For two seasons, Glen Oaks High School junior guard Shannon Veal brought fans to their feet with no-look passes and crossover dribbles, leading the Panthers to two consecutive Class 4A state championships. But prior to the Panthers’ 67-40 win Tuesday night against Helen Cox in the state regional playoffs, fans again were on their feet. Except this time, fans were honoring Veal, who died Monday with 1:34 to play in the first half after collapsing, following a free throw attempt. An autopsy Tuesday on Veal revealed she either died from an enlarged heart or hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, according to Don Moreau of the East Baton Rouge Parish Coroner’s Office. Moreau said Veal’s condition may have been a result of her diabetes. Glen Oaks coach Harold Boudreaux said the Panthers had a tough time preparing to play without their point guard. “It was hard not seeing [Veal] out there with us, but I have to give it to my kids,” said Glen Oaks High School coach Harold Boudreaux. “They played hard and played with composure and were under control,” Before the restart of Tuesday’s game, several Glen Oaks players fought back tears while remembering their fallen teammate in a prayer service held to honor Veal. Fans packed Glen Oaks’ gym, some with cards and roses for Veal’s father and sister in attendance. Students left messages for their classmate on a sign outside the gym that read “We Love U Shannon”. Residents living on the block surrounding Glen Oaks’ campus decorated garages and walls of their houses, showing support for the point guard. Those in attendance emotionally cheered the Panthers’ players to victory, doing their best to show support for 11 players who were less than 24 hours removed from losing one of their best friends. Boudreaux sent the Panthers onto the floor, asking his players ‘What would Shannon want?’ before sharing memories of the junior guard’s time at Glen Oaks. “It was very important that my kids left the huddle laughing for one reason,” Boudreaux said. “They had to know they were going to play their heart out while playing for Shannon Veal tonight. We had to just look back and say that we knew Shannon was looking down on us, and she is still with us in every part of this team.” Veal was named District 6-4A Most Valuable Player this season, averaging 14 points, five assists and two steals per game. Boudreaux said the 5-foot-8 guard had received interest from more than 50 schools and was going to play college basketball for a Division-I program. LSU was one of the teams expressing interest in Veal. Assistant coaches Bob Starkey, Travis Mays and Yolanda Wells-Broughton attended Tuesday’s game with the entire LSU women’s basketball team to show support for the Panthers. LSU senior forward Quianna Chaney said Veal closely followed the Lady Tigers’ basketball program. “[Veal] was a part of our family and a part of our community,” Chaney said. “She’d go to all the LSU games, and we’d see her with her mom and her little sister getting autographs. So as someone these players look up to, the least we can do is come out and show our support.” Mays and Starkey were also in attendance during Monday’s game. After watching Veal score 11 points in the first half, Mays said he could tell the Panthers’ guard would have succeeded at the collegiate level because of her command of the game. “[Veal] played with tremendous heart,” Mays said. “She played every play like she had a sense of urgency about it. She always made something happen for either herself or her teammates.” The Panthers return to the court Thursday to take on LaGrange High School in the state quarterfinals. Boudreaux said although Glen Oaks will not have their “angel with an attitude” on the floor with them, Veal will impact the way the team performs. “Veal was here tonight,” Boudreaux said Tuesday. “She was here tonight in spirit, in coaching and in teaching – all of the things we needed to give our kids tonight. She was here, and she was a big part of it, and she will continue to be a big part of it.”
—-Contact Casey Gisclair at [email protected]