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Shieldsy Comes Up Silver at Empires, Jaw Surgery Next
by Ray Gallagher
Haldane senior Brittany Shields was a force to be reckoned with at the 30th annual Empire State Games, leading Hudson Valley to a scholastic silver medal at Westchester Community College Sunday with tremendous two-way play. The 5'7" forward averaged 14.5 PPG over four games against some of the best competition in the state, looking more like an MVP than not.
"We were like a family," said Shields, who knocked down big shot after big shot in the goldmedal loss to Western, in which she scored 18 points. "Everyone got along so well and this was a great bunch of girls, so I'm not that upset that we didn't win gold. Playing for Coach Ricci was great… he's a great coach and a great guy all around. Deep down he cares about his kids… every one of them. This was a great experience for me before jaw surgery (which is expected to keep Shields off the court for the next several months)."
Rest assured; Shields left the WCC hardwood having opened the eyes of any college scout in attendance. The job she did defensively against Western stud and Rochester Player of the Year Shenise Johnson was superb.
"She could play for me any day," Ricci said of Shieldsy, acknowledging that her toughness was second to none.
Next up for Sheilds: jaw surgery, exercise, back on the court for a run at Section 1 Player of the Year and the Section 1 Class C crown that eluded her Blue Devils last March for the first time in a decade and a half.
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