Berkley Senior Plays Key Role in Basketball Team Turnaround

Shannon Farlow was introduced to the game of basketball thanks to her brother, father and a basketball hoop in the backyard of the family’s Berkley home.

That introduction led to her first experience playing on an organized team back in the third grade.

She’s been hooked on the game ever since.

Farlow’s love of the sport and dedicated attitude have helped her develop into a key member of the 2010-11 girls basketball team.

“She’s got a never-give-up attitude and she’s willing to put in the work to become a better player,” Berkley head varsity coach Jordan Gruppen said. “She’s a great team player, one of our best shooters, just a good overall, all-around player. When she plays with confidence, she’s hard to be able to stop.”

Farlow is a good player who seems to be getting better each day of her senior campaign.

Overall, Farlow has 6.7 points, 4.7 rebounds and 2.0 steals per game on the season.

Her contributions have helped the Bears (5-4 overall, 4-1 in the Oakland Activities Association Blue Division) snap a four-game losing skid suffered prior to the holiday break in December. Berkley went into Tuesday’s win at Livonia Clarenceville riding a five-game win streak.

Leadership inspires Bears

Improving upon the mental aspects of the game has allowed Farlow and the Bears to improve this month after suffering back-to-back losses in December by three points or less.

“I think a big part of (the turnaround) is she’s started to play with a lot more confidence,” Gruppen said. “And just doing the things everyone knows she can do and that’s propelling everybody else to kind of do the same. … I think everyone has kind of stepped up their game as a whole, but Shannon has definitely been a leader from the start.”

Farlow’s leadership qualities were evident throughout the summer when she headed to the gym for special workouts designed to help fine-tune her skills. Then again, playing a key role for the Bears is something that started early in Farlow’s career.

She first experienced a bit of varsity team action when she was promoted for district play as a freshman. She’s been part of the varsity starting lineup since her sophomore season.

While the nearly 5-foot-6 shooting guard has been a stable force at the varsity level for some time, she’s discovered added internal drive to make the most of her senior season.

“It’s finally hitting me that this is my senior year and so I really have to take that into focus and perspective, especially with college scouts coming," Farlow said. “Everything that I do will lead to my future and that’s why this year is so important.”

Beyond this season, Farlow is unsure of what her hard court future looks like. She has been accepted to Oakland University in the fall, where she plans to study special education. Farlow said she has expressed her interest in playing for coach Beckie Francis and the Golden Grizzlies, but nothing has been determined at this point.

“I’m hoping maybe something there, but if not, I don’t really know,” Farlow said of her playing future. “Whatever happens, happens.”

Passion for sports has deep roots

Farlow’s love of sports has guided her at various points to the varsity golf and softball teams. She also enjoys playing tennis recreationally. But basketball has appealed to Farlow the longest.

Everything about the game of basketball from dribbling the ball to shooting it has kept Farlow hooked.

“Once you get really good at it, you just can’t stop,” she said. “When you’re good at something, you want to keep playing it. I think that is what’s kept me playing it and practicing it because I know I can get better. If I make the shot once, I know I can do it again. That whole momentum is what keeps me going.”

As the youngest in a family of five children, she grew up playing hoops in the backyard. Her father, Todd Farlow, was the start of it all. He’s been a diligent spectator at her games and has often offered her tips on how to improve.

Shannon also enjoyed following the career of her older brother, Josh Farlow. Josh played at Berkley and two years of junior varsity basketball at Rochester College.

The two family members had the biggest role in helping Shannon get to where she is at this point in her playing career.

“We had a basketball hoop at our house,” Farlow said. “I know my brother played high school ball and it was really important to him. He was practicing out there with his friends and I guess I just happened to be at the right place at the right time and, before I knew it, I was enjoying it myself and this is something that I want to do with my life so I definitely became a part of it.”

'A good person all-around'

In addition to Farlow’s skills, she has a reputation among her teammates and coaches of being an all-around nice person.

Off the court, Farlow maintains a 3.802 cumulative grade point average that includes Advanced Placement classes this year. In addition, she participates regularly in volunteer activities with St. Mary Catholic Church in Royal Oak and  maintains a part-time job as a waitress.

“I think Shannon is just such a positive person and she’s always pointing out the good things or maybe alternative (way to do things),” Berkley senior co-captain Hanna Carter said. “She just really tries to help everybody. I think she lets everyone know that she’s there for them inside and outside of basketball. She’s just like a good person all-around.”

Farlow may be nice, but don’t expect to push her around on the court.

“I like to think I’m a different person on the court and off the court,” Farlow said. “When I play basketball, I want people to know that my whole self is there. I’m not just doing this to fill time because I have some extra time after school. I’m honestly playing basketball because this is what I like to do and I feel like I was meant to do it.”