Marshall embraces challenge of playing in 5A
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Shandon Marshall has been a part of some successful teams as a player and coach. He has also witnessed several sub-par seasons first hand, but the 2018 graduate of Brownsville Area High School looks forward to his first season as head coach of the Albert Gallatin girls basketball team.
Marshall, who scored 1,000-career points while playing for the Falcons, was an assistant coach at Laurel Highlands for the boys varsity squad the past three seasons, but decided to apply for the Lady Colonials’ job when Craig Hoone resigned.
“I applied around May after Coach Hoone stepped down,” Marshall said. “I was hired in the beginning of June. I train a majority of girls in this area for my basketball training company, and getting the opportunity to be the head coach here at Albert Gallatin has been nothing short of a blessing.”
Marshall learned a great deal in his three years at Laurel Highlands, which started during Rodney Gallagher’s senior season in 2022-23.
“When I started, LH went 24-4 with Rodney and Keondre (DeShields), but we went 2-20 the next year, so I have been at the top and at the bottom when it comes to having good years and having down years,” Marshall said. “I also want to thank John Smith for the opportunity. He is like another father figure to me. I am confident in my girls. They are great with the attitude and effort, and they are starting to buy into what we are preaching as a coaching staff. We are going to be competing in a lot of games.”
Albert Gallatin competes in Section 4-5A with Baldwin, Bethel Park, Peters Township, Thomas Jefferson, Trinity and Uniontown.
The Lady Indians are the defending WPIAL champions and advanced to the state semifinals. The Lady Jaguars are a team on the rise.
Marshall is aware of the challenges the section presents, but he welcomes the opportunity to play the best each and every night.
“We are in a very tough section in Class 5A, but I probably wouldn’t want it any other way,” Marshall said. “This program needs a complete revival, and I feel like I’m the right person to do it. It’s going to take more than just me. I need my girls and parents to have complete trust in me. The people in the community at Albert Gallatin are so lovely, and they made me feel like this is a second home.
“I also want to thank our athletic director, Mr. (Duane) Dupont for being my go-to guy since Day 1. Obviously, we are measured by wins and losses, but I am also looking for progression and seeing these girls grow as individual players.”
Senior Mikayla Shea and junior Ellie Seese will serve as the Lady Colonials’ captains. Payton Gibson, Paiton Lovis, Maggie Quertinmont and Korina Samuel are key players for Marshall.
“Mikayla is probably the best player on the team,” Marshall said. “She can rebound, dribble and shoot, and is a do-it-all kind of player who is also a leader. Ellie will also be one of my leaders. I am confident in all of these girls’ abilities.”
Marshall wants his team to push the ball up the floor and put the petal to the metal as long as the situation dictates.
“If the way the game is being played calls for us to slow it down and run a half-court set, we will do that, but the ideal scenario is for us to play 100-miles per hour and play 94 feet for 32 minutes.”