Flynn a pass-first, credit-later point guard at St. Mary's

A funny thing happened on Shannon Flynn's way to stardom: St. Mary's girls basketball became relevant.

At a recent open house for admitted eighth-graders, Flynn, St. Mary's four-year point guard, and her longtime backcourtmate Sarah Kluth represented the athletic department. There, the pair got a taste of what their team had become.

"It's kind of funny," said coach Tom Flynn, who doubles as Shannon's father off the court. "She came home and she's like 'Dad, these girls are giving me resumes. They even know who I am.' She thought that was pretty cool."

That's the girls team drawing the buzz at Cleveland Cavaliers rookie Danny Green's high school.

"My freshman and sophomore year, it was never like that," said Kluth, who has played with Flynn since fifth grade. "It was about the boys . . . It's a lot better this way"

There are plenty of reasons for the Gaels' rise from CHSAA afterthought to the No. 6 team on Long Island in Newsday's latest poll. Flynn rattles them off: practice, hard work, team chemistry.

"Sarah Kluth is definitely a big part of it," Flynn said. "She doesn't get enough recognition for it."

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Forgive Flynn for deferring. It's her job. She's the point guard.

"She's being humble," Tom Flynn said. "I definitely believe she's changed the climate. Kids want to go to St. Mary's because Shannon Flynn is there."

That hasn't always been easy for the coach to say. He says he used to be as hesitant as Shannon in giving her the deserved credit. It's part of balancing that coach/father role.

But this isn't a bench player, making the team because of her father. Flynn is on the short list for Nassau Player of the Year.

She's one of Long Island's most prolific scorers, but she's a pass-first point guard at heart. The No. 1 threat on her AAU team is Sachem East's Boston College-bound scorer Kristen Doherty.

A few weeks ago, Flynn became St. Mary's all-time leading scorer. She has 1,565 points. This year, she's averaging 23 points, typically drawing double and triple teams.

"[Other coaches] go into the locker room and say, 'I think we did a good job on Shannon Flynn' and she's got 28 points," Tom Flynn said. "She doesn't take 20 shots. She takes 13, 15. Success is relative to her. She wants to win."

Said Shannon: "I'm really proud of my personal accomplishments, but if my school gets recognition, that means more."

St. Mary's (9-5) is in a dogfight at the top of the Catholic League. Earlier this month, an 18-0 third quarter run, with Flynn scoring the go-ahead layup, helped the Gaels put away perennial power St. John the Baptist for the first time for the first time in years.

"She's not hiding in the corner," Tom Flynn said. "She wants the ball when there's two girls on her. And she knows if she doesn't, I'm not going to be too happy."

That's another downside of being the coach's daughter. They both say Tom is harder on Shannon than any other player.

But Shannon Flynn rewards the coach's high expectations. He's tough on the star, but it's Shannon who is tough on the younger players.

"I'm a typical coach's daughter," she said, laughing.

In fact, when Flynn and Kluth, the Gaels' only two seniors, graduate in the spring, Tom said he's in for a change. He'll have to dig out his old practice drills, because his coaches on the floor will be gone.

Remarkably, there are no basketball conversations at the dinner table.

"They try to keep their family relations off the court," Kluth said. "When it comes to basketball, they try to be a coach and a player."

Next year, Shannon will look to leave her mark on another team. For the first time, she'll do it under a coach with a different last name. She doesn't know what school she wants to go to, but has an idea of the location.

"I want to play close to home so my dad can come to my games," she said. "I want him to see me succeed."