Playing together since fifth grade, seniors Megan Otto and Shannon Brady have been friends on and off the court. They have played for the Scituate High School girls’ team since freshman year and entering their final season together both will continue on to compete at the college level.
At 5’11 Otto averages over fifteen points a game and five rebounds. Her presence on the court is felt; she plays a variety of positions but prefers a small forward. The game has been part of her life since first grade when she began playing in the Scituate Recreation League and she knew just seven years later that she wanted to make varsity as a freshman and then play in college.
Her plan after May is to attend Babson in Wellesley, MA playing Division III basketball. “I couldn’t see myself stopping after this year. It’s such a big part of my life and I wouldn’t want to waste all the hard work and time I’ve put into it by stopping after high school.”
Otto also decided that a strong academic school was her top priority along with basketball. Eventually Division III was the right choice for her; “I want the full college experience. I want to enjoy it and not be overwhelmed by my commitment to the team.”
This star on and off the court will major in business, maybe following her father in the Business Law area or Sports Marketing. Her academic goal for the year includes finishing the year with all A’s and B’s in her classes.
Otto scored her thousandth career point in the Scituate versus Silver Lake game in January, meeting her personal goal at the half way mark of the season. “She’s a hard worker and tough player,” according to sophomore teammate Morgan Moore, who covers her at practice. She has experienced Otto’s skills and abilities firsthand.
Her right hand man, center Shannon Brady, has similar plans for her future. Attending Bowdoin next fall, Brady hopes to build strong relationships with her teammates like she has now. When referring to her high school team Brady said, “I love being on a team with my friends.”
Her decision, made during her junior year of high school, to compete at the college level led her to many Division III schools, but she will be heading to Maine to focus not only on basketball but on academics as well. She hopes to major in the areas surrounding design and marketing, as Brady is very artistically talented.
This 6’0 athlete averages fourteen points a game and almost nine rebounds. Her personal goal is to get twenty rebounds in a single game, her closest so far is sixteen in the Lady Sailors win over Quincy last month.
As friends and fellow captains these girls share a lot in common. Both wish to see the 11-0 Sailors reach the State Finals and play at the Boston Garden. They agree that basketball is a huge part of their lives and that it has brought them a lot closer together, since they also contend together in the off season.
They are prime examples of student athletes who have incorporated a sport into who they are as young women and will continue to play for the next four seasons at the collegiate level, reaching new goals and increasing their accomplishments as players and people.