Basketball, with a personal touch

Published 9:00 pm Tuesday, January 2, 2007

MARYSVILLE – This might not have been Stanwood vs. Snohomish, but don’t try to tell that to these guys.

Tuesday night’s Northwest 1B boy’s basketball game between the host Grace Academy Eagles and the North Sound Christian Lions was proof that hardwood excitement can come in a very small package.

There may not have been nearly as many screaming fans as you would find at a Western Conference game, but the decibels produced on a per fan basis at the Grace Academy gymnasium seemed just as apt to split one’s ears.

While most of the action in Grace Academy’s 48-37 victory took place well below the rim, there was enough flashy offense and hard-nosed defense to satisfy the most ardent of hoops junkies.

“We needed that one boys,” Grace Academy coach Scott Carlin told his team after his Eagles improved to 2-2 in Northwest 1B (2-8 overall).

For all of the intensity – North Sound’s Keith Kochendorfer banked in a 12-foot jumper to cut what had once been a 17-point deficit to just six with just over four minutes to play – there are differences aplenty between small and large schools when it comes to basketball.

The differences extend beyond the pre-game prayer, which one would not see at a public school.

Grace Academy, a private Christian school, has about 350 students in grades 1-12. Of the 90 students in grades 9-12, nearly half (40) play basketball on the boys or girls varsity or junior varsity teams.

A like number of boys and girls participated in volleyball and soccer this past fall.

“It’s definitely very personal here,” Grace Academy athletic director Jonathan Sarr laughed.

It’s a very similar situation at North Sound Christian (0-2, 1-8) where there are 85 students in grades 10-12.

“It’s a great advantage (at a small school) because you get a lot more opportunity,” North Sound Christian coach Corey Owens said. “One of the down sides in a large school is once you get cut you don’t get any coaching after that. You don’t get a chance to reach your potential.”

Ian Lugg, a senior co-captain for Grace Academy, whose father Tim is principal, agreed. “At any larger school I probably wouldn’t have been able to play ball,” said Lugg, who also plays soccer, golf and is president of the student leadership council. “I wouldn’t of had a chance to learn and improve my skills.”

The small schools are a place where boys who are not named Jon Brockman are apt to get a chance to shine at an early age.

Players like Zachary Israel, a freshman who starts for the Eagles at shooting guard. Israel buried four long 3-pointers in the first quarter to help Grace Academy build a double-digit lead. He finished with a game-high 17 points.

Grace Academy is very much a family affair.

The public address duties for the varsity boy’s game fell to John Kershinar, who was helped out by his son Jake who plays on the Eagles’ junior varsity team.

Across the way, where the school’s kitchen doubles as a court-side concession stand, Kershinar’s wife, Stacy, serves up food to the hungry masses and alternately tries to keep an eye on her other four sons who all attend Grace.

Stacy Kershinar works two days a week in the lunch room and also helps teachers in the classroom every chance she gets.

“It’s very fun,” said Stacy, who works two days a week in the lunch room and helps teachers in the classroom every chance she gets. “It’s very fun and I love being part of what’s going on.”

“Whether its athletics or academics there’s more one-on-one,” said Frank Hackbarth, a third grade teacher at Grace who has a son, Benjamin, on the junior varsity. “And there’s more parental involvement in everything which is good for the kids.”

Grace Academy was unable to field a cheer team this year, but the junior varsity boys and the varsity girls engaged in a spirited cross-court cheer challenge during Tuesday’s game.

“They do a pretty good job of encouraging each other,” Hackbarth laughed.

For all the differences it comes down to playing hoops.

“We try to push ourselves as much as we can to put on a good show for the fans,” said Grace Academy senior co-captain Andy Conklin.

Mission accomplished.

At Grace Academy

North Sound Christian15877-37

Grace Academy221088-48

North Sound Christian-Cathey 5, Doucet 2, Kochendorfer 7, Mallory 2, McNabb 4, Oakland 2, Olson 4, Wallace 6. Grace Academy-Israel 17, Young 4, McAuliffe 5, Conklin 8, Gr. Weinberg 6, Yorio 8. 3-point goals-Israel 4, Conklin 1, Gr. Weinberg 1, Cathey 1. JV score-North Sound Christian def. Grace Academy. Records-North Sound Christian 1-1 in league, 2-7 overall. Grace 2-2, 2-7.