Girls Basketball DAYSHANETTE HARRIS Ursuline

Dayshanette Harris ended her high school career making an impact not only at Ursuline, but across the whole Mahoning Valley.

Harris become not only the Irish’s all-time leading scorer, but also took the same title for Mahoning County. On Feb. 11 during a 71-62 win against Warren Harding, Harris surpassed Ursuline 2006 grad Tyra Grant as the county’s all-time leading scorer. Harris has 2,428 points to Grant’s 2,297.

Harris has been a starter for the Irish since her freshman season and is a Vindicator Girls Basketball Athlete of the Year for a second year in a row.

“I knew I was close to 2,000 and I figured the [county] record wasn’t much further,” Harris said. “I had an idea I was close to it, but I wasn’t sure.”

The record puts her in good company. Grant was part of the state title-winning Ursuline squad in 2004 and state finalist team in 2006.

After her high school career, Grant went to Penn State and upon graduating was the Nittany Lions’ third all-time leading scorer with 2,044 points. She was an Associated Press All-American in her senior season and was drafted by the Phoenix Mercury as the 24th overall pick. She was waived by the Mercury a week into training camp, but still carried on her professional career with stints in Italy and Finland.

Grant was a teammate of current Irish head Vannessa Dickson.

“Being in the conversation with such a great player is definitely a blessing. It’s such an amazing accomplishment,” Harris said. “[Dickson] told me she was an amazing player and that it’s a huge accomplishment.”

This season, Harris was the Division II Northeast Inland District Player of the Year and earned first team All-Ohio honors.

Ursuline went 17-8 as Harris averaged 28.3 points per game. The Irish made it to the Division II Austintown district final, but lost to undefeated Poland, 65-51.

“I’m pretty satisfied. You can’t go back now,” Harris said. “I think my teammates and I did everything we possibly could. We gave our hearts and we’ll remember our time together.”

Harris will continue her basketball career at Pittsburgh this fall. She was the first recruit to sign for coach Lance White. Harris is expected to be a key piece for the rebuilding Panthers, who went 11-20 in White’s first season.

“Coach White is going to be looking for a lot out of me and I’m going to give him my all,” Harris said.

— Brian Dzenis, The Vindicator