When asked about sophomore Shannon Culloo, PV girls basketball coach Jeff Jasper said, “Because you watch her play, you easily forget she is but a sophomore.”

Growth is an important part of basketball. Players grow into seasoned veterans, and that is exactly what Culloo is on track to be. But part of being that seasoned veteran is the right mindset and Culloo is growing into that.

Even in one year, Culloo has grown from a timid but extremely talented freshman.

“I definitely have more confidence in myself on the court,” Culloo said. “I remember last year I was too scared to shoot because I was so nervous about messing up.”

Culloo attributes much of her growth to her twin brother Brendan, who plays on the boys basketball team.

“I believe that a huge part of my skillset has developed from watching [Brendan] play,” she said, “and just going against him in the driveway.”

The Culloo twins use their relationship to their advantage.

“We feed off each other,” Brendan said. “Each and every day Shannon and I encourage each other to be the best players and people we can possibly be.“

And Shannon’s entire basketball experience started with Brendan, too, when the two attended the basketball clinic at St. John’s in Hillsdale during their first grade year. Shannon marks that as one of her most memorable basketball moments and the two joke that it was “the day that it all started.”

But obviously, Culloo has grown from a young first grader who could barely shoot on the 8-foot-tall hoop.

Even today though, Culloo believes that her greatest trait off the court hasn’t changed.

“I truly care about making other people happy,” said Culloo while giving a shout-out to her history teacher, Ms. Marisa Mathias. “I just love the reactions. It feels really good to make people smile.”

And that trait alone will help her to grow into her leadership position, which Jasper believes that Culloo will embrace next season, especially with many great mentors graduating at the end of the year.

“As she grows more comfortable with her leadership role, she will grow more comfortable with those people around her,” Jasper added.

And all of Culloo’s growth is due to her work ethic. Both Jasper and Brendan Culloo cited her work ethic as the reason that she has grown tremendously. And it is something that Culloo takes pride in; anything that she sets her mind to will become a reality for her. Nothing stands in Culloo’s way on the court or in life. That is something that not only a good basketball player embodies, but a successful person as well.

Culloo is dominant on the court. Her athleticism and talent set her apart from many other players, and she is almost always in the top scorers of every game. Culloo has a keen eye for what is being executed on the court. Her basketball intelligence is through the roof. But Culloo doesn’t let all of this go to her head. The most important trait that Culloo carries is her humility.

This is what earned her the number 22, which is part of a tradition of the girl’s basketball team at Pascack Valley. The numbers 3 and 22 are given to players that Jasper believes show all-around strength at a young age. Some of the most talented players in the history of Pascack Valley have worn one of those numbers. The most important part of those numbers is making an impact off the court and Jasper believes that Culloo had done that. Currently, senior Else DiGiacopo wears the number 3.

One of Culloo’s most important beliefs though is, “While being physically tough makes you good, being mentally tough makes you great.”

LAST WEEK: After yet another weather delay, the Indians played a total of three games this week. Wednesday brought the Patriots from Wayne Hills to the Valley. The Indians defeated Wayne Hills 56-25. High scorers included freshmen Kelly Smith and Kelly Petro both with 11 points and Culloo with 10 points.

Thursday, the team traveled to Ramapo. They were defeated 46-30 and Else DiGiacopo added 21 points to the team’s total.

Saturday, the team was defeated in the second round of the Bergen County tournament by Westwood 43-32 after a long battle. High scorers included Smith with 11 points, senior Lyndsay Grilo with 9 points and Culloo with 6 points.

THIS WEEK: The Indians travel to Old Tappan in the second face-off of the season with the Golden Knights. The game is at 4 p.m. on Tuesday.

On Thursday, the team will face Tenafly for the second time as well this season at 4 p.m. at home.