Forward Focus
Canon-Mac’s girls varsity basketball team is looking
to a bright future after a great start in Orlando.
W.B. FRESA
fter just two years under the
direction of head coach Shawn
Urbano, the Canon-Mac girls varsity
basketball team has come together
to, in Urbano’s words, “change the culture
and perception of girls basketball at this
school.”
Urbano, who’s been coaching sports in
southwestern PA for 28 years, knew the
girls basketball team had won the section
championship two years prior to his arrival,
which only confirmed his belief in what they
could do.
In December, the team went to the KSA
Invitational in Orlando, Florida. Senior point
guard and tournament M.V.P. Tamara Mathis says the trip was
extremely rewarding on several levels.
“A lot of us had never been to Florida, so not only did we get
to do some really fun things while we were there, we played
some great basketball, too,” she says. “As a point guard, it’s my
responsibility to take a leadership role on the court and set up
the plays during the game. It can also mean correcting someone’s
position—in essence, telling a player what to do. That didn’t come
easily to me at first. I had to work up to it because I didn’t want
my teammates to think I was being bossy. But they knew me and
understood what I was tasked with doing and it wasn’t personal. I
can now say it comes more naturally to me.”
The team must like her in that role because the combination of
leadership and overall play led them to the championship game
against Oakland Catholic at the invitational.
“Who would have thought we’d be playing a local team in
Florida,” says Tamara. “Unfortunately, we didn’t win that game, but
we got to play against a Canadian team and a team from Tennessee,
A
Team photo (l to r): Delaney Gallagher,
Veronica Lezeau, Lacey Russell, Tamara
Mathis, Caroline McCaffrey, Abigail
Daniels, Jenna Cromp, Olivia Balch,
Malena Rush, Olivia Ulam, Coach Shawn
Urbano, Tori Wesolowski, McKenna
Carroll, Hailey Shumate, Stellanie
Loutsion, Sophia DiLeonardo, Nayah
Williams, Julianna Borella, Ellie Kotar and
Coach Baili Washnock.
which helped us understand different speeds
and style of play. It was a great experience
for all of us.”
Coach Urbano couldn’t agree more and
was happy not only with the overall play
but also with the accolades from some of
the refereeing staff. As for his assessment of their play during the
championship, Urbano says it’s all in the experience.
Lacey Russell, another graduating senior on the team, feels
that her experience has only made her life better. “Basketball has
impacted all the seniors’ lives positively. It has united us as one
because we get more than just the knowledge of the game—we
get friendships that will last a lifetime. I couldn’t have asked for a
better team or senior year,” she says.
Senior Nayah Williams agrees. “Basketball at Canon-Mac has
really taught me a lot about myself. I am beyond blessed to have
gone through this journey with my best friends, amazing younger
teammates, and coaches. Learning how to deal with adversity,
work and play as a team, and never let the opponents see you
sweat are key qualities I will carry with me in the future,” she says.
“And while it’s sad to see it all come to an end, I know the future
is extremely bright for my teammates and the Canon-Mac girls
basketball organization, and I can’t wait to witness it from the
bleachers this time around.” n
CANON-MAC
❘
SPRING 2019
9