the way, the Warriors and Red Raiders should be much improved and will almost certainly play a role in the race for the C-M National.

And the Ches-Mont American may be even more wide open. Defending champion Great Valley lost a bunch of seniors, and that may help open the door for teams like Oxford, West Chester Rustin and Unionville. Miranda Porretta had an eye-opening freshman season for Oxford and the sophomore guard could be a future star.

“A lot of seniors graduated on our side (Ches-Mont American),” said Unionville head coach Fred Ellzy, who has four starters returning. “I think it’s going to be a good year for Oxford. They have size and the ability to shoot. If they take care of the ball, they will shock a lot of people.”

None of the Ches-Mont’s 14 teams, however, will have a target on its back like Bishop Shanahan.

“We’ve talked about it a bit,” Burbidge acknowledged. “Our players have put us into a position where were won’t sneak up on anybody, but that’s OK. This is a completely different season.

“In my opinion, we are not defending the Ches-Mont championship. That’s done with, we’ve won that and nobody can take that away.”