With the game clock winding down and the crowd on their feet, fearless senior shooter Avary Sheldon dribbles past defenders, embodying the grit and determination that has defined her basketball journey.
Since Sheldon was five years old, she has loved basketball. As a kindergartener, she started attending weekend practice clinics with support from her parents. “Both my parents were basketball players growing up and throughout high school,” Sheldon said. “It’s always been something that has connected me with my family.”
When she entered third grade, Sheldon officially started playing on the Las Lomitas Elementary School team. While she enjoyed the recreational environment, she longed for a more competitive atmosphere and soon began playing at the club level.
Sheldon started playing at Torch Basketball Club in fifth grade. At La Entrada Middle School she continued to play on both the school and the Torch club team.
Motivated by a desire to share her love of basketball with other young girls, Sheldon and her friend Sara Djafari started a summer basketball camp for young girls the summer before their freshman year. Together, they held their programs in the summers of 2021, 2022, and 2023, as well as mini-camps in the fall of 2021 and 2022. “We founded Menlo Park Basketball for young girls to develop their skills and grow their love for the game of basketball,” Sheldon said.
In her first year at M-A, she was nervous but excited to continue her basketball journey. Sheldon started her high school career as the only freshmen to make the varsity team. Being new to the school and on a team with much older girls, she looked up to the upperclassman on the team. “The girls on the team played a crucial role in my life and taught me what it means to truly be a leader,” Sheldon explained.
Sheldon continued to find success, receiving the PAL all-league honorable mention after the Bears took home the PAL Championship in her sophomore year.
Sheldon wants to have as much of an impact on others as her former teammates had on her. As a captain, it is important to her that everyone on the team feels able to talk to her and rely on her as a friend. “I know some M-A teams have a reputation for having a bit of a toxic environment but I’ve never felt that about our team. I think we are all so supportive of each other,” she said.
Her strong support and friendship translated onto the court, where Sheldon not only contributed as a leader but also made a significant impact with her performance. During the weeks waiting for her senior season, Sheldon led the team in rebounds, averaging five rebounds and 8.7 points per game.
When the season began, the Bears traveled to the Jim Soden Basketball Tournament, where Sheldon was awarded the invitational MVP. Currently, the Bears have a 10-5 record and are patiently awaiting PAL finals and CCS.
As Sheldon’s final season approaches an end, she often reminisces on the bonds and memories she has created over the last four years. “Basketball has been one of the most fun things I ever did in high school, I’m going to miss playing with this team so much,” she said.
While her career at M-A may be over, Sheldon is not throwing in the towel just yet; in college, she hopes to play club or intramural basketball. “Playing in college is going to be different,” she said. “The environment and the people make the sport so special to me—I hope that continues.”
