As the seconds ticked down on Friday night’s Pennsylvania AAA State Basketball Championship in State College, so ended another epic run by the Neumann-Goretti Saints and Fishtowner Billy Shank.
Winning a 48-45 nail-biter over District 7’s Montour, the Saints placed an emphatic exclamation point on their 2011-12 season and, for Shank, a high school career.
“It feels great,” Shank, who netted 10 points in the win, told The Spirit. “It’s what we’ve been working toward all year and the perfect way to end the season and my time here. We’re really proud of everything that we’ve gotten done.”
Winning Tradition
While a term like ‘dominant’ can often times be thrown around haphazardly, the Saints have been nothing short of it over the past four seasons. Their historic run has amounted to an astounding record of 111-11, never having lost a game in the Catholic League, and winning four City, four Catholic, and three State titles. Dominant.
As the record demonstrates, winning has come naturally to Shank. “We’ve never really lost much since I’ve been here… but winning never gets old,” he says with a smile.
“Looking back on it now, it’s crazy,” Shank says. “When you’re playing, it’s not in your head; you’re just concentrating on the game. It’s not until now when everyone is talking about it that you get an idea of how big of a deal it is.”
College Days
While Shank’s high school basketball career may have come to an end following Friday night’s victory, he is in no way through with the game.
Currently being courted by a host of Division I and II schools, he’s now faced with the decision of where to land and how to best hone his skill-set to adjust to the transition into college level basketball.
“There’s always something to work on,” Shank said. “This past season I developed a floater that almost always goes in for me now.”
A major off-season priority for Shank will be bulking up in the weight room, a process that will help the undersized 5 ft. 10 in. guard bring a more physical edge to his game.
“He’s a gritty kid… he has to be at his size,” Carl Arrigale, Neumann Goretti head basketball coach told The Spirit. “What’s been the most impressive thing that he has been able to do is to steadily grow as a defensive player. Billy is a great offensive player, he’s always been a natural there, but his size meant that playing defense was a challenge and it says a lot about him that he’s been able to improve.”
One thing that Shank can be assured of, his cheering section will be consistently filled with friends from the river wards. “We’ve been to every game,” said Billy’s grandmother, Linda Shank, with pride. “Billy and the whole team are just so much fun to watch… they have so much talent and heart.”
“We’re just so proud of him; he truly is the perfect kid,” Linda said emotionally. “He’s just been so great on and off the court, we couldn’t be any prouder.”
Indeed, while it may be Billy’s offensive prowess that initially attracts scouts, his personal presentation is sure to win them over. Well-spoken and friendly in conversation, Billy has an intelligence and easy-going demeanor that will benefit him greatly during his collegiate career.
Long Ball
One aspect of Shank’s game that was never a hindrance is his ability to rain down 3-point shots with deadly accuracy. “It’s always come naturally to me,” Shank shrugs. “My dad always had a great long shot, so I guess I got it from him.”
Listed among Southeastern PA’s most prolific shots from beyond the arc, Shank’s pension for bombing threes on the opposition has been an integral part of the Saint’s success.
“His long shot is invaluable for us,” explains Arrigale. “It opens up the floor for his teammates and makes us a much, much more dangerous team.”
The powers-that-be have taken notice of Shank’s contributions, awarding him with a 2nd team All-Catholic bid (he was given an honorable mention the in 2010-11). Shank also received the prestigious honor of inclusion into the Markward Club, highlighting Philadelphia’s hardwood elite.
Although he has always played at guard for the Saints, Shank says that he anticipates moving to the point guard in college. “That’s just where I feel the best, and where I feel like I can be most effective.”
If he brings the same winning brand of basketball that he has for the previous four seasons at Neumann Goretti, then whatever college he ends up with is in for a dominant run.
