Catching Up With Lily Berger '24

3/18/2025

Throughout the five seasons that Lily Berger ran point for Collegiate’s varsity girls basketball team, she was known for her abiding passion for the game, her willingness to pay the price to achieve excellence, and her team-first mindset.

A 5-4 floor leader, she thrived on the competition and derived as much satisfaction setting up her teammates for success as she did from putting the ball in the basket herself.

Preternaturally poised and unflappable despite the constant pressure she faced each game, the 2024 graduate and two-season captain ended her career with 333 assists (second on the Cougars’ all-time list) and 436 points, which means that she contributed 1,102 total points as either a passer or shooter. She also put a high premium on tenacious defense, as her 131 career steals attest.

It should come as no surprise, then, that Berger has taken the same innate grit, determination, and intentionality that she showed in high school and AAU hoops to Shenandoah University, where she just completed her freshman season with the Division III Hornets, who finished 17-10 (11-5 in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference), and reached the tournament semifinals, where they lost 62-49 to Randolph-Macon College, the eventual champion.

As a member of an experienced, senior-laden squad, Berger saw limited playing time but accepted her role as an apprenticeship of sorts that will prepare her for the seasons ahead.

One day recently, she reflected on her basketball life and her hopes for the future.

What makes playing basketball fun for you?

Honestly, the team aspect. Coming to practice. Coming to the locker room. I’m playing with my best friends every day. I just love the game itself. I’m drawn to it. I love the fact that I’m learning something every day.

When did you figure out you wanted to play in college?

It was always in the back of my mind. When I talked with coaches, they said, “If you push yourself…absolutely.” Just knowing that if I kept expanding and getting better, anything was possible.

Why Shenandoah?

I just love the coaches and the way we all get along. It really is all about the environment. This is a great place to be, whether it’s with community outreach or being a team together.

How long did it take you to become comfortable with basketball at the next level?

It really didn’t take that long. The team has created a really friendly, homey environment. It’s a culture that we’re all here for each other. We get along really well, so it was pretty easy for me to find my flow.

Were you prepared academically?

I was definitely prepared. We have a hectic basketball schedule, so you have to be able to manage your time. I have a couple of classes a day, meals, practice. We get to the gym an hour early so we can decompress and get locked in to practice. If you don’t manage your time correctly, it can get ahead of you. I think I do really well balancing academics with athletics.

Speak about athletic preparation coming from high school and AAU ball.

I was fairly prepared, but you always wish you could be more prepared. I knew the other players would be better, faster, and stronger, which is all true. The summer before I came here, the players on the team were really helpful about answering my questions and letting me know what conditioning and fitness testing we were going to go through. I don’t think I was caught too off guard by anything.

What’s it like competing in college basketball?

Honestly, I think it’s more fun. Everyone wants to be here. Everybody has that ultimate goal of winning the ODAC championship and hopefully advancing into the (NCAA) tournament. I love being in a highly competitive environment.

What was your feeling the first time you stepped on the court (against Marymount on Nov. 19) as a college athlete?

It all became real in that moment. I had a great time. It eliminated any feeling of the imposter syndrome that might have been lingering because I was in the game now. I’m constantly surrounded by people who are better than I am. That’s what I love. That’s the environment I want to be in. At the same time, I’ve never really been in that environment. There were always kids at my age who were better than I was, but not like this.

Speak about adjusting to a new role as a backup player.

You have to take it as a learning opportunity. I was playing behind a fifth-year senior (Maddie Kimble). They’ve had the same starting lineup the last three years. It was a hard adjustment to go from playing 32 minutes to not getting remotely close to that, but at the same time, I’m a freshman, and I understand where I am. It’s nothing I stress about. Obviously, I want to be on the court, but I’m biding my time.

What advice would you give a Collegiate athlete who’s considering competing in college?

Your work ethic has to be there. It’s also important to expand your (sports) IQ because if you don’t know what to do in certain situations, you won’t be successful. And make sure you’re getting in the gym on a hot summer night, as miserable as it may be at the moment. Hard work does pay off.

What are your expectations as you move through the Shenandoah basketball program?

Just self-growth. And growing with my teammates and building that chemistry so we can be at our best when we need to be.

~Weldon Bradshaw

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