Shea Canavan closing in on Queensbury basketball records as she bounces back from injury

QUEENSBURY Its happened before, many times in games.

Just the other night, in fact.

Shea Canavan steals the basketball at one end of the court, races down to the other end, and either pulls up for a 3-pointer, drives the lane for a layup, or as she prefers dishes the ball to a teammate.

I love passing between people, said Canavan, Queensburys senior point guard.

I love passing and they shoot and make it, thats the best I love the assists.

The offense for the Spartans girls basketball team flows through Canavan, a fourth-year starter whose cat-quick reflexes and high basketball IQ make her dangerous at both ends of the court.

School-record chase Even coming off a shoulder injury that cost her soccer season, Canavan has not slowed down.

She is rapidly moving up the Spartans all-time list in multiple categories she is second in steals (317) and third in assists (277) in Queensbury girls basketball history, through Thursday nights win over Gloversville.

She is also closing in on 1,000 points for her career, and moved into third in career 3-pointers with 103.

It feels really good, I pass people in the hallways and theyre like congratulations, I definitely love that, Canavan said of her record chase.

I want to be remembered, I want my name to be up there.

But thats not her focus her real focus is passing the ball and keeping the Spartans moving, and winning.

She just has such a high IQ for the game, and shes super unselfish and wants all of her teammates to get involved, Queensbury coach Megan Bethel said.

But she knows the time to kind of take over so if she doesnt score offensively, shes going to back to the other end and grab a steal.

Canavan is capable of streaks where she takes over a game.

She scored eight straight points in Mondays win over South Glens Falls, part of her career-best 36 points.

She was equally impressive in a 45-43 win over Scotia last week, scoring 26 points, including the go-ahead jumper with 21 seconds left.

Shes becoming more dominant, but shes putting herself out there more, Bethel said.

Like the other day, we were playing Scotia, she went on a 10-0 run herself steal, score, steal, score and it was just her doing it, because thats what she can do.

My main thing on defense is being aggressive, Canavan said.

I go after the ball just getting a tip on it and having someone be there and get it for us, thats definitely the main thing.

Injury recovery This season almost didnt happened for Canavan.

Playing in an AAU travel basketball game in September, Canavan was injured going up to block a shot.

She suffered a torn labrum part of the cartilage in the shoulder joint that supports the joint.

It required arthroscopic surgery and physical therapy.

The injury and surgery caused Canavan to miss playing soccer for the Spartans, for whom she was the starting goalkeeper.

I was definitely heartbroken when I did know I had to get surgery, like, Oh, if I cant play basketball, what am I going to do? she said.

Canavan was cleared to play basketball in November, just in time for practice to begin.

Im so grateful for the surgeon I had, my PT people, grateful to them, they got me through it, and my family and friends, she said.

She admitted she was a little apprehensive starting out basketball season.

I was a little worried, what if I hurt it again, but Im more excited because I finally have a high school sport I can play after missing soccer, said Canavan, who plans to play lacrosse in the spring.

She hopes to play basketball in college, but is still looking at schools.

High-energy game Canavans game is high-energy, constantly moving, distributing the ball, and now, becoming more of a shooter after the Spartans lost some key players to graduation, including forwards Dyllan Ray and Katelyn Barton.

Its a little different were mostly guards now since our post players left, Canavan said.

I feel like were doing more speed-ball, like fast breaks, thats where our main game is.

I love when my guard is going up the court, I love doing those long balls, baseball passes.

We have to go small-ball sometimes, so we do what we can defensively, hopefully get some quick steals and score on the other end, Bethel said.

Bethel has been impressed with Canavans career overall, and it extends beyond the basketball court.

Shes not only a great basketball player, she is a phenomenal kid, Bethel said.

She brings so much energy to this group of kids every year, whether she was a freshman or a senior and so much passion for the game, and shes trying to share that with everybody.

Some key career numbers for Queensbury senior point guard Shea Canavan, with her ranking in school records: Steals 316 (second) Steals per game 4.7 (second) Assists 277 (third) Assists per game 4.1 (second) 3-pointers made 103 (third) Points 939 (ninth) Points per game 14.0 (tied for fifth) Field goals made 355 (10th) Free-throw percentage .705 (fifth).

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