ALTOONA, BLAIR COUNTY - Bishop Guilfoyle Girls' Basketball has always been a power house. They've been a top contender each and every year - thanks in large part to this years' senior class.
"I can just see myself as a freshman and how nervous I was, and how much I looked up to the seniors," says senior Halee Adams. "So I just wanted to really make this senior year the best for everyone."
Senior night is a time for Halee Adams to reflect on her achievements. So far this year, she's scored just under 300 points, has made 56 % of her field goals, and 50% from 3-point range. She's also a leader for the team.
"She's been a great teammate to a great senior group," says Bishop Guilfoyle Girls' Basketball Coach Mark Moschella. "So I don't think that as a coach I can ask for much more than that."
With how well she's done in her senior season, it's easy to forget that Adams has been through a ton of adversity. This is her first healthy season since her freshman year. During her sophomore season she played with a bad meniscus. Then in her junior year she tore her ACL.
"Well I'm not going to lie, I was devastated when it happened." says Adams.
Even more so because junior year is when high school athletes get big looks from college coaches.
"I thought it was going to hurt my chances, and a lot of coaches dropped off me but I'm just thankful for the ones that saw potential in me."
One of them was Siena Head Coach Ali Jacques. She's been following Adams' high school career, but didn't actually meet Haylee until after she came back from her knee injury.
"People who overcome the injury that she's overcome, I think that says a lot about their toughness and just their fortitude and their ability to fight through pain," says Jacques. "It says a lot about her passion for the sport of basketball. It wasn't really until September that I had a chance to see her play and the second I saw her shoot a layup, I knew I wanted to coach her."
It's no surprise that Adams will play for Siena next season. But before that, Bishop Guilfoyle will look for another big run in the postseason. They're trying to claim another state title, which Adams helped the Lady Marauders win her freshman and sophomore seasons.
