By Gayle Simone
Correspondent
May 01, 2008 05:59 am They say the love of the game is truly inspirational and motivational. For Riley Dunn, that's the reason she can't walk away from the court. "I love it. I love everything about it," Riley said with a smile that lit up her entire face. "I love playing it, but I love watching it too. I love being around it. It's my passion. It's been in my life for so long I can't give it up. "I don't want to stop playing for a long, long, long time. I want to play overseas or for the WNBA when I finish my college career." The 18-year-old Bradford resident said she first discovered her true love when she was in kindergarten. She went on to play organized basketball in the third grade at Sacred Heart Elementary School, and for the past four seasons she's been playing for Central Catholic — the last three on varsity. Motivated to be a better player before her junior year, Riley attended a summer "boot camp" with Hoop Gains owner Anthony "A.T." Taylor. For camp, Riley was on the court everyday of her summer by 6 a.m., but didn't stop there; she would also workout at Cedardale or on the court in her back yard. Out of all the coaches Riley has played for, she said A.T. is her favorite because he helped her realize she didn't always have to be the "superstar" to succeed in her career. He was one of the most positive coaches she's ever played for, she said. "He helped me develop skills that I'm still using and developing today," Riley said. The camp, plus Riley's own desire to be a better player, helped her get more playing time under Central Catholic Coach Susan Downer. She became an intricate part of Central's success over the past couple of years. The Raiders were crowned Division I North Champions but lost the state championship game to the Springfield Golden Eagles in 2007. In 2008 they made an early exit from the post season when they lost the North Sectional Finals to MVC powerhouse Andover. Riley loves her career and the time she has spent at Central, but the senior cannot wait to graduate on May 23. And although she will be done playing for Central at that time, she certainly won't be done playing the game itself. Working on her speed, ball handling, shooting and defense, Riley truly believes she can continue to enhance her skills and earn playing time in college. "When you play basketball in college, I think that proves that you're a good player." This fall Riley will begin her classes at Ithaca College in New York, lacing up her sneakers once again for her new school. Success is measured on so many different levels and Riley playfully brags about her own — she was crowned the Foul Shot Champion at the TD Banknorth Garden during half-time of a Boston Celtics game last month. "Foul shot lady, that's what I'm referred to as," Riley said with a laugh. "Everybody calls me that." So, what's the biggest challenge lying ahead for the young basketball superstar? Trying to learn how to do laundry before she leaves for college at the end of the summer. "Maybe I'll just have my friends do it for me," Riley joked. "Seriously, I know how to put the clothes in and start it; it's just the detergent I don't know anything about." Riley may have been wearing red and white (Central's colors) for the past four years, but the next time she steps on the court she'll be donning blue and gold for the Bombers. Maybe with her new colors she can wear black socks, so she doesn't have to worry about turning her white socks pink by not separating her whites from her reds. Riley may not have the comfort of the gym or colors she's been accustomed to at Central, or even her mother, Maureen, around to do her laundry, but at least her new uniform will have something familiar about it — number 15. Having even the littlest familiarity can help a young athlete embark on their next adventure and Riley has found hers. Hopefully the passion and love she showed for the game while at Central never dies. Gayle Simone is a freelance sports writer and columnist for The Haverhill Gazette.
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Photos
Gayle Simone Staff photo