SLIPPERY ROCK — Mary McDonald sometimes wonders what it would have been like to play high school basketball at a public school.

At Portersville Christian School, McDonald dominated the competition and the 5-foot-10 senior forward recently wrapped up her career with more than 1,300 points.

But part of her still speculates about how her career would have unfolded elsewhere.

“I definitely thought about that,” McDonald said. “In fact, I almost considered playing for Slippery Rock this year.”

But McDonald quickly put that out of her mind. She had been in the PCS system since kindergarten and she didn’t want to leave her friends and atmosphere behind.

“I knew I would have felt guilty,” McDonald said. “I have a lot of friends on the team and I didn’t want to let them down. I love Portersville. I love the close relationships. I decided I could never leave it.”

So, McDonald stayed and helped the Warriors to the National Christian Schools Athletic Association championship game where they lost to Atlantic Christian School (N.J.) 73-27.

McDonald was matched up with a Division I college prospect from Atlantic Christian and scored 14 points.

“She held her own,” said Portersville Christian coach Tim Hoban. “She is not intimidated by anybody.”

In fact, McDonald relishes a challenge.

While the competition within the Warriors’ league is weak at times, when Portersville and McDonald do go up against a strong foe, she becomes even more determined to shine.

“I love playing against people who may be more athletic and better than me,” McDonald said.

Hoban, though, hasn’t seen many players better than McDonald.

The coach, who took over the program three years ago, said there is little McDonald can’t do on the basketball floor.

“Each year, she has won our team MVP,” Hoban said. “And every year she has gotten better and better. There’s nothing negative I can say about her game. She’s a workhorse.”

McDonald is working on her outside shooting, realizing that in college, she may have to be more of a guard than a post player.

McDonald visited Grove City College and applied there. She is waiting to hear if she was accepted.

If she is, she plans on playing for the Wolverines.

“I wasn’t sure at first,” McDonald said. “Then I got to meet a lot of the girls and the coach is so nice. It’s set in stone in my mind now.”

Not many PCS players have gone on to play college basketball.

The last one was Abby Moose, who starred for Grove City College for four years before returning to PCS shortly as the athletic director and assistant girls basketball coach.

McDonald looked up to Moose and was coached by her as a freshman.

Now, she may be the next to move on to play college basketball.

“It’s kind of surreal,” McDonald said. “It hasn’t really hit me yet. I’m going to be a role model for the kids who may want to go on to play in college. That’s really great.”