Kneeling, second from left, Cheryl Burns joins her Broward County (Fla.) Heat teammates for a photo after they claimed the bronze medal in the women’s basketball 60-and-older age group at the National Senior Games in Des Moines, Iowa earlier this month. Photo courtesy of Broward Heat Facebook page

A photo taken at the Prairie Trails Sports Complex just north of Des Moines, Iowa shows a wall-mounted scoreboard with a game clock that reads “11:57,” as well as a shot clock atop one of the basketball hoops that reads “6:00.”

Confusing, right?

Not to Cheryl Burns.

Because, the truth is, it always seems to be the “right time” for the Jamestown resident when it involves athletic competition.

Or, more accurately, “her time.”

Cheryl’s teammates on the Broward County (Florida) Heat women’s 60-and-older squad found that out in “real time” earlier this month at the National Senior Games.

Taking the court seven times over four days, the Heat posted a 5-2 record against a field of 29 teams and came away with a bronze medal. And guess who was their Most Valuable Player?

Cheryl, of course.

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A 1979 Forestville High School and 1983 Fredonia State graduate, Cheryl’s athletic resume is impressive. In her more than 50 years of competition, she has, among other things, excelled in basketball, ultimately earning WNBA tryouts with the Washington Mystics and Detroit Shock; was Western New York’s Runner of the Year in 1994 and WNY’s top-ranked runner three years later; and continues to be a nationally qualified and ranked triathlete. The personal highlight in that endeavor was finishing fourth overall at the World Championships in 2018 in Australia.

And, yes, Cheryl’s experience in Pittsburgh at the National Senior Games two years ago when she was a member of the silver medal-winning triathlon relay, holds special significance, too. But as has been her custom, Cheryl — a 2024 Chautauqua Sports Hall of Fame inductee — is always looking for a new challenge, one that this time came in the form of 3-on-3 basketball.

“I had myself on ‘team finder’ on the (National Senior Games) website,'” Cheryl said last week, “and this lady calls me in March and asks me how I would feel about playing on the Broward, Florida team.”

The recruiting pitch worked.

A month later, Cheryl headed to Florida for a weekend where she practiced with the Heat, who have played together for 13 years.

“I was totally intimidated,” Cheryl admitted. “There were former WNBA players, semi-pros and players from huge universities, and here’s this scrawny little girl.”

Fast-forward four months.

Cheryl’s natural talents, combined with regular early morning pickup games with the guys at the Jamestown YMCA, supplied the wife of Pat Burns with enough confidence to feel like she belonged on the team from the Sunshine State despite dealing with bee stings and a foot injury suffered just days before leaving for Des Moines.

“The oddest things happen to me before big events,” Cheryl said.

Not quite so unusual was how she performed despite the ailments.

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Tied 30-30 at intermission of the bronze-medal game, Cheryl knew the Heat was a better team than their opponent.

“I’m thinking, ‘This is going to change,'” she recalled.

As usual, she was right.

“I went on a shooting spree,” Cheryl said.

When the final horn sounded, the Heat had outscored their opponent 23-6 in the second half en route to a 53-36 victory.

As the Broward County players posed with their medals, the 5-foot-7 guard from Chautauqua County was the talk of the team. In fact, one of the forwards put her arm around Cheryl’s shoulders and chanted over and over: “Burnsie … M-V-P … M-V-P … M-V-P.”

“I never thought in my wildest dreams that I would be able to do well,” Cheryl said, “and it all came together.”

As usual, her timing was perfect.

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EDITOR’S NOTE: Cheryl Burns isn’t the only Jamestown resident to medal at the National Senior Games. Read about swimmer Jeff Barkstrom’s accomplishments in the coming days