March 3, 2003

     Now, seven years later, she is about to complete one of the most successful high school careers in Litchfield County history and is ready to embark on a college basketball career this fall.
     The senior forward has a resume that few high school athletes have ever put together. Simoncelli, who started as a freshman, ranks second all-time in Berkshire League girls history with 1,621 career points. She led the BL in scoring her sophomore and junior years and finished second this season behind Terryville's Kaity Craig. She is also a three-time all-Berkshire League member as well as a two-time all-state member, and a lock for a third straight selection.
     Simoncelli has helped the Cowboys to an 81-16 record the past four years.
     "Sharon came in right away and played great for us," said Litchfield head coach Bob Anzellotti. "She was definitely more poised than the average freshman and without her we would not have won the (Berkshire) league that year."
     Fast forward three seasons to Feb. 21, Simoncelli's final regular season home game in high school. Her poise was never more evident when Litchfield was down six points to Wamogo with 4.5 seconds remaining. Simoncelli was fouled shooting a three-pointer and connected on all three free-throws. Litchfield then fouled and after a Wamogo player missed the front end of a one-and-one, Simoncelli rebounded the ball, dribbled it down the court and hit the game-tying three at the buzzer. The Cowboys proceeded to dominate the overtime for a 49-41 win in a game which symbolized her career.
     "That was an amazing moment," said Simoncelli. "They're our cross-town rivals and it would have been a tough game to lose. It seemed like the game was over but I felt we still had a shot."
     Simoncelli has also exercised her talents on Litchfield's soccer and softball teams. And once the softball campaign ends she immediately joins her AAU basketball team. She credits her parents, Jim and Wendy, and all her coaches from middle school, AAU and high school for her development as a player and a person.
     "I definitely would not be where I am today without all of them," said Simoncelli. "They are the ones who drove me to work harder on the court and taught me everything about the game."
     "Sharon has improved herself in each facet of the game since she got here, "noted Anzellotti. "Her defense and rebounding have won numerous games for us and another thing that impresses me is her ability in the clutch. Nothing seems to faze her."
     Simoncelli, the lone senior on this year's squad, has led the Cowboys in scoring in 19 of the team's 23 games and has reached the 20 point mark on 11 occasions.
     "The girls on this team really look up to her," said Anzellotti. "When we have played big games they have fed off of Sharon and I hope they learned from her what it takes to become a successful player at this level."
     The Cowboys' (20-3) run in the Class S tournament begins on Thursday against an opponent to be determined.
     Once the state tournament comes to an end Simoncelli will begin to set her sights on college. She has narrowed her choices down to Springfield College and Western New England College, both division III schools. She hopes to have a decision sometime in April.
     "I have talked to the coaches from both schools and I was very impressed," said Simoncelli. "They both said I would have a chance for considerable playing time, which is a big factor for me. It's going to be a tough choice."