'Stoga's Shine polishes post moves for UVA

By ERIC S. SMITH

Conestoga girls’ basketball star Chelsea Shine was doing what most high school hoops players do in late March, she was at home watching the NCAA tournament.
Naturally, she watched the women’s version, and she watched with a vested interest. The University of Virginia, where the senior will lace up her sneakers next season, was battling Old Dominion, and as the game entered overtime Shine became nervous.
And when Jazzmin Walters hit the game-winning 3-point shot for the Lady Monarchs, it was deja vu all over again.
Shine and the Pioneers’ season ended in an eerily similar fashion when Norristown’s Bryn Cotteta drained a prayer of a shot from just inside the half-court line to bounce ‘Stoga from the second-round of the District 1 Class AAAA playoffs.
“It was tough watching Virginia lose that way,” Shine said. “I think our season ended much earlier than anticipated, too. It was a tough ending and hits home real hard. When people talk about it, we relive it and that hurts, but I’ve moved on, and I can’t change it. It’s just strange to think that the next time I put on a uniform it will be at Virginia.”
The 6-2 forward will put on that Cavalier jersey as the all-time leading scorer (1,568 points) in Conestoga history, a second-team All-State player, a pre-season McDonald’s All-America candidate and now, the Daily Local News 2008 Girls Basketball Player of the Year.
“The thing about Chelsea is she approaches each game with enthusiasm and a will to win,” said Conestoga coach John Jones. “Other teams had to adjust their styles of play to prepare for her defensively, and on the offensive end, too, because she was a great shot blocker.”
Shine averaged three blocks a game to go along with her 14 points and eight rebounds.
But she was not alone on the inside for the Pioneers. Along with Shine, ‘Stoga boasted another six-footer in Davidson University-bound Kristen Johnsen.
“It was great to have someone to go through it with,” Shine said of her teammate. “I don’t know what I would do without her. She was my partner in crime.”
But now as she watches the Cavaliers play, it’s difficult for Shine not to wonder what the future holds for her at the next level.
“I will be coming in as a freshman again, it’s kind of odd,” Shine said. “I am going to want to work to feel comfortable with the team and coaches before I contribute. I will look to play more once the the team and coaches have more confidence in me. When I watch Virginia play, I watch the coaches to see how they are acting.”
While Shine looks at Virginia, Jones can’t help but look at his roster and wonder what is next.
“Talk about there being a void when (Shine) graduates,” Jones said. “The way we do things will certainly have to change. We will shift from post play to mostly guard play. But we had success before her and we look to have success after she moves on.”

To contact staff writer Eric S. Smith, e-mail esmith@dailyloal.com.