Shannon McGowan has never cringed at the question, but she has always responded in a forceful manner.
For years, people have asked Shannon, who recently completed a good basketball career at Bishop McDevitt High, whether she was going to be like her sister, Jenny, who recently completed an outstanding basketball career at La Salle University.
"We're not the same person," Shannon has always said. "We can't be expected to do the same things. We play different positions . . .
She paused. "I would love to be as good as her. She's my role model."
There is no need for Shannon McGowan to view herself in anything but the best light.
Shannon, a 6-foot center/power forward, also will play Division I basketball, at Bucknell. Also, she serves her school as the vice president of the student council and ranks in the Top 10 percent of her class academically.
Yesterday, McGowan contributed six points (3-for-4 from the floor), four rebounds and two blocked shots in 12 minutes as the Suburban Team topped the City Team, 50-40, in the All-Star Labor Classic at St. Joseph's University.
She chose Bucknell over the likes of Princeton and Harvard.
"Bucknell was the first school I went to (for a visit)," McGowan said. ''I liked it right away and I liked the fact that they stayed with me all through the season. With the Ivy schools, you don't hear until later about acceptances. Bucknell never pressured me, never gave ultimatums. It's only about 2 1/2 hours away. It just seems like a place where I'll be able to have a lot of fun."
At La Salle last season, Jenny McGowan ranked among the NCAA leaders in steals-per-game with 3.3. She also surpassed 1,000 career points and was an excellent rebounder, especially for a point guard.
The girls' older brothers, John and Brendan, were football and baseball players at La Salle High in the mid-1980s. The McGowans's first cousin, Chip Greenberg, starred in basketball for La Salle High (class of '82) and then the University.
"I was always around sports," Shannon said. "Our next-door neighbors (in Glenside) have a court and we've always gone over there to play. They mostly have boys, so it's good competition.
"I played on a summer league team with Chip's sister, Kathy (who starred at Rhode Island). That was a big help. My sister is planning to be around this summer. We're going to work out together. That should help get me ready for
college basketball."
STAR-GAZING
Prominent for the Suburban Team were Cardinal O'Hara's Chrissie Donahue (12 points) and Ann Gallagher (five assists, three steals). Their O'Hara teammate, Marnie McBreen, settled for four points. All three girls are going to La Salle . . . Martin Luther King's Sharnine Stokes led the City Team with nine points. She also had three steals. Howard signee Denique Graves (University City) had seven rebounds and six blocked shots.
