Senior star shines

By Ethan Hulsey ’07

As season openers go, the November 15, 2003 contest against Davis & Elkins did not seem all that different. And while they may not have known it at the time, the 800 faithful Red Raider fans at Heiges Field House witnessed history and a new era of SU basketball.

With Ship out to a commanding 14-5 lead, a red-shirt freshman guard by the name of Chuck Davis scored his first points as a Red Raider on a jumper with 14:42 remaining in the first half. Chuck went on to tally 15 points, eight rebounds and three steals, sparking a 75-58 victory over the visiting Senators.

Eight-hundred and three days and 1,778 points later, in Morrow Field House at Slippery Rock, Davis came around a screen and buried a 3-pointer from the top of the key, making him the most prolific scorer in the 105 years of Shippensburg basketball.

It’s quite a finish to a career that almost never happened.

Prior to Davis’ arrival, the Red Raider program had endured nine consecutive losing seasons making it all the more unlikely Davis, a local star who had led Scotland School for Veterans’ Children to a PIAA Championship as a senior, would come to a struggling team with a new coach. But after the 2002-03 school year began, and to Head Coach Dave Springer’s surprise, the talented Davis was not playing basketball…anywhere.  

Springer, as did many coaches, believed Davis had committed to play football elsewhere and had given up recruiting efforts. But when news of Davis’ availability arose, Springer jumped at the chance to keep him close to his alma mater. Davis went from out-of-school to school legend in no time.

But when the debate arises between good and great and great and the best, the conversation inevitably turns to the simple stat of wins. Did the player make his teammates better? Chuck is hands-down the best.
In four seasons, he helped his squad to 69 victories, more than any graduating class in school history, and pushed Ship basketball to a new level. A level that included a national ranking, PSAC West title, and a trip to the NCAA Division II Tournament—all rarities at Shippensburg.

“He made other people around him better,” said Springer. “That’s the key for premier players. Is he able to be the star and contribute to the success of the team and contribute to his teammates? Chuck definitely does. Some players need everything to go through them to be successful, but Chuck can perform at a high level while keeping in mind team success is most important.”

As a junior, he dropped 30 points on Division I Ohio University, prompting an opposing player to say Davis could be an all-conference player in Division I. He torched Penn State for 29 in an exhibition victory early in 2007. He’s hit countless game-winners and always, always, has the ball in his hands when the game is on the line. It’s that desire to win.

Displaying familiar form, Chuck Davis powers in for a shot over the opposition.

“He’s a big time player,” Springer continued. “He really gets up for big games and takes pride in the competition of those games. He likes to challenge himself. Throughout high school and now in college, he’s been a part of a lot of successful basketball teams and that really gets his blood flowing.”

Opponents will remember Davis for his exploits on the hardwood. Yes, the students, faculty and staff will remember Davis as a once-in-a-generation athlete but they will remember him more for his friendly smile and the firm handshake he offered to those who crossed his path. It’s not ability or stats that separate Davis from the rest, it’s the person.

“He’s gotten a lot of attention from playing at Scotland and being a big star there,” Springer stated. “He has grown to be comfortable with it and has given of himself quite a bit.”

In his last game at home, a heartbreaking Senior Night loss to California, nothing went right for Davis. As he slowly made his way out of the locker room, he was greeted by a pack of 10-year-old boys. While he may have been in no mood for company, he retrieved a Sharpie from the scorer’s table and met the kids with a big grin and high fives all around. He autographed t-shirts, cards, pictures, even a pair of sneakers, ensuring the night for the kids was memorable.

That’s what makes Chuck Davis the best. But 1,825 points doesn’t hurt either.

Ethan Hulsey is a graduate assistant in the Sports Information Office. He graduates in May.

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With a confident foot forward

By Tom Ash, Sentinel reporter

Shippensburg women’s basketball head coach Kristy Trn didn’t believe a player of Lauren Beckley’s caliber would be interested in playing for the Lady Raiders.

However, 73 three-pointers, 529 points, and six PSAC Western Division Rookie of the Week honors later, the Shippensburg freshman has immediately proved to be one of the team’s best assets on offense.

“The funny thing with Lauren, she started the first game and came out as the leading rebounder and scorer,” said Trn. “It didn’t matter that she was a freshman, she stepped out with confidence right away.

“When we recruited her, we weren’t sure we could get her to commit to Shippensburg. She was looking at Division I schools. She could have played for any of them right off the bat. Our recruitment class has been one of the best the last few years, but to get her to come here… We really didn’t expect these type of stats from her until maybe her sophomore or junior year.”

Even Lauren was a little surprised with her immediate impact.

“I was going to contribute what I could, but I didn’t know I would do as well as I have been so far,” she said. “I just improved a lot already with the coaching and learning to play college basketball.”

While the speed of her adaptation to the college scene was a surprise, Lauren displayed her athletic potential in her Fairfield high school years when she became the all-time leading scorer, male or female, in Adams county with 2,258 career points. The mark also made her the all-time leading female scorer in the York-Adams Interscholastic Athletic Association (YAIAA).

“Her versatility was what gave opposing teams problems matching up with her,” said Fairfield head coach Greg Dietz, Beckley’s former coach.

All business on the court, Lauren demonstrates the power of concentration as she maneuvers for a shot.

“Her ability to handle the ball and shoot from the perimeter, with her ability to play inside, made it difficult for opponents to match-up with her.”

Although Lauren is having great success in her first year, she feels she has a lot to learn about college basketball.

“It’s cool to know I can play at this level, but I have a long way to go,” she said. “I mean, I am doing well in points, but that’s not the whole thing. I have a lot to work on. It has given me confidence to go out and do what I need to do, and leading in those stat categories helps that confidence.”

Along with the confidence boost, Lauren also attributed her growth as an athlete to the support she has received from her coaches and from the senior players on the team.

“They all worked hard to teach me new things: playing in the post, playing against bigger girls. Knowing what moves are most effective. There’s so much information they give you, and support.”

While at Fairfield, Beckley completely changed the team’s mentality, according to Dietz.

“Her quality added a lot... She’s by far one of the most talented players I’ve been around, and I’ve been coaching for 12 years now. Just with her ability alone, she was able to carry games and win games, and that carried over to the confidence of the whole team.”

And even as a freshman, Lauren is changing the mentality of Shippensburg women’s basketball. Trn believes Beckley, as well as the other young players on the team, will be the future of their basketball program.

“We’re continuing to build a championship-quality team,” said Trn. “We hope (Beckley) will grow as a player and we can develop players around her so we can do much better on a national scale, and play for a national championship.

Lauren ranks first among the Lady Raiders in points (529), points per game (19.6), rebounds per game (8.2), field goal percentage (.478), three-pointers (73), 3-FG percentage (.437), and free throw percentage (.813). She is ranked first in the conference in overall points, points per game, and three-pointers.

This article has been edited for length and is used by permission. The original appeared in the February 17 issue of the Carlisle Sentinel on page D8.