Shannon’s Move to Point Guard Pays Dividends

Capistrano Valley Christian Coach Tim Shelton describes point guard Carrie Shannon as “a diamond in the rough.”

“She is still a junior and she has a long way to go,” Shelton said. “She takes some silly shots every once in a while.”

Shelton moved Shannon from her off-guard position to point guard this season.

She has taken awhile to get accustomed to the change, but last week she settled in, scoring a career-high 30 points to lead the Eagles to their first Olympic League victory this season. Capistrano Valley Christian defeated Santa Margarita, 46-43, Thursday night.

Shannon, The Times’ athlete of the week, had been averaging about 15 points a game. She said she had no idea she had scored so many Thursday night. “Everyone was coming up to me saying, ‘Oh, you had 28.’ Then they said I had 30 and I said, ‘Oh, my God!’ ”

Before high school, Shannon watched all the college and National Basketball Assn. games television had to offer. “I just love it,” she said. When she got to Capistrano Valley Christian as a freshman, she decided it was time to get off the couch and onto the court.

She plays softball and volleyball as well as basketball for the Eagles while carrying a 3.0 grade-point average.

“The nice part about it for me is that basketball is her sport,” Shelton said. “I think she would do just about anything to excel in basketball.”

The Eagles are off to a slow start at 4-9 overall and 1-6 in league play, which Shannon said has been frustrating.

“It has been hard to keep going because you feel like you’re practicing and nothing is being accomplished out on the court,” she said. “But we have been able to get things going in the third and fourth quarters. We usually catch them a little bit and scare them. We can play with everybody, but we just have to get started earlier.”

TOP PERFORMERS

Amy Jalewalia scored a school-record 52 points Friday to break her record of 48 points set in December. Jalewalia’s big night came in La Quinta’s 85-12 victory over Pacifica in Garden Grove League play. Wednesday, Jalewalia scored 39 points in a 64-14 victory over Garden Grove.

Keri Erkenbrach of Canyon made three 3-point shots and scored a team-high 21 points Tuesday in a 54-44 victory that ended Foothill’s 66-game, 7-year domination of Century League opponents

Melody Mayfield of Saddleback scored 31 points and had 15 rebounds Thursday in a 63-31 Sea View League victory over Tustin.

Kristen McDonald of Valencia made 14 of 16 shots on her way to a 30-point, 10-rebound performance Tuesday in a 102-25 victory over Anaheim.

Danielle Tomasick’s three goals helped Newport Harbor edge Estancia, 3-2, Tuesday in a Sea View League soccer match. Tomasick has eight goals this season for Newport Harbor.

Tracy Greer accounted for three of Valencia’s nine goals in a shutout of Savanna Thursday. The victory helped Valencia (4-0) remain undefeated in Orange League soccer.

Carrie Shannon

Capistrano Valley Christian

Position: Point guard

Height, Class: 5-9, Junior

Last Week: Led Capistrano Valley Christian to its first Olympic League victory this season with a 30-point performance in a 46-43 decision over Santa Margarita Thursday.

Season: She’s the leading scorer for the Eagles, averaging 15.1 points, and is averaging 4 steals per game.