There were no tears of regret from Shanay Freeman moments after her spectacular high school basketball career came to an end last month.
Moments after Townsend Harris’ 72-64 loss to Midwood Feb. 27 in the second round of the PSAL Class A playoffs, Freeman was thrilled with her team’s season and couldn’t wait to start the next phase of her career.
“My team played excellent and I wish I could have gave more,” said Freeman, who was hampered by a cold during the game. “We had some chances and we missed our shots, but it’s been wonderful. I’m ready to let it go.”
What she is letting go is a phenomenal four-year career at Townsend Harris for Division I Fairleigh Dickinson. For much of her time at Harris, the 5-foot-7 dynamo did a little bit of everything and excelled at most things for the Hawks.
After averaging 17.5 points and 10.9 rebounds per game last year for the Hawks, Freeman averaged 22.2 points — good for sixth in the city — and 12.7 rebounds per game despite almost constant double-teams.
She was most dangerous on the baseline, where she was almost unstoppable getting to the basket.
Possibly her best performance of her high school career came on a cold December day at Bayside High. Nursing another cold, Freeman scored a career-high 36 points, grabbed 16 rebounds and dished out four assists in a 71-49 win over the Commodores.
Freeman also stepped up on the defensive end, playing on top of the Hawks 1-3-1 zone and holding the hosts to just one fourth-quarter three-pointer after Bayside knocked down 12 for the game.
A month later Freeman scored a game-high 29 points, including 23 in the second half, in a come-from-behind 71-63 win at August Martin.
In her final game against Midwood, Freeman, who plays AAU ball with the Lady Wildcats, had 21 points — 10-of-12 from the foul line — and grabbed 17 rebounds.
