Appoquinimink girls basketball player Shirle Brown poses for a portrait in the Appoquinimink High School gymnasium on Thursday afternoon.
Appoquinimink girls basketball player Shirle Brown poses for a portrait in the Appoquinimink High School gymnasium on Thursday afternoon.
Appoquinimink girls basketball player Shirle Brown poses for a portrait in the Appoquinimink High School gymnasium on Thursday afternoon.
Appoquinimink girls basketball player Shirle Brown poses for a portrait in the Appoquinimink High School gymnasium on Thursday afternoon.
SHIRLÉ BROWN, senior, Appoquinimink girls basketball
THE WEEK: Scored a game-high 18 points as Appoquinimink earned its third straight victory with a 50-33 win over Middletown last Tuesday.
THE DEDICATION: “Leadership is the first thing that makes her such a good player,” Appo coach Kevin Smith said. “Last year, we had a bunch of young players and she took this whole offseason trying to get the girls prepared for this upcoming season.”
THE STREAK: Brown has averaged 20.6 points over the last three games as the Jaguars have improved to 4-5. “We’re starting to relax,” she said. “At the beginning, we thought about the game too much. That’s where a lot of mistakes came from. But when we relax and take our time, everything works out.”
THE PROGRESSION: Brown had never played organized basketball before coming to Appoquinimink as a freshman. “Her basketball IQ and the ins and outs of the game – when to shoot and when to pass, how to make her teammates better – those are the things that have grown a great deal in her last two years,” Smith said.
THE COMPOSURE: “Before, when two players came at me, I would panic,” Brown said. “Now, when two players come at me, I can recognize who my open man is and get them the ball.”
THE BALANCE: “Last year, we might have had four games where we had two or three players in double figures,” Smith said. “This year, in just about every game we’ve had more than one person in double figures. She’s getting people involved. She’s getting her teammates open shots.”
THE TRUST: “I trust my teammates,” Brown said. “… I don’t have to worry about making every play. If I miss a shot, I know that one of my teammates is going to come down and make the next one. It’s just having trust in them.”
THE CLASSROOM: Brown’s favorite subject is Psychology, taught by Sandy Clevenstine. “We find out interesting facts every day,” she said.
THE FUTURE: Brown wants to continue playing basketball in college. She has received recruiting interest from Rosemont College near Philadelphia, and said, “I think that’s where I want to go.” She would like to study physical therapy.
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Senior guard Shirle Brown has averaged 20.3 points during Appoquinimink’s three-game winning streak.