DISTRICT HEIGHTS, Md. – There are the types of point guards that act as solid quarterbacks and run your team and there is nothing wrong with that. But then, you have scoring, do-it-all types of point guards that are nothing short of dynamic and will take a game over.
Since she entered high school last fall, New Jersey Demons Class of 2014 point guard Katelynn Flaherty has fallen into that second category of point guard. She has proven to be absolutely fearless no matter what the situation calls for, whether it’s her taking the big shot or her setting up a teammate to take a big shot.
You can rest assured she has no problem giving up the rock. Two of her Demons, as well as high school teammates at New Jersey’s Manasquan High School, are Class of 2012 star and Notre Dame recruit Michaela Mabrey and her talented Class of 2015 sister, Marina.
Since the end of Manasquan’s high school season in March, Flaherty, who is coached on the Demons by her father Tom, appears to have shot up two or three inches. While that is one noticeable thing, another is her improved decision making. Too many times during her freshman high school season, there would be ill-advised shots or passes. Those have been toned down as Flaherty is beginning to morph into that aforementioned second category of point guard as she is able to do it all.
Flaherty, the Mabrey sisters and the rest of the Demons will have their hands full this weekend at U.S. Junior Nationals. After a relatively easy win to open things Friday morning against the New England Crusaders, matchups against reigning USJN champion Midwest Elite Platinum and perennial West Coast contender East Bay Xplosion still loom in Pool I before pool play ends on Sunday.
The Demons will be put to the test this weekend against some stiff competition, but at least they can rest easy knowing there is a capable of set of hands and skills running the show in the backcourt.
