FVHS, Zemke zoom to nationals
Lady Crusaders are 21-1, state MCAA champs
Gym rat or basketball junkie.
Take your pick.
Both aptly fit ninth grader Charity Zemke to a tee.
"I love the sport," said Zemke, a 5-foot-3 point guard for the Flathead Valley Home School (FVHS).
"The competition. I love to see their face after you just take the ball away from them. They are so angry at you."
Zemke is after all a theft artist on the court.
She's also a talented scorer and a team leader from her point guard position. The team's spark plug if you will.
"She loves it," said her father, and coach, Paul Zemke.
"A great student of the game. She studies as much as possible."
Zemke, the player, is averaging 12.7 points per game, 8.5 steals, 4 rebounds and 3.5 assists.
And there's more …
"She works on making sure everyone on the team is playing well," said coach Zemke.
"She works very hard at making the other players on the court better."
She had perhaps her best ever court performance last month in the title game of the Montana Christian Athletic Association. Zemke finished with a triple double - 17 points, 11 rebounds and 10 steals - in a 42-34 victory over Helena Christian School.
"I think the way I get my most points is by my defense," she said.
"The best offense (sometimes) is a good defense."
And steals lead to easy baskets - layups - for her on the other end of the floor.
"My dad is (also) a big part of my game," she said.
"I couldn't do it without him. He's there for me every time."
Although diminutive on the court, Zemke, 14, has some mighty big aspirations on it and plenty of time to achieve them.
"I want a full scholarship to a college," she said.
"After college, I want to play in the WNBA."
She readily admits both are "ambitious" goals, but feels they are attainable.
Even the WNBA.
"Look! There is a 5-5 player (Earl Boykins of the Denver Nuggets) in the NBA, so I have a chance," she shot back.
Zemke admits she would get more recognition by playing basketball at one of the area high schools. However she's very content with her current situation.
"I'm devoted to my team," she said. "I can't separate from them … my girls. If you're good enough, you will get noticed."
And that will come soon enough.
Zemke will lead FVHS on the biggest crusade in its basketball history this week as the team travels to Oklahoma City, Okla., for the National Home School Tournament.
FVHS, 21-1 on the season, opens play on Tuesday versus Kansas City, Mo., East Lions (16-4) in a seeding game. That will put the Lady Crusaders in one of the six varsity divisions for tournament play.
"I think they are more excited to be out there, and playing, than afraid of being there," said coach Zemke.
"I'm sure there will be butterflies. (But) I see a willingness in the girls to fight and do well. They have all the confidence in the world in each other and our game style."
If the girls need any encouragement at all, they just have to look at the FVHS boys. They competed three straight times at nationals and did well each time out.
Janelle Sheeran, a 5-10 sophomore center, leads the Lady Crusaders offensively at 13.5 points per game and with seven rebounds.
Alyssa Sladek, 5-9 senior co-captain, is at eight points and seven rebounds per outing.
The other two starters are 5-7 Kelsey Sladek, a sophomore wing, 6.4 points and four rebounds, and 5-6 co-captain Brittani Hanson, a senior guard. She's the team's defensive specialist.
The team's sixth man - senior Britteny Fischer, will miss the trip. Her spot will be taken by eighth grader Danae Sheeran. She's also one of the team's tallest players at 5-10.
The other reserves are Karest Nash, a 5-11 junior, and her sister Kayla Nash, 5-7 freshman.
This is Paul Zemke's second year of coaching the Lady Crusaders. Last year they finished third at state.