Over the Thanksgiving break, the Paulding County High School girls’ basketball team traveled to Rome to compete in the Rome Tournament where they played Rome, Hillgrove and Marist.

The girls closed out the tournament 0-3, but there was one player who played well and, more importantly, stepped up into a leadership role for her team.

Junior Keshia Shy plays down low for the Lady Patriots at both small and power forward positions.

Throughout the tournament Shy made sure she was known on the court throughout her time in Rome.

Standing 5-foot-8, Shy averaged eight points, five rebounds and four steals over the three games.

“She was a real team leader, very energized on both sides — offense and defense. She hustles hard and is very quick,” said head coach Larell Lewis.

Lewis also said Shy motivates the entire team.

Shy has played for the Lady Patriots since her freshmen year, and on varsity since last season in Lewis’ first year as head coach.

“She wasn’t like this last year. She has improved greatly. She played back and forth between varsity and JV last year, but now she’s just varsity,” said Lewis.

While Shy has made the switch to a permanent varsity player, one thing has been constant with her, as well as a contradiction to her very name.

“She has always been very vocal,” Lewis said.