In the opener, Shipley defeated Kennedy-Kenrick, 51-37, as Balderston tallied 11 points (including a buzzer-beater in the third quarter that travelled nearly the entire length of the court), nine rebounds and two assists. The Gators then beat Harriton in the championship game, 54-48, led by Balderston (17 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals).

“He’s one of our hardest workers — will do whatever is necessary,” said Shipley boys’ basketball head coach Andre Brown. “Last year, he played the perimeter for us, and developed an outside shot. He also really worked on his ballhandling, and he’s a good ballhandler now. He’s a good mid-range shooter, and defensively, he’s very strong — he moves his feet well.”

Last winter, Balderston averaged 13 points per game for the Gators, and received second team All-Main Line basketball recognition.

SLUGGING GATOR: Last spring, Balderston was a first team All-Main Line baseball selection, displaying a potent bat (he batted over .400, with a slugging percentage above .500) and a good glove at first base. Balderston helped the Gators’ baseball squad reach the Friends School League championship game the past three years.

His brother Caleb, who graduated from Shipley in 2006, was a soccer and baseball co-captain for the Gators. Caleb, who now attends Williams College, played on the Shipley baseball and basketball teams with Dave. Balderston’s younger brother Mark is currently a freshman at Shipley who plays junior varsity squash and plans to play baseball in the spring.

Dave is looking to play basketball (and/or baseball) in college — his current favorites are Franklin & Marshall, Williams College, and Colby College. He plans to major in mathematics, or possibly pre-business.

— By BRUCE ADAMS
Reprinted Courtesy of Main Line Times